How a passion for hunting can inspire others to also head afield

While growing up in the small Alberta town of Stony Plain, Terry Kupsch was introduced to hunting and fishing by his father. He shot his first moose when he was 16, and that early success helped ignite a love for the outdoors that stayed with him his entire life. But it didn’t just stay within Terry—he devoted his life to also mentoring others in the outdoor pursuits.

A quiet, devoted family man with a passion for music as well as the outdoors, Terry raised two daughters, Kasha and Shawna, with his wife, Karen, in Edmonton. Kasha, 39, now has two children of her own, while 38-year-old Shawna and her husband, Francois Gagnon, are raising six children.

“Dad was always the person everyone wanted to go hunting with,” Kasha told me, noting he was often referred to as the “Moose Whisperer.” Both her and Shawna were 18 when they shot their first moose while hunting with their dad, and wild meat was always a big part of their diet.

“He had patience for everyone, and did for my kids what he did for me,” Kasha added. “He had a shooting range at his acreage and all of us started there, shooting pellet guns before moving up to .22s and, eventually, hunting rifles.”

I met Terry, Karen and Kasha this past December, visiting with them at Grey Nuns Community Hospital in Edmonton, where Terry was fighting pancreatic and liver cancer. Despite his obvious discomfort, he proudly told me about his personal goal to keep the legacy of hunting alive in his family—and beyond.

Along with his daughters and grandchildren, Terry also shared his outdoor enthusiasm and knowledge with numerous friends, relatives and acquaintances. Whether it was grouse or duck hunting, ice fishing or pursuing deer and moose, he always extended a welcoming hand to anyone who expressed an interest.

“I can’t count the number of first deer I was fortunate to be part of,” Terry said. “I think it’s important for everybody to learn about firearms and become more involved with the outdoors.”

And the way he saw it, no one is more important than children. “Hunting isn’t just for the older generation,” Terry continued. “I think it’s critical to introduce youngsters to the values and benefits of hunting, to have them put their phones down and learn to be connected, even when they’re disconnected.”

With that in mind, he gave both his girls their first rifle, a tradition he continued with his eight grandchildren. “If you plant the seed in kids when they’re young, and help them become interested in and knowledgeable about firearms and hunting, their passion for the outdoors will stay with them for a lifetime.”

Terry Kupsch passed away peacefully at age 63, just two days after we met. Although we only talked for an hour, it impacted me more than I thought possible for such a brief encounter. And having learned first-hand from Terry, Karen and Kasha how his passion for mentoring had manifested itself in his children, grandchildren and countless others, I was heartened to see the legacy he so desperately wanted to share is alive and well.

“Dad gave us the gift of the outdoors when he taught us to hunt,” Kasha noted. “Through hunting, we learned to treasure nature, appreciate the beauty of sunsets and sunrises, and understand the value of quality family time spent enjoying a shared passion.”

The outdoor community is fortunate to have people such as Terry, who do so much to promote hunting, angling and conservation, even though few people beyond their family and circle of friends ever hear about it. And they do it purely for the love of the outdoors, without the need for fanfare or accolades.

We can use more people like Terry Kupsch.