Mike grew up in the rugged Cascade Mountains of the Pacific Northwest, where hunting, fishing and camping were a way of life. Mike misspent his teens and early 20's relentlessly chasing blacktail deer, bear, elk as well as fly-fishing for salmon, trout and steelhead. At 25 he took his first Safari to Namibia and instantly became addicted to the Dark Continent. So much so, he ended up relocating to Africa where he hunted many of the sub-Saharan African countries for the better part of a year. While Africa still pulls at his heart strings, North America, Alaska and Canada also have their allure for Mike where he hunts and fishes numerous destinations every year. His ability to compare destinations, convey the culture and ultimately match clients up with the perfect expedition is not unique - it characterizes the entire Outdoor Expeditions team.

Since Jay was a small boy, he has been driven to spend every spare moment in the outdoors. Even his own mother couldn't keep him tied down. Jay would often skip school to hunt or fish, fearlessly facing the consequence later. After nearly 65 years of experience in the outdoors, his personal passions are fishing and waterfowl hunting. Jay has visited over 80 Canadian lodges, been to Russia 4 times, and experienced countless trips to Alaska, Central and South America. And, if he hasn't been there... he's probably sent someone there and heard about it first-hand. After 17 years of operating Outdoor Expeditions, Jay will remain as a consultant with Gander Mountain, where his love for life, vast knowledge of the outdoors, and fun demeanor will continue to add to the success of Outdoor Expeditions.

Nick grew up in northwest Minnesota and his passion for hunting and fishing was evident at an early age. Glenn Chiodo, his dad, started taking him out in the deer stand and duck blind years before he was able to shoot. Since then he has made the outdoor industry his career. He has worked in many different aspects of the outdoor industry in both fishing and hunting. His experiences include hunting and fishing in Canada and coast to coast in the United States. In addition to his vast personal experiences, he has guided in several different states allowing him to bring a broad spectrum of knowledge to Outdoor Expeditions. He takes pride in providing honest, knowledgeable advice when planning your next hunting or fishing trip.

Paula Elert
Paula was raised near Minneapolis, MN on the banks of the Mississippi River. With her brother's influence, her angling passion developed at the age of three. In the years to follow, Paula's outdoor interests expanded into waterfowl & upland bird hunting, big game hunting, and her deepest passion -- saltwater fly-fishing. Paula has hunted and fished across the United States, Kodiak Island, Southern Alaska, northern Quebec, the Florida Keys, Mexico, and Belize. Paula's extensive travel experience, friendly and helpful personality, love of a good laugh, and her attention to detail, assures you the finest service that Gander Mountain's Outdoor Expeditions has to offer.