Handgun Hunting Afield

What is the reason behind HHA and how did we get here?

Over 20 years ago when I started handgun hunting I went out and read everything I could find on the subject to try and learn as much as possible. After apprenticing and later founding Bayside Custom Gunworks as well as gaining experience in the field I began to form some of my own opinions and preferences for handgun hunting.

Over the years running BCG I developed a few different methods that appear to have stuck in the handgun hunting world. The main one is my method of field shooting. We have since seen the proliferation of Hogue Big Butt grips and the use of small field bags by a large group of handgun hunters.

Handgun Hunter’s Competition was also founded and is based largely on my preferred method of field shooting practice. HHC is the largest gathering of handgun hunters to date in the USA and is held every June in Wyoming.

As I developed my methods and preferences for hunting and shooting handguns I would share those with my customer base. I would spend almost as much time communicating with customers about those as I did about custom builds.

Fast forward to when I retired from BCG….

The questions kept coming and now I also had a lot more time in the field taking a whole lot more game and putting more rounds down range.

After my first hunting season being fully retired I decided to continue sharing my field experience with my customer base. I started a small blog which you are reading here to share what I am doing and what I am learning. I am constantly trying to better myself as a handgun hunter and looking at every product, tactic, and gear item possible to make me more effective in the field.

The blog allowed me to share my opinion without a financial push from companies like a publication may have. I was free to endorse the products and tactics I like and use as well as to state factual product reviews when needed. There are not many times you can pick up a publication and read anything but positive paid for reviews of a product.

Something I didn’t expect started to happen almost immediately. The blog followers/readers began to grow, the reach was growing almost daily, and companies began contacting me.

In late 2023 the next big step in the growth of HHA took place. I had found several products that I thought were the absolute best products available to the handgun hunter. I had been using all of these products for a period of time and purchased them with my own funds to develop my opinions without bias. Over the next few months these various companies and myself began entering into partnerships. By partnering with these various companies I am in fact endorsing them to my past customers and my newer readers who are seeking out knowledge just like I was when I started handgun hunting. I don’t hand my recommendations out to just anyone and no company can buy a recommendation from me. I have to fully believe in their product and feel there is nothing better.

To date these partnerships include Ultradot, Cutting Edge Bullets, Nixon Leather, Spohr, and Starline Brass. Each of these manufactures represent what I believe is the best in the industry. All of these opinions were formed in the beginning by me simply buying the product and using it in the field all while comparing it to other products of the same type that I had purchased and used.

HHA is continuing to grow in both its reach and industry support. My entire goal is to help continue growing the sport I love in a non bias way. Handgun Hunting is my passion and it’s a passion I love to share with others.

We are getting ready to head into a very busy season for HHA! HHA group hunts start in just a few weeks followed by Handgun Hunter’s Competition. In between those events multiple articles will be coming out as well.

I look forward to sharing my field experiences with you as I continue to learn and strive to be a more proficient handgun hunter every day.

See you on the range and in the field.