Ryan Details His Love of Deer Hunting

Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan has a passion for deer hunting that goes back to childhood. He explained that passion in a recent interview with Deer & Deer Hunting magazine.

“Deer strategy and habitat is just fascinating to me,” Ryan told the publication. “I have a whole row of books about tactics, strategies and habitat, and I read several magazines. It’s just a big hobby.”

Ryan reflects his Wisconsin roots in that respect.

“I’m just pretty typical for a Wisconsin guy,” he said. “I love hunting and fishing. Bow hunting is my passion. Studying the strategy, preparing food plots, the strategy of where a dominant buck is living or will be moving, and then being in position to get a shot, that’s really exciting. Half of it is getting ready for the shot.”

Ryan’s passion for deer hunting doesn’t come from his family.

“My father wasn’t a big hunter, but some of his friends were, and they were the ones who took me out and were my mentors,” Ryan said.

“I started with rabbits, ducks and pheasant before getting into deer hunting. I worked mowing lawns when I was a kid to save money to buy a shotgun and bought a Browning BPS 20-gauge for pheasants. I still have it.”

Ryan is turning his hunting outings into a family affair. “I’ll hunt with my pistol in the morning from my bow stands, and then rifle hunt in the afternoons with one of our kids,” he said.

“We have some two-man ladder stands, and [the children] really enjoy going with me. I bought our daughter a Winchester Model 70 in .243 for Christmas. The kids love hunting and being with me in the stand. We have a great time.”