Toxey Haas

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Toxey Haas
Toxey haas and gus Bottomland.png
Born (1960-01-21) January 21, 1960 (age 65)
West Point, Mississippi, U.S.
Alma mater Mississippi State University
Occupation(s)Founder and CEO of Haas Outdoors, Inc.
SpouseDiane Lusk Haas
ParentFox Haas [1]
Website www.mossyoak.com

Toxey Daniel Haas III (born January 21, 1960) is an American entrepreneur and conservationist. In 1986, he founded Haas Outdoors, Inc.; he is currently its CEO.

Contents

Early life and education

Haas was born and raised in West Point, Mississippi where he attended Oak Hill Academy. His father Fox took him hunting at Choctaw Bluff, a hunting club near Mobile, Alabama. A tree at their favorite hunting spot known as the Mossy Oak tree would serve as key inspiration in Haas' business career. [2] After graduating in 1976, he continued his education at Mississippi State University. While at Mississippi State, he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and attained his bachelor's degree in Business Administration. [3]

Haas married Diane Lusk, and they moved back to West Point. He began working for Bryan Foods, a division of Sara Lee. [4]

Career

Haas was first inspired by observing a handful of Mississippi dirt, where he noticed that leaves, twigs, and dirt provided "nature’s own camouflage". [5] [6] Haas consequently had an idea to improve the conventional camouflage that hunters used and pursued his first camouflage pattern. After being turned down many times, Crystal Springs Print Works in Georgia agreed to print his pattern. However, they had a 10,000 yard minimum, and he could only afford 800 yards. [2] Haas convinced them to make an exception. Haas officially left his job at Bryan for his entrepreneurial pursuits and enlisted the help of his friend Bill Sugg as his partner.[ citation needed ]

In 1986, when he was only twenty-six years old, Haas founded Haas Outdoors, Inc and introduced the Mossy Oak brand of outdoor clothing using the "Bottomland" pattern he designed for turkeys, bow hunting deer, and duck hunting. [1] [6] [7] The first Mossy Oak clothing was sewn by Haas' mother in his childhood home. [8] For the first few years, the brand became regionally popular. [1] Haas Outdoors has five major patterns: Break-Up, Treestand, Obsession, Duck Blind, and Brush. [6]

Haas and his friend Chris Hawley co-founded Mossy Oak's real estate company Mossy Oak Properties in 1999. [6] [9] Haas, along with wildlife biologist Grant Woods, cofounded BioLogic in 1999. BioLogic is headquartered in West Point. [6] [10] Founded in 2007, Nativ Nurseries is headquartered in West Point and grows and sells trees for landowners. [11] Other branches of the Mossy Oak Brand include Mossy Oak Productions and Nativ Nurseries. [6]

In 2000, Haas and his family purchased a 200-acre piece of property and began converting the timberland into a waterfowl impoundment, manipulating water levels and planting crops in the area to draw in ducks. [5]

Awards and recognition

Appearances in literature

Chapters of the following books regard Haas' endeavors:

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Mossy Oak, The Colonel and the Fox, Neill and Daniel Haas". Scenic 98 Coastal. April 3, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Imes, Birney. "Toxey Haas' Great Outdoors." Catfish Alley. Spring 2012: 62-67. Print.
  3. ↑ "Giants of the Industry: Mossy Oak". 10 August 2011.
  4. ↑ "Mossy Oak Staff | Fox Haas, Secretary/Treasurer". Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  5. 1 2 Brad Fitzpatrick (April 29, 2020). "Mossy Oak's Toxey Haas on Waterfowl Management". Wildfowl. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Biography". Legends of the Outdoors. 2009. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  7. ↑ "A Look Into the Heart and Mind of Mossy Oak Founder Toxey Haas". POMA. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  8. ↑ "Mossy Oak". basecamp.mossyoak.com.
  9. ↑ "Mossy Oak Properties".
  10. ↑ "Our Story". BioLogic.
  11. ↑ "Mossy Oak Nativ Nurseries - Oak Trees and Fruit Trees for Wildlife". Nativ Nurseries.
  12. ↑ "The U.S. Small Business Administration." 1989.
  13. ↑ "West Point, Mississippi". Archived from the original on 2012-08-30. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
  14. ↑ http://www.catchadream.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/prMay04.pdf%5B%5D
  15. ↑ "Toxey Haas". Garry Masons Legends of the Outdoors. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
  16. ↑ "Ducks Unlimited honors Mississippi conservationists". Archived from the original on 2015-04-06. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
  17. ↑ "Alumnus of the Year - College of Business - Mississippi State University". Archived from the original on 2018-02-14. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
  18. ↑ "EP 118 Southern Turkey Hunting Traditions w/ Daniel Haas - Apex Fireside".
  19. ↑ Andrews, Andy. "Storms of Perfection: Lessons from the Masters." Nashville: Lightning Crown, 2004.
  20. ↑ White, Neil. "Mississippians." Oxford: Nautilus, 2010. Print.
  21. ↑ Dement, Polly. "Mississippi Entrepreneurs." Cat Island Books LLC, 2014. Print.
  22. ↑ Norman, Jan. "What No One Ever Tells You about Starting Your Own Business: Real-Life Start-Up Advice from 101 Successful Entrepreneurs." Chicago: Dearborn, 1999,2004. Print.
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