I recently had the opportunity to interview famed outdoorswoman Eva Shockey about all-things life, family and the outdoors. With just a few weeks until she and her family move into their brand-new forever home, and even fewer weeks before her baby boy arrives, she’s got one heck of a crazy schedule. As a working mom in the outdoor industry myself, I wanted to pick her brain about everything — from living in the country, to designing a home, to raising outdoor kids.
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This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of FoodSaver®; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
As the weather warms up and summer draws closer, many outdoorsmen and women find themselves between hunting seasons. But, that doesn’t mean we aren’t enjoying the fruits of our labor from the previous months. Riverside cookouts and backyard BBQs are in full swing, with everything from fresh fish to venison burgers topping the grill. That also means Father’s Day is just around the corner, bringing with it the joy of reminiscing all of the fun time spent with dear Dad in the outdoors.
When it comes to planning a hunt, the options are endless. Some hunts require little more than a loose timeline, a packed lunch, and a loaded gun, but others can be much more daunting, even for an experienced hunter. A turkey hunt one county over is a far cry from stalking elk through the Rockies, but if you’ve never done either, you’re still starting from square one.
That’s where hunting guides and hunting outfitters come in – someone else with the knowledge and skill to help close the gap between you and the game you chase.
But, don’t be fooled – the two titles are not mutually exclusive.
For some, a successful hunt means getting a big buck on the ground, out of the woods, and into the freezer. For others, it means simply getting that big buck in their cross hairs, experiencing the thrill of the hunt whether they pull the trigger or not.
In both scenarios, the hunter has put his or her knowledge and skill to the test, and their efforts paid off in triumph.
The key to a successful hunt starts before you leave the house.
The early winter doldrums can be a frustrating time for whitetail hunters, as the bustling rut activity tapers off into the silence of vacant woods and unfired guns. It is often turns off like a light switch: Deer seem to be running everywhere at the height of the rut, and then it’s over as quickly as it began. The peak breeding period may have passed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a successful hunt in the post-rut weeks of deer season. Deer are creatures of habit, after all, so a few simple adjustments to your hunting strategies can help you bag a mature buck when you least expect it.
As the days get shorter, a good scope (like my Leupold VX5-HD) will help maximize the length of your hunt.
I’ve got something a little different for this month’s box post… A GIVEAWAY with Sportsman’s Box and Women’s Outdoor News!
Also pictured: fellow Field Op Kendall Jones
In the spring of this year, the amazing folks over at Tideline Magazine were kind enough to reach out to me again regarding my red stag hunt in Patagonia in 2016. Rachel Cook, the editor, asked me to write a travel feature – a story about one of my hunting trips, and how to plan a similar excursion. Of course, I happily obliged!
If you’ve been following along on social media you may have noticed that I’ve recently been promoting something called the Sportsman’s Box. I’ve been receiving one monthly since early summer, and recently was lucky enough to become a member of the Sportsman’s Box Field Operative Team! I am super excited to be working with such a great company and so many amazing other field ops in the outdoor industry.
So, what exactly is Sportsman’s Box?
Hi friends! If you follow along on Instagram or Facebook, you might have seen that I recently had the opportunity and privilege to turkey hunt with the amazing folks at Patriot Hunts this year, and write about our weekend over at Women’s Outdoor News. Ken Barnard, the founder of Patriot Hunts, decided that this year’s hunt would be an all-women’s weekend, with our 2 hunters being Lizzie, a Gold Star Survivor, and Rory, a Purple Heart Recipient. I would guide 1 group, with Rory as my hunter, and Chris Wilson with NWTF would guide the other, with Lizzie behind the barrel. Lizzie is a successful bowhunter, and was familiar with what turkey hunting entails. Rory, on the other hand, had never been turkey hunting before. She would be my hunter, and I was super excited to be a part of her first experience.
For turkey hunters, springtime means hearing that unmistakable gobble through the cold morning mist. It startles us, jolting our brains and flooding our bodies with adrenaline. It’s an exciting feeling, to say the least. But, getting there—to where that gobbler is—takes some prep work.