Meet Jared Newman | Husband, Father of 4, HuntLeague Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jared Newman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jared, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
Success has several meanings to me as I could be successful in business but fail miserably in things that are far more important. As the founder of the HuntLeague app, I get to hear and see stories of success all around me. Whether that is congratulating a hunter for success in the field or getting to witness a parent or adult take a child or new hunter to the field for the first time.

In 2005, my wife and I moved to CO and shortly after that I picked up a bow for the first time. Hunting elk with a bow quickly became my passion even though it took me 12 years to successfully harvest my first bull. However, every year I found success in learning, sharing stories, and getting to spend elk camp with incredible people.

Those years that many hunters would deem unsuccessful were some of the most formative of my life though as it taught me so much about perseverance and finding value in the little things. It is what inspired me to build the HuntLeague app which works as a digital hunting journal capturing all the details of a hunt. I wanted to create a different way for hunters to celebrate and capture their success stories even if that doesn’t mean successfully harvesting an animal.

The HuntLeague app offers an entirely new way for hunters to connect and somewhat compete inside of leagues. It’s not about how big or how many animals a hunter can harvest. It’s about capturing the story of everything that goes into a season. From scouting trips, working out, practicing your shot, and investing in yourself and others along the way. The platform itself is redefining what success looks like for hunters.

I have made some tremendous sacrifices working to get HuntLeague off the ground. Sometimes it’s easy to get discouraged knowing there is still a long road ahead but it has been incredibly encouraging seeing hunters from around the country connect, share stories, and find community inside the app. Just in the past few months several premium companies in the outdoor industry have seen what we are building and have jumped in to support HuntLeague. Companies like Vortex Optics, Seekins Precision, Bergara, Bear Archery, Argali, AKEK, Skre, HUXWRX, Two Vets Tripods, Stag Arms, and even some Colorado based companies like Burris Optics and Outdoor Edge have jumped in and are participating in leagues.

On days when things are tough, I am so thankful for my wife who has supported me every step of the way. She is always quick to remind me of the incremental successes along the journey as I can sometimes focus so hard on the obstacle in front of me without ever taking time to celebrate the wins as they come.

So what does success mean to me? At the end of the day HuntLeague is something I am passionate about but ultimately I want to be known for someone that honors God, loves my wife, and raised 4 confident kids that are ready to be the salt and light in the world.

What should our readers know about your business?
Right around the time I was born my dad founded a production company that he is still leading today. As a child, my family toured for months at a time with a large cast and crew performing on stages around the world. As a young boy, my father transitioned into film and television work in order to reach more people with stories he believed in. These stories shaped my life and imagination so I have always believed in the power of story.

Some of the first known stories in human history are ancient cave paintings which often centered around hunting stories. I have always had a profound love for nature, fishing, and spending time outside. I didn’t really pick up hunting until I moved to CO so when I started I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. The first two years I learned a lot about bow hiking; covering countless miles without ever even seeing an animal.

As time went on I began to learn what to look for and recognize tracks, sign, and started to have more encounters. In the hunting world there are several incredible apps that do a fantastic job of capturing waypoints but they don’t really help you capture the story of the hunt. I would come home from these incredible adventures but didn’t have a great way to capture the story. I would take a waterproof journal with me and make notes in the field but I didn’t really find it helpful in preparing for the hunt next year.

In the fall of 2015, I went on a hunt with a few buddies that was full of incredible encounters and we even packed out a big bull that I called in for one of my buddies. After the hunt was over we had a dinner and shared stories from the year. Everything from what we saw to the mistakes we made to the equipment we used. I loved listening to the stories as they all had value. We love hearing the success stories but you can learn just as much from one of those as you can from a day spent in the woods not seeing an animal or even any sign of one. I wanted a better way to capture and share those stories which is what ignited the idea for HuntLeague.

For two years I looked for other apps or ways to capture the story of a hunt but never found what I was looking for. After wrestling with the idea and not being able to find a real solution I decided I would just build it myself for me and my buddies. I didn’t know the first thing about building an app and I never really had any desire to work in the outdoor industry. I was just passionate about hunting and passionate about story telling.

There are tons of really great hunting apps out there but none of them allow you to capture and share your hunts the way that HuntLeague does. Many hunters are extremely private about where they hunt and get nervous when you start talking about sharing the details of a hunt. HuntLeague is built as a private hunting journal and nothing is shared unless you choose to share it. Location data can only be shared with individual hunting buddies or a small hunting party in the app.

HuntLeague has also created an entirely new way for hunters to connect and compete in leagues. Every hunt and event logged has an assigned point value which allows hunters to rank up and see where they stand on the leaderboard. This opens the door for hunters to somewhat compete in leagues with others that share their passion. We think any leaderboard associated with hunting is flawed from the beginning so our league winners are not decided by a point system that could easily be manipulated. We invite league sponsors and individuals from outdoor companies to listen to our hunter’s stories and ultimately select the winners.

HuntLeague offers way more than just dropping waypoints on a map. It’s an incredible field tool that is bringing hunters, outdoor brands, local store owners, conservation and education groups together. It is going to be really fun watching the different leagues that start to emerge over the next few years as we will have family leagues, conservation leagues, elk & waterfowl leagues, private leagues for employees or churches, and so many other unique applications.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of my passions is introducing people to the outdoors. Colorado is filled with so many beautiful places to camp and explore. I always tell people that there is no place on earth I would rather be than Colorado in the month of September. You have crisp cool nights with beautiful sunny days. You can often hear elk bugling amongst the bright yellow and gold fall leaves.

The truth is there is not a bad month to be in Colorado but there is just something special about September. If you have never heard an elk bugle, you have to go to Estes Park in September and experience it first hand. Last year, I invited a buddies from Wisconsin and California to hunt with me. We spent time hunting in units from the front range to the western slope.

A perfect week in CO for me would include a lot of driving and require a fair amount of gear. Day one would probably start at Black Forest Foods and Deli in downtown Monument. Day two would probably include fly fishing at Eleven Mile Canyon to get acclimated to the high elevation without too much physical exertion. Before the real work begins we should probably finalize plans and talk through the week at O’Malleys in Palmer Lake. Day 3-7 it’s time to head to the backcountry where the comforts of a nice bed and eating at restaurants fade in the distance. The only creature comforts you have no are the things you are willing to carry on your back.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My wife is a rockstar! She has been so incredibly supportive and understanding. Self funding and building a business has been incredibly difficult and we have sacrificed sleep, family vacations, date nights, and so much more over the past few years.

I would really like to give a shout out to two Colorado based companies Burris Optics and Outdoor Edge for partnering with HuntLeague in our Spring Turkey and Outdoorsman of the Year leagues. They are both incredible companies that provide amazing products, value and customer support.

I am also incredibly grateful for organizations such as the Colorado Bowhunters Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Blood Origins, and HOWL for Wildlife for the work they do on behalf of wildlife, public access and education, and hunters everywhere.

Website: huntleague.com

Instagram: instagram.com/huntleague

Facebook: facebook.com/huntleague

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLPXKQY9wqs6yuBJSWf7nuQ