Bill’s Biography Bill Booth’s love for the outdoors began as a young boy. Growing up in Florida in the 70s before cable TV, cell phones or video games, the majority of Bill’s time was spent outside climbing trees, hunting birds and making bows and arrows. Upon receiving his first shotgun at age thirteen, he would ride his bike for miles to his favorite hunting spots for dove and quail. He started big game hunting in the early 80s with his grandfather Russell Smith, which led to his addiction to the outdoors. Then in 1988, he met a taxidermist in North Carolina and found a new passion. “I thought that if I learned Taxidermy, I could be around animals all year and make money too, so I learned how to preserve the animals I hunted,” says Bill. In 1990 he started Bill Booth Taxidermy and went on to become the national taxidermy champion in 2004. A year later, he won “Best of Category - Whitetail Masters Division” in the World Taxidermy Championships. Bill has also studied photography with National Geographic photojournalist Bob Sisson and has worked as a professional hunting guide from 1992-2003 at the Hi Hat Ranch, a 15,000-acre private ranch in Sarasota, FL where he took clients in pursuit of wild boar, turkey and deer. He also has 15 years experience as an alligator guide and participates regularly in the Florida Public Waters annual alligator harvest. Yes, Bill really does wrestle alligators and he is planning to do it on Bill Booth Outdoors! Bill is a certified Fire Fighter, Engineer /EMT, Certified Fire Instructor I in the state of Florida and currently working on a degree in Fire Science. Bill has been in the fire service for over ten years, he also holds a coast guard captains license and is a certified diver. “I began this project because cancer has affected people close to me! my dad, my grandfather and friends. It also allows me to apply my background in photography, animals and outdoor knowledge to the production of quality outdoor programming” says Bill. “It is the best way I know to help others share my passion and appreciation of the outdoors.” Through BILL BOOTH OUTDOORS, Bill also hopes to unite men and women, from
|
