Meet The FDO Staff: Paul Powers

Paul’s largest buck taken himself in 2019 that scored 196” making it the third largest buck ever killed on Final Descent Outdoors.

If you are a follower of Final Decent then you are at least familiar with Paul. He is a legend for putting down Boone and Crockett caliber deer. I was so excited to interview him and dig into his thoughts on hunting. I was not disappointed in the slightest with his words. Especially his last answer, it resonated with me on a personal level. Keep reading to get to know Paul Powers and more of his story.

Tell us about your first experience hunting.

Paul: My first experience hunting. Man, that goes way back to when I was a little boy. Going with my dad and family. We use to have deer drives with all the cousins and uncles. I was quail hunting with my uncles from the time I was big enough to walk, carrying a single shot 410. They were great times that I never will forget.

What’s your favorite game to hunt and why?

Paul: Whitetail deer has to be my favorite. I just love how majestic they are and I have unbelievable respect for them. The way we hunt and observe, we learn the deer almost on a personal level. We get to see their attitudes and personalities. Deer are just like other animals. Some are more stoic while others are more playful. Some are mean and some are more social. I love learning and taking on the challenge of being able to harvest a mature old warrior on his own turf.

Did you ever make a mistake hunting that you learned from? What did that teach you?

Paul: Through 35 years I have made a ton of mistakes. Hopefully I have learned at least something from all of them. I could write a book on mistakes. The ones that stand out the most are rushing my release or my shot. When everything finally comes together and the opportunity presents itself, to rush your shot is a mistake that I have had trouble with on occasion through the years. Bow and gun. It’s heartbreaking to know you had him right there and didn’t make the perfect shot. But, it’s hard to hold it together and get it exactly where you want it in that moment. I feel like I have gotten better through the years of anticipating that moment and experiencing it. I have gotten better at controlling the emotions of that moment. The other mistake I hate, is going too soon for recovery and bumping an animal. It makes recovery super difficult and its not necessary. No one can be faulted for waiting too long to attempt recovery. I am more much comfortable waiting longer now than I use to be.

Is there a dream hunt that’s on your bucket list? What is it?

Paul: My dream hunt has likely developed into a Kodiak brown bear or grizzly hunt with a bow. I think that would be some intense stuff. Likely it’ll never happen as I’m getting older and physically don’t know if I’m ready to come face to face with a grizzly, but it is a dream hunt for me. New Zealand red stag would be pretty incredible too, I think.

You’ve taken some amazing bucks! What’s your favorite hunt you have been on? Do you feel the need to outdo yourself each season?

Pauls buck he named “OD” taken in 2020.

Paul: Man. I have been on some incredible hunts and killed some awesome bucks. My buddies 214” had to rank as one of my best hunts ever. Just to see a buck like that in the wild was a dream come true. But, to have my best friend drill him and he go down in sight, all while my buddy is living off of batteries and a medical pump. Pretty incredible. All of my kids first bucks were special hunts I’ll never forget. Hunts with my dad growing up. My bucks, OD, 34, and stickers. Too many great hunts to have only one. I love them all.

I use to feel the need to outdo myself but I don’t feel that anymore. I tease that I have basically become a glorified deer guide for my kids. We name all the bucks and I try to make my kids pick their deer then we work towards harvesting that deer. We don’t sit and shoot the first one that comes by. We hunt specific deer. After a 196 nontypical, and filming a 214 in a 3-year span, I fully understand that it will be hard to outdo myself. We just hunt old mature deer that we believe have reached their full potential regardless of score.

How did you start filming for FDO and how long have you been with them? What do you hope your hunts and experiences trigger in other hunters who are watching you on TV and social media?

Paul: I started with FDO on the ground floor. Brad called me one Sunday morning and asked if I would help. We were already filming hunts just because we enjoyed it as it added a new element of difficulty to the hunt. He said he just needed some footage and asked if he could use some of our stuff. We were childhood friends so I was like, sure I’ll help any way I can. I guess that was 11 or 12 years ago.

I hope my hunts show people the true passion and respect that me and my family have for hunting and the outdoors. Its much more than just shooting something. Its hours and hours and hours of work leading up to that shot goal at that very moment and being able to accomplish it. Hunting will take you through the ups and downs, but it will teach you that if you put in the work and effort to be successful that more often than not you can be. There are many days that don’t go our way in the deer woods, but you will never see my crew quit pursuing and paying respect to the sport. I think much of that can be applied to life in general.

What advice would you give to hunters if you could give any word to encourage them?

Paul: Just go. From big game to small game, just go. Learn the basics. Learn why we hunt and respect the game. Respect other hunters. Its not a competition. We are all on the same team. Celebrate success of other that do it the right way. But, if I had one thing to tell new hunters, do it from the ground. Get away from big feeders, corn piles, and shooting houses. Sit under a tree, cut back into a cedar. Get on eye level. Watch deer interact with each other naturally. Not under a feeder. Learn their movements. Learn their attitudes. Learn how they react with certain stimuli. Learn why they do what they do when they do it. I fully understand success rates will go down. But I promise the gratification will be 10-fold when you accomplish it on their terms in their natural surroundings.

BLOG AUTHOR

Ashley Nicholas is an avid outdoorswoman and a licensed medical aesthetician. Her passions include her faith, family, photography and the outdoors. Born and raised in the midlands of South Carolina, in 2015 Ashley moved west and started a family in Oklahoma with her husband, FDO staffer Adam Nicholas. Recently, Ashley and her family returned to the family farm in the Carolinas for a more self-sustaining lifestyle. Fun fact: Ashley recently started a bowhunting community to show admiration and appreciation to local bowhunters with hope to strike more bowhunting interest in her home state of South Carolina.