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. The Editor of Sports Afield magazine recently asked Mike to provide a piece on ‘The Cats of Coutada 11’ that appeared in the September/October 2023 issue. Mike’s article provided an update on the reintroductions of both Lions and Cheetahs into the Zambeze Delta of Mozambique. In the same issue Mike describes his hunt for a West African Savannah Buffalo, titled ‘A Buffalo as Red as my Hair.’

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 HERE

News

Book Signings and Talks

Book Signings:

1) January 10-14, 2024 - Dallas Safari Club Convention - Zambeze Delta Safari’s Booth #3412

2) January 31 - February 2, 2024 - Safari Club International Convention, Nashville, TN - Zambeze Delta Safari’s Booth #2401

Talks/Book Signings:

1) January 16, 2024 - Hunting Brocket Deer from Up on High, Safari Club International Low Country Chapter, Charleston, SC

2) February 23 - 24, 2024 - Hunting North America’s “Most Difficult Game Animals”, Minnesota Safari Club International World Hunting Expo, Minneapolis, MN, Booth #31

3) April 2, 2024 - The Web of Life – A challenge for trophy records and conservation? Biology-287, Scientific Writing, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI

4) April 2, 2024 - What is Conservation Through Hunting?, Nimrod Education Center, Wildlife Law and Policy, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI

5) April 3, 2024 - Hunting North America and Africa’s Most Difficult Game Animals: Perspectives on Hunting from a Professor of Genetics, Nimrod Lecture Series, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI

To check on Mike’s availability for a book signing and/or a talk covering his hunting adventures and conservation efforts, you can reach him by email (mike@mikearnoldoutdoors.com) or phone (706-207-6056).

Mike and photographer-wife, Frances, just returned from a week spent hunting in the Southeastern English Counties of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire. A wonderful trip led by Owner, Joe Croot of Royal Outfitters UK provided Mike with another two of his dream animals, Muntjac and Chinese Water Deer. Hunting involved walking for 5-9 miles every day, checking out huge agricultural fields where the Water Deer hung out, or dense copses in which the Muntjac sneaked like miniature Bushbucks and Whitetail deer. Stay tuned for a series of articles on this wonderful experience!

Mike’s beautiful Muntjac (above), and Chinese Water Deer - featuring ‘fangs’ (below) - both taken with an MG Arms Ultralight in 6.5 Creedmoor

Mike’s three-weeks of travel in Mozambique and South Africa provided a wealth of information for several conservation articles, and also material describing hunts for Steenbok to Common Eland, with Bushpig, Lichtenstein Hartebeest, and even Guinea Fowl, Greywing Partridge and Ducks thrown in. Articles on Mike’s various experiences appeared, or will appear soon, in Sports Afield, Game Trails, Safari, Hunter’s Horn, American Outdoor News and International Sportsman.

Check out Mike’s story covering the newest conservation efforts by his friends in Mozambique’s Coutada 11 - “The Pangolin Project.” Sports Afield, November/December 2023, pp. 46-47.

And, Mike describes the wonderful provision of meat by hunters to protein limited locals in the NRAHLF.org article, “Ducks and Dassies - It’s what’s for dinner.”

Mike and Frances worked with the owners and staff of the Kalahari Oryx Property in South Africa, aiding scientists and veterinarians with collection of genetic material and medical treatment of Black and White rhinos. This work features in another Sports Afield article. Read about darting from helicopters, treatment of infections, and movement of aggressive male rhinos for the safety of the resident herds in “A Precious Resource” (January/February, pp. 44-45).

The January/February 2024 issue of Sports Afield, also contains Mike’s story of his hunts for a Kalahari and Black Springbok in the Kalahari Desert and Eastern Cape of South Africa. In “A Tale of Two Springboks”, Mike takes us on hunts through the stunning red sands of the Kalahari and the magnificent Eastern Cape Mountains.

An editor asked Mike to put together some tips for Safari preparation. This resulted in the [verbose] Professor Arnold writing a two-part series for his editor at International Sportsman, Jeremy Mallet. If you have an interest in learning a bit more about Safari Preparations, whether for birds or mammals, have a read of Planning an African Safari for Gamebirds…and More - Pt. 1 and Pt. 2.

Mike had a wonderful hunt with Scandinavian Pro Hunters in Sweden. Check out some of what Stefan and Sofia provided in the way of adventures and game!

**Mike’s first Hungarian Partridge hunt…story appearing in the February 2024 issue of *American Outdoor News*.**

**…his first Roebuck…check out the article in** ***International Sportsman*** **describing this amazing hunt!!**

**And, his first Fallow Stag, with the story appearing in an upcoming issue of Dallas Safari Club’s *Game Trails*.**

Mike also had a wonderful opportunity of observing the extensive, ongoing conservation-through-hunting efforts in Sweden and the EU. He considers the role of hunting ethics and the appreciation of game meat in conservation efforts by outfitters and hunters in Sweden in his upcoming Safari Magazine article, due out in 2024.

He follows the Swedish history of hunting and game management in a second article appearing in the 2024 Summer Issue of Hunter’s Horn. Mike follows the development of both the Head Gamekeeper for the world-class reserve, Eriksberg Hotel and Nature Preserve and the reserve itself in “Co-Evolution of a Gamekeeper and a Reserve - Game Management and Conservation Through Hunting on Eriksberg Viltparken.”

Mike joined the One-Mile Club on Clinton House Plantation’s rifle range on October 18th. His coach, former Marine Chief Warrant Officer, Mike Sexton, designs and directs Clinton House’s extensive rifle and pistol courses, training, and competitions. World class describes everything at Clinton House!

Check out Mike’s results at the mile target, two groups approximately 10 inches in diameter mean the MG Arms’ new Behemoth in 50BMG is incredibly accurate. Mike’s review of both the Behemoth and Clinton House appeared (here) in the December issue of American Outdoor News.

Mike earned Clinton House’s 1 Mile Club Medal with MG Arms’ 50 BMG Behemoth

Mike and his coach, Mike Sexton, pose at the 1-mile target with the MG Arms’ Behemoth

At 10-inches, Mike’s group at 1-mile is ~0.5 MOA, reflecting the excellent accuracy of the MG Arms rifle!

Podcasts and Radio Shows

Over the past several months, Mike appeared on quite a few Podcasts and Radio Shows to discuss his hunting life and his new book, Bringing Back the Lions. Included in the shows Mike’s been on are: Outdoors with Larry Rea, Brodie Swisher’s Hunting Roots, Rad Cast Outdoors, Hunting Matters, American Outdoor News Part 1 and Part 2, Christian Outdoors, The Big Game Hunting Podcast Part 1 and Part 2, Dallas Safari Club’s Campfires with Larry Weishuhn Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3, Lone Star Outdoor Radio Show and Podcast, and Northwestern Outdoor Radio with John Kruse.

Mike presented two TEDx presentations on conservation-through-hunting, with both now live on the TED YouTube channel. You can use these links to access the videos: TEDx1 and TEDx2.