A former Army medic took down the competition in a reality TV hunting show, tagging top honors as the fan-favorite host in "The Calling."

The show stars three "average people" – picked from thousands of applicants – with dreams of hosting their own hunting program. It also gives viewers a behind-the-scenes peek at what it takes to make a reality show.

To win, retired 1st Sgt. Steven Holden beat out a firefighter and a former model by garnering the most fan votes.

Holden, who retired in 2012 after a 20-year career in the military, says he's "ecstatic about winning. It was a tough competition with two great competitors. Thank you so much to everyone that voted and helped along the journey."

Producers say Holden enjoyed a strong lead from the start.

"By the second or third week, he had an insurmountable lead. He just blew everybody away," "The Calling" creator Ken Cobb tells Military Times.

"Steve was ingenious with how he rallied his fans. He had troops from around the world voting for him. He had people in armies from other countries voting for him. He was working all the angles."

"The Calling" aired on the Discovery network's Destination America channel, which features shows ranging from outdoor adventures to paranormal pursuits. If you missed it, you can stream the entire 10-episode season of "The Calling" online at thecallingtv.com.

Meanwhile, building on the momentum of his win, Holden says he's trying to put together his own show, taking wounded warriors and other veterans out on dream hunts.

"It's going to take a lot of work and dedication, but I believe we can do it," he says.

Cobb agrees.

"It's a great premise for a show," Cobb says. "And he's very driven. Everyone has a calling in life, not necessarily what you do for money, but one you do for the love of it. Steve does this for the love of it."

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