Leupold Core Insider

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 SCI trade show. 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: Becoming a guide; client do’s and don'ts; being elected to Parliament; and their proudest moments in the

Around the world, there is no animal more representative of the mountain culture than the ibex. 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 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: traveling along the Afghanistan border; Tajikistan culture; dealing with extreme altitude; an

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. Scott and Lucas from Leupold sat down with photographer Steven Drake and Zach Sandau from onX to chat about the series and the hunt. Subjects Discussed: exploring new hunting opportunities; the rise of the day-by-day series; why Arizona; finding big bucks;

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 to discuss his storied career. 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. 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. 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. Subjects Discussed: Getting started with photography; living out of a suitcase; social media's impact on content; 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 combo of speed and accuracy has produced wins in various 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.

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. 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 recap the week's events. Subjects discussed: the challenges of late-season elk hunting; putting miles on your boots; the new Santiam spotters and 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 on hunting television. Pigman is also a dedicated fan of the Leupold brand, and recently paid a visit to our Beaverton factory to sit down with Leupold President and CEO, Bruce Pettet. Subjects discussed: American manufacturing; building custom rifles; automobile accident recovery; hog hunting; and more!

Colorado is a hunter’s paradise – and never more so than in mid-November, when 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; 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 hunt in NW Oregon. Subjects discussed: under-appreciating blacktail; battling vast timbered terrain; perils public land hunting; utilizing mountain bikes as a 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 mor

Hunters never stop learning, never stop growing – even after decades in the field. 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; and other reflections from amateurs.

Few dare to follow their life's true calling; even fewer find that calling making wild game calls. Join the Leupold Core as we sit down with the guys from Phelps Game Calls and hear how they got their wild start.