The Originals
“THE ORIGINALS”
The Originals consist of 5 individuals who share the story of their ‘never ending season’ on a weekly basis throughout the entire year. They will bring you up to date outdoor material (articles, videos, photos, and much more), including their successes and fails, from their 365day a year quest for that once in a lifetime trophy.
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MEET THE ORIGINALS
CHRIS DUNKIN
Chris Dunkin was born in the rolling hills of southern Iowa where he was blessed with an ample amount of opportunities to bow hunt monster whitetails and other game. Chris began hunting alongside friends and family, and continues to do so today. Some of his earliest memories afield are when his father would literally carry him while pheasant hunting. Now, Chris puts in a large amount of time preparing for each deer season by running trail cameras, picking stand locations, and knocking on doors to obtain permission in the areas big whitetails call home. Chris thoroughly enjoys building histories with specific bucks on the properties that he hunts through trail cameras and velvet footage, then pursuing them with a stick and string. Because of this, Chris has had histories with 8 out of the last 9 bucks that he has harvested. His passion does not stop with big mature whitetails, but also encompasses hunting turkeys, waterfowl, small game, shed hunting, running trail cameras, as well as introducing beginners to the sport. To Chris, sharing the stories of his 365 day a year pursuit is just as fun as pulling the trigger.Chris’ passion for the outdoors led him to pursue a career in the natural resource field, where he is now a park ranger and gets to work in the outdoors on a daily basis. When Chris isn’t at work, you’ll find him somewhere in the southern half of Iowa enjoying time with family and friends in the outdoors.
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BLAKE LEFLER
Growing up in southern Iowa, Blake Lefler obtained his passion for bow hunting from his father. An avid hunter, Blake’s father taught him the basics of hunting giant whitetails and since, Blake has made it a passion. Throughout the years, Blake has been blessed with the opportunity to pursue not only whitetails but wild turkey, elk, antelope, and exotic game species. In recent years, Blake, along with a few good friends, has dedicated himself to capturing his bow hunting season on film. Although Blake’s roots lie in the challenge of chasing giant whitetails, he has also made a career shooting target archery tournaments sanctioned by the NFAA, IBO, and USAA. A multiple time Iowa State Archery champion, when not in the deer stand, Blake spends much of his time training and traveling to professional archery tournaments.
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JESSE RICHARD
Jesse Richard cut his teeth hunting upland birds and waterfowl in northern Iowa. Growing up in that part of the state his choice of outdoor adventures included fishing and trapping the Des Moines river, shooting ducks and geese in the many pot holes and corn fields, and bow hunting the hardwood river bottoms. After moving to South East Iowa for college, Jesse found him self chasing after the giant whitetails that called that part of the state home. Now living in central Iowa he makes growing and monitoring trophy class whitetails a full time hobby. Jesse has been filming his hunting adventures for many years. Along with running trail cameras, Jesse spends his time chasing turkeys, predators, waterfowl, and upland birds. He also spends his time going to 3D archery shoots, bow fishing, and camping with his family. Hanging stands, planting food plots, shed hunting, and running cameras is a 365 day a year pursuit for buck of a lifetime.
Jesse juggles family life, work, and his passion for the outdoors and blends them together when it is possible. With being a new husband and father Jesse has brought his passion and drive for the outdoors and focused them on being a good husband and father.
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DEREK WILKERSON
Growing up in Iowa, Derek Wilkerson was fortunate to be introduced to hunting and the outdoors at a very young age. With farmers and hunters stretching both sides of his family tree, Derek has spent his life immersed in what Iowa’s outdoors have to offer. If asked, he’ll tell you that hunting is in his blood, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Like many hunters, Derek grew up chasing small game, building a foundation of skills and moving on to bigger and more challenging pursuits. Jumping into the bowhunting world as soon as possible, he shot his first ‘book’ buck when he was 15, and you could say it was all downhill from there. While Derek relishes any opportunity to spend time in the field with friends and family, he has developed a true passion for chasing the big whitetails and turkeys that call Iowa home, making it a yearlong quest to grow, hold, and kill those elusive old bucks and longbeards. Derek also loves the management side of hunting, and spends a good portion of his time working around and improving wildlife habitat across the state.
Derek has focused his career in land sales and habitat management, acting as a resource for people looking to get the most out of Iowa’s outdoors. Follow Derek as he brings up-to-date stories and information on hunting and habitat management in his home state.
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COREY SNOKE
Corey Snoke is a 31 year old lifelong resident to Fairfield County, Ohio. He was introduced to hunting at a young age by his father and grandpa. Each winter Corey watched the family tradition of chasing deer in the hills and agricultural region around his home. Although family members have passed and traditions changed, something was etched deep into Corey’s soul. Today, Corey’s love for the outdoors has grown into being a seriously addicted bow-hunter. While Corey prefers to hunt rutting bucks in Ohio. Each year he travels out of state in search of new quarry, but considers bow hunting for mature whitetails his mainstay. Corey enjoys all aspects of “the season”. Whether chasing spring gobblers, arrow head hunting, summer bass fishing, predator calling or running trap lines in dead of winter. Corey can always be found somewhere in the outdoors. Corey is a 10 year veteran and career firefighter/paramedic for Lancaster City Division of Fire. Along with his wife, Nina, the couple also operates Booners Acres Guide Service. A small whitetail and turkey hunting guide service located in their home town of Bremen, Ohio.
Corey has long had an interest for outdoor media and can be found on many of the nation’s leading outdoor forums through contributing stories and sharing tips and tactics that have helped make him successful. He strives daily to improve his knowledge and skills as an outdoorsman. Corey’s latest passion is habitat improvement with goals to develop a diverse habitat sanctuary on his farms in Central Ohio. By following Corey on TrophyPursuit.com he hopes to educate, motivate and inspire others to grow as sportsman and conservationist.
