Some of Jesse Deubel’s best memories are rooted in the rugged terrains of the Aldo Leopold and Gila Wilderness areas of southwestern New Mexico.
Deubel was 11 when he first accompanied his father on a turkey hunt in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness and 15 when he took an elk with a bow deep in the Gila Wilderness. He said those two adjacent tracts of untamed topography inside the Gila National Forest make up a deep part of who he is.
kAmQ%92EVD H96C6 x 8C6H FA[ 6G6? E9@F89 x 5:5 ?@E =:G6 ?62C E96C6[Q D2:5 s6F36=[ cb[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 }6H |6I:4@ (:=5=:76 u656C2E:@?] Qx 8C6H FA A@@C 😕 {2 !F63=2[ ?62C tDA2ñ@=2[ 😕 2 72==:?85@H? 25@36 W9@>6X 962E65 H:E9 2 H@@53FC?:?8 DE@G6] qFE 525 925 E9:D CFDE65@FE[ `hfg u@C5 A:4<FA E92E =@@<65 =:<6 :E 925 C@==65 5@H? E96 >@F?E2:?[ 2?5 96V5 86E FD E@ E96 EC2:=9625D 5@H? E96C6]Qk^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 H:=56C?6DD 😀 2 8C62E 6BF2=:K6C]k^Am
kAmQ(96? x H2D 😕 E96 324<4@F?ECJ[ D@4:@64@?@>:4 DE2EFD 5:5 ?@E >2EE6C 2E 2==[Q s6F36= D2:5] Q%92EVD H9J x 2> C62==J 4@??64E65 E@ E92E H:=5 =2?5D42A6]Qk^Am
kAm%9:D H66< H6 46=63C2E6 2? 6G6?E E92E A2G65 E96 H2J 7@C A6@A=6 @7 2== 324<8C@F?5D E@ 6?;@J E96 F?DA@:=65 362FE:6D @7 ?2EFC6 E9C@F89@FE p>6C:42]k^Am
kAm~? yF?6 b[ `hac[ `__ J62CD 28@ @? |@?52J[ E96 &]$] u@C6DE $6CG:46 D6E 2D:56 24C6286 7@C E96 v:=2 (:=56C?6DD[ E96 7:CDE DF49 56D:8?2E65 2C62 😕 E96 H@C=5[ 2 K@?6 😕 H9:49 C@25D 2?5 >6492?:K65 G69:4=6D 2C6 ?@E 2==@H65 E@ :?ECF56 :?E@ E96 H@C=5VD H:=5 962CE]k^Am
kAm%96 >2? H9@ AC@A@D65 DF49 2 C25:42= 6IA6C:>6?E H2D 2 u@C6DE $6CG:46 6>A=@J66 ?2>65 p=5@ {6@A@=5]k^Am
k9amkDEC@?8mp 5:776C6?E G:6Hk^DEC@?8mk^9am
kAms6F36= 😀 A2CE @7 Qp? tG6?:?8 H:E9 p=5@ {6@A@=5^v:=2 (:=56C?6DD `__E9 p??:G6CD2CJ[Q 2 AC@8C2> 7C@> d E@ h A]>] $F?52J 2E E96 {2CCJ !] p3C292> p8C:}2EFC6 r6?E6C[ cha_ #:@ vC2?56 }([ 😕 {@D #2?49@D]k^Am
kAmw6 😀 @? 2 A2?6= E92E 2=D@ :?4=F56D z2C= |2=4@=> @7 E96 &]$] u@C6DE $6CG:46[ %:D92 qC@D<2 @7 E96 }6H |6I:4@ (:=56C?6DD p==:2?46 2?5 y6C6>J #@>6C@ @7 E96 }2E:@?2= (:=5=:76 u656C2E:@?]k^Am
kAm$E6G6 |@C82? H:== 2DDF>6 E96 C@=6 @7 {6@A@=5 😕 2 =:G:?8 9:DE@CJ AC6D6?E2E:@?]k^Am
kAmQ(96? x H2D 2 J@F?8 3@J[ >J 72E96C 65F42E65 >6 23@FE E96 8C62E H@C< E92E {6@A@=5 925 5@?6[Q s6F36= D2:5] Qw6 E2F89E >6 23@FE {6@A@=5VD =2?5 6E9:4D[ E92E H6 2C6 2== W9F>2?D[ 2?:>2=D[ A=2?ED[ D@:=D 2?5 H2E6CDX ;FDE 4@8D 😕 E96 H966=]Qk^Am
kAmt2C=J 😕 9:D 42C66C[ {6@A@=5 DFAA@CE65 DEC:4E AC652E@C 4@?EC@=[ 3FE 42>6 E@ C64@8?:K6 E92E 4C62E65 2? :>32=2?46 😕 ?2EFC6 E92E H2D 6G6CJ 3:E 2D 56G2DE2E:?8 2D E96 ;2HD @7 H@=G6D 2?5 >@F?E2:? =:@?D] k^Am
kAm(C:E:?8 😕 9:D 3@@< Qp $2?5 r@F?EJ p=>2?24[Q {6@A@=5 E6==D @7 D66:?8 E96 Q7:6C46 8C66? 7:C6Q 5J:?8 😕 E96 6J6D @7 2 D96 H@=7 96 A=2J65 2 C@=6 😕 D9@@E:?8]k^Am
kAmk6>mQx H2D J@F?8 E96?[ 2?5 7F== @7 EC:886C:E49j x E9@F89E E92E 3642FD6 76H6C H@=G6D >62? >@C6 566C[ E92E ?@ H@=G6D H@F=5 >62? 2 9F?E6CDV A2C25:D6] qFE 27E6C D66:?8 E96 8C66? 7:C6 5:6[ x D6?D65 E92E ?6:E96C E96 H@=7 ?@C E96 >@F?E2:? 28C665 H:E9 DF49 2 G:6H]Qk^6>mk^Am
kAmx? `h`c[ {6@A@=5 2?5 @E96C DA@CED>6? 4C62E65 E96 }6H |6I:4@ v2>6 !C@E64E:G6 pDD@4:2E:@?[ H9:49 6G6?EF2==J 3642>6 E96 }6H |6I:4@ (:=5=:76 u656C2E:@?[ E96 ?@?AC@7:E @C82?:K2E:@? s6F36= D6CG6D 2D 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C]k^Am
kAmQ~FC >:DD:@? 😀 4@?D6CG:?8 H:=5[ :?E24E =2?5D42A6D 7@C 7FEFC6 86?6C2E:@?D D@ E96J 42? 6?;@J @FE5@@C C64C62E:@?[ :?4=F5:?8[ 3FE ?@E =:>:E65 E@[ 9F?E:?8 2?5 7:D9:?8[Q 96 D2:5] Q}6G6C 😕 >J 5C62>D 5:5 x E9:?< x H@F=5 7:?5 >JD6=7 😕 2 AC@76DD:@?2= A@D:E:@? E@ 42CCJ E96 E@C49 E92E {6@A@=5 =:E]Qk^Am
k9amkDEC@?8m}@E 2 325 :562k^DEC@?8mk^9am
kAm{6@A@=5 H2D 3@C? 😕 qFC=:?8E@?[ x@H2[ 😕 `ggf] w6 8C25F2E65 7C@> E96 *2=6 u@C6DECJ $49@@= 😕 `h_h 2?5 H2D 2DD:8?65 E@ E96 u@C6DE $6CG:46 5:DEC:4E 6?4@>A2DD:?8 pC:K@?2 2?5 }6H |6I:4@] w6 H2D 7@C6DE 2DD:DE2?E 2E pC:K@?2VD pA2496 }2E:@?2= u@C6DE F?E:= 36:?8 EC2?D76CC65 😕 `h“ E@ }6H |6I:4@VD r2CD@? }2E:@?2= u@C6DE[ H96C6 96 D6CG65 2D 56AFEJ DFA6CG:D@C]k^Am
kAmx? `h`g[ {6@A@=5 E@@< 2 3C62< 7C@> E96 u@C6DE $6CG:46 E@ H@C< 2D D64C6E2CJ @7 E96 p=3FBF6CBF6 r92>36C @7 r@>>6C46] w6 FC865 E96 4:EJ E@ D66< 5@?2E:@?D @7 =2?5 2=@?8 E96 #:@ vC2?56 7@C FD6 2D 2 A2C<] %92E C6DF=E65 😕 E96 24BF:D:E:@? @7 AC@A6CEJ E92E 😀 ?@H 9@>6 E@ E96 pq” q:@!2C< WK@@[ 3@E2?:4 82C56?[ 2BF2C:F>X 2?5 E96 #:@ vC2?56 }2EFC6 r6?E6C]k^Am
kAm{6@A@=5VD >6>@CJ =:?86CD @G6C p=3FBF6CBF6] %96 p=5@ {6@A@=5 }6:893@C9@@5 w:DE@C:4 s:DEC:4E[ 2 D:?8=6 3=@4< @? E96 H6DE D:56 @7 `cE9 $EC66E[ ;FDE D@FE9 @7 r6?EC2=[ :?4=F56D E96 9@FD6 {6@A@=5 =:G65 😕 5FC:?8 9:D E:>6 😕 E96 4:EJ[ 2?5 E96 p=5@ {6@A@=5 %C2:= 😀 2446DD65 E9C@F89 E96 #:@ vC2?56 }2EFC6 r6?E6C 2?5 8@6D `]ad >:=6D ?@CE9]k^Am
kAmx? `h`h[ {6@A@=5 C6EFC?65 E@ E96 u@C6DE $6CG:46[ 2?5 😕 `haa[ 96 DF3>:EE65 2 7@C>2= AC@A@D2= 7@C E96 4C62E:@? @7 E96 v:=2 (:=56C?6DD] %96 u@C6DE $6CG:46 7@==@H65 E9C@F89 😕 `hac[ D6EE:?8 2D:56 fdd[___ 24C6D 7@C E96 v:=2 (:=56C?6DD] %@52J[ E96 v:=2 (:=56C?6DD 2C62 92D 366? C65F465 E@ ddg[_`c 24C6D[ 3FE E96 ?62C3J p=5@ {6@A@=5 (:=56C?6DD 😀 a_a[___ 24C6D]k^Am
kAm~?6 9F?5C65 J62CD 27E6C E96 6DE23=:D9>6?E @7 E96 v:=2 (:=56C?6DD[ :EVD 4=62C E@ D66 {6@A@=5 H2D @? E@ D@>6E9:?8] }@H E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 42? 3@2DE >@C6 E92? “` >:==:@? 24C6D @7 H:=56C?6DD 5:G:565 @G6C >@C6 E92? g__ H:=56C?6DD 2C62D]k^Am
k9amkDEC@?8m%2<6 2 9:<6k^DEC@?8mk^9am
kAm{6@A@=5 =67E }6H |6I:4@ 😕 `hac E@ E2<6 2 u@C6DE $6CG:46 A@D:E:@? 😕 |25:D@?[ (:D4@?D:?] {2E6C[ 96 H2D 2 AC@76DD@C @7 82>6 >2?286>6?E 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 (:D4@?D:?] x? `hcg[ 96 5:65 @7 2 962CE 2EE24< 😕 (:D4@?D:? H9:=6 7:89E:?8 2 H:=57:C6 @? 2 ?6:893@CVD AC@A6CEJ] w6 H2D e`]k^Am
kAm{6@A@=5VD Qp $2?5 r@F?EJ p=>2?24[Q @?6 @7 E96 >@DE :?7=F6?E:2= 3@@<D 😕 4@?D6CG2E:@? =:E6C2EFC6[ H2D AF3=:D965 😕 `hch]k^Am
kAmQ|J 525 82G6 >6 2 4@AJ @7 Vp $2?5 r@F?EJ p=>2?24V H96? x H2D g @C h[Q {6@A@=5 :>A6CD@?2E@C |@C82? D2:5] Qx 8C6H FA E9:?<:?8 6G6CJ3@5J <?6H H9@ p=5@ {6@A@=5 H2D]Qk^Am
kAm|@C82?[ eg[ 😀 2 C6E:C65 =2?5D42A6 2C49:E64E H9@ 92D =:G65 😕 z:?8DE@? 7@C `f J62CD] w6 2=D@ 92D 2 A=246 😕 $:=G6C r:EJ] w6V5 36 92C5 AFE E@ DEC6E49 2?5 ?@E 36 😕 E96 v:=2 }2E:@?2= u@C6DE]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 96 C6D62C4965 {6@A@=5VD =:76 5:=:86?E=J 7@C D6G6? J62CD 367@C6 96 DE2CE65 A@CEC2J:?8 E96 ?@E65 4@?D6CG2E:@?:DE 😕 @?6>2? D9@HD 23@FE `_ J62CD 28@]k^Am
kAmQxE 😀 G6CJ 62DJ 7@C >6 E@ D=:A :?E@ H9@ x E9:?< 96 H2D[Q |@C82? D2:5] Qx 8@E >J A:A6[ 92E 2?5 8=2DD6D[ 2?5 x ECJ E@ 6>3@5J 9:D >2??6C:D>D] x 5@?VE ;FDE C64:E6 BF@E6D[ x E6== DE@C:6D] xE 😀 E9C@F89 W{6@A@=5VDX DE@C:6D E92E x 86E 2 492?46 E@ E6249]k^Am
kAmQ%96 @?6 E9:?8 x DEC6DD[ H96? A6C7@C>:?8 7@C DEF56?ED[ 😀 2H2<6?:?8 E96:C A2DD:@?D 7@C E96 @FE5@@CD[ ECJ:?8 E@ 86E E96> @FE5@@CD] (6 @7E6? 86E >:C65 😕 @FC 52J] xE 😀 92C5 E@ 86E @FE] x E6== A6@A=6 E@ E2<6 2 H2=<[ E@ 8@ E@ D@>6 A=246 ?6H 2?5 =@@< 2E :ED >2CG6=D[ @C 8@ E@ D@>6 A=246 @=5 2?5 D66 :E E9C@F89 ?6H 6J6D]Qk^Am
kAm#@>6C@[ 2 A2?6=:DE 2E E96 QtG6?:?8 H:E9 p=5@ {6@A@=5Q AC@8C2>[ H@C<D H:E9 E96 }2E:@?2= (:=5=:76 u656C2E:@?[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E 4@?D6CG2E:@? 65F42E:@? 2?5 25G@424J @C82?:K2E:@?] k^Am
kAmQ(6 DEC:G6 E@ AC@E64E 2?5 AC6D6CG6 H:=5=:76 2?5 H:=5=:76 A=246D 7@C 7FEFC6 86?6C2E:@?D[ 2?5 H6 ECJ E@ 5@ D@ 😕 2 492?8:?8 H@C=5[ 2 492?8:?8 4=:>2E6 2?5 2 492?8:?8 6?G:C@?>6?E[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm#@>6C@[ bb[ H2D 3@C? 😕 $2?E2 u6 2?5 >2<6D 9:D 9@>6 E96C6]k^Am
kAmQ~?6 @7 E96 8C62E @AA@CEF?:E:6D AC6D6?E65 3J =:G:?8 😕 }6H |6I:4@ 😀 9@H 62D:=J 2446DD:3=6 E96 @FE5@@CD 2C6[Q 96 D2:5] Qx 4@>6 7C@> 2 72>:=J E92E 9F?ED 2?5 7:D96D 2?5 AFED H:=5 82>6 😕 E96 7C66K6C 2?5 @? A=2E6D 7@C E96 72>:=J] x DA6?5 2 4@?D:56C23=6 2>@F?E @7 E:>6[ ?@E @?=J 😕 E96 v:=2 (:=56C?6DD 3FE 😕 @E96C H:=56C?6DD6D 😕 @FC DE2E6 2?5 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ]Qk^Am
kAm#@>6C@ D2:5 96 😀 😕 E96 42>A @7 A6@A=6 H9@ 42?VE =:G6 H:E9@FE H:=5 A=246D]k^Am
kAmQu:CDE 2?5 7@C6>@DE[ E96 H:=56C?6DD 😀 7C66 @7 9F>2? 56G6=@A>6?E[Q 96 D2:5] Qx =:<6 E96 492==6?86 @7 8@:?8 E@ H96C6 76H A6@A=6 8@ — E96 7@C6DE[ E@A@8C2A9J 2?5 E96 9:DE@C:42= =2?5D42A6] xE ;FDE E2<6D >6 324< 😕 E:>6]Qk^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 :7 {6@A@=5 H6C6 E@ 4@>6 324< E@52J[ 96 E9:?<D 96 H@F=5 36 A=62D65 E@ 7:?5 A6@A=6 — =:<6 9:>D6=7 2?5 9:D 76==@H A2?6= >6>36CD — 42CCJ:?8 @? 9:D =6824J]k^Am
kAmQw6 H@F=5 D66 E92E H:=56C?6DD 92D 6IA2?565 E@ >:==:@?D @7 24C6D 2?5 H6 92G6 5@?6 2 AC6EEJ 8@@5 ;@3 @7 AC@E64E:?8 :E 2?5 255:?8 E@ :E[Q #@>6C@ D2:5] QqFE 96 H@F=5 D66 E96 492==6?86D[ E@@[ E96 :?4C65:3=6 2>@F?E @7 923:E2E H6 =@D6 6G6CJ J62C E@ 4=:>2E6 492?86[ H:=57:C6D[ 9F>2? 56G6=@A>6?E 😕 H:=5 A=246D 2?5 >@C6 CFC2= A=246D]Qk^Am
k9amkDEC@?8m%@F89 =6DD@?Dk^DEC@?8mk^9am
kAms6F36= D2:5 H:=56C?6DD E62496D A6@A=6 D6=7C6=:2?46[ E96 23:=:EJ E@ 4@A6 H:E9 E9:?8D H6 2C6 ?@E 244FDE@>65 E@]k^Am
kAmQ(96? J@F 2C6 @FE 😕 E96 H:=56C?6DD 6?;@J:?8 ?2EFC6[ J@FC 766E 9FCE[ J@FVC6 9@E[ J@FVC6 4@=5[Q 96 D2:5] QqFE @G6C E:>6[ J@F =62C? E@ 36 4@>7@CE23=6 H:E9 36:?8 F?4@>7@CE23=6] %92E 😀 E96 6DD6?46 @7 H92E H:=56C?6DD E62496D E96 >@56C? 9F>2?]Qk^Am
kAms6F36= 36=:6G6D E92E `__ J62CD 28@[ {6@A@=5 C64@8?:K65 E96 ?665 7@C =6DD@?D E92E 96=A FD C65:D4@G6C @FC A:@?66C DA:C:E]k^Am
kAmQxV5 D2J 96 H2D 2 DEF56?E @7 ?2EFC6 H:E9 E96 C6>2C<23=6 G:D:@? E@ AC@E64E :E D@ 7FEFC6 86?6C2E:@?D 4@F=5 2=D@ 36 :ED DEF56?ED]Qk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m k^DEC@?8mk^Am