Tom Miranda

Thomas Lee “Tom” Miranda Jr. ( born January 21, 1958 ) is an American bowhunter, trapper, television producer and author from Columbus, Ohio. He originally gained fame as a fur trapping instructor by producing video trapping lessons. From this venture he embarked on a lengthy career as a television bowhunter and is most known for his television bowhunting adventures seen on ESPN, VERSUS and other cable networks.

EARLY life

Miranda was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. The son of Betty Jean (Blanton) a stay at home mom and Thomas Lee Miranda a Bell System employee. The oldest of three children, his two sisters: Peggy and Penny.

Miranda began trapping at age 11. Attended Walnut Ridge High School, excelling in baseball, football and track. Qualified for the Ohio State Track and Field Championships 220 yard dash. Graduated High School 1976.

CAREER

Tom Miranda moved to Michigan’s upper Peninsula in 1980 to pursue a career as a fur trapper. Miranda made his own trapping scents and started a small business selling his Competition Line Lures in 1882.

Featured in a Fur-Fish-Game magazine article on his trapping expertise in February 1983, Miranda gained national recognition and soon began writing for the magazine. Accepting a position in South Dakota as a Predator Control Trapper in 1984, Miranda moved to Chamberlain, SD. Earned his private pilot license in 1985.

In 1986 after selling his first trapping lesson video series “Fox and Coyote trapping East to West”, Miranda resigned from his position as a South Dakota Sate Trapper and began Tom Miranda Outdoor Films. Miranda produced 15 “how to trap” videos and began making bowhunting videos. In these early video production years, Miranda learned script writing, video editing and cameraman skills. In 1990 he met Sandy Brady and became business partners with him and Pat Foy Brady (father). The trio formed Tom Miranda Outdoors Inc.

This company began producing Tom’s first series “Outdoor Adventure Magazine” which originally aired on Sports Channel America in 1990 and 1991. Outdoor Adventure Magazine was a magazine format that included hunting, fishing and adventure segments in each episode and Miranda originally did the adventures with Brady the hunting.

Outdoor Adventure Magazine debuted on ESPN at 8AM Saturday morning July 4, 1992. In the first years on ESPN, Miranda’s adventures included, sky diving, bungee jumping, jet flying: including Navy F-14 training ( Miranda is an accomplished pilot ) scuba diving, bull riding, rodeo clown training, MLB with Seattle Mariners, fire walking and many additional adventures. in several bowhunting episodes in 1993.... soon Miranda was hosting the entire series.

Miranda changed the series name to “Advantage Adventures” in 1997 after a request from Realtree founder Bill Jordan to host a new series for his Advantage camouflage line. Advantage Adventures became a diary of Tom’s bowhunting Adventures around the world. In 1998 Miranda began a quest to videotape the archery Super Slam of North American Big Game ( 27 species ).

Miranda changed his TV series title again in 2008 to “Territories Wild” and this series continues today... airing on VERSUS/NBC Sports and Sportsman Channel.

Tom Miranda completed his Video Super Slam May 9, 2011 on Carmen Island, Mexico- arrowing a Desert Sheep to become the first bowhunter to document the archery Super Slam on broadcast video tape ( 29 species ). Miranda’s production company continues to produce his series as well as hunting and adventure programming for other interests.

PERSONAL life

Married February 28, 1981 to Bernie Cassidy. Three children: Jeremy, Jennifer and Joshua Miranda. Divorced in 1996. Tom met Sandy Jessop on an ESPN TV shoot at Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Florida. Tom and Sandy married in 1996 and the couple remain together. Miranda continues to be close to his three children, despite his rigorous travel schedule.

PRODUCTIONS

Video

  • Trapping “how to” Videos 1985-1992
  • Bowhunting Adventure Videos 1988–present
  • Television
  • Sports Channel America 1990-1991
  • ESPN 1992-2010
  • Outdoor Channel 2009–present
  • VERSUS 2011–present
  • Sportsman Channel 2011–present

TV Series

  • Outdoor Adventure Magazine 1992-1997 ESPN
  • Cabela’s Sportsman Quest 1996-1997 ESPN host
  • Advantage Adventures 1998- 2007 ESPN
  • Whitetail Country 2004–present ESPN/ VERSUS/SPCH
  • Territories Wild 2008–present ESPN/ VERSUS/SPCH
  • World Class Bowhunting 2009–present OUTDOOR CHANNEL
  • Dominant Bucks 2009–present OUTDOOR CHANNEL

PUBLISHED BOOKS

  • Competition Line Fox Trapping 1985
  • Competition Line Water Trapping 1986
  • Competition Line Coyote Trapping 1987
  • Competition Line Bobcat Trapping 1988
  • Corn Fed Giants-Whitetail Hunting 1991