Biography As an Environmental Specialist with Williams, a wildlife/fisheries biologist with the West Virginia DNR, and a freelance outdoor writer, Kevin has channeled his life's passion into a multifaceted career.
 A lifelong participant in the outdoors, Kevin began hunting and fishing in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains with his parents and grandparents. The sportsman tradition was simply a way of life in the Yokum family, and early on Kevin knew a career involving the outdoors seemed imminent. A pretty good athlete back in his younger years, Kevin played baseball at Davis and Elkins College and went on to graduate with honors completing a double major in environmental science and biology. Continuing his education with a M.S. in biology from Marshall University, Kevin started working as a researcher for the U.S. Forest Service and as a college instructor at Davis and Elkins College. Less than a year later, Kevin landed his dream job as a fisheries biologist with the West Virginia DNR, where he was quickly promoted to district fisheries biologist. Kevin worked with many different species of freshwater sportfishes, managing their populations in order to offer better fishing opportunities for anglers. Any given day might find Kevin stocking fish from a helicopter, tagging a 50 inch Muskie, electrofishing a wild mountain brook trout stream, or explaining a wildlife regulation to legislators at the state capitol. It wasn't long until Kevin's second career as an outdoor writer began to emerge. With a solid background in biology, Kevin began writing articles explaining the scientific rationale behind hunting and angling issues. Currently, Kevin has become a popular outdoor writer who regularly publishes articles in In-Fisherman, Bassmaster, Bass Times, and Saltwater Fly Fishing. Kevin's work can also be found in Eastern Fly Fishing; FLW Outdoors; Muskie; West Virginia Game and Fish; West Virginia Wildlife; Wild Wonderful West Virginia; Florida Game and Fish; Redfish Nation; Salmon and Steelhead Journal; Salmon, Trout and Steelheader Magazine; Northwest Fly Fishing; Fish Alaska Magazine; Higherways Outdoors Magazine; Black Powder Guns and Hunting; Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine; Pond Boss; and In-Fisherman's Walleye Insider. On occasion, Kevin has contributed seasonal outdoor columns to Morgantown's Dominion Post and the Elkins Inter-Mountain newspapers. Such writing assignments have provided Kevin the opportunities to interact with staff from BASS and ESPN. Kevin is regularly featured on the radio show West Virginia Outdoors with Chris Lawrence. In addition, Kevin has made several appearances on the Outdoor Channel and has filmed a series of full feature TV fishing shows for West Virginia television stations. As Kevin recognized that extraordinary writing opportunities seemed to materialize for no apparent reason. it didn't take long to realize that a bit of divine intervention must be involved. Prospective writers just didn't get the kind of opportunities that Kevin had received, especially when they aren't full time journalists. God was working! As time permits, Kevin continues to travel the world pursuing hunting and fishing adventures. Being able to write about hunting and fishing adventures has taken Kevin to many exotic destinations including Costa Rica, Scotland, Mexico, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and to many renowned destinations throughout the U.S., such as the Florida Keys, the Everglades, Alaska, and Yellowstone National Park. Kevin now works as an Environmental Specialist for Williams Energy. Kevin, his wife Amy, and their family live in Clarksburg WV. Kevin exclaims, "God has blessed me in so many ways. I consider it a real privilege to speak to folks about outdoor adventures, and the extraordinary opportunity the Lord presented to each of us with His sacrifice on the cross." | |