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About SHS | About Othmar | Personal Profile & Community Involvement

Smart Hunting Strategies

Smart Hunting Strategies (SHS) is the vehicle through which I promote my services to the hunting community and industry. The name came about many years ago when a visitor on one of my seminars enthusiastically shouted; "Now that is what I call Smart Hunting Strategies." This phrase expresses perfectly what my services are all about.

In 2001, after my retirement from a 30 plus year career as one of the leading animal behaviorists, I decided to combine my professional knowledge and lifelong deer and turkey hunting expertise and make it available to hunters through writing, seminars, courses and as a hunting strategy consultant.

Through communication with 1000's of everyday hunters I realized that there is a need and desire for unbiased, free of hype, real life knowledge hunters long for. Hunting success is not dependent on the type of weapon or other gadgets a hunter uses. Hunting success is the culmination of knowledge, experience and being smart. SHS is dedicated to provide that knowledge and experience to hunters of all skill levels. It is my personal commitment to preserve our unique heritage so that future generations will be able to enjoy hunting with the kind of success they rightfully deserve.

About Othmar

My exposure to outdoor pursuits began at about six years of age when I accompanied my parents on fishing and hunting trips near our home in Switzerland. I shot my first rabbit at age seven and by the age of 12 shot my first deer under the supervision of my father.

With that background it might not come as a surprise to you that I do not regard hunting as a sport, although it is a sport, but rather as my way of life. Hunting is to me more than just going out to hunt animals; hunting was, and still is, an all year round activity. I talk and write about hunting. As a hunter education instructor of British Columbia, and with my hunting courses and seminars I am active in the preservation of our hunting heritage and the recruitment of new hunters.

As a member of the B.C. Wildlife Federation, Nicola Valley Fish & Game Club, Ducks Unlimited, national Wild Turkey Federation plus a variety of other notable organizations I actively support a variety of wildlife and habitat conservation programs. Like I said, hunting is my way of life!

If I am not hunting, writing or talking about hunting I am out in the woods and fields studying and observing animals and their behaviors. Coincidentally, it was that urge to figure out what makes animals and nature tick that made me choose a profession as an animal trainer and animal behaviorist. It gave me the opportunity to study animal behaviors and interactions directly and in that capacity I became well known and respected in continental Europe, the U.K., the U.S.A. and the P.R. of China not only as an animal trainer and presenter but also through teaching animal trainers new methods of training based on the natural behavior of the animals. For over 30 years I have traveled throughout the world and appeared as a guest and host on many television and radio shows.

I had originally arrived in North America in 1994 living first in Illinois with occasional visits to middle and eastern Canada and was awestruck with the rich hunting heritage that enabled anybody, regardless of social and financial background (unlike in Europe), to purchase a hunting license. I was equally impressed with the variety of weapons that could be used and the variety of game that could be pursued. During my many years in North America I became an accomplished hunter with bow, crossbow, rifle, muzzleloader and shotgun.

In 2002 I decided to retire from the world of animal training and my wife and I moved permanently to British Columbia, Canada.

The retirement from traveling had given me time to think about how I could combine all my knowledge and hunting related activities in order to make them more accessible to hunters and the hunting community. The result was the founding of Smart Hunting Strategies (SHS). Through SHS I began to write hunting related articles, give seminars, hold courses and promote hunting related products. As time went on people kept asking my advice about hunting strategies they could employ and so I added Hunting Strategy Consultancy to my services too.

Through hard work and honesty I have gained a respected and sought-after reputation in the hunting community and industry alike. I am proud to have won my share of awards for writing and photography, but my biggest reward is connecting with folks who share my appreciation for the wonders of the natural world and our unique hunting heritage. When someone takes the time to write (see testimonials), thanking me for a hunting tip or making him a more successful, clarifying a natural puzzle… or just to celebrate taking the buck of their dreams, well, that’s the ultimate reward for me.

My objective as a writer and seminar speaker is to entertain, inspire, enlighten and educate. I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned over a lifetime of hunting the wily whitetails and strutting gobblers, researching wildlife behaviour and hunting tactics. Is than not a big part of what our hunting community is all about? To share and pass our knowledge and expertise on to the next generation so that they too can enjoy this great heritage we have inherited from our fathers. That is exactly what I strive for and what SHS is all about!

I value traditions, family and good friends as the foundation upon which our society is built. It is my firm belief that without these things we would be like trees without roots. My personal and professional behavior and conduct is governed by three basic principles:

Do what is right.
Do the best job you can.
Treat others like you would want to be treated.

Othmar's Personal Profile

Birth date:
05 /05/53

Hometown:
Merritt, British Columbia, Canada

Favorite Game to hunt:
Whitetail Deer, Wild Turkey, Waterfowl, Upland Birds.

Favorite Fish:
Largemouth Bass, Trout, Salmon

Articles:
Othmar's articles have been published in many magazines, newspapers and Internet resources throughout America and Canada...Read more.

Seminars:
Othmar has given seminars on many hunting related events. The seminar topics are based on real hunting experience and Othmar's professional animal behaviour knowledge. Othmar's dedication and enthusiasm of helping others becoming better at hunting is evident in each appearance...Read more.

Courses:
In his tireless effort to recruit more hunters and starting hunters off on the right foot to success he conducts his own uniquely designed Smart Hunting Strategies Courses© for whitetail deer and turkey hunting. Courses are available for single people (personalized) and groups of up to 30 people...Read more.

Promotional Work:
Othmar has been a promoter of the hunting sport and industry for many years. In this capacity he has field tested hundreds of products and assisted companies in bringing their products to the attention of customers...Read more.

Consultant:
Many hunters, outfitters and hunting clubs seek Othmar's advice on hunting strategies and surveying land for hunting potential...Read more.

Othmar is the author of his own award winning blog network:

Oudoors with Othmar Vohringer

Whitetail Deer Passion

Wild Turkey Fever

BC Headline Hunter

Current Publications:

Contributing Editor Western Sportsman Magazine
Contributing Editor BC Outdoors Magazine
Columnist BC Outdoors (Hunting & Shooting Edition)
Contributing Editor Canadian Outdoor Sportsman Magazine
Contributing Editor The Outdoor Edge Magazine
Columnist Merritt News
Columnist BC Outdoors Magazine Blog

Memberships and Community Activities:

Outdoor Writers of Canada (OWC)	Northwest Outdoor Writers Association	BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF)
Nicola Valley Fish & Game Club	National Wild Turkey Federation

Othmar is a Pro-Staff member of:

ASAT® Camo	Big Daddy Scents

Community Activities:

Licensed Hunter Education Instructor of British Columbia (C.O.R.E.)
BC Angling Ambassador (BC Wildlife Federation & Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC)