The newest member of the board of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation has made hunting a priority even as he has worked to overcome tremendous adversity.
Josh Carney of Nashville, Tenn., was gravely wounded in a hunting accident when he was 13. Now 29, he has made a career in the outdoors/hunting industry, working as a motivational speaker and appearing on hundreds of podcasts and television shows.
Carney, who uses a wheelchair as a result of the accident, said he accepted an invitation to serve on the board of the NMWF because he wanted to represent the viewpoint and interests of people who live outside New Mexico.
“The way I look at it, I want to make it easier for nonresidents to be able to travel to New Mexico and be able to have the hunting opportunities and enjoy what New Mexico has to bring to the table,” Carney said. “I want to make it more fair for nonresidents to get hunting licenses and fishing licenses while traveling there, to enjoy the experience that the residents have. That goes to the cost of license, the cost of permits, the access to public land.”
Carney hunts extensively around the country but said he hasn’t hunted yet in New Mexico. He said he plans to remedy that in 2021, when he hopes to draw a public land elk tag. He said he’s seen a lot of shows and videos that highlight elk hunting in the state and looks forward to trying it for himself.
“It’s one of those things, an experience of a lifetime and I want to be able to enjoy the experience of a lifetime,” Carney said of New Mexico elk hunting.
If the New Mexico hunt comes together, Carney said he intends to hunt with a crossbow. He said NMWF Executive Director Jesse Deubel has offered to accompany him.
Carney said he intends to highlight his New Mexico experiences on social media sites. He said he anticipates that giving the state more national exposure will bring new people, “to experience the scenery, the wildlife, the environment, and just make it more of a resource for people who aren’t from there.”
Carney also said he wants to work on the NMWF board to make New Mexico a better state for residents.
In the hunting accident that changed Carney’s life, he suffered a gunshot wound to the spine during a turkey hunt. He spent months in the hospital undergoing surgeries. When he finally was released, he was ready to go hunting again.
Carney calls his outdoors show, “Son of the South,” and has thousands of followers on social media platforms. In addition to hammering on the importance of hunting safety, he also demonstrates an uncanny ability to make turkey calls and other animal sounds using only his mouth.
“I’ve done maybe 500 podcasts in the last few years,” Carney said. “In the outdoor world, I’ve definitely made a mark and I plan to continue to make a mark.”
Carney said that even though he uses a wheelchair, he wants to make sure people understand there are programs that can help everyone get involved in the outdoors. “That’s kind of what I strive to do. I want to make sure that the tradition passes down from next generation to next generation,” he said.