For as long as I can remember, I could be found in the woods hunting or on the water hooking fish. As a child, I would explore as much of the wildlife as I could and take note of what I saw in hopes of discovering more than the previous day. As soon as I was able to get out on my own, I disappeared the entire length of the hunting season and spent most summers on the water boating and fishing; all the while learning and taking in what nature offered. I would often watch the wildlife while hunting rather than taking a shot at a passing animal. The same goes for fishing; especially since I‘m a catch and release fisherman. After spending a lot of time fishing Freshwater Bass, I adopted what’s called “Trophy Bass” in order to achieve a master angler class in Virginia. However, I fell short once I had moved to Maryland where I now plan to bring my accomplishments and knowledge to the Symmetry Agency, as well as continue to grow in the outdoorsman field.

Since joining Symmetry, I’ve worked on Fish & Hunt Maryland and the Alligator Recovery Project. Both of these projects were created to educate and showcase the local wildlife and their impact on their environmental habitats.

Fish & Hunt Maryland showcases the state as a premier sportsman’s destination by providing a wealth of knowledge to outdoorsmen and women on the locations of their favorite species, including access to the best guides and charters in the area. Through a number of blogs and articles, their audience can gain helpful insights, breakdowns on prime locations, and tips and tricks for their next hunting and fishing adventure.

My most memorable moments working with this client is attending video shoots around the state. I have met countless professionals in the industry who truly embody their sport of choice. Not to mention, I get to take in the wide variety of Maryland’s amazing and beautiful landscapes.  Connecting with the men and women in both the fishing and hunting industry through Fish and Hunt Maryland’s social channels has also been a positive experience. It is humbling to share their stories, photos, and insight. 

The Louisiana Advisory’s Alligator Video Project is another great experience I had the opportunity to be a part of. It involved telling the story of the alligator industry, while illustrating the extremely negative impact of legislation against alligator farming and trade. In this industry, there are a number of biologists who are sent out to find alligator nests. They collect the eggs, raise them in captivity, and release the population back into the world. This helps build stronger and healthier alligators than if they were to try and brave mother nature’s true elements. Legislation against this culture would result in a major ripple effect both in Louisiana and  in all coastal alligator habitats. It would allow pests and invasive species that alligators control to run rampant throughout the southern region. As you could assume, this project is extremely important to the natives of Louisiana and their economy. It was powerful for me to be involved in a project that emphasized the importance of this industry. 

Being a part of these projects has been an amazing experience. I am honored to have had the opportunity to meet with so many inspiring activists, fisherman, and hunters. Being involved with Fish & Hunt Maryland has allowed me to grow as an outdoorsman while in the process, giving me the opportunity to be associated in what I love while also growing and encouraging more people to step foot in nature. I can only imagine what experiences my future involvement with these clients and more will bring me.

After developing a collaborative relationship with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, our team was asked to develop Fish & Hunt Maryland (F&HMD) at the request of eight sportsmen’s groups under the auspices of the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation.

The goal in developing F&HMD was to speak with men and women of the sporting industry (charters, guides, outfitters, ranges, and lodges) and use their voice to provide audiences with relevant information on their next big catch or sporting goals.

How We Did It

Our first challenge was brand direction. We know Maryland has a strong maritime culture, unlike other states whose landlocked geography invites greater focus on hunting over fishing. We decided it was important to balance both fishing and hunting equally across all communication and creative efforts to fully speak to Maryland’s varied fishermen and hunters.

Our creative team crafted visuals to positively represent the state by showcasing Maryland’s diverse and renowned wildlife. Once we established the brand and designed the initial marketing materials, the new Fish & Hunt Maryland site was launched in the spring of 2015.

Growing Content and Engagement

Over time, F&HMD has reached over 34,000 followers on both Instagram and Facebook. We engage the growing audience with relevant information about licensing and regulations. We also deliver content articles about particular species to increase desire for outdoor engagement and activity.

Since its creation, Fish & Hunt Maryland has compiled a video library featuring some of the unique fishing and hunting opportunities throughout the state of Maryland. These videos have been added to the website and shared on other platforms.

Fish & Hunt Today

F&HMD continues to showcase Maryland’s natural resources and fulfill its mission to promote the growth of state commerce. Outside of digital channels, the initiative interacts with over 250,000 people through its ongoing attendance as a welcomed exhibitor at the Great American Outdoor Show. Fish & Hunt’s next big campaign will be the development of travel packages for hunters and fishermen to enjoy complimentary trips with lodging opportunities and delicious food to showcase Maryland’s outdoor culture and industry.

Visit Fish & Hunt Maryland and stay in touch with their current news and events.