Eva Shockey has been part of the outdoor world since before social media turned hunters, anglers and adventurers into full-time content creators.
Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Canada, Eva grew up around television cameras, hunting camps and the outdoor industry through her father, Jim Shockey. But when she first stepped in front of the camera as a young hunter, she wasn’t trying to become one of the best-known women in the outdoors. She was simply learning in public.
That honesty helped set her apart.
Today, Eva Shockey is a mom, wife, hunter, wild-game cook, outdoor personality and digital creator who has watched the influencer world change from the inside. In this conversation, she talks about family, faith, hunting, social media, women in the outdoors and why authenticity still matters most.
A lot has changed in Eva Shockey’s life since we last spoke—about six and a half years ago. At that time, she was pregnant with her son, and she gave birth shortly after our interview, turning her and her husband Tim’s family of three into a family of four.
Today, her then-toddler daughter is nine, and her son is six and a half years old and a “wild man” kindergartner. They also left their “dream house” outside Raleigh, North Carolina, and are moving their family to Tennessee.
“We don’t sit around too long in this family,” Eva says with a laugh. “We love adventure, and we love doing new things while keeping our family at the forefront, so we’re excited about facing this new challenge together.”
Eva Shockey’s Early Days in Outdoor Television
Arguably one of the most widely known female outdoor influencers, Eva was in the game before it even really started. With a perspective shaped by years of experience, she can now reflect on how things have changed for women in the outdoor industry and her place in the ever-burgeoning influencer sphere.
Eva grew up with a bird’s-eye view of the outdoor industry through her father, Jim Shockey, whose popular show, Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures, aired for 17 seasons on the Outdoor Channel, concluding its run in 2020. In 2008, after Eva graduated from college, she started co-starring with her dad on his show.
“When I first started hunting, I wasn’t thinking of making it my job,” Eva said. “I really had no idea what I was doing at the time. I grew up with cameras following my family since I was six years old. It’s a big part of my life, but at that point it was all new.”
Hook & Barrel Newsletters
Sign up to get the best lifestyle news, gear reviews, and more!
Eva’s rookie enthusiasm was infectious, and viewers liked what they saw. “As soon as I started hunting and filming with my dad, the industry welcomed me in,” she remembers.
“The outdoor industry seemed to be missing a young female who didn’t really know what she was doing, and that’s exactly who I was. People could relate to me; I showed that everyone has to start somewhere.
"Most people on television aren’t starting from the beginner point of view, and I was able to do that. I offered a fresh, new perspective.”
Eva's appeal was strong enough that Bowtech named a bow after her, and the line is still a hot seller today.
Why Authenticity Still Drives Eva Shockey’s Success
After slowing down for a few years to be a full-time mom, Eva is back to doing the work she loves.
“In the last two years, I feel like life has settled into a cadence that is enjoyable,” she says. With her kids getting older, Eva started cooking again, focusing on wild game, which is such a big part of her family’s life. She also recently started filming YouTube videos to rebuild her presence on the platform.
“We’ve started creating a new YouTube presence, which is to replace that TV element that I feel like I’ve been missing in my life,” Eva said. “While I’ve leaned really heavily on social for the last few years, I’m excited to have longer form content coming out.”
Eva Shockey on Women in the Outdoors
When it comes to the changing world of outdoor influencers, Eva credits women who were doing it before “influencers” even existed.
“Before the word ‘influencer’ was even a thing, there were women who came before me—like Tiffany Lakosky—who were in the outdoors and hunting who did a great job of paving the way,” Eva said. “I was definitely at the forefront of the social media aspect of that. I got in really early and realized that it was going to be a big part of it, and I’m grateful for that.”
Eva stresses that women in the outdoors today are no longer simply along for the ride with their husbands or partners. Instead, they are creating their own spaces.
“I think the biggest shift is that women in the outdoors now are no longer participants in someone else’s story, but we’re telling our own stories in our own voices,” she says. “And with social media, those stories can be shared immediately, and people have access to it.”
Additionally, she says that with the plethora of platforms available today, more people can get their stories out. “Not everyone can have their own TV show or a magazine article, but anyone can have Instagram, so social media has opened up opportunities for so many more women to share their stories,” she says. “Women are more visible in the outdoors than ever before, and that visibility matters.”
READ MORE: Jim Shockey's Life Lessons
Outdoor Influencers She Follows
When asked about her favorite female outdoor influencers, Eva Shockey says, “I think there are a lot of women doing it in their own way, which is fun. There’s a wide variety of content available for everyone.”
Eva cites Amanda Caldwell, a Montana-based hunter and horsewoman; Maggie Williams, a former pageant girl and waterfowl hunter who’s written a new children’s book called Molly Goes Hunting; and Sydnie Wells, who runs Barstool Outdoors, as three of her favorites, “but I could mention so many more.” And for Eva, authenticity matters. “The more authentic people are, the more I enjoy following them,” she says.
And on the other side of the coin, Eva says: “It’s easy for people to get caught up in the wrong race when it comes to social media—the race for accolades, more followers, a higher like count—and they forget the real reason they’re posting and the message behind it.”
And, once again, authenticity comes up. “I think if you’re in it for the wrong reasons—just posting on social media to get famous or popular—it will run its course pretty quickly,” Eva said. “People see through you when you’re not being authentic to who you really are and what you really love. I think if you’re authentic, you naturally fall into a spot where people want to hear what you have to say.”
READ MORE: Eva Shockey: Taking on New Challenges
What Makes a Badass Outdoorswoman?
As we wound down the conversation, the topic of badass outdoorswomen came up, so I asked Eva what that meant to her.
“I think being a badass outdoorswoman has nothing to do with how you look,” she says. “It can’t be described by a visual. To me, it’s someone who can put their ego aside and invite other people in and make them feel like they belong in the outdoors.
"It’s not being worried about someone taking something from you, but being fruitful and sharing it. I know how much my life has been positively impacted by this, so I think a badass is someone who’s not insecure and makes space for people. Someone who respects the land and the animals.”
See more of Eva on her YouTube channel and Instagram @evashockey.