There are good hunters, and there are good people. Occasionally, one person is both, making the archery community better. Fred Eichler is that person.
I was reminded of this on my recent rifle elk hunt at Full Draw Outfitters in Aguilar, Colorado, as shared in this week’s Hunting Wire. Fred wasn’t in the blind with me, but his presence was clear: in his guides’ work, the camp’s tone, and the sense that the hunt meant more than a filled tag.
It’s not every day you get to kill your first bull elk with a legend. Fred Eichler, Mark Land, the author, and Byle Chadwick with the bull elk. Photo by Joe Vega – S&W
Fred creates that atmosphere everywhere. At his camp, kindness and respect aren’t extras; they’re expected. Every hunter is a friend, every guide is family, and each challenge becomes a learning moment. That’s rare in any field, especially one humbled by weather, animals, and luck.
During my hunt, Fred told a story that captured his character. Years ago in Africa, he made a mistake most would rather forget. His local guide could have shamed him or been frustrated. Instead, the guide gave Fred’s ego space to recover, helping him reset and move forward without lecture or scolding.
Fred told that story not as a boast but as a lesson. The experience stayed with him, reminding him of the power of patience and humility. In his voice, you heard both gratitude and growth. Preaching humility is easy; living and sharing it is rare.
That humility defines Full Draw Outfitters. Fred’s leadership appears in small ways: a guide helping a newcomer tune a bow, shared laughter after a miss, the assurance that a hunt’s value isn’t in a punch card. These moments occur because the leader prioritizes empathy over ego.
Walk into his lodge, and you see walls of client photos. I watched him hang new ones, proud as if each were a family milestone. Fred values our achievements over his own, which is rare in hunting today.
When I tagged my first bull elk, Fred was thrilled, arguably more than me. He celebrated my success as his own, not for business, but because it was who he was.
Honestly, I’m not sure what was a better trophy: my first bull elk or a week with a legend like Fred. I’ll remember both forever.
Fred Eichler represents all hunting should be: humble, patient, inclusive, joyful. He still savors the small things, the snap of a string, an arrow’s whisper, campfire laughter. He reminds us that this is about fellowship, learning, and respect for wildlife.
In a world that often forgets decency, Fred doesn’t. His kindness sets the tone for the hunt, and his example inspires everyone who writes, teaches, or shares this life.
Here’s to Fred, a hunter whose greatest shots are measured not by trophies, but by the lives and hearts he’s touched.
Thank you, Fred, for being a true ambassador for hunting and reminding us that the measure of a great outdoorsman is not just what he takes, but what he gives back.
He’s more than a bowhunter. He’s one of our best, a true treasure in archery.
— Jay Pinsky
jay@theoutdoorwire.com
