Q&A with Ambassadors Lanny and Tracy Barnes

What are three essentials you always carry with you on hunting treks? First Aid Kit, Survival Kit (fire-starting supplies, rope, emergency blanket, etc), and Snacks (no one wants a hangry hunter!)

There is a growing population of women who hunt. What advice do you have specifically for women who are new to hunting? Reach out to other women who hunt and find out from them what gear, clothes, etc work for them. Don’t be afraid to ask them for tips, etc. Chances are you’ll find a hunting friend who will show you the ropes in a very supportive and encouraging environment.

What is your hunting philosophy? Be prepared! By that I mean get comfortable and proficient with your firearm or bow. Do your homework on where you are going and be physically and mentally prepared for the terrain, elements, etc that you’ll face. Being prepared not only helps you to have a more successful hunt (and keep you out of trouble), but you are being respectful to the animal by getting an ethical shot.

What’s a misconception about hunting you would like shed light on? The biggest misconception about hunting is that hunters don’t care about wildlife. According to the RMEF, hunters contribute more than $1.6 Billion annually to wildlife preservation and habitat. That is more than any other group of people on the planet. Also the Pitman-Roberson act which is a tax on all firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment that contributes between $177 & $324 million every year to conservation, parks, and wildlife management. Hunters care about animals and conservation. As hunters we know that if we didn't, there wouldn't be any animals around for us to hunt or enjoy. So it is worth the effort, time and money to make sure animals are around and flurishing for many generations to be able to enjoy hunting and most importantly enjoy obseriving them in their natural habitat.

What is your favorite recipe for elk? We grew up off of elk meat, so we use it in everything from Mexican, to Italian, to steaks and everything inbetween. My go to elk recipe is the Smoked Elk Brioche Sandwich (see recipe below). It brings out such amazing flavor in the elk and you can always customize each sandwich to what your guests or family prefer. Elk is so lean and has such great flavor that you can use it in almost any dish that requires red meat. The key is to just not overcook it. Low and slow as they say.

What’s your favorite LOWA hunting boot and why? What do you look for in a hunting boot? My Favorite Hunting boot is the Baffin Pro. It is the only boot we have found that holds up to the abuse we put on them and our feet during hutning season. We are covering 12-20 miles a day during elk season and we have found that our feet feel great at the end of the day and aren't hurting, bruised or sore. Being waterproof too allows us to hunt in varying conditions. We never know what we are going to get from 70 degrees to -20 and snow. These boots are the toughest thing we have in our hunting lineup!










Photos Courtesty of Lanny Barnes.