Dr. Pero Komozec, an internist with Wheaton Franciscan Medical Group, enjoys the thrill of traveling to different states and international locales to hunt exotic and large game animals.
Komozec says he mostly enjoys the connection he feels with nature while hunting, and while he enjoys the sport, he only hunts game for the food.
“For me it’s really about enjoying nature, I like the high altitude mountains of the western states, the exotic plains of places like Africa and seeing all of these creatures in their natural habitats,” Komozec said. “Everything I harvest I give to poor families in need and in Africa I helped harvest food for native tribes and their survival.”
Komozec has been to Africa, British Columbia, Manitoba, Colorado, Michigan and other states across the country to hunt leopard, zebra, wildebeast, springbok, giraffe, elk, bear, and wild boar. He also hunts white tail deer, pheasant and turkey at his cabin in northern Wisconsin.
Of all the hunts Komezec has been on, the elk, found mostly in the northern United States and Canada, provided the biggest challenge, he said.
Komozec has been hunting for nearly 45 years, and began hunting when he was 15. Aside from the thrill of the hunt, Komozec also has dabbled in ballistics. He routinely makes his own bullets and owns more than 50 different guns.
“I’ve made significant investments over the years in order to really know my ballistics,” Komozec said. “I know how to make my own bullets, adjust the calibers and fix all my guns with scopes to make sure I’m in good shape for hunting different species.”
Komozec usually takes a couple two-week trips a year for hunting and plans to continue to do it as long as he can.
