Harvested: Borderlands

HARVESTED/ˈhärvəst/verbpast tense: harvested; past participle: harvested1. to catch or hunt (animals) for consumption and useHunting. It’s a tradition. It’s a challenge. It’s a way to provide. We don’t just understand this–we live it. Hunting is a part of our lives just as much as it is a part of yours.During World War II, American soldiers stationed off the Barbary Coast of Northern Africa discovered a native sheep species, known as the aoudad. Recognizing their potential as a game animal, they shipped them to Texas; Aoudads quickly proved to be an extremely challenging hunt for multiple reasons. Their keen sense of smell, hearing, and alertness to danger, combined with their capability to retain water from sparse vegetation and survive long periods of time without it, gives them the ability to live in rugged, dry habitats that are often too harsh for other animals. We had the rare opportunity to scout the high desert terrain with UFC® Featherweight Fighter Chad Mendes in search of this elusive creature. Equipped with silenced rifles and accompanied by expert guides, we set off to reconnect with the wilderness and harvest some challenging game.About Chad MendesChad began wrestling at the age of five and continued the sport throughout high school and college until his competitive success led him to move to Sacramento and train with Team Alpha Male. Before turning pro, however, Mendes took home an impressive list of ranks and titles, including two-time PAC-10 Champ, two-time D-I NCAA All-American, and a second-degree black belt in wrestling. Now, after less than three years of professional fighting, Mendes has also earned seven wins by way of knockout, two wins by submission, a record of 4-0 in WEC with wins over Javier Vazquez, Cub Swanson, Anthony Morrison, and Erik Koch, and he has won six of his last nine fights. Mendes most recently founded Finz and Featherz, a hunting and guide service.