Field & Stream’s 2010 Hunting and Fishing Tattoo Contest

Kirk Paddock: "This is a reminder of a 10-pointer I harvested in 2002." Blake Cohen: "This tattoo is of the 150-inch, 10-pointer I shot with my muzzleloader Thanksgiving weekend." Steve Deming: "I incorporated my love of hunting with my love of tattoos. I have another deer on my chest, but I thought this was the best." Mark Mills: "This is based off a couple of sheds I found and was a 20th anniversary gift from my wife." Jeff Danberg: "I live and die for whitetail, and I know I will forever." Jesse Ross: "I was looking for a good shot of a non-typical to get a tattoo and I just couldn't get this one out of my head." Jay Bjorklund: "I live and breathe for deer hunting season to come around. I had this tattoo done last year while I was down in Florida. It's only the second deer the artist had ever done." Heather Vaith: "My boyfriend got this tattoo because he's an avid hunter." Ryan Mondary: "That's me and my sister showing off our tattoos while I was on leave from Iraq." Charles M. Freeman: "This serves as a remembrance of my son who died at 24 years young, Dustin Raymond Freeman. The bottom deer is the one and only deer he ever shot -- a 12-pointer. The other three are mine, and the top is an albino." Kyle Reese: "I got this done because I'm an avid hunter and fisherman. My next tattoo is going to be a largemouth bass." Bill Galante: "I took a friend's son hunting and taught him what I know. These are three of the bucks he's shot, so therefore, school's out! He can teach me now." Mike McNulty: "I've always wanted a whitetail deer tattoo and finally got this one last fall." James Eichinger: "Being an avid whitetail photographer and bow hunter, I wanted to put a mark on my arm. I'm proud to show support for the sport I love." Jonathan Warren: "I just can't help but love deer!" Chad Bullock: "I got this tattoo because my older brother, who was killed in a car accident two years ago, got me started in bow hunting. He was my hunting mentor and partner and I miss him every day. I'm thankful for the time we spent together." Josh Cain: "The reason I got this is simple. I'm all about whitetail hunting." Korey D. Pruitt: "I had the idea for this tattoo for a long time, but it took over a year to find an artist who could draw it to my liking. I've been an avid deer hunter for over 20 years." Jared Guillien: "Deer hunting has always been in my blood, and on my 18th birthday I decided it was time to put it on my skin. When I get cabin fever, I just take a look and I'm instantly in West Salem, WI, 15 feet high in my favorite hickory tree with my bow." Chad M. Jarvis: "My younger brother Jesse passed away in an ATV wreck. Hunting was something we loved to do together. So every time I see this arm it helps me remember those times." Ellsworth Orndorff: "This tattoo represents a 9-point non-typical buck that I harvested." Mark Garrison: "I got this done because deer have always been my favorite animal to hunt and just see and learn about." Donald Poppenfuse: "This was to thank my dad for getting me into deer hunting. The writing says 'Thanks Dad' in German. I had this done a month after his death." Nathan Atwood: "I always wanted something that wouldn't go out of style, and hunting whitetails never will. My three little girls got me a shirt for Father's Day with this deer on it, so I took the shirt to tattoo parlor and that was that." John Burke: "I got this done because my 16-year-old brother Jared had been killed in a hunting accident with me in Illinois 8 years ago. I drew it myself, and it is a constant memorial to him and serves as a reminder to those that knew him to be safe when hunting." Jon Wilson: "I have two passions...hunting and Scottish bagpipes. I've played in pipe bands for over 20 years and this tattoo shows between the hem of my kilt. It's significant to me because it's my first trophy buck taken during the rut." Nick Meredith: "I love to hunt and fish, but ever since I joined the Marine Corp, I haven't had time, so I got this tattoo to remind me of the outdoors while I'm deployed overseas." Clay Nally: "I decided to get this tattoo just because I love deer hunting and European mounts." Shannon Lewis: "This tattoo represents the passion I have for hunting and the respect I have for whitetail deer." Matthew L. Zicafoose: "I got this tattoo to do something different and preserve my deer hunting heritage." Chip Wooten: "My father started taking me hunting when I was 10. I got this tattoo so people will see it and ask me about deer hunting." Jody Bowers: "This tattoo reminds me of things I have done in the past that I do not want to repeat." Jimmy Tricoukes: "I'm sending you this shot on behalf of my brother. When the season hits, he's a ghost. This is one of five whitetail tats he has." Ben: "I got this tattoo as a Valentine's Day present from my wife in 2007." Derick Harrington: "I always wanted something relating to deer because I love to hunt. It just seemed like a cool thing to get." Benjamin Brannon: "I'm a hunter. I spend a lot of time in the woods. This deer represents that part of me." Zac Williams: "I got this tattoo to honor and acknowledge the American tradition of hunting the majestic whitetail deer." Matt Matulka: "I've always loved deer hunting, and I thought this is the only tattoo I could get that wouldn't look bad as I grow older because my passion for hunting will always be there." Clint Turner: "I always wanted a deer tattoo, so I got this last summer while on vacation in Florida. It's a souvenir I'll never forget." Bruce Mandrell: "I have lung disease from being exposed to to a chemical. I was told I wouldn't be able to hunt like I used to, so I had this put on my shoulder to show how much deer hunting means to me." Chris Wolfe: "I got this tattoo two years ago. My dad and I looked for the right picture for quite a while, and when we saw this one we both agreed it was the right one. Now with both have this tattoo." Rocky Rockholt: "I got this tattoo because I am a die-hard deer hunter and I love European style mounts." Ken Riley: "I'm an avid bow hunter, and more often than not, the deer get the best of me." John Phillips: "I live for deer hunting and watching big deer." Mike Hughes: "I got this just because I love bow hunting for whitetail deer." Jim Fuller: "I got this ink done because I eat, sleep, and breathe deer hunting and wanted this as a tribute to the best big game animal on the planet!" Rick Fognano: "I always told myself the first rack I took would also be the inspiration for my first tattoo. After I shot this 8-point buck during the 2006 muzzleloader season, I went straight to the tattoo shop to make an appointment." Peter Lechnir: "Got this for the love of bow hunting. Why else?" Scott "Sparky" Chevalier: I've taken two bucks in three years of hunting, both is a .50-caliber, half-stock cap-lock replica muzzleloader." Jeff Cantara: "I love everything about whitetail deer. It goes beyond hunting them. I enjoy photographing them as well as just seeing them." Greg Potts: "I am an avid hunter, and yes, deer do get under my skin." Ricky Holloway: "I love the outdoors and love deer hunting. I had a picture of a 236 B&C; with two drop-tines and wanted it on my arm. The artist who did this changed a few things so you could see all the horns." Andy Townsend: "I had always wanted a tattoo, and there isn't anything in my life that means more to me than hunting." Matt Joralemon: "I love deer hunting, but I didn't want some Bambi-looking deer on my arm. So this was what I ended up with." Brad Mertz: "Got this tattoo for the simple fact that I'm a die-hard deer hunter. That's it." Josh Durecki: "I this is a tattoo of my first buck. I shot it when I was 14." Derrick Resler: "I decided to get a deer forever inked on my arm because of my passion for deer and deer hunting. The sport has been passed down through my family for generations. Now I share it with my son." Michael Gordon: "I've got a serious passion for the whitetail deer!" Harry Saddock: "I got this done in Lincoln, NE, while traveling for work as a birthday present to myself. It's my favorite woodland critter!" John Lauer: "I got this because other than my wife Karin and my son Hunter, deer hunting is my favorite thing in life." Butch Patrick: "The deer head was the logo of mu company, Whitetail Roofing, and the horns represent all those I've collected over the years. The tattoo just seemed right." Mike Gummel: "This tattoo is of a deer I killed in Delaware about 4 years ago." Chris Watson: "I've been hunting since I was 6. Now I'm 48 and figured what better way to show off my favorite hobby than to get a tattoo?" Brian Hitchcock: "I know this is not a deer, but growing up in Colorado, it's easy to fall in love with this deer cousin, the Rocky Mountain elk."

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