Pro Staff
Tia Cast
Tia was born and raised in Texas. She spent a lot of time outdoors growing up and was introduced to fishing by her late Grandmother, who was still fishing in her 80’s. But she wasn’t introduced to hunting until she met and married Todd in 1994. Todd tried unsuccessfully for years to get Tia to join him in the field and finally coaxed her out with dove hunting. That evolved to duck hunting, then turkey and then moved on to big game. It’s been a whirlwind ever since.
The last four years she has been an avid hunter and host of TNT Outdoor Explosion. This year, Tia has moved from full-time hosting to pro-staff to allow more time for family. Tia has traveled the world hunting with TNT and has many first-class trophies under her belt. From the plains in Africa to the mountains of Austria and New Zealand, and all over North America, Tia has harvested big game animals with both rifle and archery equipment. She most enjoys the time she gets to spend with Todd and the experiences they have shared together, and is glad her two daughters enjoy hunting and the outdoors as well. It’s a great family tradition.
Dakota McArtor
Born April 8, 1993 in Dallas, my earliest memories were of visiting my grandpa's house in Wyoming and seeing all of his hunting pictures and trophies. I knew I wanted to be just like him someday. I started to shooting when I was six mostly prairie dogs and other small game. As I grew up I would go with my dad, brother and Grandpa, pheasant hunting. Even though I was to young to hunt I helped dress the birds and prepare the meat. When we moved from Kansas to Wyoming I was twelve and it was very difficult but it opened up a whole new world of opportunities. As soon as I was old enough I wanted to hunt Mule deer, so my grandpa and my dad took me out to the badlands near Cody, Wyoming. Luck smiled on me and by 8:30 am I had gotten my first animal ever. I remember the excited look on my grandpa and dad’s faces. I've been hooked ever since. Each hunt that I've done with my family and Grandpa were special in their own way. They are memories I will never forget.
Through my relationship with God I understand the importance of giving to the less fortunate. With the help of the SCI Blue Bag program, we were able to bring 280 lbs of clothing and toothbrushes, toys and medical supplies to a school near our lodge in South Africa. This was a very rewarding experience and one every hunter who travels should make a priority. Hunting plays such a vital role in wildlife conservation. This was very evident on my two biggest hunts in New Zealand and Africa. The thriving population of game animals in these two countries are a testament to the contribution hunting makes in wildlife conservation. I will always be a hunter no matter what, and I will always have the values, ethics, morals of a Christian hunter which is why Todd Cast and TNT Outdoors are a perfect fit for me.
Mike Owens
Mike is an avid outdoorsman. He began hunting at age 5 with his father and grandfather. His first kill was a dove using a very old single shot 20 gauge under the shoulder. Since, he has developed into a very skilled hunter, proficient in all types of firearms, from muzzleloader to archery. His favorite method of hunting is archery and has hunted game all over the world, from trophy class game in Africa to Caribou in Alaska. He is married with 2 children. His son has followed in his footsteps taking a trophy class Dall sheep with his bow at the tender age of 8 and has hunted in Africa, Alaska and Texas.
Mike is also the founder and president of GMS (Game Management Solutions) a company that provides software products to hunting ranches (both commercial and private) and deer farmers / breeders that allows them to keep better more accurate records of their operations. GMS currently has clients in the United States, Canada, Mexico and South Africa. “Our focus is to truly help folks become better stewards and managers of Gods land and resources.” Says Owens.
“If a season is open, somewhere, that’s where I want to be! “
Kenny Hollingsworth
Hometown: Hendersonville,NC
Affilliations: TNT Outdoor Explosion pro staff, Mossy Oak pro staff, Firenock pro staff
Kenny is a lifelong resident of North Carolina. He has been hunting and fishing since the age of 8. Kenny took his first whitetail with a rifle at the age of 13 and his first with archery equipment at the age of 16. He is married and has two children who also have a passion for the outdoors. Most of the spring and summer is spent fishing, turkey hunting or bowfishing with his family. His main focus in the fall is whitetail hunting, primarily with archery gear. He is likely to be found perched 20ft up in a treestand around his home in the mountains or in the west in the wide open prairie spot and stalk hunting. Wherever his whitetail passion takes him, he always has a video camera to capture the action. Kenny has been a pro staffer for TNT since 2008 as well as Mossy Oak camo and Firenock lighted arrow nocks.
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