Spoke+Blossom Magazine | Fall 2019 | Issue #9

Page 66

feature

TIMBER TO TABLE GUIDE SERVICE

FOOD IS THE FOCUS Words by Hannah Odneal | Photos by Andy Bowen

A

na Kampe and Adam Gall fell in love as

don’t we try that?’” Kampe says. “There are plenty

they worked together on a wolf recovery

of outfitters, but none of them are capitalizing

project with the Nez Perce Tribe in Idaho in 2004.

on the food processing and education part like

Kampe, a native of Half Moon Bay, California,

we are.”

earned a bachelor’s degree in natural resource

management and was working on her master’s

wouldn’t consider myself a trophy hunter by any

degree in sustainable farming and food systems

stretch. I’m a meat hunter just trying to fill my

at the at the time.

freezer,” Gall says. “I think there are more and

“I love antlers as much as anybody, but I

“I grew up collecting mussels and clams at

more people starting to see it that way. The fastest

low tide, so having a connection to the earth

growing demographic in hunting is women, and

and its cycles was instilled at a very young age,”

the new hunters are more interested in what

Kampe says. “Food has always been very central

they can do with this wonderful bounty they’ve

to my interests.”

just been graced with.”

Gall was introduced to enjoyment of the

“It’s not just head into the woods and start

outdoors while hunting, fishing and camping on

shootin’ like some people think,” Gall says. “The

an 80-acre swamp in Michigan with his childhood

animals that are being harvested are actually

best friend, guided by the friend’s father. Then,

surplus animals. Every habitat has its capacity. It’s highly regulated by well-informed and

Thoughtful preparation of healthy meals utilizing your harvest is the best show of gratitude for the life sacrificed.

educated biologists who are looking out for the benefit of the wildlife resource as a whole, for the long term. That’s why there are licenses, units and season dates — all for the benefit of

64

through firefighting, forestry and wildlife work in

the animal.”

Idaho, Adam’s passion for the outdoors multiplied.

“Now I had thousands and thousands of acres to

legal side of hunting, which can be tough to

roam and never trespass — it was an epiphany

understand. Though their business is called

moment for sure,” Gall says. “I love being on public

Timber to Table Guide Service, Gall offers much

lands. To me, it’s like the pinnacle of freedom!”

help ahead of the “timber” part of the process.

Gall helps first-time hunters navigate the

When opportunity arose for the couple

He will assist in weapon and gear selection

later that year in Hotchkiss, Colorado, they went

and advises repetitious target practice, mindful

together to make it home. Ana was able to actually

of effective range, so the hunter can make an

implement programs connecting communities

ethical shot.

with the sources of their food, and Adam put his

bachelor’s in science and master’s in education to

says Andrew Mays, who went on his first big

work, teaching at the local high school.

game hunt with them in the late season of 2019.

“We were together for ten years before this

“You can feel their dedication to new hunters

idea came to us, and with Adam’s dedication

and preservation of the hunting heritage from

to hunting, outdoors and public lands, and my

the moment you step on their property. They are

dedication to food and health, we thought, ‘why

not looking for repeat customers but are truly

“Adam and Ana were incredible teachers,”


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