Nate Hosie loves talking about hunting so much that sometimes he makes himself take a break to keep his voice. It’s not that he’s that talkative, necessarily.
Part of it is that he’s so engaging and enthusiastic about what he does that people on the other end of the conversation are in no hurry for it to end.
So, he sometimes schedules downtime to give his vocal cords some rest, particularly when he’s out playing concerts while also making lots of appearances to speak about his strong passion for the outdoors.
He’s not complaining: He’s just explaining what it’s like to be a popular and prominent outdoorsman, which is something he’s happy and grateful to be.
“I get to travel all over the country promoting hunting and the outdoors, I get to play music and share my faith with people all across the country, and I get to come home to my wife and my little boys,” says Hosie, who will soon turn 42. “If this is not living the dream, then I don’t know what is.”
How Nate Hosie Joined "HeadHunters TV"
A hunter since he was a kid growing up in the mountainous terrain of northeastern Pennsylvania, Hosie joined the on-camera cast of Outdoor Channel’s “HeadHunters TV” nearly a decade ago.
It was by accident, really. With a few years of behind-the-scenes production under his belt, he signed on as a videographer. The show’s producer, Randy Birdsong, quickly sized him up as a kindred spirit who would be even more of an asset on the other side of the camera.
Why He Loves Turkey Hunting
Hosie is one of those hunters who enjoys going after whatever is in season, but turkey hunting is closest to his heart. He is raising his family in his tiny hometown of Montdale, just north of Scranton and less than 40 miles from the New York state line.
Among those hills, fields and pastures is where he first developed the convincing calls that won him competition trophies as a teen and young adult.
“I just love the art of working a turkey,” Hosie says. “All hunting in the outdoors to me is therapeutic, but I love yelping at a turkey and having that conversation. I’m losing track of everything else and just thinking about what I need to be saying to this turkey or whether I need to adjust my technique.”
Young hunters look to Hosie as a good modern role model, but he believes the essence of what he does is largely unchanged from what initially attracted him, shaped by the direct influence of his father and grandfather.
“When you get down to it, the basics of it are still the same,” he says. “It’s being out there in God’s creation and watching the sun come up or watching the sun go down, or just watching the turkeys strut and gobble or a buck chasing a doe. The simplicity of it is still there, and it’s still as strong as it’s ever been.”
The Story Behind Nate Hosie’s Signature Face Paint
Hosie is instantly recognizable on the show by his distinctive face paint. Subtly shaped as a letter M, it’s a tribute to his late sister Marla, two years younger, who died in a car wreck at the age of 18. She was a major inspiration behind his musical aspirations.
The tragedy happened in 2004, just 10 months after he’d suffered a broken neck in a car wreck. He decided to take up the guitar while convalescing, but quickly put it down because he thought it would be too hard to learn.
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But not long before she died, Marla surprised him by picking up that same guitar and playing the catchy guitar part that kicks off Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Down on the Corner.” Once she was gone, he said, that vivid memory gave him the motivation he needed to give the guitar another go.
READ MORE: How To Start Turkey Hunting: A Beginner's Guide From a Turkey Fanatic
How Music Became Part of the Nate Hosie Story
After regional success in a band called Maybe Someday, he emerged as a solo country artist in 2017 with an EP called “The America I Know.” He has released several singles since then, plus two volumes of songs with hunting themes titled “The Woods.”
He plans to release a new album this summer. The incredible opportunities he’s had in music, such as playing at famous venues throughout the country and opening for some legendary acts, have far surpassed his expectations.
“I never had any idea this would happen. I’ve never looked at it like trying to get a record deal or a publishing deal or to get a song on the radio. My goal is just to give back to music what it gave to me.
"When somebody’s out in the crowd and bummed out or hurting about something that’s bothering them, they can forget all of it and just have fun.”
Why Family Still Comes First
Nate Hosie doesn’t have a publicist or other handlers who tell him where he needs to be every minute of the day, and maybe that’s why he can take some time off for vocal rest when he needs it. As a guy who personally books all his own engagements, he says his deliberate, less-than-full-speed-ahead approach is based on his belief that quality time with loved ones is precious and paramount.
After learning it through the heartbreaking loss of his sister more than 20 years ago, he carries it forward alongside his wife Tiffany and their sons, Cruze and Nash. The boys are getting into hunting at an early age, as Nate did, and he makes sure they learn the importance of being an ethical hunter, one who is guided by integrity as well as respect for the animal.
“Cruze is incredible,” the proud father says. “He’s 8 years old, and he’s taking part in a youth hunting program, and he’s taken eight deer (four bucks, four does), and he’s gotten four turkeys. And Nash, our 4-year-old, is amazing, too. He’s got a dart gun for now, and he’s slinging darts at all my mounts.”
We can’t help but believe that Nate Hosie, just by how he carries himself, is on target to ensure the love and passion of the outdoor sports will continue to flourish for generations to come.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is from the special State of the Modern Outdoorsman issue of Hook & Barrel Magazine, featuring insights from some of the biggest names in the outdoors industry on where we are and where we're headed. Check it out today!