Turning Feral: A Modern Journey of Hunting, Trapping, and Living Intentionally in the Wilderness

by Zachary Craig Hanson

Zachary Hanson lived on cruise control. He had a thriving career, designer clothes, and a jet-setting lifestyle. He practiced high-level jiu-jitsu, ran ultramarathons, and pursued academic interests, but nothing gave him what he the antidote to suburban sedation. Hanson knew his life lacked balance. It served no purpose. It held no meaning. In an effort to connect with something true and real, he turned to the wilderness. Leaving the big-city office behind, he learned to hunt, trap, and live in harmony with the land deep in the backwoods of North America. There he discovered new significance and purpose while ultimately growing his career.
Turning Feral is for everyone who pines for real, unfiltered, authentic experiences. Whether you are trying to break free from the trappings of the modern rat race, shed the dead skin of failed relationships, or escape the clutches of technological dependency, you too can experience a wild and wonderful life on your own terms.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Nature

234 pages, Paperback

Published October 12, 2022

About the author

Zachary Hanson is an avid hunter and trapper. He is the co-founder and CEO of TheOutfitter.Guide, one of the hunting industry's first true software companies, mixing cutting-edge technological expertise with real-world outdoor experience.

Hanson is an expert in artificial intelligence and machine learning product management, with experience developing AI solutions for Fortune 500 companies including IBM, Brightcove, Capital One, and Wells Fargo. He holds degrees from the College of Charleston and Johns Hopkins University. A backcountry enthusiast committed to sustainable living, he lives with his wife and two children at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains in rural Idaho.

Reviews

[Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

First a disclosure: my copy of Turning Feral was kindly provided via giveaway.

In Turning Feral, Hanson describes his journey to fundamentally change his life by moving from comfortable suburbia into remote wilderness. Hanson handily organizes this journey through anecdotes of his career in tech; his first seasons of hunting and trapping various animals; and the general complications and community bonds experienced through life in an isolated town.

Throughout the book, Hanson harkens to a highly romanticized view of the pioneers, or "mountain men." While I share Hanson's belief that it is important to know how to live off-grid, I had hoped for a more nuanced conversation of moral dilemmas and the role of hunting in modern life. Particularly difficult emotional encounters in taking an animal's life are resolved within one or two sentences, and difficult discussions run skin-deep. For example, when Hanson decides to take up wolf hunting he ironically cites the killing of wild game animals within his reasoning, and frequently attributes adjectives such as "murderous," "aggressive," and "violent" to predator species, with only the charismatic nature of these canines being the other side of the argument (I guess you can tell which side of the wolf conservation argument I land on aha!).

While much of the book describes hunting and trapping, at its core the book is about fully submerging one's self in a complex and potentially dangerous new passion. When we seek to learn new skills, we make mistakes along the way and hopefully learn from them. People looking to get into hunting late in life as Hanson has might benefit from his experiences, while experienced hunters might be in for a chuckle here and there. As an ecologist who admires life in the wilderness but who does not hunt, I appreciate the nontechnical way that Hanson describes hunting, trapping, and processing harvested animals.

The last section of Turning Feral details Hanson's immersion into his new adoptive community, and the complexities of modern living away from the amenities of urban life. I particularly enjoyed this part of the book, and wish that Hanson had included more of these anecdotes to demonstrate his approach to living intentionally in the wilderness.

Overall, Turning Feral is a solid collection of anecdotes experienced by someone admirably jumping head-first into a way of life completely different from what they had known previously. I will remember this book when I am ready to build my own life away from the city.

[Susan Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about willpower, resiliency, and learning who you are. This would be a great book to offer to anyone who is wanting to learn about hunting, but also wanting to remember you're always learning. Highly recommend this book.

[Alan McCleaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one (very determined) man's story about stepping back from the influences of social media and Corporate America to follow his dreams and unearth his true core self.  It is about moving to the wilderness and learning to do the things that are required in that environment, but contains life lessons for many that could be applied to lots of our lives.  Zach's writing is often humorous, regularly self-effacing, sometimes heartbreaking and always brutally honest, as he recounts his journey from the initial small and faltering first steps (like a backyard archery range in suburbia) to achieving his dream of significant self-sufficiency in the wilds of Idaho.  Along the way, he makes unanticipated discoveries about himself and his spirit.  Recommended reading for anyone who is feeling a bit like they are in The Matrix and dreams of locating their lost dreams and sense of self, and wants to be inspired to take that first small step forward.

(Disclaimer: I worked remotely for Zach in Corporate America for about a year during this adventure, though I have still never met him in person.)

[Malachi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a number of books on hunting, independent living, prepping, off,-grid, etc. This is by far the most approachable, making it feel like just talking and learning from a friend. With that sense of ease created, it makes it exciting and interesting to explore and learn more, not daunting or that one has to prove themselves just to be able to participate. His writing style and delivery would be tremendously helpful in any topic or subject matter.
Definitely suggest for anyone that simply wants to learn and feel an intro to very respectful hunting.

[Shawn Kopke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zach is Living the Dream

Fantastic story about a professional that is able to break away from the hub bub of busy corporate life and connect with nature. I grew up in a rural area in the early part of my life, and can totally relate to Zach's story. he's found a secret to life's happiness. Unplugging, embracing the natural world, love, faith,family and community. It doesn't get any better.

[Sloan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stumbled across this book and found it interesting as it parallels some my own journey. Burned out with much of the modern world and looking for a more meaningful connection to the real world. Many interesting stories of the author's experiences, but this is not a how-to book for those that are looking for that.

[Travis Mewhirter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd never heard of this book, or its author, prior to this past Christmas morning, when my mother-in-law gifted it to me. This was quite a risk she took. My GoodReads "To Read" list would take me roughly 50 years to get through if I read them all, and this wasn't on it. It was a risk well taken.
Turning Feral was the book I didn't know I needed, at just the time I needed it. Anybody who is thinking about getting into hunting, or has just begun hunting, or has ever hunted, will find this book useful, insightful, inspiring, humorous, and all-too relatable. Zach presents hunting as it should be presented: honest, emotional, difficult, frustrating, exhilarating, boring, ethical when done properly (he does it properly), primal and also something that will question why you're still sitting in the freezing woods waiting for an elk that will not come. Couldn't recommend it enough.

[Cheyenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it, because I know nothing about hunting or trapping and it wasn't a subject I've ever been particularly interested in. However, I found the author's experiences and knowledge fascinating.

[Sam Philippi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes you rethink your perspective on life and makes you reflect on the daily journey we all go through. “Perhaps wisdom… is realizing how small I am, and unwise, and how far I have yet to go” - Anthony Bourdain

[Brian Paulus · Rating 5 out of 5]

From start to finish this book shows the true determination of a man striving to find himself! He goes through every step of the beginning of his new journey in a completely new life, it kept me hooked and wanting more all the way through!

[William Bennett III · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rather liked this book and I think many people could learn from it. It gives an insight into the way things used to be done.

[Stephen Voorhees · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book to add to my hunting/fishing collection.

[Adelaide Morwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sick bro