Keeping Pace with Steve Cobb
By DaWayne Spires

            Union, South Carolina is a quiet little town in the upstate that flows as peaceful and unhindered as its neighbor, the Tyger River. The people of Union do not let the worries of the world today conflict with the way they live their lives. The only worry most folks have is finding a parking space at the Friday night football games. In Union, there is time for everything, and everything has its own time. They believe this is God’s country and it was made to be shared with family and friends. The folks of Union have never met a stranger. Everyone has a pace all their own that dictates their life, except maybe Steve Cobb. The steam rolling 42 year old employee of the United States Forest Service is wide open compared to most folks in Union. His zest for life touches more than just his everyday routine; it is rooted deep in his love for the outdoors. Being a six-time S.C. state turkey calling champion and the current S.C. State Chapter President of the National Wild Turkey Federation are just a few of the ways Steve’s intense love of the outdoors has manifested itself.

            Steve was born in Anderson, S.C. Six months later, Raymond Cobb, Steve’s father moved his family to Carisile after getting a job with a textile mill located there. Steve lived in Carisile until he got married and moved to Union some 23 years later. It was these years of his youth that helped mold him into the man and the outdoorsman that he is today. Steve credits a resident of Carisile, Billy O’ Daniel, with helping a young Steve Cobb in focusing his ever growing energies towards the great outdoors and turkey hunting in particular. The moment that probably changed his life forever was when Mr. O’Daniel gave Steve his first turkey call. It was with that very same turkey call that he harvested his first gobbler. Steve was just 15 years old and did not have a driver’s license. Steve rode his bicycle to the woods that day. His intense desire for the outdoors was prevalent even then. Hearing Steve’s words about Billy O’Daniel made me think of all the countless other outdoorsmen (myself included) who too had someone to open the door to the mysteries and the adventures of the great outdoors. This is a debt that some of us forget to repay. Steve Cobb has not forgotten and attempts to do for his own son as well as others exactly as Billy O’Daniel did for him all those years ago.

            It was that first turkey call that sparked a life long obsession with the pursuit, the understanding, and cumulatively the conservation of this the wiliest of game animals, the wild turkey. It was a natural progression for Steve to start competing in turkey calling contests. He won his first of over 80 competitions at the age of 13. To Steve’s credits are six S.C. Turkey Calling championships. He claims the pinnacle so far of his success at turkey calling was done this year. He was in 1^st place after the first day of the competition at the Grand National championships in Nashville, TN. An unfortunate slip on the second day dropped him to 5^th place just a mere 8 points out of first. This is something that Steve plans to remedy in the future.

            Steve also has a job tailor made for one with interests like his. He works for the United States Forest Service at the Enoree Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest, which is a branch of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. As a ranger, Steve helps in the management of the Enoree Ranger District. When talking about the U.S. Forest Service, the words, “Caring for the Land and Serving the people”, will always be foremost in the conversation. I can not picture Steve Cobb doing anything less.

            Steve is not a one dimensional person. His energies and passions spill over from his love of hunting into his home life. His lovely wife of 23 years, Becky, and his 15 year old son, Michael will attest to that. I could tell from the short time I spent in their home that Steve and Becky were a well matched couple. They seemed to be extensions of one another with each complimenting and supporting each other the best they can. With Steve practicing his turkey calls for hours on end before a competition, one would have to be very understanding or at the very least deaf. Steve and Michael have a relationship that is enviable in this day in time. From the time that he was able to go, Steve had him in the woods every time he could. A bond created between a father and son while hunting lasts a lifetime. A child raised in an outdoors environment learns about self-worth and self-discipline at a young age. He or she is taught that they are responsible for their actions and the decisions that they make. Sportsmanship is probably the most important thing that is learned for it is woven throughout the learning experience. You can tell from just meeting Michael one time that he has learned his lessons well. Somehow, Steve still has time to give back to the community. If he is not coaching little league, or he is serving up hash at a 4^th of July celebration, I am sure you can find Steve supporting his community in any number of other ways. He also manages to find time to play church league softball. The only thing that slows Steve Cobb down is that there is only 24 hours in a day.

            Steve’s accomplishments in competitive turkey calling have not gone unnoticed. He presently prostaffs for both Hunter’s Specialty and Realtree. For those of you who think that being on a prostaff for a major outdoors company would be the way to go, Steve informs me it is not just about going on hunts and being on TV. You are a spokesperson for their business. Steve must promote them wherever he goes. Sometimes it means giving up valuable hunting time just to go somewhere to represent them. Today’s outdoorsmen and women must be aware of the fact that hunting in the 21^st century is not the same as it was when our father’s first learned of the outdoors from their fathers. Unfortunately, it has become a business. In order to keep from being washed away with the tide, today’s hunters must be intelligent as well as savvy in the ways of the business world. Steve Cobb holds his own in this aspect.

            The upstate of South Carolina is a treasure-trove of outdoors adventures. From his home in Union, Steve is but minutes away from a trophy buck, or a boss gobbler. In those same few minutes, he and his family can be at a little league baseball game, or tailgating before a Union High School Yellow Jackets football game, or a hash cook’n for some worthy charity event in the Union area. Steve Cobb lives his life listening to the same song that his friends and neighbors listen to except he tends to play it a beat or two faster, and those who know him do not mind. You see, in Union, South Carolina, everyone has their own pace and that suits Steve just fine.

Send them to me for review and most likely they will get published pictures and all.  freddy@southernoutdoorsmen.com