Mike Arnold has been a hunter all his life. The Hunter’s Horn blew very early for him. Taking his first whitetail at the age of five was a transformative experience. From that time forward, Mike has spent months each year pursuing game animals – from quail and rabbits behind his parents’ house, to kudu and leopard in Africa. Mike continues to be a hunter and firearms enthusiast, and now he is combining his love of writing to record his adventures. He has written articles for various Outdoor magazines – including Sports Afield, Strung, Safari, Game Trails, International Sportsman, American Outdoor News, and Hunter’s Horn.
Mike’s writings also incorporate his 45 years as a research scientist with his passion for shooting and hunting. He often covers the role hunters and their organizations play in ecosystem restoration, conservation and outreach into local human populations.
Be sure to check out some of these website pages…..
Check out Mike’s 2022 book
Sports Afield Magazine
“No one who reads this book can come away doubting the fact that international hunting—when done the right way—is one of the best and most durable ways to save Africa’s wildlife while simultaneously supporting and empowering its native peoples.
“Approachable, informative, and entertainingly written, Bringing Back the Lions is a must-read for hunters and non-hunters alike.”
Sporting Classics Magazine
“Anyone who wants to understand the true nature of African wildlife today must read this book. It offers a window to the problems of the present and solutions for the future.”
African Hunting Gazette
“Bringing Back the Lions should be mandatory reading for every hunter and for as many non-hunters as we can influence to read it. It’s a heart-warming story of a modern-day conservation success that should inspire everyone with a passion for wildlife.”
Bringing Back the Lions named one of the 15 Best African Hunting Books Ever Written. Check out the article from The Big Game Hunting Blog
RECENT NEWS
Mike’s search for a bucket-list, Nigerian Bohor Reedbuck with Mayo Oldiri Safaris in their Cameroon, Djibao, concession, appeared recently. Check out “Heat, Dust, and Horns” in the May/June 2024 issue of Sports Afield.
Mike’s work for Sports Afield continued in the July/August issue with two articles. One related a past adventure in the River of No Return area of Idaho and the second discussed the amazing work on the behalf of sportsmen and women by Hillsdale College’s Nimrod Education Center.
Mike often reviews firearms, frequently involving him using rifles or shotguns on hunting adventures (he knows very well that he has a tough life!). Just as often, though, he gets to use and review products that make shooting and hunting so much easier and more fun. Two such reviews appeared recently.
The first involved trying out 5.11 Tactical’s 126L SOMS Rolling Duffel Bag on a series of trips. Man, it worked really, really well! Speaking volumes for this conclusion, his wife, Frances, pulled a SOMS for over a mile through the Vancouver airport and raved about how easy that was (Don’t judge Mike for being lazy! He was pulling its companion and his rifle case…) The review is available in International Sportsman.
The second review titled ‘TESTED: Vortex Razor HD Spotting Scope…Clarity for the Distance’ appeared in Shoot-On and relates using both the Vortex scope, and the Vortex Summit Carbon II, lightweight tripod. They both worked great! Again, that testimony comes from Frances, spotting for Mike’s shots all the way out to a mile.
Mike presented two TEDx presentations on conservation through hunting, with both now live on the TED YouTube channel.