Vance Ellison B&B Hosts Book Signing with Bibb County Native & Author R.L. Foster: “Lessons Learned at Full Draw”
By Sheila Duncan
Reporter
On Saturday, August 31st, the Vance Ellison Bed and Breakfast welcomed a large crowd for a book signing event featuring Bibb County native and author R.L. (Rick) Foster. His book, Lessons Learned at Full Draw: A Guide’s Lifelong Pursuit of Trophy Whitetail, chronicles the valuable lessons he as a guide and his clients have gained over years of hunting whitetail deer. Foster shares his insights from the field, offering readers a deeper understanding of mature whitetails and, more importantly, what it takes to become a successful hunter.
Growing up in a small central town of Bibb County, Alabama, R.L. (Rick) Foster developed a natural love for the outdoors. His Granddaddy Edwards lived in rural Perry County, where R.L. had the opportunity to start hunting the only big game animal in Alabama, the whitetail deer.
With guidance from his uncle, Howard Edwards, who organized “deer drives,” R.L. harvested his first buck at the age of thirteen. This sparked a lifelong passion for hunting whitetail deer.
In the early years of his hunting career, R.L. was successful in harvesting bucks with a rifle. However, by his late twenties, his interest shifted from rifle hunting to bowhunting, and from simply hunting deer to targeting older, mature bucks. At that time, Alabama had high deer numbers but very little deer management. This led R.L. to explore the trophy potential in some mid-western states. His research pointed him to west central Illinois, a region gaining a reputation for producing high-scoring whitetails that were making it into the record books.
After numerous scouting trips to “The Prairie State,” R.L. was able to secure several prime leases in Illinois. He found this mix of broken agricultural land and hardwood timber to be ideal for bowhunting. In 1993, he decided to turn his passion for bowhunting into a business, leading to the formation of Trophy Class Outfitters.
Since then, Trophy Class Outfitters (TCO) has expanded into other top trophy-hunting states across the Midwest. In addition to operating in Pike and Adams Counties in Illinois, TCO has run bow hunts in Schuyler County, Missouri; Henry County, Kentucky; and Monroe County, Iowa. They continue to manage bow hunts on a 14,000-acre ranch in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Beyond the Midwest, TCO has also operated bow hunts in Baylor County, Texas, and in R.L.’s home state of Alabama, in the same Cahaba River bottoms where he began hunting as a child.
Running a successful multi-state bowhunting operation requires a focus on making each location the best it can be. R.L. has always prioritized quality over quantity, a principle he applies to his Kansas property. His passion for studying the habits of mature whitetail deer and the bowhunters who pursue them continues to drive his enthusiasm.
Trophy Class Outfitters (TCO) has always been a team effort. The hard work and contributions of TCO’s guides over the years have been crucial to its success. One of the greatest rewards has been the lifelong friendships formed with these guides.
If you would like to purchase R.L. Foster’s book, Lessons Learned at Full Draw: A Guide’s Lifelong Pursuit of Trophy Whitetail, you can pick your copy up at the Sawmeal Restaurant on Hwy 5, in Brent, AL.
