Kevin VanderPloeg
Lapeer County, MI
He's been bowhunting for years, and had a friend draw up an image that showed this passion. Kevin might add an arrow between the antlers in the near future. Outdoor Life Online Editor
Share
Steve Walker
Ramona, CA
It took three years for Steve to settle on a design. This ink is based on an elk skull he found while hunting in Idaho. He finished the tattoo in time for his 50th birthday. Outdoor Life Online EditorJason Wood
Sonora, CA
To catch fish you've got to have the best lures, and nothing tops a body-builder rig with two treble hooks. I pity the fish's mouth that bites that. Outdoor Life Online EditorDugan Thixton
Louisville, KY
After shaving his leg, Dugan had the artist ink out this tall-tined giant. Outdoor Life Online EditorBarry Seachrist
Columbia, PA
The death of his best hunting and fishing buddy in a car accident inspired Barry's first tattoo (two bucks fighting) on his left shoulder. After a divorce, he decided to expand the ink to create a full back tat dedicated to the outdoors. He's put 50 hours of labor into it so far, and still has more designs to execute. Outdoor Life Online EditorJerry Morgan
Roseburg, OR
This tattoo reads like a cave painting. A native hunter has treed a bear with a hound and hawks soar above. What does it all mean? Outdoor Life Online EditorKelly McFarland
Walker, WV
Kelly's decision to get this tattoo was a combination of his love of turkey hunting and an addiction to ink. The fine detail work was done by Lure Tattoos in Vienna, WV. Outdoor Life Online EditorDaniel Goeldner
Colonie, NY
The tattoo was done by Donny Dean from EZ Tattoo. It took 16 hours worth of work Outdoor Life Online EditorDouglas Whitmore
Stanhope, NJ
Douglas has two tattoos, one on his left arm showing his love of hunting, and the other on his right bicep for his love of fishing. Outdoor Life Online EditorTattoo Done by Adam Chiodo
Artist and Owner of The Ink Tailor
Columbia Heights, Minnesota Outdoor Life Online EditorFrank Bliss
Quevill Park, NY
Frank got this ink when he turned 65. He went to the parlor with his son, having no intention of getting tatted up. Something must've inspired him because he's got a mural of hunting on his back now. Outdoor Life Online EditorThis unsigned tattoo hound describes himself as a hunting, fishing nut from Beatrice, NE. The tattoo reads:
LIVE TO HUNT/LIVE TO FISH/LOVE TO LIVE Outdoor Life Online EditorBrian Vaughn
Hope, RI
This tat was a birthday present from Brian's wife, which she had custom designed. Outdoor Life Online EditorDouglas Whitmore
Stanhope, NJ
Douglas has two tattoos, one on his left arm showing his love of hunting, and the other on his right bicep for his love of fishing. Outdoor Life Online EditorLuke Wittman
Colden, NY If you want a fishing scene, might as well go all out. This one includes the boat, cabin, fish and a Grateful Dead tattoo, as well. Outdoor Life Online EditorTom Woodburn
Murphys, CA
If fishing is your passion, why not memorialize it with a tattoo? Outdoor Life Online EditorAlong with his cornfield collage, Daniel also has a western mountain scene, which includes a mountain lion, a wolf and a big horn sheep. Not bad if you love the outdoors. We want your tattoos! Send us your tat and a story to: outdoorlifephotos@yahoo.com Outdoor Life Online EditorThe centerpiece of this mural is a deer that Daniel shot with a bow in the cornfields of Iowa. Below it is a possum, because apparently, that's Daniel's nickname. The flying turkey is just an extra touch. Outdoor Life Online EditorDivorced at 73, Cliff was looking for the "single"Â thing to do. He went with his son to a local ink shop. First he had the moose head done, then the beetle, then the eagle. Turned out he was hooked on tattoos, though he says this enough for now. Outdoor Life Online EditorChad loves fine engraving on firearms, especially the masterpieces of Winston Gordon Churchill. His tattoo is a replica of an engraving on a Holland and Holland double that Chad saw in an issue of Field and Stream. The mural on his arm took four years to complete. Outdoor Life Online EditorJohn's first became fascinated with bears when he traveled to Alaska on a sight-seeing trip. Since then, he purchased a house on Kodiak and enjoys being among the bears. Outdoor Life Online EditorDave came across a feeding moose while deer hunting in Maine. When he returned to his home in Pittsburgh he couldn't get this image out of his head. So, the logical step was to call a local tattoo parlor and have it put on his arm. Outdoor Life Online EditorFor 10 years, Perry and his friends traveled to Wyoming, chasing mule deer. While reading a local paper he saw this caricature. The next year the group took a detour on the way to Wyoming so Perry could get this image on his arm. Outdoor Life Online EditorIn order to honor his father and uncle, two of his hunting mentors, Donald had this tattoo of a buck standing in a stream inked on his leg. Outdoor Life Online EditorSteven wanted ink to show his love and respect for the outdoors. His local artist sketched out this scene with a large buck meant to represent the "Missouri Monarch."Â Outdoor Life Online EditorAt first, James just wanted a bear tattoo. He selected the grizzly and mountain background from stock art at the tattoo parlor. But that wasn't enough. A few months later he returned and added the dead deer and a wolf. Outdoor Life Online EditorFor five generations, Herbert's family hunted the woods of Maine. He got this tattoo to commemorate his ancestors. The image of the buck and the doe was a memory Herbert had while hunting with friends Outdoor Life Online EditorWhen a 1999 issue of Pennsylvania Game News arrived in the mail, Don's son knew exactly what he wanted for a tattoo. The crouching mountain man with a flint lock was taken from the magazine's cover. Outdoor Life Online EditorThese tattoos are of a large bear and monster buck that Randel shot during the 1999 season in the same day. Outdoor Life Online EditorJust before opening day last year, Ed got this tattoo on his chest. All of the other hunters at his camp were envious. Outdoor Life Online EditorInstead of paying tribute to the outdoors, Scott got this tattoo as a representation of the importance of the second amendment. Outdoor Life Online EditorTo honor his grandfather, the man who introduced Lax to the outdoors and trapping, he got this tattoo, which includes symbols of the trap line. Outdoor Life Online EditorThis 10-pointer is meant to memorialize Katie's father, who often took her deer hunting as a child Outdoor Life Online EditorThis black lab made such an impression on Rick that he had its likeness tattooed on his back. Outdoor Life Online EditorAfter his wife suggested he get a tattoo of camouflage, James collaborated with his local ink artist to create this image. Outdoor Life Online EditorAlbert's father hunted bison as a member of the Indian Service. His son got this tattoo in the style of an Indian pictograph as a tribute. Outdoor Life Online EditorThough this elk isn't an exact replica of a monster 7×7 Larry shot in 2004, it's close. And he's kept his left arm clean of ink in case he shoots a trophy deer, too. Outdoor Life Online EditorAs a 40th birthday present to himself, this gentleman got a tattoo to show his love of bow hunting deer. Outdoor Life Online EditorThis tattoo is meant to memorialize the first elk Mark shot while bow hunting in 2001. He hopes to add a mule deer, antelope, big horn sheep and black bear to his back, too. Outdoor Life Online EditorA love of Wisconsin, hunting and the right to bear arms are all represented in this tattoo of Bucky Badger holding a rifle. Outdoor Life Online EditorWant to send us your tattoo? Find out how at the end of the gallery! Even at 35, Barry still hides this tattoo from his dad, even though he got it as a reminder of how much he loved fly fishing with his father. Outdoor Life Online EditorA son's interest in ink prompted Steve to get this tattoo at age 46. The image was a no-brainer, he said. Steve loves deer hunting, so a deer was the perfect fit. Outdoor Life Online EditorYou've got to grab life by the horns, right? David says this tat shows what he likes to do: ride bike and hunt elk. Outdoor Life Online EditorWhen a local artist couldn't figure out how to draw a deer head properly, David took a picture of his 8-point trophy and brought it with him to the parlor. Outdoor Life Online EditorThese are Tim's tools of the trade: a Winchester 10-gauge shell, Thunderhead broadhead and a .30-06 handload. Outdoor Life Online EditorA shapely Southern woman catching an American flag-covered marlinÂ…doesn't get any better than that. Outdoor Life Online EditorAfter landing his first tarpon, Scott's son took him to a local parlor for Father's Day and got him this fish tattoo. Outdoor Life Online EditorBecause Daniel loves bass fishing it's only natural that he would get a lunker chasing a shad into his bellybutton. Even better, his mother, Kitty, did the tattoo. Outdoor Life Online EditorThis image is of Shannon's brother, who died recently. Long-time fishing buddies, Shannon got this to memorialize their time on the water together. Outdoor Life Online EditorWhile in the army, stationed in Kansas, Randall got this tat to reflect his belief in the second amendment. Outdoor Life Online EditorAfter getting the deer head, Edward added the Winchester slogan believing that it is the premier ammo company. Outdoor Life Online EditorThe Nuge saw Tom's ink at an airport and called his Browning Buckmark and DU logo "hardcore."Â Quite a compliment. Outdoor Life Online EditorThis scene is supposed to depict the view from a tent at first light. Freddy says there are 48 colors in the whole mural Outdoor Life Online EditorRob and his wife Nancy have been hunting together since they met, and have matching elk tattoos to show their dedication. Outdoor Life Online EditorAlong with her husband's European mount tattoos, Nancy decided to get this portrait of an elk bugling. Outdoor Life Online EditorAs an avid smallmouth fisherman, William decided to get a tribal fish tattoo along with a hook/wave motif on his right arm. Outdoor Life Online EditorAfter breaking his leg on a turkey hunt, Fred dealt with his frustration by getting some ink. By the way, check out his beard collection in the background! Outdoor Life Online EditorThe mallard is Speed's favorite duck, both to hunt and to eat. He needed this ink as a reminder for the off-season. Outdoor Life Online EditorWhen you shoot a buck that scores 140-1/8 typical, why not get a tattoo as homage to that heavy-tined brute? Outdoor Life Online EditorThis Ducks Unlimited logo is meant to remind Jay of the time he and his father spent duck hunting. Waterfowl are what got Jay interested in hunting to begin with. Outdoor Life Online EditorThe top tattoo is a representation of the first buck Jerry shot with a bow, and the bottom one represents his love of bow hunting. Outdoor Life Online EditorZack looked through hundreds of photos to find inspiration for his deer tattoo. He finally settled on one from an old issue of Outdoor Life. Good choice. Outdoor Life Online EditorArnie borrowed a drinking glass from his brother that had this image on it. The tattoo artist was able to recreate the image perfectly. Outdoor Life Online EditorThere's nothing Mike likes better than to be chasing cow stripers and big, blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay. This ink reminds him of it in the off-season. Outdoor Life Online EditorAlong with tattoos of crabs and stripers, Mike got this boat, which is replica of his 31-foot Chesapeake fishing vessel. Outdoor Life Online EditorRon's wife hated tattoos, but surprised him at Christmas when she paid a local artist to do this image of "Mr. Mule Deer"Â on Ron. Outdoor Life Online EditorFor 30 years Arnie searched for the right tattoo. Then he saw the illustration for Pat McManus's Last Laugh column and knew what to getÂ…this bear. Outdoor Life Online EditorTom took a couple of his best shed-hunting finds and had the tattoo artist copy them. Outdoor Life Online EditorThis tattoo is a representation of a buck that Jared harvested in 2005 with a bow. Outdoor Life Online EditorLooking for something unique, Phil had a tattoo artist design this pattern with some antler sheds he found near his home. Outdoor Life Online EditorThis turkey feather is on Ray's left inside forearm, and Jake is his son's name. Outdoor Life Online EditorA catfish fanatic, Aaron wanted some ink for the time he and his father spent running set lines on the Wolf River in Wisconsin Outdoor Life Online EditorA catfish fanatic, Aaron wanted some ink for the time he and his father spent running set lines on the Wolf River in Wisconsin Outdoor Life Online Editor
For these sportsmen, love of the outdoors is skin deep. From back murals to racks around the bicep, there’s enough ink in this photo gallery to publish a dictionary. Check out all 85 tats, and send us yours.
