Leupold Core Insider

Connor Gabbott (@taluscreative) spent the first 20 years of his working life in the kitchen at various restaurants throughout British Columbia. After taking his first deer in 2010, Connor found a passion for the outdoors and wild game. Scott and Michael from Leupold sat down with Connor at Sheep Show to talk about the brand's digital Field to Table series and how to improve your wild game cooking skills. Subjects Discussed: Diving into the kitchen; using bold rustic flavors; favorite cuts and species; wood-fired always wins; working with fat; the last chapter of the hunting story; and more.

From the mountains of Afghanistan through the desert plains of Iraq, the concepts that spawned Kryptek products were forged in combat. Their knowledge of what works was developed through battlefield necessity. Leupold CEO, Bruce Pettet sat down with Kryptek Founder and CEO, Butch Whiting, to talk about the history of the brand, the military and more. Subjects Discussed: born on the battlefield; building a family; product performance; military life; hunting stories; and more.

If you had to pick one guy to go into battle with you, whatever the situation, Tim Kennedy should be at the top of your list. Not only is he “Hard To Kill” on his Discovery Channel reality adventure series, Tim is also an active, Ranger-qualified, Green Beret Special Forces sniper and a retired MMA fighter. Live from SHOT Show 2019, Leupold's Nic Kytlica sits down with Tim to recap his eventful 2018 and what fans can look forward to in 2019. Subjects Discussed: Almost getting burned alive inside of a plane; deploying to Africa; increasing special operation recruits; singing to The Steeldrivers; and more.

One of the most relatable and fun people you'll ever meet - Randy Newberg is a champion for public lands, access, and conservation. His television shows, podcasts, and digital content provide fans with endless entertainment and education. Live from SHOT Show 2019, Leupold's Lucas Burt and Scott Rousseau sit down with Randy to recap his eventful 2018 and what fans can look forward to in 2019. Subjects Discussed: crossing a mudslide; getting serious about llamas; harvesting his first Dall sheep; day-by-day episodes on youtube; preparing for 2019 tags; and more.

Wife, mom, author, TV host, and enthusiast for all things outdoors, Eva Shockey continues to raise the bar for women in the outdoor industry. Live from SHOT Show 2019, Leupold's Riza Lesser and Michael Wunnicke sit down with Eva to recap her hectic 2018 and what fans can look forward to in 2019. Subjects Discussed: Maintaining a work/life balance; filming two new TV shows; building her forever home; Tim’s monster Yukon Moose; and more.

Celebrating their 30th Anniversary, Drury Outdoors and the Drury family have become household names across the outdoor industry – known first and foremost for the bruiser whitetail bucks that they harvest each year – and currently sharing their adventures across a bevy of television shows. Live from SHOT Show 2019, Leupold's Michael Wunnicke and Scott Rousseau sit down with Mark and Terry to recap their 2018 season, and what fans can look forward to in 2019 from The Drury team. Subjects Discussed: Deercast App goes viral; playing chess with deer, managing deer inventory; giving away a farm to a lucky fan; and more.  

In an age of fleeting digital acquaintances, a lasting bond can quickly develop between a guide and their clients. Eight months after hunting with David Lawless and Ryan Leef of Jim Shockey's Pacific Rim Guide Outfitters, Leupold’s Michael Wunnicke and Lucas Burt caught back up with the crew at the Safari Club International trade show to talk about guide life, client do’s and don'ts, and what it feels like to turn forty-five. While both David and Ryan now spend most of their time leading Jim Shockey’s clients all over Canada, they each bring uniquely different experiences and perspectives to the table. Subjects Discussed: Getting into the guide business; being elected to Canadian Parliament; what happened to Ryan’s binoculars; and their proudest moments in the bush.

Around the world and across cultures, there is no animal more representative of the mountain culture than the ibex. Far away from home and way outside of their comfort zones, a team from The Journal of Mountain Hunting pursued this iconic mountain billy on their recent hunting trip to the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan. Leupold’s Scott Rousseau sits down with the team to discuss the adventure and everything you didn’t see in their film, East of The Sun. Subjects Discussed: airport issues; traveling along the Afghanistan border; Tajikistan culture; dealing with extreme altitude; pulling off a double header; and more.

Did you know anyone – yes, anyone – can go hunt big bucks in December? The new Youtube mini-series, "Anyone’s Hunt”, kicked things off in Arizona for archery deer and breaks down and explores lesser-known over-the-counter hunting opportunities that are available to anyone. Scott Rousseau and Lucas Burt from Leupold sat down with photographer Steven Drake and Zach Sandau from onX to chat about the series and the challenges they faced on the hunt. Subjects Discussed: exploring new hunting opportunities; the rise of the day-by-day series; why Arizona; finding big bucks; and more.

There are few hunters who’ve had as many relentless adventures as Jim Shockey, which is why we were excited to sit down with him at the Safari Club International trade show to discuss his storied career. From male modeling to releasing his first music single last year, the 2019 Weatherby Award winner has just about seen and done it all. In fact, Outdoor Life magazine named Shockey “the most accomplished big-game hunter of the modern era, having taken arguably the most free-range big game species by any living hunter.” Subjects Discussed: making music; how he got started as an outfitter; what the hunting life means to him; hunting advocacy; and more.

The optic on a firearm is one of the most critical components of the shooting system and should be a known constant, not a variable. By focusing on the optic and the platform it’s mounted on, you can gain a better understanding of your entire shooting system. In this episode, Nic Kytlica and Scott Rousseau sit down with the guru for all things shooting - Leupold Optics Academy lead instructor, Michael Baccellieri. Topics Discussed: Training at the Leupold Optics Academy; Pigs vs. Hogs; the basic anatomy of a riflescope; big mistakes at the range; mil vs. moa; and more.

6 states. 7 bulls. 5 bucks. That's the premise of a new day-by-day Youtube series, Tradition. Leupold's Scott and Riza sat down with Jason Phelps and Nick Schmit of Angry Mountain Productions to discuss what it took to pull off this epic adventure and what fans can expect to see. Subjects Discussed: Why Tradition; best and worst hunts; living life on the road; varying personalities; and more.

Adam Foss is a photographer, filmmaker, and co-founder of Foss Media alongside his wife, Frankie. With a background rooted deep in mountain bowhunting, at the age of 24, Adam became the youngest bowhunter to harvest all Four North American Sheep. His skills, not only on the mountain but with a camera, have led to some of the industries' most dynamic content. Leupold's Scott Rousseau and Lucas Burt sat down with Adam and Frankie to chat about the ever-evolving media landscape and how photography has changed their lives. Subjects Discussed: Getting started with photography; living out of a suitcase; the progress of gear; social media's impact on content; borrowing boats; telling the 'story' through visuals; and more.

There are legends in every sport. Michael Jordan and basketball. Tom Brady and football. And in the world of professional shooting, there is Doug Koenig. Doug is that once in a generation talent, whose potent combination of speed, accuracy, and shooting skills has produced wins in various multi-disciplined shooting competitions; with more than 70 National and 10 World Championships, including his unprecedented 18 Bianchi Cup Championships. Leupold CEO Bruce Pettet sits down with Doug to get an inside look into the man behind the trigger. Subjects discussed: Being an athlete in the world of shooting; diet and exercise; balancing competition with hunting; the importance of dry fire practice and preparation; entering into PRS and long-range shooting; and more.

The western regions of New Mexico – a state known for trophy bulls and its rugged terrain – provide an ideal hunting ground for chasing late-season elk. By mid-November the bulls are herding back up for the winter as the rut becomes an afterthought. Leupold’s Shawn Skipper sits down with Kali Parmley of Petersen’s Hunting, Jon Draper of NRA’s American Hunter, and Jason Gilbertson of Browning Ammo to discuss the week's events. Subjects discussed: the challenges of late-season elk hunting; putting miles on your boots; the new SX-5 Santiam HD spotting scope and BX-5 Santiam HD binoculars; the benefits of the VX-6HD riflescope.  

Brian “Pigman” Quaca is known and loved throughout the outdoor industry for his powerful and truly one-of-a-kind personality. For years he’s given viewers a look at his rough and tough day-to-day life as he entertains them with a different take on traditional hunting television. Pigman is also a dedicated fan of the Leupold brand, and recently paid a visit to our Beaverton factory to sit down and chat with Leupold President and Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Pettet. Subjects discussed: American manufacturing; building custom rifles; Pigman's 2014 automobile accident recovery; hog hunting; and more!

Colorado is a hunter’s paradise – and never more so than in mid-November, when the largest elk herd in the United States is on the move and bruiser mule deer bucks emerge from the sagebrush for the rut. Battling single-digit temperatures and bouts of snow, Leupold’s Shawn Skipper was joined by Browning’s Shaundi Campbell and the Editorial Director of all NRA Publications, John Zent, to recap their weeklong hunt. Subjects discussed: Colorado's rich hunting grounds; trucks breaking down; having a deer crush; long periods of glassing with the new SX-5 Santiam HD spotter; and even a few at-home taxidermy tips.

Few big game species are as elusive as the Columbia blacktail deer. Hard to find and harder yet to get a shot on, chasing blacktail is a demanding hunt. Leupold’s Shawn Skipper and Nic Kytlica are joined by Adam Heggenstaller (American Hunter) and John Snow (Outdoor Life and Field & Stream) to recap their week-long blacktail hunt in northwestern Oregon. Subjects discussed: John Snow's relationship to Kit Harrington; under-appreciating blacktail; battling vast timbered terrain; unseasonably warm weather and fog; perils of true public land hunting; utilizing mountain bikes as means of travel; and more.

Leupold's Nic Kytlica sits down with Josh Lowry of Oregon Rifle Works to talk about their dedication and love for shooting and training. Josh isn’t a professional shooter, an Instagram celebrity or an instructor - he’s just an average guy who’s committed to refining his skills on a daily basis. If he can do it, so can you. Subjects discussed: Getting in a routine; the benefits of dry-fire practice; girls getting guys into guns; working a retail counter; competition shooting; training classes, and more.

Hunters never stop learning, never stop growing – even after decades in the field. There’s always a new strategy to try or, in some cases, an entirely new medium to adopt. That was the case for Leupold’s Lucas Burt and Riza Lesser, who gave their first go at the ever-challenging world of bowhunting elk. Subjects discussed: Shooting the Total Archery Challenge; limited practice time; getting kicked out of the cool kid's group; onX Hunt saving the day; to bugle or not to bugle; checking things off the list; and other reflections from amateurs.