Robert Worley had been hunting one Ohio farm for 44 years when he joined A Hunter’s Legacy. His dad introduced him to the landowner when he was ten, and the relationship continued into the next generation of the family. In episode 5, Robert shares what those decades taught him about hunting, access, and adapting when life changes.
The southwestern Ohio hunter also explains how his experience with alpha-gal syndrome changed his relationship with wild game and pushed him toward new bird-hunting adventures. His story is personal, practical, and rooted in a lifetime outdoors.
The Farm His Dad Introduced Him To
Robert grew up near the Indiana line, north of Cincinnati. His father got him started hunting and introduced him to the farmer whose ground would become such a familiar part of his life.
At the time of recording, Robert described his favorite deer farm as 78 acres with only about eight acres of woods. Most of the property was tillable ground. It was also his most productive deer property.
He did not describe a place where a hunter could walk in anywhere and expect the same results. Wind, crops, and access shaped each sit. Sometimes reaching the stand he wanted meant making a long loop around the property instead of taking the shortest route.
Knowing a Small Property Over Many Seasons
After so many years, Robert had learned the ground well enough that major stand moves were not always necessary. He still checked his setups and adjusted when needed, but the history mattered.
Crop rotation changed the experience. He talked about early-season soybean fields, standing corn, and trying not to overhunt the property before the rut. Deer he had not seen earlier could appear when the season changed.
He also hunted that favorite farm without trail cameras. On another property, he shared camera pictures with other hunters, but he did not assume the technology made that ground more productive. Years of familiarity and the surprise of an unfamiliar deer still had value to him.
Hunting Access Through Relationships
Private land was difficult to find in Robert’s part of Ohio. Parcels were divided, public opportunities nearby were limited, and leasing affected access.
One property he had hunted earlier in life changed hands within the landowner’s family. Robert stepped back rather than assuming he could keep hunting. Years later, the new owner reached out and invited him back, first for turkeys and later for deer.
That invitation meant something. His story shows how access can depend on relationships that last well beyond a single hunting season. The names and families connected to a farm can become as memorable as the deer taken there.
When a Diagnosis Changed His Plans
Robert says he developed alpha-gal syndrome after a tick bite while working on a cabin project in Kentucky. In the episode, he describes the diagnosis as a major disruption to his diet and hunting plans.
For someone who had spent years filling a freezer with game, that change was difficult. His interest in archery slowed, and he began looking for other ways to stay involved in the outdoors.
Turkey hunting had already been a favorite. He started learning more about goose and duck hunting, finding himself knocking on doors again to locate different places to hunt. Familiar deer and turkey farms did not automatically provide the waterfowl opportunities he needed.
New Birds, Old Hunting Friends
Robert replaced a planned elk trip with a duck-hunting trip to Tennessee. He was learning new ground and a different kind of hunting, while keeping the friendships and outdoor routines that had mattered for years.
His dad was still part of that story. They had recently traveled to Kentucky together for turkey season, continuing a connection that began when Robert was a kid. Longtime hunting friends also remained close, complete with embarrassing stories they brought up on nearly every trip.
Robert’s episode leaves room for change without treating the earlier seasons as something he has lost. There are still birds to chase, places to learn, and people to share camp with.
Listen to episode 5 with Robert Worley in the A Hunter’s Legacy episode archive. For another hunter’s story about family, access, and decades outdoors, read Nick Miller’s Illinois and Kentucky hunting journey.
