Field & Stream, Generation Wild, & Nathan Garrett

[Field & Stream]

At the beginning of the week, Nathan Garrett started a thread on this forum that quickly started some controversy. As many of you now know, Nathan was selected—along with three other young hunters—as a member of Field & Stream’s Generation Wild Pro Staff.

Generation Wild is a program that Field & Stream started last year to encourage kids to get out and enjoy hunting and fishing. Each year we’ve selected a Pro Staff of four high school students who write blogs and shoot video for Geneartionwild.com and serve as mentors to other young outdoorsmen.

On Saturday, December 12, I got to meet all four pro staffers at the Generation Wild orientation at a sporting lodge in upstate New York. The five of us had a great day. We busted sporting clays and enjoyed a great upland bird hunt. Shortly after the trip, Nathan posted a thread on this forum that contained two photographs: One of the photos showed Nathan and another pro staffer standing with some of the pheasants they shot during the upland hunt. The second photo showed several dead mallards inside the cleaning station at the lodge in New York.

Nathan said he and the other pro staffers shot these mallards that morning. That is false. We spent the morning shooting sporting clays—not waterfowl hunting. In a moment of poor judgment, Nathan lied about hunting ducks with the other pro staffers. He said he made this up because he wanted to promote Generation Wild, but also because he admittedly wanted to show off.

The mallards in that photo are released birds, and they were shot by many hunters and possibly over the course of several days. Understandably, there was some criticism among readers of this forum about the ethics of shooting hens. Please know that I understand and appreciate your concern as conservation-minded hunters. But also know that these birds were all shot legally—and that none were killed by anyone from Field & Stream or Generation Wild.

As for the false information that Nathan provided, Field & Stream did not take this situation lightly. We understand that our silence up until now may have seemed a bit, well, deafening, but we simply wanted to refrain from speaking out until we had the entire story.

We hold our writers to very high standards—both in terms of writing ability and journalistic integrity. Had myself or any other writer or editor at F&S made something up in a story, it would be grounds for immediate dismissal. In Nathan’s case, however, we have chosen to give him a second chance.

At the end of the day, Nathan is just a 15-year-old kid, and we cannot expect him to understand the all of the rules that make good writing and honest journalism. But we can teach him, and that’s exactly what we aim to do. We see this as an opportunity to help Nathan learn a lesson from his mistakes. We were Nathan’s age once, too, and we’re grateful for the guidance we received from more experienced sportsmen.

After meeting Nathan this weekend, I can tell you that he’s a good kid: polite, fun to be around, and a darn good shot. Now, did he get off to a rough start as a Generation Wild pro staffer? Yes. Do I think he can bounce back and become a good mentor to other young hunters and anglers? Absolutely.

Everyone deserves a second chance, and this is Nathan’s.

Colin Kearns
Senior Editor, Field & Stream

[Quack Krazy]

Colin,

I believe I've read most of the posts regarding Nathan (posts by Nathan & posts about Nathan) and I have chosen to stay out of the fray. Many of his posts have been controversial including the latest one that you have cited. I also agree he (or anyone for that matter) deserves 2nd chances, particularly kids.

However, as a matter of redemption, I think that an explanation/apology from Nathan would go much farther on this board than one from Field & Stream.

Just a thought.

[quack pipe]

We hold our writers to very high standards—both in terms of writing ability and journalistic integrity.

Colin Kearns
Senior Editor, Field & Stream

any chance you will hold field staffers to the same writing ability standards?

[Waccamaw Calls]

DUH.HUH!!
Perhaps you should do a little recon on "this forum"
Your post, was nice. However your logic is not quite up to par.
Yes Nathan is a 15 year old, do you think anybody has been telling him that.
Enjoy your stay and welcome aboard.

[Bluedog]

I seemed to get off on the wrong foot with Nathan when he asked for feedback early on and I told him I thought his guide service was too expensive. Since then we have butted heads a few times. I am all for second chances and I am interested to see if he uses this experience to re-think his attitude and reactions to people on this board and their interactions.

[CyberScouter]

Lick your wounds Nathan, you'll be ok, just stop posting.

[tsmart]

Never met Nathan, but people I know who have met him and KNOW him - speaks very highly of him. And I hear he and his family are big supporters of DU and Delta.

I strongly suggest he get used to the spell check function, and he can avoid a lot of 'greif" (for lack of better terms).

He's a kid. If we don't nurture him, how's that help us - or him?

I'm all for second chances. I know I've gotten a few over the years, and appreciated them.

I gotta say (and I'll catch greif I'm sure).... but when another kid came on here (Redneckhunter), he got jumped on by about everyone. As a District Chairman for DU, I happened to come across Ole Red at a DU Banquet in Lincolnton, NC. He was one of the nicest kids I had ever met, and VERY eager to do what ever was ask, and only wanted acceptance. Kids sometimes act "big", just to try and get acceptance, and if everyone thought about it real hard - they'd remember we were the same was when we was 15-16.

Post are bland, and can be easily misconstrued.... we need to take that info into consideration, and look at post from all angles before responding in a derogatory fashion (to a kid). Sometimes it easy to misconstrue a kid looking for acceptance, and accidentally grasp the concept that he's a "know it all" - which may not be the case at all.
I'm the world's worst for joking and horse playing, and having a good time. And I know that has been misconstrued on more than one occasion!

"We adults" should check our ego's as well, and remember - kids are our future. If ya gonna rag a kid - take it to pm and do it in private. It retains the kids dignity, and the adults as well.

As Forrest Gump used to say... "That's all I got to say about that".

T.

[irishpride42]

You know it is funny to me that F&S come on here and NCH&F but then on the blue site where ol' Nathan "apologized" and then got raked over the coals AGAIN F&S never showed up. You know I find it funny that yes I was 15 once but I wasn't born with the silver sportsman spoon in my mouth and have had to work for what I have, have done, and will do in the future. I gurantee you at 15 I would have not come on and LIED to the world about something like this but then again I guess I was raised a little different.

At the beginning of the week, Nathan Garrett started a thread on this forum that quickly started some controversy. As many of you now know, Nathan was selected—along with three other young hunters—as a member of Field & Stream’s Generation Wild Pro Staff.

Generation Wild is a program that Field & Stream started last year to encourage kids to get out and enjoy hunting and fishing. Each year we’ve selected a Pro Staff of four high school students who write blogs and shoot video for Geneartionwild.com and serve as mentors to other young outdoorsmen.

On Saturday, December 12, I got to meet all four pro staffers at the Generation Wild orientation at a sporting lodge in upstate New York. The five of us had a great day. We busted sporting clays and enjoyed a great upland bird hunt. Shortly after the trip, Nathan posted a thread on this forum that contained two photographs: One of the photos showed Nathan and another pro staffer standing with some of the pheasants they shot during the upland hunt. The second photo showed several dead mallards inside the cleaning station at the lodge in New York.

Nathan said he and the other pro staffers shot these mallards that morning. That is false. We spent the morning shooting sporting clays—not waterfowl hunting. In a moment of poor judgment, Nathan lied about hunting ducks with the other pro staffers. He said he made this up because he wanted to promote Generation Wild, but also because he admittedly wanted to show off.

The mallards in that photo are released birds, and they were shot by many hunters and possibly over the course of several days. Understandably, there was some criticism among readers of this forum about the ethics of shooting hens. Please know that I understand and appreciate your concern as conservation-minded hunters. But also know that these birds were all shot legally—and that none were killed by anyone from Field & Stream or Generation Wild.

As for the false information that Nathan provided, Field & Stream did not take this situation lightly. We understand that our silence up until now may have seemed a bit, well, deafening, but we simply wanted to refrain from speaking out until we had the entire story.

We hold our writers to very high standards—both in terms of writing ability and journalistic integrity. Had myself or any other writer or editor at F&S made something up in a story, it would be grounds for immediate dismissal. In Nathan’s case, however, we have chosen to give him a second chance.

At the end of the day, Nathan is just a 15-year-old kid, and we cannot expect him to understand the all of the rules that make good writing and honest journalism. But we can teach him, and that’s exactly what we aim to do. We see this as an opportunity to help Nathan learn a lesson from his mistakes. We were Nathan’s age once, too, and we’re grateful for the guidance we received from more experienced sportsmen.

After meeting Nathan this weekend, I can tell you that he’s a good kid: polite, fun to be around, and a darn good shot. Now, did he get off to a rough start as a Generation Wild pro staffer? Yes. Do I think he can bounce back and become a good mentor to other young hunters and anglers? Absolutely.

Everyone deserves a second chance, and this is Nathan’s.

Colin Kearns
Senior Editor, Field & Stream

Mentors, really? Not a mentor I want my child to be around! Yes F&S did take this situation lightly bc you gave him a second chance even after you sat and told us if it was anyone else it would have been grounds for dismissal. High standards? Not likely! I think F&S ought to think about the name this is putting out there for them. Now this is not a so much a slam on Nathan as it is a response to you Collin so don't take it that way. I have not met Nathan so I can only go by what I see on these boards.

[IGOTTEM2]

I have met Nathan, he is a very polite young man.

[specialized]

In my short time here and on these other sites, this kid is nothing but a "douche bag in training"

Once a douche bag, always a douche bag. Its the way of the world, but without them we'd have nothing to argue about on the internet

[Willie]

It's in the Honey Hole on the blue site...

[dbohunts]

tommorrow is opening day. lets move on.

[irishpride42]

It's in the Honey Hole on the blue site...

Gotcha, the rest of my comments still stand.

:beatdeadhorse

tommorrow is opening day. lets move on.

Fair enough!

[Ringneck]

I think he will do well. Remember that true sportsmen never lie, they just stretch the truth a little. He's young, and hasn't the experience in fibbing that we older hunters and fishermen have. We all know it takes years to cultivate the art of a good lie. The ability to stretch a bass from a half pound 10 incher to a 24 inch 10 pound behemoth takes unprecedented skill. Same with that spike buck you shot last year that is now a small eight pointer. Given the right guidance and patience he should make a fine "fibber" in a few years. Give the boy a break. He got caught and hopefully he will learn from his mistake.

[tsmart]

In my short time here and on these other sites, this kid is nothing but a "douche bag in training"

Once a douche bag, always a douche bag. Its the way of the world, but without them we'd have nothing to argue about on the internet

Specialized: Being this is your first post, I think it's pretty evident that


T.

[specialized]

you pro-staffers are all the same




ahahahaa

[tsmart]

you pro-staffers are all the same

Ask your girl friend, I'm the best.


T.

[IGOTTEM2]

I'm not a Pro Staffer and I thought it was a little over the top.

you pro-staffers are all the same




ahahahaa

[Waccamaw Calls]

Specialized
get rid of the sig line o I'll do it fo you!

[CanAmMan]

Where is Nathan to give his apology????

Until then.....

[quack pipe]

here's his apology from the ghey blue

Well for everyone i am sorry for what i have done. I snaped the picture of the birds when i went into the cleaning station. None of the birds were killed by F&S and us. The birds are perfectly legal they were released mallards.They were shot by another group. Why i did it because, i wanted to show off. I was bored at the airport and did it, without thinking of everyone and F&S. I am truly sorry for what i have done and made F&S and Generation Wild look bad. But they are truly doing good for youth and hunting. And i was very fortunate to be apart of Generation Wild pro-staff. For some of yal that wanted to make me look bad, well you acomplished it very well. As the buisness aspect goes, it is not yours to run. I think i run my buisness very well, and i am proud of what i have acomplished. As the guide thing goes well if you dont think i can guide or be good at it. Well you have to see it to say or not. Some of yal dont know me but over duck hunting chat. And most of yal dont need to hire a guide anyways. So why critizie me for being a guide, you should be supporting what i have done for NC and Mattamuskeet. I mean how often do you run into a 15 year old guide? I dont know any. Do yal? I will not post any more pics on this site if yal want to see how we have done go to my website. Again i am very sorry for what i have done. And please support Generation Wild and F&S. Also i will be doing blogs on Generation Wild of a duck guides life and, a swan hunt please go to there website to view. Also Mike Marsh came hunting with me, i hope this will see a diffrent aspect of me http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/2 ... SPORTS?p=1
Thanks again and sorry,
Nathan Garrett
Generation Wild Pro-Staffer
ABC Calls

"think like a duck not a hunter"

Lodge & Guide Service Owner

[QuakAttack]

I don't think anyone was trying to make him look bad but instead teach him a lesson. I have never met Nathan so I can't speak on what kind of person he is, but actions do speak louder than words and I'm not impressed. The kid still has a lot of learning left and needs to stop and think before he speaks. Maybe someone can fill me in on his comment about supporting him for what he has done for NC and Mattamuskeet. What has he personally done for this state and Mattamuskeet?

[Willie]

I hope Santy Claus brings him a dictionary or spell check for Christmas.

[Waccamaw Calls]

Where is Nathan to give his apology????

Until then.....

X 2

[irishpride42]

Where is Nathan to give his apology????

Until then.....

X 2

Ya'll got room for one more in that boat??

[Waccamaw Calls]

ALWAYS GOT ROOM FOR YOU ZACH

[irishpride42]

ALWAYS GOT ROOM FOR YOU ZACH

Thanks Bill! I can always count on ya!!!

[tsmart]

Bill - his sig line says it all, along with the way he entered NCducks.

How bout banning him.
I'm sure who ever it is, he's been banned before, and using an alias IP addy.

Thanks,
T.

[tsmart]

What has he personally done for this state and Mattamuskeet?

Throw out an example, so it'll be clear on what you are looking for.

Like - What have you done for this State and Lake Matt?
(I'm sure since he's only 15, you've done substantially more - being an adult.)

Then we'll all have a guideline to follow.

Thanks,
T.

[quack pipe]

What has he personally done for this state and Mattamuskeet?

Throw out an example, so it'll be clear on what you are looking for.

Like - What have you done for this State and Lake Matt?
(I'm sure since he's only 15, you've done substantially more - being an adult.)

Then we'll all have a guideline to follow.

Thanks,
T.

T, that's a straw man. mr attack never made the claim about doing anything for the state or skeet

nathan did make the claim, w/ nothing to back it up

and while we're at it, he said everyone else made him look bad, not the things he did

[tsmart]

Gotta admit though QP.... if we all told what we done for the state, and for Lake Matt.... I think many would be ashamed (myself included).

And if Nathan did post what he and his family has done, he'd be ragged for bragging.

It's a no win question.

T.

[quack pipe]

all the more reason why he shouldnt have said it in the first place

he may figure it out, he may not. but outlandish statements with no proof, deserve to be called out, no matter who makes them

[tsmart]

True, but we adults have take into consideration he's just a kid. Sometimes we have to over look "youthful ignorance (or arrogance)" , and accept it for what it is (IMHO).

Maybe I'm off base, but I seen how Red got treated. Didn't think much of it then, but I later met him and seen what kinda person he is. Talk about pie in the face, I was ashamed of how people jumped on him (and I did once myself).

Decided I'd say something, next time something like that came around - so I did.
If I was wrong, I apologize.
Regardless of what others think, I do have a heart.
And I won't have pie on my face this time around.

T.

[duckplucker]

Its not the kids fault its Mike Marsh.
Damn you Mike Marsh, damn you!

BTW who reads field & stream? Last time I read one was in a denist office and it was completely boring. Perhaps ole MM could join the Pro Staff and "spice it up"

[IGOTTEM2]

I don't know about any of you fellows but I'm excited about tomorrow, I'm going to Englehard duck hunting! It's suppose to blow, rain, sleet, and if were lucky snow! Lets gettem boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[zwatters021]

IGOTTEM, Good luck tommmorow. The birds should be flying pretty good!

[MarshDuck]

I'm with you!!! Just got finished loading my skiff & blind bag. I'm a first-timer on this site but really like it. Good luck to y'all...be careful if you're crossing big water.

[Bluedog]

Dang T-Roy you got a man crush on this boy or what?

My take has always been that if you are going to claim to be a man and brag about how you run your business and daddy ain't footing the bill (not completely true in this case), then you should be willing to take the responsibility of what you say and how you say it. You can't hide behind your age if you want to claim that you are mature for your age, run a business like no other 15 yr old etc, etc, etc. He only claims an age exemption when the heat comes from things he has said or done. You can't have it both ways.

[quack pipe]

Dang T-Roy you got a man crush on this boy or what?

My take has always been that if you are going to claim to be a man and brag about how you run your business and daddy ain't footing the bill (not completely true in this case), then you should be willing to take the responsibility of what you say and how you say it. You can't hide behind your age if you want to claim that you are mature for your age, run a business like no other 15 yr old etc, etc, etc. He only claims an age exemption when the heat comes from things he has said or done. You can't have it both ways.

and everytime he screws up he has somebody coddling him, protecting him from any consequences. think about all the dumb things he has said here, and the appropriate responses that got deleted. or the thread got deleted. or field and stream took up for him. i doubt he's learning anything b/c he always has someone to excuse his behavior or shield him from the consequences

[seastreet]

Its not the kids fault its Mike Marsh.
Damn you Mike Marsh, damn you!

BTW who reads field & stream? Last time I read one was in a denist office and it was completely boring. Perhaps ole MM could join the Pro Staff and "spice it up"

Using such profanity (what I put in bold and underlined) should be grounds for banning as well. Those two words used together are certainly profane in nature.

[irishpride42]

Its not the kids fault its Mike Marsh.
Damn you Mike Marsh, damn you!

BTW who reads field & stream? Last time I read one was in a denist office and it was completely boring. Perhaps ole MM could join the Pro Staff and "spice it up"

Using such profanity (what I put in bold and underlined) should be grounds for banning as well. Those two words used together are certainly profane in nature.

Agreed, that guy is a piece of....well we will say work for the sake of keeping this PG and has RUINED more spots then he has helped!

[IGOTTEM2]

Fellows,isn't it time to give this a rest.....aren't we supposted to be talking about duck hunting? I've got my bags packed getting ready to load my dog. Out.

[quack pipe]

Fellows,isn't it time to give this a rest.....aren't we supposted to be talking about duck hunting? I've got my bags packed getting ready to load my dog. Out.

you've been here all of two months and know when and what we're supposed to be talking about?

we'll give it a rest when we're ready.

[newpats22]

Miss a couple of days and wham, hot thread alert.

Yeah this thread might stay going a lil while. Word of advice to newbies or folks that just haven't picked up on the "code of ethics" on this site, remember to respect you elders (that also includes the date joined/# of posts on the left hand side of a thread). Please don't come on here and start off by puffin your chest. Answer the BBQ question and interact with humility.

[Boykins]

I hope his Daddy has kicked his arse for this one. This is a huge embarrasment. If this had happened to me when I was young my father would have made quit the gig with Field and Stream. No questions asked!

This kid has a history of causing controversy and bragging on the internet. Do you think he will change. They say it is hard for a leopard to chage his spots?

[QuakAttack]

T,

You may be right about Nathan being a good kid in person but the truth comes out on the internet. He is saying what he truly feels because he is able to hide behind the computer screen and not talk face to face to someone. I feel that if you talked to him in person he would be a completely different person. First impressions mean a lot and a lot of people get their first impression of the kid on here. The only point I was trying to make was that he needs to think before he speaks.

QA

[duckplucker]

Note to self: Mike Marsh = Bad Words.

[IGOTTEM2]

Fellows,isn't it time to give this a rest.....aren't we supposted to be talking about duck hunting? I've got my bags packed getting ready to load my dog. Out.

quack pipe, please accept my apology for not understanding protocol on this forum as I am a newbie, it won't happen again.

This photo is from this morning.

[tsmart]

Dang T-Roy you got a man crush on this boy or what?

Nope, never met him before.
So....


T.

[Landman]

Field and Stream has been calling around Hyde this week asking a bunch of questions about Nathan.