Nathan Ruebhausen


“Ol Tom apparel has changed the way I hunt. The unpredictable weather of spring is no longer a concern. For the hunters who run n’ gun all season, Ol’ Tom Technical Gear is the only choice!”
-Nathan Ruebhausen
Since he was a little boy standing on the edge of his grandpa's field at dawn waiting to hear the first gobbles of the morning, Nathan Ruebahusen has been consumed with "gobblin' fever".

Now at the age of 22, those closest to him realize things have not changed. Actually they seem to have gotten worse. The lengthening days of March bring him back to the woods of the midwest in search of the same sound that infected him 15 years ago. Nathan is a senior at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois which allows him to be within minutes of the beautiful turkey country of southern Illinois.

He grew up chasing the turkeys of the Mississippi River bottoms around the St. Louis area and still spends numerous days afield helping friends and family fill their tags in those same areas. While calling for friends, he has produced two top five wild turkey world records in the non typical category for birds with multiple spurs measuring over an inch and a half.

He himself has taken half a dozen birds with "hooks" passing the inch and a half barrier. His young age does not reflect his abilities due to his passion for studying the habitats and habits of the wild turkey as well as hunting nearly five days a week through the spring season and every weekend of the early fall archery season. His pursuit of this great game bird takes him across the state lines of Illinois and into Missouri and Tennessee.

In the spring of 2005, he thought he was reading to step on stage in his first turkey calling contest in the St. Louis Open. It just so happened to be his first win. Today, Nathan strives to master the wild turkey vocabulary and longs for the days in late March when he can go at dawn and listen to the monarchs of southern Illinois greet the day.

To him, everyday that passes is one day closer to turkey season.