In this episode of Kicked Out, Maddie Richards sits down with Hazen Downward, a passionate hunter from southern Idaho, to talk about the experiences, challenges, and people that have shaped his life in the outdoors—and the once-in-a-lifetime sheep tag that would eventually kick him out of the <1 Club.
Hazen now calls Buhl, Idaho, home after moving from central Utah in 2021 in search of a slower pace of life and more time to pursue the outdoors. Hunting has been part of his life from an early age, thanks to a father and brothers who introduced him to the tradition. From his first camping trip just weeks after he was born to the hunts he now shares with his own family, the outdoors have remained a constant throughout his life.
Family is at the heart of Hazen’s story. His 17-year-old daughter is an avid hunter, and bear hunting has become a special springtime tradition for the two of them. Hazen shares what it’s like being a “girl dad” in the hunting world and how spending time in the field with his daughter has added another layer of meaning to a passion that has followed him throughout his life.
He also reflects on some of his most memorable hunts, including a Utah mountain goat tag he waited nearly two decades to draw. After years of anticipation, finally getting the opportunity to hunt a mountain goat—and eventually taking his billy at just 11 yards—became one of those experiences that stays with a hunter long after the hunt is over.
After moving to Idaho, Hazen discovered another opportunity: applying for a once-in-a-lifetime sheep tag. When he learned that he had actually drawn, disbelief quickly turned into preparation.
But preparing for a demanding mountain hunt wasn’t easy. An injury had affected Hazen’s mobility, requiring him to rebuild his strength and stamina while also preparing mentally for the physical demands of sheep country. Drawing the tag was only the beginning. Getting himself ready to make the most of the opportunity would require work, patience, and perseverance.
Then life delivered a challenge no hunting plan could anticipate.
Just as preparation for his sheep hunt was ramping up, Hazen’s wife experienced a medical emergency that resulted in a life flight to Boise. The once-in-a-lifetime tag suddenly took a back seat as Hazen turned his attention to his wife and family.
That experience became one of the most meaningful parts of his story. Hazen talks openly about balancing a rare hunting opportunity with the responsibilities and priorities that matter far more. The experience reinforced a lesson that extends well beyond hunting: adventures and tags will come and go, but the people you love come first.
In this episode, Hazen and Maddie talk about his lifelong connection to hunting and the family members who introduced him to it; the bond he shares with his daughter through hunting and the outdoors; waiting nearly 20 years to draw a Utah mountain goat tag; the excitement of drawing a once-in-a-lifetime Idaho sheep tag; and the physical and mental preparation required for a demanding mountain hunt.
They also explore how an unexpected family emergency changed the course of Hazen’s hunting season and the lessons he carried forward about resilience, perspective, family, and what ultimately makes a hunt meaningful.
Hazen’s story is a reminder that hunting is about far more than the animal at the end of the journey. It’s about the people who teach us, the family members who support us, the friends who join us, and the challenges that shape the stories we carry home.
Join Maddie and Hazen for a conversation about sheep hunting, mountain hunting, family, perseverance, and the moments that remind us why the outdoors—and the people we experience it with—mean so much.
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