Ben Rising

Wicked Ridge Outfitters was started by Ben Rising and  his wife Melody in 2012. The Rising Family created Wicked Ridge as a small operation designed to concentrate on harvesting older bucks, giving clients a true mature deer experience. As time has passed Wicked Ridge’s land base has increased along with the quality deer available on the leases. This has resulted in more clients, notoriety in the outdoor industry, and gaining the reputation of being a truly wicked place to hunt!

Ben’s reputation in the whitetail world is no secret! With the many Boone and Crockett bucks to his credit it’s easy to see why Wicked Ridge has become a top destination for clients. Whether you know Ben from his films, or read one of the many articles he’s published over the years, he is the premier outfitter for anyone seeking a quality fair chase hunt in the forested hills of Ohio.

Ben’s dad, Tom, started trapping and hunting with Ben when he was just a toddler. Ben credits his woodsmanship, his understanding of animal habits and behavior, as well as his appreciation of God’s creation to his father and the older generations of people who spent time with him outdoors.

Ben has been in the forest industry since the age of sixteen and started his own logging business at the age of twenty. Ben decided to get off the chainsaw in 2012 and just work as a forester/timber buyer for a local sawmill, Trico Enterprises, and start Wicked Ridge Outfitters.

Melody Rising

Ben married his grade school crush Melody in 1999 and together they have four sons and a daughter. Melody has also smashed some awesome bucks with her bow on film. She is currently a successful real estate agent and land specialist for Whitetail Properties. Melody has supported Ben through thick and thin and been the glue that has made Wicked Ridge Outfitters stick together and continue to grow.

Ben’s TV & Film Appearances

Ben started filming for Drury Outdoors in 2001 and continued this until 2014. Ben is currently working on his own web show along with Woodbury Outfitters in Coshocton, Ohio called WHITETAIL EDGE (look for it in 2016)!

Watch for Ben to also appear on Michael Waddell‘s Bone Collector TV Show on occasion.

Guides

Wyatt Mellor

Born an raised in Killbuck Ohio, 19 year old Wyatt Mellor has pretty much been in the woods since the time he could walk. Growing up following his grandpa an Dad through the woods if not on the way to a deer stand, or a turkey blind, he was chasing after a coondog late at night. Wyatt has decided to make his living in the woods as well by becoming a timber buyer at Trico Enterprises an also becoming the primary guide at wicked Ridge with the help of Ben.

Dylon Gandee

I started hunting along side my father and older brother at a young age. Dad passed down everything he knew about deer and turkey to me and I did my best to soak in as much as I could. I simply love they way I can connect with the good Lord and his creations while in the woods and the fact that every memory in the outdoors is a golden one. I’m sure to count my blessings everyday and out side of hunting my girlfriend and daughter are my main priority. Hunting really has a major impact on my life keeping me humble for every blessing God brings to me.

Richie Riley

Growing up I discovered my passion and fell in love with the outdoors. When I was eighteen years old, I headed west to a little town called Noxon, Montana. There I enrolled in a guide school, Outdoor Adventures, ran by Ray Hill, to pursue my dream. For three years I ran all over the Rocky Mountains chasing elk, muleys, and all other sorts of big game. I then decided to make my way back home to Ohio to Continue to pursue my “first love” the whitetail deer. I started my own habitat business called Whitetail Haven Creations where I focus on helping property owners manage their habitat and implement various strategies to help them also be successful at hunting the whitetail deer. This is when I met Ben and family and he blessed me with a job here at Wicked Ridge Outfitters of Ohio! Some people are crazy over sports some over money, some over you name it but my wife would tell you I’m crazy over deer! My passion for bow hunting whitetail deer has become a lifestyle 365 days of the year 24/7. There’s nothing more I enjoy then matching wits with a mature whitetail deer or helping someone do the same!