We catch up with Chad Mendes, a seasoned hunter, guide, and renowned mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter.
Chad shares insights on the parallels between preparing for a hunt and an MMA fight, his approach to balancing a rigorous training regime with his passion for hunting and why passing down these skills to his family holds such importance for him.
Who or what got you into hunting? Was it a family member or a friend?
My dad got me and all my brothers into hunting at a very young age. It was something I became obsessed with right away.
What was the first gun you owned, one that was 100% yours?
I was 12-years old when my dad gave me my first rifle. It was a Remington model 700 in 243 Win. I still have that rifle and plan on passing it down to my oldest daughter.
You’ve built an incredibly successful career as an MMA fighter; did that make it harder to get out into the wild and hunt over the years? How do you balance that?
Hunting and fishing were always both huge passions of mine. Any free time I had as a kid, outside of wrestling and school, was spent doing one or sometimes even both. In college I had to really step back from my time in the field to focus on school and training. After I graduated and moved to Northern California, I was able to get back out more between fights. It was a challenge some years as fights would be scheduled during the best times to hunt and as much as I wanted to get out, I knew I had to train and stay focused. Now that I am retired from MMA, I have time to continue growing my hunting and fishing guide service, Finz and Featherz and pursue my true passion in the outdoors.
Are there skills and attributes that cross over from one to the other?
Yes, there are many things that cross over from training/fighting and hunting. The biggest thing is dedication. When you have an opponent, you study them. determine their strengths and weaknesses. You gameplan for success. You train and practice daily. You push through days when it sounds awful to do and when the moment of truth comes, you are prepared for success. It’s the same thing with hunting. You study the landscape/terrain. You gameplan the best possible ways to hunt the area. You practice with your weapon and train your body for whatever possible physical challenges there might be. When the moment of truth comes and you have that animal in range, you are ready for success. Without dedication this all falls apart.
When did you become a Hornady sponsored shooter? How did the association come about and what does it mean to you?
I’m not 100% on the actual date that I teamed up with Hornady, but it’s been a few years now. I was introduced through a great friend of mine who works with them. Hornady has always been the leader in the ammunition industry, and it’s been an absolute honor to be a part of such an amazing team!
What’s at the very top of your shopping list at Hornady at the moment and why?
I am really loving the 7mm PRC Hornady 180 gr ELD® Match right now. I just got a new Gunwerks set up and I love how everything is performing together!
Can you tell me about your favorite or most memorable hunt to date?
Oh man this is a tough one. I’d have to say this year’s New Mexico antelope with my oldest daughter was it. It was her first travel hunt with me, and we had a blast. We camped out on the ranch in campers, caught horned toads and turtles, and even belly crawled together to kill my buck!
Do you have any big hunting trips in the calendar at the moment?
I drew a late season Arizona elk hunt that I’m really excited about. It’s tough hunting but I have a chance at finding a giant. I’ll be bringing my 7mm PRC with 175gr Hornady ELD-X for that one for sure.
You’re a family man, so how important is it to you to pass on your hunting skills to the next generation?
This is one of the most important things I can do as a father. I believe that it’s extremely important to pass down the importance of hunting and conservation to this next generation. With more and more technology and less interest in the outdoors, we need to make it a priority to teach our kids about why and how we hunt. My oldest is five-and-a-half years old and has been hunting a ton with me already. She’s been by my side for many wild turkey harvests, deer, wild pig and now antelope hunts. She loves spending time with me outdoors and making memories together. It warms my heart, and I can’t wait for the next adventure.
