Sam Gibson, better known as Sam the Trap Man, grew up beside the Hamanatua Stream in Tairāwhiti Gisborne. From an early age, the bush was where he truly belonged—hunting, fishing, trapping and living wild.

As a teenager starting to go off the rails, a unique deal between his parents and teachers let him swap school for the outdoors. It was a turning point that not only kept him out of trouble but set the course for a life built around hard work, adventure, and purpose.

From shooting his first deer to surviving brutal South Island winters as a young trapper, Sam’s life is full of wild yarns—funny, raw, thrilling, and heartfelt. Every choice he makes in the bush is guided by his deep respect for native wildlife and a mission to protect Aotearoa’s ecosystems.