Introduction to F.I.R.E, Week 1
Week 1: What is the F.I.R.E. System?
A New Era of Precision Hunting, Built from the Field
I’ve spent the last 20 years chasing game across steep ridges, high desert, canyon breaks, and quiet timber. I’ve missed shots I should’ve made, passed on animals I shouldn’t have, and learned, often the hard way, what separates a hopeful hunter from a consistent killer.
Over time, a pattern started to emerge. Not just in my own hunting, but in how I was training others. Whether I was behind the bow/rifle or guiding someone else behind it, the process was always the same: Find. Identify. Range. Engage.
That’s how the F.I.R.E. System was born.
It’s not a gimmick. It’s not theory. It’s a framework I’ve used, refined, and trusted in real-life hunts, the kind where there are no do-overs. If you’re a serious archer, rifleman, or an ambitious student of precision hunting, this system is built for you.
F – Find
You can’t kill what you can’t find.
Most hunters show up and just start glassing. But locating game consistently takes more than optics. You have to read the land, terrain, thermals, wind, and patterns. That’s where Find begins.
I’ll show you how I break down maps to find travel corridors, how I use glass with purpose, and how to let weather data tell you where to be and when. This module alone will change the way you scout forever.
I – Identify
Once you’ve spotted game, the next challenge is knowing exactly what you’re looking at, species, sex, age, class, all at a distance, often in seconds.
We’ll cover how to confirm legal targets, judge maturity, and make real-time decisions with your guide or spotter. I’ll also walk you through ethical shot calls, including the “would you shoot?” scenarios I’ve faced myself.
R – Range
This is where we bring the science in.
If you’re going to shoot at distance, everything from angle to wind to ballistic profile matters. I’ll show you how I use rangefinders in steep terrain, when to trust a wind call, and how to build a real-world dope card that works every time.
No guesswork. No fluff. Just the hard skills you need when it’s time to get behind the rifle.
E – Engage
This is the part everyone thinks they’re ready for. But the truth is, you only shoot as well as you prepare.
From rifle setup to shooting positions to the mental game, I’ll teach you what I teach clients before they ever get on the trigger. You’ll learn to breathe, break, follow through, and make the shot count, every time.
Scenario Drills from the Real World
Every part of F.I.R.E. comes with field-tested drills I use in my own prep and with clients in camp. We’ll walk through scenarios like:
- Spotting multiple bulls or bucks and choosing the right one
- Adjusting for shifting wind mid-stalk
- Shooter/spotter protocols when adrenaline is high
- Glass → Identify → Range → Dry fire reps
Final Word from Joel
Look, I’m not here to make you Instagram-famous. I’m here to make you better. I want you to walk into any hunt, anywhere in the world, and know you have a system that works.
That’s what the F.I.R.E. System is. It’s the process I’ve built, trusted, and now teach to serious hunters like you.
Stick around. Each week we’re breaking it down, one module at a time.
- Joel