Our Story

I'd like to personally thank you for stopping by to visit us at Sportsman’s Empire.  My name is Mark Leland Cockerham, and I am the founder/owner of this great company.  Sportsman's Empire began in 2009 in a small town in Northeast Louisiana.  A town where everyone knows your name and stop to visit when they see you.  A place where tall pines line the rural roads and wildlife flourishes abundantly.  And it's because of this fact that Louisiana is known as a Sportsman’s Paradise.  

I am confident in telling you that the inspiration for this company was given to me under the leadership and direction of God. I truly believe that all things happen for a purpose and a reason. Romans 8:28

I feel that it is very important that we take leaps of faith and follow our own destiny in life. 

I was at a point in my life, where I didn’t think things could get any worse and was struggling for answers.  I had lost my job, I had just gone through a divorce and was trying the best I could, under the circumstances, to give my three children the things they needed. To put it plainly, I was in a desperate situation and needed a miracle, because I could honestly see no way out of the circumstances that surrounded me during this time in my life. 

I vividly remember going to bed the night before the idea for this company was revealed to me.  I remember kneeling by my bedside and asking God if He would plant a seed in my heart for something unique. A business that would not only change my current situation, but that would also allow me the opportunity to help others who may be looking for light at the end of the tunnel.  

The next morning I woke up and started my day as usual. I was driving to a nearby town around noon to check a lead for a job.  It was during that short drive that I was given the idea (seed) for Sportsman’s Empire.  It was as if a light switch was miraculously flipped on. My mind raced at the unlimited scope of possibilities this company could one day entail.  To tell you the truth, it was like entering into a world that God had created just for me.  Looking back, I see how powerful that one sincere prayer was.Ideas started flowing like a waterfall and I began then and there recording everything on my iPhone recorder app.

It has been a long journey to say the least, but I understand that dreams and goals don’t just happen overnight. They continue to grow and prosper over a lifetime, if we are committed to seeing them through.  You may ask if there have been ups and downs since I started this journey?  My answer to you would be, "Absolutely".   But regardless of the valleys and peaks,  I have remained determined to never give up.  The seed has been planted, nurtured and watered.  God will give the increase daily. 1 Corinthians 3:7

I specifically told this story to you in order to give God the glory for everything concerning this company.  I am just a man with limitations, but He is all the things.  

Hunting and fishing has been around since the beginning of man.  It’s a way of life for so many avid outdoorsmen around the world.  It is the longterm goal of Sportsman’s Empire to become the greatest outdoor adventure website for men, women, and young people all over the world. 

Sportsman’s Empire is a cutting edge company.  It is our goal to our visitors and members to become the only place to search when it comes to finding hunting and fishing adventures.  When you think of the outdoors and all that it involves, we saw the need to create a company where visitors and members could find any and everything they are searching for in one place. 

Sportsman’s Empire is designed just for you, the avid outdoorsman.  Whether you are planning an elk hunting trip to Montana, or booking a Fishing Charter off of the Florida Keys, we are working very hard to provide exactly what you are looking for.  It is our utmost desire to make this website user friendly and fun to use.   

It is our utmost pleasure to serve you.  And when you think of finding hunting or fishing adventures along with anything outdoors, we hope that you will remember Sportsman's Empire.

​

Live Life to it's Fullest,

Mark Leland Cockerham