WILD TALK
Andrew Lovell
Andrew Lovell - The Alpha Human on a trip in July 2020 with Sarah Glover
Wild Life
WILD NAME
‘Lovell’ … first caught on in boarding school, usually with a few choice adjectives thrown in there. Even my old man calls me ‘Lovell’!
IN YOUR OWN BREATH
Jack of all trades - I’ve had a go at so many different jobs and careers which has definitely got me to where I am now - and I wouldn’t change any of it!
Growing up I was pretty much into downhill ski racing which meant I was forever chasing the winters. In between seasons, I did a stint in New York running bars and night clubs, worked on a super yacht in the Mediterranean and even managed to get a gig on the most beautiful remote island 200 nautical miles east of the Milne Bay Provence in PNG… I was pretty lucky to do so much travel in my 20s.
Now, I work between business development for Unyoked (wilderness cabins), and run my own business The Alpha Human. Both are outdoor and wilderness based endeavours which is my true passion. The Alpha Human educates people on how to ethically source and harvest their own meat using both bows and rifles. It’s so important to continue to have a dialogue and educate ourselves on how to responsibly and sustainably source meat for both ourselves and future generations.
I love that my work allows me to be outdoors, in nature and working where my passions lie. I’d have to say I feel pretty freakin’ lucky… I relish my freedom, being independent and working on projects I believe in. I don’t think I’d do well being tied down to an office job! The second I head home from work or a trip I’m already planning my next adventure. Sometimes I find it hard to slow down and quiet my mind, so for me, I find the time I spend in the bush really grounding, almost like an active meditation.
I should also mention here, that a big part of my life in the last few years has been bringing up my beautiful 2 year old son Jax with the love of my life (and wife of 5 years) Mishy. Another reason why I feel pretty lucky each day is to be able to share everything I learn with my family.
WILDEST PLACE YOU’VE TRAVELLED
Can I pick four?!
Tunisia in Africa, Conflict Islands in PNG, Mozambique and the Backcountry in the British Columbia Interior.
Andrew hiking up the mountain ranges surrounding Mt Cook before and after the storm hit (see below)
Wild Kitchen
WOULDN’T go to the wild without these 5
Always coffee - enjoying the freeze dried blend from Blackboard at the moment, my goose down sleeping bag, my bow, a Traeger meat rub and a quest for adventure!
WILDEST PLACE YOU’VE EVER COOKED
A few come to mind… the first was at a 3,000 metre vertical overlooking Mt Cook on a beautiful sunny day when my mate Eddie and I were out hunting some Himalayan Bull on the East coast of NZ. Sounds picturesque, and it was until a massive storm came in and quickly drowned us out. See above.
Another spot I can’t not mention is on a remote beach in the Conflict Islands of PNG camping and cooking fresh painted lobsters and yellow fin tuna.
WILDEST RECIPE you’ve tried
Venison back strap wrapped in bacon smoked in our Traeger was pretty epic… as was boiled venison tongue that we then pan fried in garlic butter.
WILDEST ITEM IN YOUR KITCHEN
My wife and two year old boy! Oh… and probably our epic collection of chilli sauces.
Andrew camping on a remote beach in the Conflict Islands of PNG and boiled venison tongue then pan fried with garlic butter.
Wild Business
YOUR CAREER CHOICE IS A WILD (NON-TRADITIONAL) ONE, HOW DID YOU START?
My love affair with the bush and adventure has always been in my bones. Growing up, my father worked in the high country and we would spend countless days camping together and exploring the Kosciuszko alpine area. I always wanted to know about the next mountain range, the next peak, the next river… I think this is where my desire to explore came from.
Similarly, I became really interested in being able to harvest my own meat from a young age - from the age of 10 I started hunting under the guidance of my family. It was a bit of a struggle to find a good mentor so I would spend my days reading through old hunting diaries as well as just watching, listening, learning and try to digest as much information from people as I could. Unfortunately, hunting is a bit of a taboo subject which has made the industry quite secretive and no one really wants to give up their secrets spots or methods.
I guess you could say I created The Alpha Human to fill this need. It’s part explorative, part educational - and is really designed to teach people ethical hunting and take responsibility for the meat they are consuming. It’s so important to teach people about this topic and it’s our duty to try to do it as respectfully, responsibly and ethically as possible. We’re seeing a huge shift in meat consumption, where all of a sudden more people want information on the source of their food which increased classifications like hormone free and wild, free-range protein. One of our goals is to shorten the learning curve on this topic and teach people how they can be part of the movement towards sustainability. We’re so intertwined with our environment and the other animals that live in it - it’s more important than ever that we understand and respect our part in the broader ecology.
DID YOU EVER THINK THIS IS TOO WILD? I’LL NEVER MAKE A CAREER FROM IT?
Haha… doesn’t everyone?! I’ve had a go at a ton of different careers in my short life - but have always heeded to the call of the wild and tend to excel when I’m working on something I’m so passionate about. I recognise everyday what a privilege it is to be able to love what you do and make a career from it.
ADVICE YOU’D GIVE SOMEONE TRYING TO START A CAREER IN STARTUPS/EXPERIENCE
Throw yourself at it 100% and doors will open for you in ways you might have never imagined. Go get lost, go to the bush, take yourself out of your comfort zone and without all the noise of the city it’s easier to figure out what you’re passionate about. Like anything, adversity is the master of the learnt experience. This is not a YouTube tutorial. Lace up your boots, throw on a pack and cast your eyes to the horizon.
WHAT’s NEXT?
I’m continuing to offer courses for The Alpha Human in Australia while also working with our New Zealand partners to create some Wild Adventures that can grow the sustainable hunting movement in both regions. I’m really excited about a new adventure I’m putting together in New Zealand’s southern Alps… I just need COVID to settle down a bit so we can begin ANZ travel again…
Sarah and Andrew on a course in July 2020 (NSW)
Words by Andrew Lovell from The Alpha Human
All images: Supplied by Eamon Waddington and Andrew Lovell
Location: Upper Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia