Hunters At Heart: Matthew Sage

This Hunters At Heart article presents Matthew Sage, our Regional Sales Manager for UK here at Outfit International. Matthew was brought up with hunting and got introduced to it from the young age of 5 years old.

"We hunt to put food on the table, with knowledge of the journey from field to fork. Can we ever really be sure what sort of life the animal that ends up in the supermarket really had?"

How did you come to hunting? What sparked your interest??

From around the age of 5 years old, I used to go out with my Grampa Sage and his ferrets catching rabbits, covering holes with purse nets and clambering through hedges on frosty mornings, and generally just being outside in nature. These are fond memories I will always carry with me.

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What does hunting mean to you???

Hunting is very important to me. People that don’t hunt often do not understand the time, skill and education required to work with the natural environment, Things like how the seasons work with the animals, each animals’ habitat, when they feed and on what throughout the year. It’s not about killing for a trophy, it’s about management and control of numbers.

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What’s a hunt that’s stuck with you???

For me this is not so easy to answer, as I will never forget the sound and rumble of rabbits beneath my feet bolting around a warren driven by ferrets, but equally shooting my first Roe buck last year was a special moment that will not be forgotten. He was a nice 6 pointer taken in Berkshire during a classic summers evening. Just perfect.

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What’s something you would like a non-hunter to understand???

I would love to help educate non hunters to understand that what we do is not cruel. ?The animals taken are to keep numbers in check, which in turn helps our environment and prevents overpopulation of wild animals. We hunt to put food on the table, with knowledge of the journey from field to fork. Can we ever really be sure what sort of life the animal that ends up in the supermarket really had?. I am lucky that I get to spend so much time in nature and can relax and take in the sounds of the hedgerows. ?From songbirds, to hares, rabbits, badgers, deer, foxes, red kites, buzzards, you just have to open your eyes and appreciate it.

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What’s something people would be surprised to know about hunting???

I think people that do not hunt genuinely would be surprised at how often you go out with best laid plans but return home empty handed. Whether its due to no safe shot, no animals in the location, the wrong animal in season, or just that “you know what, today I am just happy to sit here and watch the beauty that nature has given me”

What’s the best thing about hunting??

The skills you have to learn in order to blend in with nature to get close enough to your quarry, being silent and taking in your surroundings

What’s your best advice for fellow hunters???

Patience, patience, and more patience!!!! Some days you will blank!!!

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What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a hunter??

Again, patience is key, you cannot force what is not there, animals are unpredictable, time served behind the gun is key!! ‘Trigger time in order to be a safe and accurate shot!’

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