This is the final story in the 2025 Outdoorsman of the Year Finalist Series.

Joshua Dishman isn’t just passionate about hunting — he’s passionate about sharing it.

For Josh, the most meaningful hunts of the year aren’t always his own. Each season he donates a five-day blacktail hunt to a veteran or first responder, mentors youth hunters, and introduces new people to the outdoors whenever he can.

In this episode of the HuntLeague Podcast, Josh sits down to share the story behind his 2025 season and what led to his selection as a finalist for Outdoorsman of the Year, the highest honor within the HuntLeague community.

This season included:

• A long-awaited backcountry hunt in Colorado • Months of physical preparation and ruck training • A successful muzzleloader elk hunt • Mentoring youth hunters and first-time outdoorsmen • Guiding a Marine Corps veteran on his first hunt • And keeping a 37 year blacktail streak alive

But what defines Josh’s season isn’t just success in the field.

It’s his belief that hunting is about community, mentorship, and sharing the outdoors with others.

Josh works for a school district and regularly talks with students about hunting, conservation, and the value of time spent outside. He also serves as a committee member for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, helping support conservation and habitat work that protects hunting opportunities for future generations.

Inside the HuntLeague app, competitors log their hunts and scouting trips throughout the year, sharing their journey with the community. But the Outdoorsman of the Year title is not determined by the leaderboard or points alone.

A panel of respected industry partners helps select the hunter who best represents the values of the outdoors.

Judging partners include:

Vortex Optics Seekins Precision HUXWRX Aziak Equipment Mountain Tough

Four hunters rose to the top in 2025.

This is Joshua Dishman’s story.

If you believe hunting is about more than just the harvest — you’ll enjoy this conversation.

Learn more about the HuntLeague community: https://huntleague.com

#hunting #outdoorsman #mentorship #elkseason #conservation #blacktail

Episode 3 of 4 in the 2025 Outdoorsman of the Year Finalist Series.

Cody Paratore’s story: Husband. Father of two (almost three). Self-taught big game hunter. Student of the woods.

In 2025, Cody made a decision that changed everything — he committed to putting family first in the field. That meant scouting with toddlers. Packing blinds with snacks. Turning out-of-state hunts into family road trips. And accepting that success might take a back seat to exposure and experience. Instead, everything came together.

• His biggest bull elk

• His biggest mule deer

• His biggest pronghorn

• Three states hunted

• 12 species pursued

• Four animals harvested with his kids by his side

But this season wasn’t defined by punched tags.

It was defined by:

– A turkey hunt with his 4-year-old son

– A blacktail hunt with his daughter in a Spider-Man costume climbing on his back

– Guiding his dad to his biggest buck

– Helping his sister punch her elk tag

– Mentoring new hunters into their first success

– Grinding through an ankle injury that nearly derailed the season

The Outdoorsman of the Year award inside the HuntLeague app recognizes more than harvest photos. It celebrates dedication, discipline, conservation, mentorship, and living the values of the hunting community.

Throughout the year, competitors log their hunts and scouting days inside the HuntLeague mobile app. While their journey is visible on the leaderboard, the winner is selected by a panel of respected industry partners and judges — not by points alone.

Judging partners include: Vortex Optics, Seekins Precision, HUXWRX, Aziak Equipment, Mountain Tough

Four hunters have risen to the top in 2025. This is Cody’s story.

If you believe hunting is about more than inches of antler — you’re in the right place.

Learn more about the HuntLeague mobile app and community:

https://huntleague.com

#hunting #outdoorsman #elkseason #familyhunting #mentorship

This is Cody Manzi’s story.

Every hunting season has defining moments — success, failure, doubt, perseverance, and lessons learned the hard way. This conversation dives into Manzi's many "firsts" he experienced in the 2025 season and what earned him a place as a finalist for Outdoorsman of the Year, the highest honor in the HuntLeague community.

The Outdoorsman of the Year award isn’t about inches of antler or size of harvest. It recognizes hunters who represent what the outdoors truly stands for:

-Dedication

-Discipline

-Conservation

-Mentorship

-Ethical hunting

-And unforgettable stories from the field

Throughout the year, hunters competing in the Outdoorsman of the Year league inside the HuntLeague mobile app log their experiences, share their stories, and build a season-long journey visible on the community leaderboard. But the leaderboard alone doesn’t decide the winner.

Each year, industry leaders and partners help select the Outdoorsman of the Year — someone who truly represents the hunting community.

Special thanks to our judging partners: Vortex Optics Seekins Precision HUXWRX Aziak Equipment Mountain Tough

Four hunters have risen to the top this year. This is one of their stories.

If you believe hunting is about more than the harvest, you’re in the right place. Learn more about HuntLeague: https://huntleague.com