Why I Mentor: Luke Winge
This Is Why I Mentor Series
A series to share, educate, and inspire others with mentoring stories.
We have all had one in our lives…. Someone we look up to. Someone we call when we have questions, concerns, and frustrations. Someone who provides sound and nurturing wisdom. Someone we can expose our true selves to and still feel supported. Someone we can hunt with. Someone we can fish with. Someone we can spend time with. A mentor.
This series is meant to be a way to educate and motivate you to give back to others. It is designed to inspire you to become a mentor. It is a reminder to thank your mentor. Hopefully the advice and stories shared here will leave you nothing short of empowered!
Mentor: Luke Winge
OCCUPATION:
Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism Norton Wildlife Area Biologist
HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN MENTORING?
As a professional in the conservation industry- 6 years, as a volunteer - a lot longer
WHAT DOES MENTORING MEAN TO YOU?
Helping people step into the outdoor world and giving them the tools to transition into proficient outdoor men and women. A big part of mentoring is showing people how to hunt and fish ethically, legally, and proudly.
WHO WAS/IS YOUR MENTOR?
I have had numerous mentors throughout my life. The first and biggest influence was my dad, he ignited a passion for hunting and fishing when I was young and started an outdoor lifestyle that that I still live today. Also, when it was time after high school he gave me the push, that I definitely needed, to follow that passion for the outdoors into a conservation career. I have also had numerous other mentors throughout the journey that introduced me to various outdoor activities that my dad did not participate in. These ranged from friends and roommates to bosses and other professionals in the outdoor industry.
WHY DO YOU MENTOR?
I was probably 12 or 13, I can't recall exactly, but I remember that I forgot to breath as I watched our yellow lab, Badger, bring back my first solo rooster. That feeling of accomplishment was the greatest rush I have ever experienced and a feeling that I still experience when I watch a new hunter harvest their first animal. Being able to provide someone else a chance to experience that is a big reason why I mentor. The outdoor lifestyle has been the force behind most of my decisions in life and hopefully through mentoring it can have the same influence on other peoples life that it has had on mine
HOW CAN SOMEONE ELSE MENTOR?
The easiest way to get involved with any sort of volunteer work in the conservation field is to become a member of a local nonprofit group. There are numerous quality groups out there - Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation - just to name a few. These groups are made up of passionate individuals who are always looking for new people to help out.
WHAT IS YOUR ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BECOME A MENTOR?
Keep it fun! My biggest challenge is to remember that for most new hunters the goal is to go hunting-not necessarily harvesting an animal! On a recent pig hunt in Texas we had a new hunter with us. He was a young kid and his favorite part of the hunt was being chased by an armadillo...something that had nothing to do with the actual harvesting of wild pigs.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MENTORING MOMENT?
Anytime the person I am mentoring lights up, smiles from ear to ear, and is calling everyone they know on the way home it is a good hunt. It would be hard to pick one moment out but one of the top moments was taking my Dad out to harvest his first turkey. My Dad had never hunted turkeys and when a big 3 year old tom strutted all the way into the decoys then proceeded to give us a show while in the decoys was pretty special. After a little bit, which seemed like an eternity, my Dad was able to connect and that was as close to repaying him for everything he has done for me as I will ever come.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE AS A MENTOR AND TRYING TO SHARE YOUR PASSION FOR HUNTING?
The biggest challenge for me is not having enough time. There are always more people that I would like to take out every year than I get the chance to. Everyone has such an active lifestyle and there are always scheduling issues that must be worked around.
