Derek Towles

Derek Towles grew up in a hunting and fishing family. As far back as he can remember, he was either in the woods chasing small game with his dad, or out on the lake with his grandfather catching bass and bluegill. Being outside, enjoying nature, harvesting game, and then coming home and preparing the next meal was how he was raised. This eventually developed into a great love and appreciation for wildlife and wild places. 

As an adult, Derek is a full time firefighter and EMT in the metro Louisville area in Kentucky. He studied Fire Protection and Administration at Eastern Kentucky University and also briefly worked part time in the outdoor industry. Now, if he’s not working or in the woods, he devotes all his free time to serving on the board for the Kentucky Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers as the 3rd District Director. Derek felt the need to give back to the outdoors, which has given him so much. That’s why he feels such a strong calling to this position. Outside of organizing social events, he also prides himself in conducting conservation and habitat projects and also working to help educate the sportsmen and women of his district by coordinating events with wildlife biologists and subject matter experts in his district. 

Derek and his wife both have always enjoyed cooking. Coupling that passion with their passion for the outdoors and living as close to the land as possible is why they love to hunt, catch, grow and gather everything they can to fuel their lives.