Born in late 1940 in rural Wabash County, Illinois, M. R. James discovered bows and arrows as a youngster and developed a passion for archery in his late teens and early twenties. Deer were few and far apart in southern Illinois back in 1963, and he was 22 before tagging his first buck, an old, rut-crazed Indiana 6-pointer more interested in a hot doe than recognizing the novice deer hunter standing not 30 yards away. His arrow flew true and launched a bowhunting career that continues six-plus decades later. Interestingly, the antlers of that first whitetail had long tines and great mass, qualifying for the Pope and Young record book with several inches to spare.
James also enjoyed writing short stories, selling pulp fiction Westerns and murder mysteries while still in his late teens. His first hunting magazine feature article appeared in Archery Magazine in the mid-1960s, and soon he was selling to existing archery publications of that era, notably Bow & Arrow and Archery World. His by-lined features also were published in larger national publications including Outdoor Life, Sports Afield, and Fur-Fish-Game.
In 1971, James and three friends and fellow archery enthusiasts who worked for The Magnavox Company in Fort Wayne, IN, founded Bowhunter Magazine. Although no one knew it at that time, the timing was perfect and Bowhunter would eventually grow into the largest, most successful and profitable publication in archery history. James eventually retired in 2006 after 35 years of editorial leadership. Bowhunter turned 50 in the late summer of 2021.
James also served on the Pope and Young Club’s Board of Directors for two and one-half decades, including three terms as First Vice President, two terms as President, and three terms as Past President Emeritus. During this time, he was named Editor of the first Pope and Young Club record book (1975) and several other P&Y publications. He also served as an official P&Y Measurer 1978 to 2024 and was presented with the Club’s first Glenn St. Charles Outstanding Member award in 2019.
Other noteworthy honors include receiving the Outdoor Writers Association of America’s Excellence in Craft Award in 1999 for lifetime achievement, and in 2003 being inducted into the Archery Hall of Fame as the organization’s 54th member. James later served two terms as President and currently continues in an AHOF leadership role as President Emeritus. He also is the author of 10 popular bowhunting books and one novel published between 1976 and 2018.
A Life Member of the Professional Bowhunters Society, the Indiana Bowhunters Association, and several other state bowhunting organizations, James has been a guest speaker and seminar speaker at bowhunting banquets across the United States and parts of Canada, speaking before tens of thousands over a lengthy career spent promoting safe, responsible, and ethical bowhunting, while offering advice on becoming a better prepared and more successful bowhunter.