HollyFollowing Influencers
Influencers are taking the marketing world by storm. The outdoor industry has so many, but they aren’t seen so much as influencers but as outdoor enthusiasts. Do I follow any? In a way I do, but not in the way one considers following them. I’ve communicated or networked with several within the industry over the years since I started sharing on social media for the outdoor industry. The best thing about this industry is the outdoor events all over the nation where they come together and mingle.
This allows many sportsmen and women to mingle along with them and see that they are regular humans but with a huge following. If you scan through the different hunting influencer lists, you’ll come across many that you’ll see at those events. (2025). In 2023, I published an article that included quotes from an amazing woman in the industry known as the “First Lady of Hunting®️”, and her name is Brenda Valentine. (Overman. 2023). She is highly known for her turkey hunting adventures and being partnered with Mossy Oak.
Why Follow Influencers
I “follow” them because they share their skills, their challenges, and their adventures along the way. Many have earned their right to be considered an influencer due to the values they share as well. Sure, some do promote brands they are sponsored by, but not all overly push those brands.
Every influencer brings something different to the table which provides something for everyone. Some specialize in bow hunting, others it’s bowfishing, but overall you’ll see everything in between. Some showcase more exotic adventures which are very interesting. You can see these adventures not only on social media and outdoor shows, but also publications such as Outdoor Life, Wide Open Spaces, and American Outdoor News. There are many others, but I could go on forever naming them all.
Influencer Impact
The impact a hunting influencer has on the marketing world is highly significant. Most share this lifestyle along with their struggles to showcase their reality as it isn’t always a bed of roses and hunts don’t always go as planned. They share special techniques and other experiences they’ve had to share their knowledge with anyone looking to learn from them. Some as I mentioned, share exotic adventures for specific species while most remain within the U.S. The best enthusiasts share those real-world challenges while remaining ethical in their actions.
One of the most well-known exotic hunters is Jim Shockey. He included his daughter Eva in many of those adventures along with his own father as well. Eva even went to make a name for herself including designing her own compound bow with Bowtech. She along with many other incredible females in the industry, like Melissa Bachman Bearshield and Taylor (Drury) Land, has highly impacted the growth of sportswomen. This shows how relationships can be formed in the outdoor community since most support each other and even get together for group hunts.
Conclusion
There are so many more that deserve the mention, but I’d be here all day sharing them and their value to the industry. I’ve grown fond of many as friendships grew from those follows and I’ll forever be grateful for things I’ve learned personally from them. Those who are mothers showed me how I could still enjoy hunting and raising kids in the lifestyle. Do I value their opinions? Yes. Do I respect what brands they support? Yes. Do I share the same interest as those brands? Not always because I have my own preferences. We all share the root of interest in the outdoors and that is what matters the most.
Reference
(Feb. 11, 2025). Top 100 Hunting Influencers in 2025. FeedSpot
(Feb. 11, 2025). Top 90 Female Hunting Influencers in 2025. FeedSpot
Overman, Holly. (2023). Hunting: Now and Then. Doe Range
