Fred lives in Colorado with his wife, Michele and their sons, where the whole family is involved in running Fulldraw Outfitters. As well as being a renowned bowhunter, and filming for Easton Bowhunting, Fred’s predator hunting is captured on Predator Nation.

Who taught you to shoot and hunt, and what was the most valuable lesson you learned from them?

My father taught me to shoot and then to hunt. The most valuable lesson was that a gun has never killed a person. Like a vehicle or even a glass bottle they are only dangerous if a person uses them as a weapon or is careless. My Dad always stressed safe gun handling and what could happen if I made one mistake and that has always stuck with me. I have in turn passed those lessons on to my children and others.

What animal did you first hunt, and what gun did you use?

I started with small game and my first harvest was a squirrel with a bolt-action .22 rifle. I remember eating it and was so proud that I had contributed to our meal that night.

When did you join Hornady as a sponsored shooter?

I have shot Hornady products for over 20 years. I started working with them about seven years ago.

What would be your ideal all-round rifle, optics and cartridge set-up, and why?

My ideal rifle is my Rock River Arms AR in .223. If I could only have one rifle this would be it. The reason is I could hunt anything with it. Although a tad small for large game it is great for small game up to deer-sized game. I usually hunt predators with it and it is perfect for fox, coyote, bobcat, and badger. I top my rifle with a Leupold VX-3i with a variable 4.5–14 scope. For predators my favorite cartridge is the Hornady 53 gr V-MAX Superformance.

Does hunting in front of cameras add an extra challenge? Have there ever been any times when you wish the cameras weren’t there?

Most people have no idea how difficult it is to video hunts. With an extra person (a cameraman) I have to try and combat twice as much scent, movement and noise. I also commonly pass shots at animals I could easily harvest because we couldn’t get it on camera. One time I was hunting sheep and had to slide out on a steep cliff ledge. I didn’t hear anything behind me so I waited for my cameraman to catch up. I was staring at the sheep and waiting to hear my cameraman come up behind me. Finally after not hearing anything for a few minutes I looked back. My cameraman was on a much safer part of the cliff and shook his head to inform me he was not going to follow me onto the small ledge…. guess I don’t pay enough. The plus to getting a hunt on film is that it really makes me feel like I have truly accomplished something and I enjoy sharing the hunt with friends, family and fellow hunters. I hope some of my videos have helped entertain and educate viewers about hunting.

Of course the TV shows are about entertaining, but what, for you, is the most important message to convey about hunting?

I would say entertaining is the smallest part of the show. My main goal is to educate hunters about how to be more efficient and to also keep them abreast of products and techniques that will help them in that goal.

When did you set up Fulldraw Outfitters? What led you to start the company?

I started it 25 years ago and it was started after numerous requests to take people hunting. I guide for whitetail deer, elk, bear, mountain lion, antelope, mule deer and turkey in Colorado.

What’s the most important aspect of being a guide?

Knowing what you’re doing and knowing how to work with people of all ages who are in varying degrees of physical shape.

When did you introduce your children to hunting, and how did you do it — what lessons did you teach them first?

Safety was first and proper handling of all types of firearms. Each boy was different. But between six years old and eight years old for all of them.

What has been your favorite hunt to date, and why?

It sounds cliché but I have a ton of favorites for different reasons. Some because my family was with me, some because of the amazing country I was in, some because of the animal I was after. That’s a tough one. I also tend to remember the ones I was almost killed on because of boats flipping, planes crashing or when I was charged by a leopard, or the time I was charged by a brown bear, or the time an alligator grabbed my knee and I had to be rushed to the hospital for surgery…. tough question. I can’t pick just one!

What would be your dream hunt?

My next hunt. Every one is a hunt I am pumped about or I wouldn’t go!

What is your favorite game to eat?

Probably mountain lion. But whatever my wife makes is usually pretty dang good.

How do you explain your passion for hunting to those who don’t support it?

I have canines in my mouth and so do they. They are for eating meat, not soy burgers and yoghurt. I don’t have a problem if people don’t want to hunt. But don’t give me a hard time if I prefer to kill my own food instead of paying someone to kill a chicken, pig, cow, or fish for me.

To find out more, visit www.fredeichler.com.