by Wade Middleton
As a passionate and inquisitive hunter, I’ve had the privilege of exploring and learning various hunting styles while using a wide array of well for a lack of better word “cool” products over my hunting career. Honestly, from my early days I was a gear junkie reading ever magazine, flipping the pages of Bass Pro and Cabela’s catalogs and binge watching TV shows. I think all of that lead me to wanting to learn and experience more and therefore I never confined myself to just one style or method of hunting. I never just said I was going to be a rifle hunter, bow hunter, or muzzleloader. Instead, I embraced every opportunity to experience the diverse aspects of hunting and selfishly I was able to hunt more thanks to the separate seasons many of those methods had in so many states.
As I just mentioned hunting offers a multitude of seasons and opportunities, allowing us to expand our horizons beyond specializing in just one method. I admire those who dedicate themselves entirely to a specific style, like longbow hunting or any other method and I learn from those types quite often as they can be experts with a vast amount of knowledge on their specialty. Their passion is inspiring, and it’s something I deeply respect. However, I’ve always been drawn to broadening my hunting experiences.
I’ve repeatedly said this when the idea of handgun hunting first crossed my mind, some 20 years ago I was both excited and apprehensive. Handguns, especially the large calibers often used for hunting, can be intimidating. Watching videos of these powerful firearms kicking back over people’s heads made me question whether I could handle one effectively and, more importantly, whether I could shoot it accurately enough to ensure a respectful and ethical hunt.
As I delved into handgun hunting, I quickly realized that it was one of the most challenging forms of hunting I had ever encountered. Consistency was key—mastering a good grip, finding a solid brace, and respecting the shooting distance of each caliber were all crucial to success and lead to my failures early on. The handgun itself is capable of far more than I could achieve with it, especially in demanding situations. While I could perform well at the range and had taken down pigs, whitetail deer, and even an Impala in Africa in the first ten years of hunting with a handgun, I knew that this form of hunting required an entirely different level of precision.
When it comes to handgun hunting, my approach has always been to get as close as possible to my target. I want the game to be “in my lap,” so to speak. My friends and I have spent countless hours hunting different animals with handguns, from whitetails to axis deer. One of my most memorable experiences was in Africa, where I took down a stunning Impala with a .460 caliber handgun. It was an unforgettable hunt, captured on film with my father-in-law and a couple of close friends by my side. At that time that was my 6th animal with that exact handgun model and I felt I had earned them all with the amount of practice I’d put in over the times hunting with that model.
For many handgun hunting is more than just a hobby—it’s an addiction and it’s an addiction I still have. I now hunt 3-5 times a year on average with a handgun and to this date I still go home empty handy either due to misses or just not feeling comfortable with the shot. But when I take an animal with a handgun the grin I have after the fact is massive.
The thrill of hunting with such a challenging weapon, combined with the unique experiences it offers, keeps me coming back for more. For anyone looking to expand their hunting repertoire, I can’t recommend handgun hunting enough. It’s a journey of growth and discovery that will keep you captivated and constantly seeking new adventures.
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