HOP Blog
Get To Know Hunter Freeland: A Journey in Shooting, Teaching, and Life
Nov
Hunter’s journey—from the woods of Louisiana to teaching shooters nationwide—is a testament to resilience, passion, and a relentless drive for improvement—his authenticity and commitment to helping others shine through in every aspect of his story.
If you could pick one movie to watch every week for a year, what would it be?
“That’s simple. I’ve been a Lord of the Rings junkie since I was a kid. If I can’t watch the entire trilogy, I’d go with Fellowship of the Ring. Honestly, I’d watch it every day if I had other movies to mix in. You’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger Lord of the Rings nerd than me.”
Zombie Apocalypse Partner?
When asked who he’d choose to stand alongside in a zombie apocalypse, Hunter didn’t hesitate: “Matt McGuire with Green Ops.”
Everyday Carry: The Essentials
Hunter’s current carry pistol is the Fowler Vanta 9. “I started shooting for Fowler Industries halfway through the year, and I’m one of their four or five full-time sponsored guys. I still carry a Glock 19 or a Walther PDP occasionally, but I’ve really been pushing the Vanta 9 to its limits.”
For holsters, Hunter’s been using the MSP Tier One but is exploring the TXC Holsters CVRT designed for 2011s. When it comes to ammo, he’s transitioning to HOP Munitions hollow points. “I prefer running 124-grain loads. They make me a better shooter at distance and keep my slide running smoothly.”
On carrying a spare mag: “Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. It depends on where I’m going and what I’m doing. My goal is to carry the biggest gun, with the biggest mag, light, and optic possible. But sometimes, within that risk matrix, it’s not always practical. I’ve got 22 rounds onboard already, and if I can’t solve my problem with that, another mag probably won’t save me.”
Early Days: How It All Began
Hunter grew up in the backwoods of northeast Louisiana on 300 acres of bottomlands. “From age 8 to 16, I spent every waking moment in the woods, shooting squirrels, rabbits, and turtles. Our farmland was even next to the Robertson family of Duck Commander fame.”
“About a mile and a half up the road from my house, my school bus driver would drop me off. I had a 10/22 wrapped in an oil wrap stuffed up underneath the bridge. During duck season, I’d hunt on my way home. Squirrels, ducks, or doves—whatever I brought back—Dad would let me cook and prepare it. It was kind of like a full circle of life: school during the day and school in the evening.”
His first red-dot handgun was a Ruger Mark II with an Aimpoint 2000. “I’ve always been into shooting, reading war books, and trying to figure out how to make guns a part of my life.”
In eighth grade, Hunter had a moment of youthful rebellion: “Airsoft guns were popular, and we used to have shootouts in the school parking lot. One day, in Bible class, my buddy dared me to shoot Mr. Brownlee in the butt. I did. Instead of jail or worse, my punishment was duck-walking around the gym 100 times.”
Military and Law Enforcement Background
Hunter spent nearly eight years as a 19D Cavalry Scout in the Louisiana Army National Guard.
“The first half was traditional scout work—light cavalry, no armor, just Humvees. I joined the Louisiana State Combat Shooting Team after my unit missed a deployment rotation due to retention. That opened my eyes to what great shooting really was.”
He also worked briefly as a contractor for Triple Canopy (now Constellis Group) in Kuwait. “I made good money, but you can’t spend it in the desert. That year helped me figure out how to transition into full-time shooting and training.”
Tragedy and Transformation
In 2012, Hunter’s sister was murdered in Bossier City, Louisiana. “I was mentally and emotionally destroyed. Shooting became my way to cope, focus, and escape reality. The people who helped me during that time inspired me to teach and give others the same peace of mind through capability.”
Building a Career in Firearms Instruction
Hunter started teaching in 2012 with his friend Steven Moore, offering concealed carry and basic handgun courses. His first solo venture, Hyde Training Company, failed due to a lack of business and marketing skills. “Looking back, I probably wasn’t ready professionally to take people’s money.”
In 2019, Hunter joined Green Ops, where he and Matt McGuire built the Texas arm of the company. By 2021, he transitioned to teaching full-time with Modern Samurai Project (MSP). “I trained under Scott Jedlinski starting in 2017 and went full-time teaching under MSP’s banner in 2023.”
HF Shooting: The Next Chapter
Hunter recently launched HF Shooting, focusing on efficiency and performance in shooting. “I’m not reinventing the wheel. My goal is to offer tune-ups for shooters, whether they’re just starting or perfecting their craft. Like tuning a Maserati engine, I want to help people reach their highest capability, whether they’re carrying concealed, competing, or in law enforcement.”
Hunter emphasizes kindness and respect in his classes. “The quickest way to get kicked out of my class is to be an asshole. You don’t have to be a jerk to learn how to handle yourself in tough situations. I care about my students’ performance because people cared about mine.”
Looking Ahead
Hunter’s goal for HF Shooting is growth.
“I taught 40-45 classes last year. Moving forward, I want to increase that number and establish HF Shooting as a recognized name in the industry. Separating from MSP has been both challenging and exciting, but I’m ready to push forward.”
