The sun beats down on the scrub-dotted hills outside El Paso, Texas, where the desert winds carry dust across the empty terrain. For Brandon Sewell, stationed at Fort Bliss and finishing a grueling year at the Army’s prestigious Sergeant Major Academy, the silence out here is a world away from the bowstands and hardwoods he used to call home. Hunting’s had to take a backseat this past year—but that doesn’t mean it’s left his mind. In fact, the time away may have sharpened something deeper.
Two Decades in Uniform
Brandon’s story starts with discipline. He’s been active-duty Army for nearly 20 years, a path that’s taken him from rural Arkansas to battlefields overseas, and now to senior leadership school in Texas. “The grind is different here,” he says of his time at the Academy. “It’s mental. It’s balance. And hunting, man, that’s what I miss. That was always my release.”
But make no mistake—hunting has followed him, even if only in memory. Photos of deer back home, hunting buddies texting updates, and the anticipation of getting back in the woods after graduation have kept the fire alive. “It’s not just about chasing animals,” he says. “It’s about peace, purpose—resetting your soul.”
Raised on the Hunt
Brandon grew up on the Arkansas-Louisiana line, in the piney woods and wet bottomlands of the South. His earliest hunting memories go back to his grandfather, a man who taught him how to listen to the land before he ever picked up a weapon. “It was old-school stuff,” he says. “You didn’t need the best camo or a climber stand. Just a .30-30, a thermos of coffee, and patience.”
Those roots never left him. Even through deployments and relocations, he always found time to chase whitetails or turkeys whenever possible. “I think for military guys especially, hunting gives you something steady to return to. That next season—there’s always another season. There’s hope in that.”
Learning the Hard Way
Being stationed around the country—and world—forced Brandon to get creative. “I’ve hunted in Georgia, Kansas, North Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama. Every place has its own culture,” he says. One year he drew a Kentucky tag during a rut hunt and watched an absolute giant hang just out of range. “You learn to adapt. To scout hard, move light, and appreciate every opportunity.”
He credits military life with sharpening his approach to hunting. “Planning, timing, attention to detail—it’s the same mindset in a lot of ways,” he explains. “But with hunting, you’re not doing it to survive. You’re doing it to live.”
From Stickbows to Solutions
Brandon’s a self-professed gear junkie—but in the thoughtful kind of way. He’s spent years trying different bows, broadheads, and arrows. “I’m a guy who’ll tune your bow in your garage for four hours and love every minute of it,” he laughs. “But I’m also not above hunting with a $150 setup if it gets the job done.”
His philosophy? Keep it lethal, but simple. “If you can tune it, shoot it consistently, and it doesn’t fail—it’s good gear,” he says. That mindset carried over from the Army, where every piece of equipment is tested under pressure. “You don’t need fancy. You need reliable.”
Desert Silence
This past year in El Paso has been a personal drought—no bow in hand, no leaves changing, no dawn breaking over a whitetail ridge. “I haven’t hunted in a year,” Brandon admits. “And it’s been hard. The desert’s beautiful in its own way, but it’s not home.”
He’s leaned into archery when time allows—shooting in his backyard, tuning other soldiers’ bows, mentoring younger guys who want to try hunting for the first time. “Even without the hunt, the community’s still there. It’s how I stay connected.”
Graduation and Homecoming
With graduation from the Academy just weeks away, Brandon is already planning his return to the woods. “I’ve got tags in Arkansas and Alabama. I’ve got stands that need brushed in. It’s go time,” he says. After a year off, he’s more eager than ever. “I don’t care if it’s a doe or a big buck. I just want to be out there, watching the woods wake up.”
He’s also excited to pass that love on to his son. “I’ve taken him out a few times. He’s eight now. At that age, it’s not about shooting. It’s about snacks, laughs, making memories,” he says. “But one day, I hope he’ll look back and say, ‘Those hunts with Dad—that’s where it started.’”
The Long Game
For Brandon, hunting isn’t a hobby—it’s heritage. It’s the thing that’s remained steady through deployments, promotions, fatherhood, and now, a return home. “I think hunting teaches you to be okay with silence. To find value in patience. And to never stop learning,” he reflects.
Whether it’s a stand in Alabama, a campfire in Arkansas, or a desert backyard with a backyard target, Brandon’s keeping that arrow nocked—ready for the next season, the next lesson, and the next memory to pass down.
