Exposed

Mark Kayser Q&A

Where were you born?
Dell Rapids, South Dakota. That’s corn country baby!

What was your first game animal?
Ring-necked pheasant…are you kidding? I was raised in South Dakota and had to be broken from road hunting!

How old were you when you shot your first big game animal?
I bowkilled my first deer ever at the age of 15 (shot my second with a rifle). I was 16 when I shot my first turkey, but anything with antlers drives me nuts!

How many states, provinces and countries have you hunted?
19 states, 5 Canadian provinces and 3 countries (Namibia, South Africa and Argentina). So far I haven’t hunted any planets, but I am willing and able.

Where was your first extreme hunt?
Ontario where a black bear tried to get up in the tree with me. I arrowed him a few minutes later, checked my underwear and didn’t sleep for two days due to the adrenaline overload.

What’s your favorite species to hunt?
Elk and whitetails end in a draw. I’m also a coyote hunting junkie, but shed antler hunting is my real addiction demon!

What’s your favorite hunt?
Hunting with kids and new hunters! My kids are getting older, but watching my son arrow a six-point bull and my daughter bust a five-point buck were hunts of a lifetime!

How many days and miles does Mark log each year hunting?
I spend a minimum of 180 days on the road each year and log 15,000 miles or more on my truck. Can anyone recommend a truck sponsor?

What’s your favorite restaurant to hit while traveling?
If there’s a Pizza Ranch nearby I’ll hit it otherwise I’m a big fan of KFC when I’m burning calories (sponsor hint again). Doc approved of my cholesterol so a little grease keeps the joints lubed!

What’s your favorite sporting team?
I’m not a huge fan of sports, but go Broncos! My Super Bowl Sunday tradition has been to go coyote hunting and get back in time to watch the halftime show for wardrobe malfunctions, plus enjoy the last half of the game.

What’s your favorite music?
I like country and rock. I’m a fan of the Bellamy Brothers, Billy Currington, Breaking Benjamin Chevelle and The Offspring. That said, it’s difficult for hunting folk like me to like too many groups since it seems like every day I discover another donating to animal rights groups.

What’s your favorite pastime when you’re not hunting?
I love to spend time outdoors with my family. My kids are spreading their wings, but that leaves more time for me and my wife Sharon to horseback into the mountains, or ATV-scout new country. I love hiking the Bighorn Mountains in my backyard with a goal to pick up a few shed antlers.

What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
If I hadn’t ended up in the outdoor industry I’d likely be selling tractors to farmers in eastern South Dakota. My main chore tractor is a 1950s-era 350 Farmall that runs like a top … after I swear at it for 15 minutes.