Ifirst met Darren Collins in the fall of 2001, while hunting the Book Cliffs region of Utah. It was my first solo out-of-state bowhunt for mule deer. One day, while relocating camp, I passed a parked truck with Kansas plates and saw only one guy glassing from a nearby vantage point. Since it was the only other vehicle I d seen without Utah plates, I stopped to see how he was doing. After an introduction and spending some time visiting, Collins invited me to share his camp that evening. That night, over a campfire and some steaks, a friendship was formed. We continued to hunt on our own during that trip, but each night we d get together at camp and swap notes and stories. bowhunter, and I consider his input valuable and somewhat priceless, really. SUPER SLAMMER AND FAMILY MAN Without a doubt, Collins is one of the most accomplished bowhunters in history. In 2005, he was the eighth bowhunter to take the Super Slam of North American game. Collins earnestly began his pursuit of all 28 (now 29) animals in 1991 after a successful mountain goat hunt in Washington, caribou hunt in Alaska and grizzly hunt in British Columbia. When I took a grizzly in B.C. on my first try, it made me realize I was well on my way to achieving my personal goal, which was to harvest all North American big game with a bow. are his favorite animals to hunt overall. I really like antelope, and I ve taken about a dozen by spot-and-stalk or decoying, says Collins. On most any animal other than big whitetail bucks, I prefer to stalk. It simply fits my personality the best. Collins plans his own hunts, extensively researching the best options that suit his hunting style and desires. He applies for tags in all Western states except for Washington and California. Overall, he thinks the future of bowhunting is strong, however, he does have some concerns outdoor TV shows. Many shows do not accurately portray what an average hunter can expect to see or experience in the field, says Collins. I think it s best for hunters to do their own research, rather than take the advice from a Mathews pro-staffer, Darren Collins, is far from your average bowhunter. This man somehow excels at difficult hunting pursuits. How does he do it? Much of it has to do with his keen shooting ability, his never-give-up attitude, and the fact that he hunts long, till the job is done. By Ron Niziolek Fortunately, two days later, we both connected on good mulie bucks about 20 miles apart. My buck was in a deep canyon, and when I returned to camp for my frame pack, Collins was already in camp, caping his buck. He returned to the kill site with me and helped pack out my deer. Since that hunt in Utah, Collins and I have stayed in regular contact and have continued to grow as friends. Over the years, we ve helped each other plan and prepare for hunting trips. I offer whatever insight I can about hunting units, and he does the same. Collins is a well-traveled No doubt a super-busy hunting guy, Collins somehow balances his passion for hunting with family and work. He and his wife have been married for 21 years, and they have a daughter and a young son, appropriately named Beau Hunter. Collins also owns his own construction business in Galena, Kansas, so his lifestyle can get quite hectic, as you can imagine, but he manages to balance it all out. Nowadays, Collins continues to hunt the way he likes to on his own, and usually out West. He does a Western hunting trip every year for elk, mule deer and/or antelope, which so-called expert on some outdoor program. In most cases, this type of hunting just isn t reality, and it will leave some astray. I ve found that when I do my own homework on hunts, success ends up being much better. How does he plan his own hunts? Well, Collins networks a lot with other well-traveled bowhunters, reads newsletters provided by various hunting-consultant agencies, studies the record books for trends, talks to biologists and wardens, and visits or calls local archery shops. Basically, he talks to anyone he can. (Opposite top) Darren Collins hails from the Midwest, however, he has a soft spot in his heart for hunting out West. He absolutely loves to hunt antelope, usually by spot and stalk. He shot this tremendous Arizona buck last fall. (Opposite) Another big Kansas buck taken by Collins in 2006. BOW&ARROW HUNTING 55
Take his 2007 hunting season for example. After lots of initial research, he planned many trips. I first went to Nevada for a few days and shot a real nice mule deer on my fourth day, says Collins. The area I hunted was one I researched and determined I had a good chance at a big buck. My quick success told me my research was right on. Next, I hunted Wyoming elk in an area a friend recommended and took a three-hundred-forty-class bull on my fifth hunting day. Then I headed to Colorado for antelope in an area where I d built up points for years. As I pulled into the town of Craig, Colorado, about eight thirty at night, I passed a taxidermy shop that looked open. I turned my truck around and stopped in. I told the worker there what tag I had and asked if he knew the area or had any information that might help. Within a half hour, I left there with maps and information that helped me take eighty-inch buck the very next day. Bottom line is, don t ever underestimate the power of asking questions. You can reap valuable information in light-hearted conversations. HE LIKES TO HUNT ALONE Collins believes in hunting alone: I don t like a schedule when I m hunting, says Collins. No matter how good a hunting partner might be, there is still a perceived schedule when you hunt with one. When you are trying to close the deal on a trophy animal, you can t be worrying if your partner is bored or tired or waiting for you. You need to focus only on making the most from your opportunity. For example, say I m stalking an antelope or mule deer buck and have to lay behind sagebrush for six hours or so. I wouldn t want a partner waiting on me. I would feel pressure to make something happen instead of waiting for my best chance. I d A huge part of my success is definitely attributed to my ability to shoot well, especially under pressure. Collins enjoys hunting on his own, this way he can focus on one thing only hunting as hard as he can until he gets his animal. He shot this Wyoming bull on a solo, DIY public-land hunt. 56 BOW&ARROW HUNTING
Collins has knocked down some giant Kansas bucks over the years. This one was taken just last fall. Collins enjoys hunting animals all over the nation. This blacktail buck was taken in Oregon during the late season, when bucks are rutting and chasing does. estimate a good one-third of my animals would not have been taken had I been hunting with anyone. I don t mind sharing a camp with people and [I] enjoy the camaraderie, but hunting alone works best for me. The only time that doesn t work is when a guide is required by law. Collins tries to allow for about two weeks of hunting time when planning. He told me it rarely takes him more than a few days to harvest an animal, but he d rather take his buck or bull early than not at all. Even though he thinks it s a lack of discipline on his part for not holding out for bigger animals, I ve seen the pictures, and his animals are nice by anyone s standards! SELF-TAUGHT I pretty much taught myself how to shoot, says Collins. My parents bought me my first bow when I was fourteen years old. I worked at an BOW&ARROW HUNTING 57
archery shop for a while in high school and learned a little more there. Even today I m correcting mistakes in my shooting form. His advice to anyone wanting to up their shooting game, or are just starting out in bowhunting or archery is to get help or instruction from a pro shooter at your local archery shop, especially when you first begin shooting. It will greatly benefit you in the long run, says Collins. When I asked Collins about a practice routine, he said he really doesn t follow one: I practice a lot in the off-season and spend a tremendous amount of time with my equipment, fine tuning and trying anything that might make me a better shot. Besides bowhunting a lot, Collins routinely participates in pro-level shooting events, particularly the ESPN Great Outdoor Games archery event. I attend a lot of shoots. Overall, they boost my motivation for practice, to practice harder and smarter. Bottom line I don t want to embarrass myself in front of people at a big shoot. Knowing that there could be millions of people watching the event on TV simply inspires me to work harder on my equipment and form. Basically, it becomes essential that I practice, and not just when I feel like it. I ve come to like that pressure. I think it makes me better. Collins friend, well-known archer and bowhunter, Randy Ulmer, recently challenged him to see if they could shoot a perfect Vegas round (300 points) with their hunting bows. This is just the type of challenge that makes these guys great at what they do. 100 TROPHIES AND STRONG I asked Collins about his amazing success as a bowhunter. To date, he s taken more than 100 trophy-class animals with his bow. I wanted to know in a nutshell what he truly believes are the keys to his success. When it comes down to it, I think I m a pretty good hunter, he says. But I m probably not as good as many other people are. A huge part of my success is definitely attributed to my ability to shoot well, especially under pressure. I also have and maintain a positive attitude when hunting. I expect to succeed. I don t limit myself on time, and I stay until I get the job done. Persistence is a valuable thing. You need to be con - fident in yourself and your abilities and not give up. Learning is a neverending process, and by spending time in the off-season learning about your equipment and abilities, you make yourself much better prepared when hunting. When I mentioned my own problem of keeping my cool when drawing back on a trophy, Collins According to Collins, being a great hunter isn t usually enough. You must shoot well, too, especially in the face of a big trophy. Mule deer are another favorite target of Collins. This wide-antlered buck was taken in Nevada. 58 BOW&ARROW HUNTING
B A C Collins has been a staff shooter for Mathews, Easton and Sure-Loc archery for more than a decade. He does a lot of experimenting and fine-tuning of his equipment so he can be the very best hunting shot possible. Today, his personal favorites include the Mathews DXT bow (A), Easton XX78 (B) arrows, Sure-Loc Beartrap arrow rest (C) and Lethal Weapon moveable six-pin sight (D). D explained his own solution: I do a mental checklist, he said. Like checking my nock, peep and arrow rest. I pick two or three things to concentrate on. It gives me something to do other than to simply stare at the big rack in front of me. I know from talking with Randy Ulmer that he follows a very similar routine. COLLINS ON EQUIPMENT As a staff shooter for Mathews, Collins shoots a Mathews DXT bow. His other accessories are a Sure-Loc/Cavalier Beartrap rest, and Sure-Loc Lethal Weapon six-pin sight. He shoots Easton XX78 2312 aluminum arrows with Allen vanes, and he prefers Tight Point Shuttle T-Lock fixed-blade broadheads. My setup might seem a little unique, but after countless hours of trial and error with different products, this is what works best for me. I believe everyone needs to try different options and find what works most efficiently, based on their shooting style and tastes. Then they should set challenges for themselves and strive to be better. Challenge is a good thing. That s why we all bowhunt! BOW&ARROW HUNTING 59