Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) and Hunting Matters welcome Mike Slinkard, President of HECS, LLC. Mike is also a lifelong bow hunter, former professional archer, and full-time entrepreneur who has started several successful businesses in the hunting and outdoor industry.
Born in 1965, Mike grew up shooting and hunting. His father had Mike shoot both bows and firearms at a very young age; in fact, Mike doesn’t even remember being taught to shoot when he was too young. Mike’s grandfather and uncle were ranchers, and Mike spent much of his youth in close proximity to both domestic and wild animals. Mike began archery hunting at age 12 near John Day, his eastern Oregon home, and was practicing competitive archery by age 17.
Mike has been lucky enough to have hunted all over the world and has taken over twenty species with archery gear including grizzly bear, Cape buffalo and 49 elk to date. Hunting elk with a bow is his true passion.
Mike opened his first professional archery shop in John Day Oregon in 1992 and went on to found Winners Choice Custom Bowstrings INC in 2000, changing the archery industry forever and bringing the art of bowstring construction to a level never reached before. This laid the foundation for bow makers to reach new levels of performance that had never before been possible due to the limitations of strings at the time.
Mike founded HECS LLC in 2010, which focuses on the emerging science of how animals perceive their electromagnetic environment, and Mike and his team have issued five US patents and multiple foreign patents on technology that blocks the human bioelectric signature. HECS technology is widely used in hunting, wildlife, conservation and research fields, as well as in military and underwater applications.
Mike currently serves as the President/Founder of HECS LLC and Closer Outdoors INC. He also runs subsidiary companies HECS Wildlife LLC, HECS Aquatic LLC, and HECS Tactical LLC.
Mike is the host of Hunting with HECS TV, which has aired on the Pursuit channel for the past 11 years and is currently the most broadcast hunting/outdoor television show on the air. Mike has a lovely wife of 32 years (Sharrie), two grown daughters and a granddaughter.
About Hunting Matters
Tune in to “Hunting Matters” with Houston Safari Club Foundation Executive Director Joe Betar as he engages in conversations with guests, from diverse backgrounds, who are passionate about hunting and conservation. Great discussions, news, hunting law updates and more! “Hunting Matters” airs every Saturday, 6 am to 7 am CDT on KPRC AM 950: Real Texas, Real Talk, a Houston iHeartMedia station and Houston’s Oldest Radio Station. “Hunting Matters” is also available via podcast on Apple/iTunes, iHeartMedia, Google, Overcast, PodBean, and Spreaker. Subscribe, listen, rate and comment. Hunting Matters received a 2022 Gold AVA Digital Award, a 2022 NYX/Marcom Silver Award, a 2022 MARCOM Gold Award, and a 2022 Gold Davey Award.
About the Houston Safari Club Foundation
The Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage. HSCF has awarded 646 scholarships totaling $2.92 million. HSCF conducts youth outdoor education programs, vocational training, hunter education, and field experiences throughout the year. HSCF has provided more than $4 million in grants for wildlife, habitat, and various hunter-funded conservation initiatives. HSCF is an independent organization, is not affiliated with Safari Club International (SCI) or its affiliates and is not a chapter or affiliate of any other organization. Visit our website at wehuntwegive.org or call 713.623.8844 for more information. HSCF. We hunt. We give.