Mackinaw Monsters was established on February 1st 2009, but we have all been like brothers for over 20 years! We brought up the idea of having a hunting group and dreamed that we could grow even larger someday. On March 12th 2009, our dream became a reality when Monster Buck Profiles accepted us as MBP Pro Staff Illinois. Mackinaw Monsters consists of four people: Matt French, Ross Fogle, Derek Neville, and Eric Ragar. We are a group of variety as some would say, from stock car racers to competitive fishermen and from crop farmers to cattle breeders. But no matter what, we all share an extreme passion for the outdoors. On behalf of Mackinaw Monsters, we welcome you to the HUNT!

Hey MBP, my name is Ross Fogle. I’m 21 years old and I attend Western Illinois University and will get a degree in Ag Science with an emphasis in Crops and Soils. I graduated from Joliet Junior College with an Associates degree. During the summer I work for a local Feed and Fertilizer Company. I grew up on a large farm with a long history of grandfathers, a father, and uncles farming corn, soybeans, and wheat. We have raised cattle and shown competitively within the Belted Galloway Breed for eleven years and have been extremely successful within the breed. Since a very young age I have hunted all of the above and give credit to everyone on Team Mackinaw Monsters for helping me grow and mature into an avid hunter. There is no doubt that even with the cattle and farming, my love is in the woods chasing those Mackinaw Monsters. Other than that, I’m just a normal guy that loves hunting stories and making a lot of friends. Don’t be afraid to email me or hit me up in chat, my family tells me it’s what I do best. Good luck to everyone this season!

Hey folks, my name is Matt French from Central Illinois. I was born and raised and currently live on a farm in the middle of Whitetail heaven. I am a 36 year old HVAC technician and single father of two children. I pride myself on teaching young people all about the outdoors. I am an avid conservationist who enjoys all aspects of the pursuit, no matter the game. I was blessed to have had a father that was a competitive archer and a great instructor. Because of that, I have harvested a bounty of trophies in the Midwest with my bow. I look forward to hunting and filming with my team this season, and meeting all our new friends. I want to wish everyone a safe and successful season.

Hey guys, my name is Derek Neville and I’m twenty-three years old from Mackinaw, Illinois. I have been hunting for ten years and have harvested a variety of animals including whitetail deer, turkey, dove, geese, duck, squirrel, rabbit, quail, and coyote. Although I enjoy any kind of hunting, my true passion is found in bow hunting for deer. I’ve racked up six Pope & Young deer in the past five years along with twenty-six does. Spring turkey season is another area of hunting I thoroughly enjoy. The past four turkey seasons have brought me three toms and a lot of great memories. In the off season I spend time building food plots, hanging tree stands, and scouting new areas to find prime locations for next season. I also enjoy fishing, four-wheeling, and spending time with friends in the outdoors. Another true passion of mine comes in stock car racing. I have been racing cars since the age of eleven, beginning with quarter-midgets and am currently racing an asphalt late model. I claimed Rookie of the Year in the 2006 ASA Northern Division. In order to spend more time doing the activities I am passionate about, I started my own excavating business and am a volunteer firefighter for my local fire department. In the future I plan to make a living involving hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities. I look forward to many more successful seasons and wish everyone the best of luck!

Hey MBP, my name is Eric Ragar. I'm 26yrs old, married, and a father of two boys. I'm employed as a welder fabricator, building skid steer attachments and repairing equipment on a portable truck. I enjoy shooting 3-d archery at a local range, hunting, and some fishing when I'm not baling hay. My father and I raise beef cattle and custom round bale hay. Bow hunting whitetails is my obsession in the fall and turkey hunting in the spring. I hunt in North East Missouri and Central Illinois. This past fall I experienced another hobby and that is filming some doe management hunts on Ross's property, which has now led me to taking the camera everywhere with me. I'm planning on making a career in taxidermy in the future and eventually film production with Mackinaw Monsters and maybe outfitting some hunts I believe strongly in deer herd management (shoot more does and let young bucks walk). This past season I introduced my wife to shotgun hunting and she harvested her first buck (though it was a young buck) and now she's looking forward to next season archery hunting. I think nothing is more special than to introduce adults and kids to the outdoors and let them experience the excitement that I have. Good luck this year!