AUSTIN WINDER Matt Winder
FOUNDER
This trip began as a camping trip for guys who just wanted to get away. It has since morphed into a great little shooting getaway including good food and great company. The outdoors has always held a special place in my heart and this particular space has been in our family since I was born. I have hunted on this land for many years and call this my home away from home. As any hunter will tell you, there is no more peacful place to be than in the woods, when nature wakes up and it doesn't know you're there.
My brother and I grew up playing sports. My father raised us on a healthy appetite of competitiveness as well. Those two items have helped me achieve quite a bit over the years. I really wasn't into shooting activities outside of hunting for many years. I had always been a hunter, but never one involved in the shooting sports...
I started shooting handguns in 2001, when I landed a career that could support such a hobby. From there, everything I do with firearms has really added to the love of the game of shooting. I started purchsing a couple staple firearms, then began reloading. Enjoyed the science and precision of it all. I started getting involved in firearms training classes and loved every one I have taken. This set me out to incorporate a shooting weekend aimed at both novices and experienced persons. Now taking the things I learned about safety and firearms fundamentals and building it into a fun weekend where anyone could attend and walk away with something useful to help advance their knowledge in the shooting sports.
My hope is that after a C.A.S.T. Away weekend, you will be more proficient with your firearm(s) in one way or another and your love, too, will grow and manifest itself into something worth sharing with someone else.
CO-FOUNDER
Hi, my name is Matt, but you can call me "The Jaguar", actually, lets just stick to "Matt". I am one of the co-founders of C.A.S.T. Away. I grew up around firearms and shooting shotguns at 4th of July celebrations, which sparked my love for shooting sports at a young age. As I grew older, I hunted every deer season with bows and rifles. During those hours sitting alone in a deer stand, I began to cultivate a love for the outdoors and the time away from distractions. Since those days a lot has changed and I'd like to think I have become a skilled marksman, but its still the love of the outdoors and my desire to build community that contribute to my passion for C.A.S.T. away.
As a follower of Christ, I believe in the power of fellowship and the importance of building meaningful relationships with others. That's why I agreed to become a co-founder of C.A.S.T. Away - I wanted to help build an environment where people could come together, improve their shooting skills, and deepen their faith, all while enjoying the outdoors and retreat from distractions.
In addition to my love for shooting sports and faith, I am dedicated to promoting safe and responsible firearm use. I participate in training for first aid and firearms to stay up-to-date with the latest safety protocols and techniques.
My passion is helping others become more proficient with their firearms and to create lasting relationships with fellow enthusiasts. At C.A.S.T. Away, we are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for everyone who attends, and I am honored to be a part of this community.