Wade Richards Nampa, Idaho

 

I grew up in an outdoor family. My father was an Alaska Fish and Wildlife State Trooper.  My mother, sister and I followed him on all of his adventures. Our weekends were for camping, hunting and fishing. Those early years forged a love of everything outdoors. We always had a boat or airplane to get us as far away from people as possible.

 

I remember fishing for salmon in a bay off of Shuyak Island, Alaska where the fish looked like huge clouds swimming below you. Every cast brought in a Silver Salmon…I caught so many salmon, I filled the freezer and dad told me not to bring anymore home.

In Homer, Alaska we were given some crab pots. My mother and I rolled them out at low tide to see if we could catch dinner. We caught 115 Dungeness crab in one day. I ate so much crab I am not sure if I need to eat it ever again! Our life in Alaska was plentiful.

 

After my father retired we moved to eastern Oregon. I graduated High school in Union, Oregon. Although the hunting and fishing was not as readily available in Oregon, I learned the thrill of chasing elk and deer. Early morning bugles and long treks through the pine forests after game developed new respect for the chase.

 

After high school, I attended the University of Idaho in Moscow, ID.  After two years, I heard the call of the wilderness and I spent 6 years as a woodland fire fighter in eastern Oregon.  My brother-in-law encouraged me to apply at Graybar Electric Company many years ago. We both are working at Graybar almost 20 years later.  During my time with Graybar, they have transferred me all over the northwest, first in Spokane, WA, onto Boise, ID, next Fairbanks, AK and finally back to Boise. 

 

Three years ago I married a wonderful woman who tries to always support my outdoor affliction. Windy has taken up 3-D archery, and trap shooting. She rifle hunted for deer with me last year. Once in a while she rolls her eyes at me, but for the most part she understands how much I love to hunt and fish. My stepdaughter McKenzie loves to shoot trap and archery too.

 

I enjoy hunting in every way, shotguns, handguns, rifles and archery. I bought my first compound bow in the early 80’s. It was a Pearson Spoiler that you had to draw ungodly weight to get any speed out of. It brought several deer and one Elk to the table! Now, the new bows shoot twice as fast with half the draw weight. I appreciate that now that I am getting a little older!

 

I’m excited to bring to Backcountry Boss my perspective on hunting, camping, fishing and anything else I can do in the outdoors!  We try and attend as many 3-D shoots as we can every year. Hopefully we will see you there!

 

   - Wade