Michael “Mickey” Soares – Texas
I was born in Medford, Oregon and raised for most of my life up in Hillsboro. Hunting didn’t always occupy my time; I was so focused on sports and motocross racing that I didn’t come to love hunting until my older years. I of course had my own BB gun when I was about five and certainly loved shooting cans off the fence in the backyard. I even loved going on “hunting trips” with my dad where he’d let me shoot squirrels and rabbits while he chased for bigger game. However, it wasn’t until I finally earned my hunter safety and my dad gifted me my first shotgun that I was really hooked on hunting. That first September I was out dove hunting with my dad in our backyard. Dove hunting was a blast but I was so excited for duck season to start! I had already been out in the waterfowl fields watching when I was younger. So I already knew how exciting waterfowl hunting was and I couldn’t wait to shoot them myself. Shortly after I killed my first blacktail doe with my dad’s .223 which was just the beginning of my pursuit for big game hunting. After my father also knew my love for big game hunting he purchased me my first 30-06 hunting rifle. It was at that point I went hunting with my older brother and pretty much began venturing off into the forest alone. My own freedom to adventure where I wanted. I was never so excited to explore the vast forest beyond. During those two years I finally bagged my first 3×3 blacktail buck followed by a 2×3. My addiction to hunting gave me the desire to try every new thing. From getting my first compound bow to my inline muzzleloader I had bagged my first deer with a bow and my first elk with a muzzleloader.
The biggest crossroads in my life was when I finally graduated high school and wanted to serve my country. I knew of the freedom that I was about to lose. The hunting opportunities that I would no longer be privileged to have. However, my bigger purpose was to serve and so I joined the United States Army as a combat medic. After finishing my training and being stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas I shortly was back pursuing my hunting addiction. Being able to hunt ducks and geese here on the US/Mexico border of the Rio Grande I was back at it again. These Texas ducks love Toasted Fowl duck calls.
To say the least I am very satisfied with the hunting opportunities that I have had and the success that I have been afforded. However, my hunting addiction will never end. This is only the beginning for me to bag my trophy bull elk and trophy buck.
