I’m a bowhunter because of the challenge it offers. Don’t get me wrong—if a firearm is necessary, I’ll use one without hesitation. But the grind of bowhunting, the relentless pursuit of the perfect shot, is what keeps me coming back year after year. This season, I drew a tag that every hunter dreams of—the coveted New Mexico elk tag. It’s a tag people spend decades trying to draw, and one I’ve been chasing for nine years.

When Ryan Gentry from @blackhornguideservice called to tell me the news, I honestly didn’t believe him. “Ryan, quit messing with me. I know I didn’t draw. But did my son get lucky?” I joked.

But Ryan wasn’t joking. Not only had I drawn the New Mexico elk tag, but I’d also drawn a mule deer tag, a prize that’s just as elusive. You’d think I’d be over the moon. I wasn’t. While I should have been ecstatic, part of me felt deflated. My son hadn’t drawn a tag. And for me, hunting isn’t just about the trophy—it’s about the shared experience. I’d been looking forward to another hunt with him, and now, I knew he wouldn’t be joining me on this one.

The unit I’d be hunting in is a brutal one: miles of rugged terrain, with vertical ascents reaching up to 1,400 feet in just a quarter of a mile. Not the kind of place you want to tackle alone, especially when you’re used to having a trusted companion by your side.

 The Balance of Family, Responsibility, and the Hunt

For most people in the hunting community, this would be the moment to dig in their heels, dedicate time and energy, and brag about their tag. For me, however, it was a different story. While others were working tirelessly to prepare for their hunts in the months ahead, I found myself sulking, consumed by frustration and acting like a child. I wanted to hunt with my son, fall had always been our time. And yet, when the draw came around, I couldn’t believe that he hadn’t drawn a single tag.

In hindsight, it’s hard to believe that something so trivial bothered me so much. The truth is, it’s okay to be a dad who wants to spend time with his family and still chase his personal passions. Yes, you owe your time and devotion to your loved ones, but you also owe it to yourself to pursue the things that ignite your spirit, whether that’s an unforgettable hunt or a career you’ve always dreamed of.

My wife, Amy, saw my internal struggle and stepped in with the kind of support that only a best friend could offer. “I can handle this,” she reassured me. “I’ll get him to school and to his games. You focus on this hunt.” Her encouragement was exactly what I needed. With her unwavering support, I realized that it was okay to carve out time for myself and prepare for what could be a once-in-a-lifetime elk tag.

And so, I let go of the guilt. It was time to focus, to get ready. It was time to pursue my own adventure, without sacrificing the role I cherished as a father. After all, the pursuit of our dreams doesn’t mean neglecting the ones we love, it means finding the balance that allows us to thrive as both parents and individuals

 A Tribute to CS

If you know me, really know me, you’ll understand that I’m always chasing something. Chasing the light, chasing the challenge, and chasing that sense of purpose that comes from seeing the world through a glass half full, not half empty. I have this unwavering belief that God loves us all and gives us the power to choose. We can follow His plan or move away from it, but even when we wander, there’s always a way back to Him. Trust me, I’m no saint. I’ve made more mistakes than I can count. But through it all, I’ve never doubted His love for me. I see it in the sunrises, in the shooting stars that appear just when I need them, in every hunt and every moment of stillness. It’s as if He’s constantly reminding me that no matter how far I stray, His love is always there.

I was in a rhythm adjusting my bow, fine-tuning my gear, hitting the gym with my buddy @hagenw62. I was feeling unstoppable. But life has a way of throwing curveballs when you least expect it.

It was 2:00 p.m. when I got the call from my college friend Cole. The moment I saw his name on my phone, I knew something was wrong.

CS. My college roommate, the guy who introduced me to bow hunting, the one who kept me grounded, the one who could calm my storm with just a few words. He was the guy who pushed me to get my pilot license, the one who kicked off every smoker session at noon on Thursdays, the guy who floated the Devil’s River with me, and chased deer across public land. We were brothers in every sense of the word in college, our lives tied together by shared adventures and countless memories.

The loss of CS hit me like a ton of bricks. It's hard to put into words how much it hurt, but I'll try. The funeral was beautiful-it wasn't just a service led by a preacher; it was a celebration of who he was, told through the stories of his friends and family. His wife, strong as ever, held everything together, managing the crowd and being the rock for their kids. It was raw, it was real, and it hurt in ways I wasn't ready for.

CS loved elk hunting. He loved his family. And he loved anything that had to do with water. He was the kind of guy who could find peace in the quiet moments, and I always admired that about him. But after he was gone, something inside me broke. I wasn't seeing the glass half full anymore. I was angry. I was devastated. I didn't know how to move forward.

Then it hit me, I needed to do this for him. I needed to get my mind right, not just for me, but for CS. I needed to channel his calm, his love for the hunt, and his spirit. I had to chase something bigger than myself, and I had to do it for him.

CS's biggest elk was 334". My goal? To beat that, in his honor. Just days before his passing, we were texting about hunting. He had struck out on his tags, but I had drawn mine. He was pumped for me. "I got you, man," he texted. And now, in his absence, I had to chase that dream, for him. As I sit here, bow in hand, preparing for the next hunt, I can feel CS with me. The challenge is on. The light I'm chasing? It's for him. Chasing360.

 Honoring, a Legend

It was time to finish prepping for the hunt. To be in shape. To have a bow dialed in, perfectly. It was time to dedicate my time to Chasing 360. One thing that I took away from CS’s funeral were the pictures of his adventures. If you have ran into me since this time you will know that I require images. If we are lifting, if I fell in the mud, or if we met you on the mountain while you, “relaxed.” From silly selfies to amazing shots by @monty_cain I encourage you to make the memories and take the pictures. Take off work. Tell them you are gone. Go, chase what you want.

-Korbin Williams, Korbin's Archery