Jessica Taylor Byers knows her way around a bow, and that love for bowhunting has taken her around the globe. “It’s been a really cool journey,” Byers told Hook & Barrel when she met us for a Trophy Room interview published in the September/October 2026 issue.
Known for her Follow Her Arrow brand, she describes herself as a hunter, blogger, traveler, and dreamer. She’s all about the overall experience and enjoyment of all that the outdoors lifestyle has to offer—the lifestyle is so much more than simply punching tags.
A major part of Jessica Taylor Byers’ mission is encouraging and mentoring women in the outdoors, particularly women who may feel intimidated or inexperienced.
Who Is Jessica Taylor Byers?
Name: Jessica Taylor Byers
Hometown: Temple, Texas
Socials and website: @followherarrow and followherarrow.com
- She joined Montana Knife Company in 2024 as brand relations manager after meeting CEO Josh Smith at a Total Archery Challenge event.
- A recurring theme in her story is building confidence, independence, mentorship, adventure, and bringing more women into the outdoors.
- Her personal philosophy could almost be summed up by her advice to “shake a million hands”—because one conversation or connection can completely change your life.
Getting Into Hunting and Bowhunting
Hook & Barrel: Tell me about growing up in Texas and how you got into hunting and the outdoors.
Jessica Taylor Byers: My dad planted the seed and introduced me to the outdoors. I remember being in deer camp since I was really young. I wasn’t interested in being behind the weapon until I got a little older—late middle school age. I had done target shooting, and my dad had taught me about gun safety, but the turning point was seeing my stepmother shoot a deer. I thought to myself, ‘Whoa, I could do that too!’ Seeing a woman being involved made the light bulb come on. After that, I told my dad I wanted to shoot a deer. And that’s where it started.
I cut my teeth on whitetail hunting and hog hunting. The first thing I ever shot was a coyote. We were deer hunting, and a coyote ran in, and my dad told me to shoot it. So that was my very first harvest. Hunting with my dad created a bond—growing up and following in his footsteps.
Eventually, I started going to the stand by myself, and I shot something by myself. I learned how to load it up and clean things. It’s been cool to find that confidence. It’s taught me a lot about myself. My dad mentored me, gave me confidence and opened up a world to me that I’m so grateful for.
H&B: How did you get into bowhunting?
JTB: I met my now-husband, Braxton, during my last semester of college, and he reignited my love for hunting because he was such an avid hunter. He was really into bowhunting, and he got me my first bow. To that point, I’d only rifle hunted. Finding success in that was the coolest thing to me. I noticed at the time that there weren’t a lot of women I could learn from. I would hear from women that they didn’t think they could hunt and be in the outdoors. Writing has always been therapeutic to me, so I started writing about my adventures and connecting with people in the outdoor industry.
When my husband and I got married in 2015, my dad’s wedding gift to me was an elk hunt in New Mexico. I had never hunted outside of Texas at that point. I had never heard an elk bugling: I didn’t know anything, but I thought how cool that I got to have that experience. And I got an elk on that first hunt. But it was the exposure to the mountains during that hunt that caused a perspective shift. I knew I wanted to live in the mountains someday.
H&B: How did you get into the outdoor world professionally?
JTB: I kept writing about my hunts and experiences, and I started meeting people in the industry and making more connections. I would go to trade shows, and I would shake every hand that I could. Eventually, I shook a hand that opened my world to Western hunting and took me to Utah.
Elk Hunting and Her Toughest Hunts
H&B: Now you’ve hunted all over the world. What is your favorite thing to hunt, and where is your favorite place to hunt?
JTB: My favorite thing to hunt is elk with a bow. If I could only hunt one thing for the rest of my life, it would be elk with my bow. I’ve actually never shot an elk with a rifle. Archery elk hunting is incredibly special. I’ve gone on an annual archery elk hunt in New Mexico with my dad every year since he bought me the wedding gift trip.
My favorite place to hunt so far was in New Zealand, just for the sheer beauty of it. The species we hunted weren’t my favorite, but I was with my good friend, and it was just the most beautiful, magical place ever.
H&B: Tell us about your biggest get so far and your best one-that-got-away story.
JTB: The hunt that I’m most proud of—the pinnacle of my hunting career so far—was for mountain goat in Alaska in 2022. I trained for that hunt for six months and was in the best shape of my life. I could run mountains with a heavy pack. It was the most committed I’ve been to something, and I found success. I trained not just physically but mentally to be prepared for the hunt. We actually filmed that hunt, and it’s so special to be able to go back and watch it.
For the one-that-got-away, it would definitely be last season. It was the first time in many years that I didn’t bring home an archery elk. On the last day of the season, I missed a bull at 5 yards because my arrow hit a limb. I had been chasing this bull all morning, and I got one to turn around. He started walking straight at me. I drew back, and when I released the arrow, it hit this limb and my arrow sailed into oblivion. He bugled right in my face, and it was just a heartbreaker.
Mentoring Women in the Outdoors
H&B: Why is mentoring other women in the outdoors so important to you?
JTB: It starts with how differently women view hunting. They want to enjoy a hunt for everything that it is, and not just for notching a tag. I definitely feel a responsibility to show women what’s possible and to encourage them and help them believe in themselves like I didn’t always believe in myself until someone held my hand through it. Also, just being a person they can come to ask questions or learn something they might not feel comfortable learning in a group of guys. To be that safe place where I can pass on this skill set and this way of life is empowering.
Montana Knife Company and Her Outdoor Career
H&B: You moved to Montana to work for Montana Knife Company. Tell us about your job with the company.
JTB: I always say shake a million hands, because one handshake can change your life. I wasn’t necessarily looking for a career change, but I happened to meet the right person at the right time. I met Josh Smith (the CEO of MKC) at Total Archery Challenge in Montana. I’ve been going to these events since 2016, and I usually go to several different TAC events in different states every year. They’re great places to practice with your bow and test your equipment going into the hunting season. I was shooting with some girlfriends, and I saw Josh and his wife walking behind us on the course, and I asked them to join us. They ended up shooting the whole course with us, and I learned that Josh was a knifemaker. Ironically, the first Montana Knife Company website had gone live that very day.
I’ve been fascinated with knives since I was little. When my grandpa passed away, I got his knife collection. I started using the knives on my hunts and fell in love with all the products. I stayed in touch with Josh, and we developed a friendship. In December 2023, Josh texted me and asked would we ever move to Montana. I interviewed at a trade show and was hired as their brand relations manager. I started with MKC in February 2024, and we moved to Montana.
Travel and Bucket-List Hunts
H&B: You’ve been all over the world. What are your top three travel destinations?
JTB: I traveled a lot as a kid. I played soccer for a long time, so I had traveled to Mexico and Brazil to play soccer. In college, I studied abroad in Italy and traveled all over Europe every chance I got.
My top destination is Ireland. I’m Irish through and through, and going there felt like going home. I was with my people, and I loved the lush, green landscapes. New Zealand was incredible. And in March of this year, I went to Argentina and hunted stag and fished for golden dorado. It was an all-girl trip, and any time you get to share that kind of experience with other women, it’s super special.
H&B: Is there a bucket list hunting trip you still want to take?
JTB: Number one on my list is a moose hunt. We’ve actually booked one for Fall 2027 in Alaska. I’m going to try to take one with my bow, but I’ll have a rifle too. We’ll see how the hunt unfolds. A close number two is hunting caribou in Alaska or Canada.
H&B: Describe your perfect day.
JTB: I’m really not a morning person, so a hunt where I can sleep in and wake up slowly. Morning coffee. I love waking up and falling asleep next to a river. I have a rooftop tent, so backing the truck up next to a river and camping. Cook breakfast outside. Going and tearing up the trout on the river. I’d have my dad and my husband with me—they’re my anchors.
