My name is Courtney Ogden and I am 25 years old. I am from a very, very small town in Louisiana and live pretty much right next door to the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge, so we are deep in the woods. I graduated from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and have a Bachelor’s of Science in Health Studies-Management/Marketing. 

Although this is Sportsman Paradise, I did not grow up hunting as a kid because no one in my family was into it. I was always intrigued by it and had wanted to try it for so long but did not have the opportunity until I started dating my fiancé. I did grow up fishing off the bank of the lake my grandmother lives on in Ashley County, Arkansas so I have always loved fishing. I took up bow hunting in the fall of 2013 and have been hooked ever since. I have only taken one animal with a bow because we are trying to take only older, quality deer. We have also seen a decrease in the amount of deer we see due to an increase in our Black Bear population. This year I saw a Black Bear every hunt, and since we do not have a season here for them it has become harder to see a consistent amount of deer. We do not really rifle hunt here in Louisiana unless we are in desperate need of meat, then we’re out to get us a doe. Although I love deer hunting and that’s where I started, my true passion has been turkey hunting. I started turkey hunting around spring of 2011 and had not killed a turkey until this spring, May 2016 in Kansas. Turkey hunting gets me so excited, there’s just something about hearing that gobble before sunrise and watching that Tom come out; it has to be one of the most beautiful creatures I’ve ever seen.  

In our neck of the woods, we have so many friends and most of my fiancé’s family that hunt and fish. We all love to get together to help one another, whether that be to help set up deer stands, call up a turkey or just hunt together. It so wonderful to have so many amazing people around that enjoy hunting and the outdoors as much as you. Hunting is not only fun, but it allows us to put healthy, organic food on our table. Hunting requires hard work so during the off season we are always feeding deer, checking trail cameras, planting food plots, and setting up stands. Preparation is one of the most important parts of hunting and allows you to appreciate so much more. Knowing how much work was put into harvesting an animal allows you to appreciate their life and the importance of conservation. I am so excited to be part of the Huntress View team and feel blessed to have even been considered.