Hi! My name is Donnie. Thanks for visiting! Skilled Outdoorsman is a down-to-earth outdoor lifestyle site focused on the Southeastern U.S. and beyond. From the Appalachian Mountains to the beautiful beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, I love the South and am here to help you plan your adventures.
I started this site because I wanted to bust the myths preventing many people from getting outside and having amazing adventures. It’s easy to get intimidated by websites and magazines featuring people hanging off cliffs and kayaking rough rapids. You might think, “If that’s what being an outdoorsman is, then that’s not me!”
But I am here to show you that a less risky path exists for you to enjoy the outdoors. You also don’t need the most expensive gear, to plan for weeks on end, or do things outside your comfort level.
About Skilled Outdoorsman
My mission with Skilled Outdoorsman is a source of information and inspiration for people looking to spend more time outside. I’ll show you that an outdoor lifestyle is easy, fun, accessible, and inexpensive. I’ll show you:
- my favorite outdoor destinations in the South (and elsewhere)
- what gear you will and won’t need
- help you find the best gear at competitive prices
- tips, tactics, and techniques to help you build more confidence in your outdoor abilities
More About Me
While growing up in Missouri and Illinois, I got introduced to the outdoors while camping, hiking, and fishing with my family. My entire family has always been outdoor enthusiasts and as such have spent a lot of time outside.
One of my favorite memories is spending a summer traveling from Illinois to Arizona. My grandparents spent several weeks taking 3 cousins, my sister, and myself camping and adventuring. Along the way, we saw so many exciting things, like:
- The Ozarks
- Red Rock Canyon
- Petrified Forrest
- Painted Desert
- Grand Canyon
- Oatman
- So many more
This experience hooked me and I have loved traveling and being outdoors since. Now I have the pleasure of introducing my wife and children to the outdoor experiences I grew up with.
I have huge goals for Skilled Outdoorsman, and I appreciate you stopping by. If you have comments about the site or questions about the outdoors, contact me, I’d love to hear from you!
The Process
Every article on this site gets written or edited by me to ensure the highest quality standards. Any content I post from other authors gets reviewed and approved by me. I do this to ensure that all information published is accurate and safe so you can trust it.
The reviews on this site rely on hands-on, real-life experience with feedback from verified customers of the products. I have extensive outdoor experience and have gone through enough gear to stock a complete store.
Our product reviews focus on the situations and uses in which each item is best suited. As such we find this combined approach the best method as what may work well for my needs, may not work for yours.