Cameron Hanes is passionate about bowhunting, especially backcountry bowhunting. To train for bow season, Hanes shoots his bow every single day of the year and runs 100-mile ultra marathons in the mountains during the off-season. Hanes believes such tests better prepare him mentally and physically for the challenges that wait in backcountry. Hanes likes to set the bar high, push his body to failure and beyond, and be an inspiration to others.
Hanes’ hard working, blue-collar bowhunting background motivates those who share his passion. “Hunters can be a tough crowd. They are savvy and can tell if what you write or the image you represent is real, or if you’re trying to sell them a bill of goods,” says Hanes. He continues, “You can’t pull the wool over a Western hunter’s eyes. I practice what I preach, and the readers and viewers know I am genuine because I do a lot of my hunts just like they do, on my own and on public land. It is because of this common thread that they seem to trust my advice.”
Hanes enjoys hunting in front of the camera for RMEF’s Team Elk; that split-second chance to land an arrow on the mark. “The ‘one and done’ pressure is undeniable, but it is all a challenge I have come to crave and love’”, says Cameron. “We have captured some great bowhunting elk footage in the face of very steep odds over the years. If it was easy, everyone would do it. This means, not many do it like we do, and that is just fine.”
Hanes has also been featured at many bowhunting banquets and seminars throughout the West. He says he’s devoted to honing his hunting techniques and sharing his knowledge with fellow hunters. Hanes has based his life and career around the things he loves: photography/filming, family, and bowhunting the backcountry.