Outdoors Woman and Bowhunter Eva Shockey
Day 4: Guys Have Difficulty Understanding That Eva Shockey Is an Archer and a Bowhunter
Editor’s Note: Eva Shockey, who recently was featured on the cover of “Field and Stream Magazine,” is 25-years old and has been hunting with her dad, well-known outdoorsman Jim Shockey, for as long as she can remember. But she didn’t start taking game until she was 20-years old. The story of Eva Shockey’s life is a classic example of what happens when two worlds collide. Louise Shockey, Eva’s mother, was a professional ballerina, a model and an actress. Eva’s dad, Jim Shockey, was and still is one of the most well-known hunters and outdoorsmen in the world (https://www.jimshockey.com/). Many people wondered which path Eva would take. Would she be a rough-and-tumble hunter like her dad, or would she demonstrate her more-feminine side like her mom? Eva fooled everyone. She didn’t just follow either route. Instead she’s combined the lifestyles of both her parents and is a girly girl and an avid bowhunter.
  One of the funniest aspects of my job as part of “Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures” TV show is guys’ perception of me. Most guys think a girly girl can’t be a hunter. When I tell them I’m a hunter with both guns and bows, their immediate reaction is, “You don’t look like a hunter. I just can’t believe it. You don’t look like a rough-tough hunter.” Many guys are somewhat put off when I’m dressed in my city clothes and talk about climbing mountains, shooting bows and taking animals. They really are surprised when they see me dressed in Mossy Oak ( HYPERLINK "www.mossyoak.com" www.mossyoak.com) with a bow in my hands, center-punching targets with my arrows. Once they understand I’m not trying to prove a point or show them I’m tougher than they are, but I really have a passion and a love for hunting and taking game, they’re usually caught off guard. But when they finally realize I really do like to hunt, we have things in common. We have a lot to talk about and many experiences to share.
My dad never really has been concerned about the guys I date. He says, “You know how to use a gun and a bow, and you know how to take care of yourself.” When a guy never has met me before, he may not know my family or my experience in the woods. Once he finally figures out that I’m passionate about hunting, we can become friends and have great conversations. I think my love of the outdoors has helped me find the kind of guys I really like.
  I’m often asked where I see myself 5 or 10 years from now. That’s really a tough question. I spend so much time with my mother, and she always has made being part of a family such an important part of all of our lives, I’m really looking forward to the day when I become a mom. My dad loves to have us involved in the business, and family is very important to him also. So, because of the way I’ve grown-up, I hope to have started a family of my own within the next 5 to 10 years.
One of the great things about being in the hunting industry is I’ve been raised as the daughter of a hunter. Hunting with my dad has been as much a part of my life and my family as dancing with my mom. So, I’m looking forward to having children, teaching them to hunt like my dad has taught me and taking them on hunts. I don’t think I’ll be traveling as much once I start my family. I’m looking forward to teaching my family to shoot bows and guns, helping them see the beauty of nature, watching them enjoy the thrill and the excitement of taking game and teaching them how hunting is a conservation tool to ensure the future of the animals we hunt.
To learn more about Eva Shockey, visit her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/evashockeyfanpage
You can learn more about hunting deer in John E. Phillips’ Kindle eBooks by clicking on these: “How to Hunt Deer Like a Pro,” “How to Hunt Deer Up Close: With Bows, Rifles, Muzzleloaders and Crossbows,” and “PhD Whitetails: How to Hunt and Take the Smartest Deer on Any Property.”
About the Author
John Phillips, winner of the 2012 Homer Circle Fishing Award for outstanding fishing writer by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA), the 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the year and the 2007 Legendary Communicator chosen for induction into the National Fresh Water Hall of Fame, is a freelance writer (over 6,000 magazine articles for about 100 magazines and several thousand newspaper columns published), magazine editor, photographer for print media as well as industry catalogues (over 25,000 photos published), lecturer, outdoor consultant, marketing consultant, book author and daily internet content provider with an overview of the outdoors. Click here for more information and a list of all the books available from John E. Phillips.
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