One of the traits deeply engrained in the Aggie Baseball program is the spirit of the great outdoors. Every season the roster is chocked full of hunters and fishers.
The following is a look at Will Johnston – an Aggie outdoorsman.
In 2020, Johnston became a staple in the Aggies’ bullpen, appearing in eight games. His top performance came against Stephen F. Austin as he fanned three batters in 2.0 innings.
The Great Outdoors: Will Johnston
What kind of sportsman activities do you partake in?
I enjoy rifle and bow hunting, as well as fishing.
What kind of game do you hunt for?
I enjoy hunting whitetail, feral hogs, dove and ducks. I also enjoy bass fishing and other freshwater fishing.
Do you prefer bow or gun?
I prefer a gun. Hunting with a bow takes a lot of stealth and a lot of times at 6:30 a.m., I'm not my sharpest.
What is your favorite?
We have several types of custom semi-automatic weapons that are good for shooting feral hogs with but when I am hunting whitetail I'll stick to my .270 bolt action.
Take us through a day of hunting.
Depending on what you’re hunting it'll consist of getting up super early, getting ready, getting to the spot and freezing your tail off and being quiet until it's shooting time or until a buck or hogs comes out. Then head back home for some food and then right back out to the stand around 2:30. (if hunting deer or hogs)
How early did you start hunting?
My dad started taking me out to hunt deer and hogs when I was about 3 or 4 years old.
Do you remember your first hunt?
I don't remember the first, but I do remember being super young and telling my dad to quit being so picky and just shoot a buck that was out by the feeder because I was so dang cold and ready to go back to bed.
What is your most memorable hunt?
My first buck has to be my most memorable hunt because you only get your shoot your first buck once. I shot an 8-point on a Sunday morning. With my dad. I still remember sitting up there shaking like a leaf. I was so nervous. That feeling felt a lot like opening night against Miami of Ohio.
Do you have many mounts?
My dad and I have made quite the wall over the years with of our bucks. This past season I shot a huge mallard drake and a pintail that I took to get mounted so our wall will have some variety come July.
What type of fishing do you do?
All freshwater fishing. I like to fish at our lake house in Arkansas. Our house is on Bull Shoals. I catch bass, walleye, and alligator gar. Anything that bites really.
What skills would you say translates from hunting and fishing over to baseball?
I guess you could say patience. That or adapting to your circumstances. If something is not going right you need to adapt and change. If fish are bit biting the jerk bait, you have move on to something else. If a hitter has a hit off you on a curveball then throw him heaters.
Talk about the bonding that goes on over hunting.
My dad has taken me hunting ever since I was a little guy. It has been something that I have grown up on and I thank him for that. I would not trade any of our early morning hunts for anything in the world. I cherish every one of them. When I am hunting with my buddies it often turns into less hunting and fishing and more of us messing around, but we always end up doing alright.
Who would you say the best hunters are on the team?
I know the Coleman brothers tear up the ducks and geese every year. Rody Barker always seems to be standing over a 400-pound hog every time I see him on my Instagram feed. Alex Magers always seems to run into a 10 point every year. We got some high standards in this locker room.
Who tells the biggest fish stories on the team?
Logan Britt
How much do you think he exaggerates?
Not a whole lot he usually has pictures to back up most of his stories. They really know how to do it down south.
Is there any game that you haven't hunted that you would like to?
I would really love to go fish off the coast with Logan and I have always wanted to go hunt elk or something huge like that.