Andrea Wilson

Title: Contributor, Freelance Writer
Location: Howard, CO
Social Media: Instagram LinkedIn

Expertise

• Topics of Expertise: Hunting (archery, rifle, shotgun), arrow building, game processing, bike repair, mountain biking, camping, hiking, podcasting, high-elevation gardening, chicken husbandry
• Years in This Expertise: 20+
• Number of Products & Number of Hours Expert Has Tested: Countless

Education & Certifications

• Education: Masters in Health and Sport Science, University of Memphis
• Years of Writing: 15+
• Club or Association Memberships: Backcountry Hunters and Anglers,
  RMEF
• Awards or Recognitions: Certified BAMF

Why Andrea Chose This Career

As someone who spends more days out of the year outdoors than indoors, gear testing and freelance writing are a perfect fit for my lifestyle.

When I graduated with a Masters in Health and Sport Science from the University of Memphis in 2006, I was offered a job as a teacher in my department. During that time, my love of cycling took me down the path of professional athlete. In 2010, I quit my teaching job and took up a part-time job as a bike mechanic in order to devote more time outside of work to training. I worked as a bike mechanic at various shops in Tennessee and Colorado until 2020, when I quit for health reasons and began more outdoor-based work, including working in a small-scale raw dairy farm, gardening, and groundskeeping.

Hunting has bookended my life. I started hunting with my dad as soon as I was old enough to hold a shotgun (an old Winchester model 12 20 gauge that’s still in rotation). It took a pause during my early adult years as I transitioned through various interests, eventually taking up cycling and working my way up to the professional cycling ranks.

I moved from Tennessee to Colorado in 2015 to get closer to multiday and 100+ mile endurance events. In my new home state, I rekindled my love of hunting as a cycling off-season activity. Over the next few years, my body let me know that it was finished with long hours of riding bikes, and I dove deeper into hunting to fulfill my need to explore and connect with nature. I now employ my residual endurance and mental toughness to chase big days in the backcountry.

Andrea’s personal interests include hunting, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, mixed martial arts, and homesteading.