Mitchell Kearns’ Iowa hunting story runs through family ground, a grandfather who taught him to bowhunt, and a schedule that changed when he became a dad. In episode 2 of A Hunter’s Legacy, he joins Mitchell Fox to talk about the work, relationships, and mistakes behind his time outdoors.
Kearns was the show’s first guest. He and Fox originally connected through the Iowa Small Business Development Center while Fox was developing LogIQ Hunt. Business meetings became a friendship, with hunting giving them plenty to discuss after the startup questions were answered.
A Career Change Built Around Helping People
At the time of recording, Kearns was the Iowa SBDC’s technology director. Before that, he had worked as an attorney, started his own law firm, and joined another firm while looking for mentorship and support.
He eventually wanted a different way to use his experience. The SBDC gave him an opportunity to help entrepreneurs work through business ideas, customer feedback, and the practical steps of getting started.
That was how he met Fox. Their conversations about a hunting app grew into the kind of friendship where a business question could be followed by a deer photo. For listeners meeting Kearns for the first time, that background explains why this episode moves comfortably between work and the woods.
Fatherhood Changed the Hunting Calendar
Kearns remembers having far more freedom to hunt during college. A morning sit could lead to a nap in the truck and another hunt that afternoon. With a young son at home, the season looked different.
He estimated getting out with his bow around eight to ten times during the season they discussed. His work allowed time off, but being a parent came first. Hunting had to fit around that responsibility.
Fewer hunts also changed how he experienced them. He described appreciating the quiet more, even on cold days, and using time in the stand to reset and sort through the things on his mind.
Four Hours of Driving for a Day in the Woods
The family’s hunting property was in Ringgold County in southwest Iowa, well away from his home in Guthrie County. A day of hunting could include roughly four hours of driving.
The property made the trip worthwhile. Kearns described around 120 acres with timber, CRP, a small river, and surrounding crops. His grandfather, a retired schoolteacher, bought the ground in 2008 after saving for years. He was also the person who taught Kearns to bowhunt.
The distance added complications that nearby hunters might avoid. On one trip, Kearns’ brother realized he had forgotten his release. After Kearns headed to his stand, another message arrived: the truck had a flat tire. A hunting day can start unraveling long before a deer shows up.
The New Bow and the Buck That Walked Away
One of Kearns’ most frustrating memories involved a new bow and a buck he was excited to see. He had finally bought equipment he was proud of after years of using hand-me-downs and secondhand bows.
As he moved into position, a cam caught on a metal gear hanger near the tree. The encounter damaged the bow and ended the opportunity. The deer stayed nearby, making the moment even harder to take.
The repair was manageable. Forgetting the encounter was harder. Kearns talked about replaying it afterward and questioning himself, a feeling many bowhunters recognize after something goes wrong at exactly the wrong time.
A Family Tradition With Room for Real Life
Kearns’ story includes good hunting ground and modern equipment, but it also includes missed chances, family priorities, long drives, and the people who helped him get started. Those details make his experience fit the purpose of A Hunter’s Legacy: giving everyday hunters room to tell the whole story.
Listen to episode 2 with Mitchell Kearns. For another view of hunting and family life in Iowa, read Lance Porter’s episode story.
