What started out as an unplanned successful whitetail hunt one afternoon in December, 2006, has evolved into a career as an outdoor writer in the hunting industry and the formation and ownership of Life in Camo Media, LLC.
I grew up an avid competitive equestrian spending every possible moment in the outdoors–from sun up until usually well into the evening. I didn’t opt for the easy road; I didn’t have a trainer or hired hands to clean my stalls, train and groom my horses. I did the work myself; all of it, the good, the bad and the ugly. I rode and trained my own horses. I was as haggard as my horses were when I shut the barn light every evening headed for the shower. With owning athlete horses came hardships, ups and downs, injuries and even the death of some. Leaving you to deal with broken dreams and empty stalls.
The responsibility and dedication that came with competitively showing horses instilled a strong belief of PERSEVERANCE in me. It was this perseverance that got me through a divorce when I turned 30, having to sell all my horses and disposing of the only thing that I knew for 20 years, picking up the pieces in a city and state where I had no relatives or friends that were not associated with horse shows, enrolling in college for the first time in my life at the age of 31, three college degrees completed by Spring 2006; only to be hit with the death of my Father in July of 2006.
At that point, I was left with nothing to do with my idle time. It was this boring lull that led me to answer “YES” to a question that virtually changed my life in a matter of minutes. It was around 3:00 p.m. December 26, 2006, and I was sitting at home on the couch in my den when my husband, Richard, came in and asked me if I wanted to go sit with him in a shooting house on a green field. I looked at him, just about to say no when he said, “we won’t be out there but a couple of hours.” I figured, “What the heck? I am not going to do anything but sit on this couch until time to cook supper anyways. Maybe now I won’t have to cook, we will go into town and eat.”
So I donned a pair of hand-me-down hunting pants, a spare camouflage jacket my husband had, a green Henley that I found in the closet, a fleece face mask, gloves too big for me and my Timberland hiking boots; I was a sight, no doubt. We were on our way to the shooting house and I didn’t have a clue what to expect. That day is one that I will remember for the rest of my life…for that day is what started this passion I now possess that keeps me challenging myself, researching, and writing about anything and everything hunting related. That day is the first time I ever shot a rifle, harvesting my first buck; a nice, 8 point whitetail. For this I have my husband, Richard, to thank for his unselfishness of allowing me to get a glimpse of his favorite sport.
I started seeking the knowledge of this new-found hobby, networking with other hunters and reading everything I could get my hands on. I acquired my first shotgun, compound bow and rifle shortly after that day. I made it my goal to harvest an animal with a rifle, muzzleloader, shotgun and compound bow in my first full year of hunting; which I succeeded by the second day of my first bow season and two months to spare for my one-year goal. I hunted whitetail deer, turkey, hog and quail my first year. Adding mule deer, antelope and pheasants in my second season, dove my third season and duck and geese in early 2010. I attended my first 3-D archery tournament 3 months after buying my bow in June, 2007. I made lifelong friends and mentors at that shoot. I shot my first sporting clays tournament four months after buying my shotgun and fell in love with shooting sports.
This sport took ahold of me like wild-fire. Before I knew it, I was approached about becoming a staff writer for Woman Hunter magazine, which led to other writing opportunities; including my own column, The Guru Huntress, with the Women’s Outdoor News, freelance contributions with many other online venues and some printed articles in publications. I am a voting member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and Southeastern Outdoor Press Association (SEOPA). I have been fortunate enough to meet some of the industry’s top names and some amazing writers at media events and have had the opportunity to take part in some great hunts, including Gamo Outdoors Celebrity Squirrel Hunt in 2014. Having a chance meeting with John Campbell and Jeremy Leu led to the decision to compete on the Versus-televised Campbell Outdoor Challenge to encourage women to compete in these events. My team “Team Artemis”, composed of myself and Marti Davis, competed in the October 2009 Whitetail Challenge in Carmi, Illinois. It is adventures like these that make lasting friendships and for this I am thankful.
Hunting is more than a hobby for me and every experience is just as fascinating as a childhood epiphany. I have had the opportunity to hunt in over 20 states and South Africa (AL, AR, FL, GA, MS, LA, TN, NC, SC, KS, OK, NE, MT, IL, IA, WY, MO, MN, KY & several more being added annually) and to hunt 12 different U.S. Native game (whitetail, mule deer, antelope, hog, turkey, quail, pheasant, duck, geese, alligator, dove & bear) and hope to add more animals to that list; and three South African animals (kudu, porcupine and impala). I am grateful for every opportunity that has come my way, every harvest that I have been blessed to take, and my most heartfelt gratitude are to those who have mentored or shared with me to make these experiences possible. The fellowship and camaraderie that I have experienced on these hunts have been some of my most cherished memories.
This blog was born out of the decision of Richard and I to pursue our Turkey Grand Slams as a couple in the Spring of 2009; falling short in our Montana hunt for Merriam’s as you can read how the hunts unfolded here on my blog. I redeemed myself harvesting my Merriam’s in Montana in the spring of 2010 and am now three birds from my 3rd & 4th grand slam. Hoping for the opportunity of a Gould and Oscellated in the spring of 2018 to complete my Royal and World Slam. Working toward and achieving personal goals are what makes life worth all the blood, sweat, and tears.
I thought to myself that it would be neat to blog about the experience for others to read. My thoughts were that maybe it would encourage others to do the same or at least to help another woman step out into the outdoors. Opportunities kept arising and I felt compelled to keep writing about my adventures in my continued efforts of encouraging other women to expose themselves to what is out there waiting to be had.
Since beginning this blog, I have taken my yearning for mentoring other women a step further with forming a company named Ladies in Camo, LLC where myself and several other staff encourage and educate women through articles, product reviews and sharing hunting stories of others. We also host affordable women’s hunts with reputable outfitters across the nation. Visit the LIC website at http://www.LadiesinCamo.com. Since the success of Life in Camo Media, LLC, I made the decision to sell the name rights and digital assets to Ladies in Camo and I am focusing all of my time outside of my full time employment to Life in Camo Media, LLC.
I hunt only fair chase, I shoot only what I will consume, and I believe in being ethical and honest to myself and the sport. I am an advocate for other women and wish every woman could experience at least a small portion of the joy that hunting and shooting sports has brought to my life. Life is ever-evolving and it is over before some people feel they even had a moment to live it. Through this blog, I hope to share my experiences and research and hope that it will encourage other women to step out into the woods or to convince the skeptical readers that women hunters deserve the respect equal to other hunters. Hunt hard, harvest ethically, and may your drag be short…good luck this season. ~Nancy Jo
©Life in Camo Media, LLC/Nancy Jo Adams 2009-2017
19 comments
Comments feed for this article
November 5, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Jill Christensen
Thank you for sharing about perseverance. I attribute all my successes to God and to this trait, which my father instilled in me. “You can’t quit just because they said no,” he said. “You have to keep doggedly going back out there and asking the same question till you get a yes.” He was talking about job hunting, but the lesson has helped me in every area of my life. It helped me return to hunting after a decade hiatus and marriage to a non-hunting man. The physical demands of degenerative arthritis finally became so great I could no longer ignore them, but I can remember hauling my climber out in the woods myself many times on foot very long distances, and I miss that very very much. However, where there is a will, there is a way, and I don’t quit, so I’m just gonna adapt and hunt anyway.
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November 6, 2009 at 7:53 pm
njadams1
Thank you for your comment. Perseverance is by far one of the most well honed and important traits that I hold near and dear. Thank you for sharing your experience with me and may you have many more years of great hunting. I hope you stop by my blog again soon.
~Practice often, hunt hard, harvest ethically and may your drag be short…good luck this season!! Nancy Jo~
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November 17, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Mark Asbury
Your Brother Dan told me to check out your website, he said that you were a hardcore hunter. Reading your little article, I can see your passion and wish I had a sister like you. I work with your brother at Eglin Air Force Base and do some fishing with him also. He doesn’t hunt but he sure has the passion for fishing like you do for hunting. I will keep reading the wonderful articles you write and try to learn more because i also love hunting of all species. If you could send me some more of your websites i would really appreciate it. Thanks for your time.
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November 18, 2009 at 4:02 pm
njadams1
You are correct about my brother having a passion for fishing. I remember him staying out all night fishing when he was just in high school when we lived at Tyndall AFB. He would spend hours building rods and pouring his own lead weights. Now he has moved on to building WHOLE boats, LOL!!
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for stopping by my blog. Feel free to leave comments, suggestions or just to drop by anytime. Good luck this season.
Nancy Jo
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February 28, 2010 at 10:03 am
Wendi Vruno
Excellent story! I love how you instantly took to hunting, jumping in both feet first! You not only fell in love with the sport, but are doing good by helping others! I commend you, keep up the good work! 🙂
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March 26, 2010 at 5:03 pm
A.J. DeRosa
Great story, I look forwarding to reading more about you and your adventures!
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March 26, 2010 at 9:27 pm
njadams1
Thanks for stopping by my blog A.J.
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June 5, 2010 at 4:07 am
Shane Simpson
Great story Nancy. I enjoy your articles.
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June 7, 2010 at 9:25 pm
njadams1
Thanks for stopping by Shane! Good luck this season.
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November 4, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Tessondra Modrow
The skill, patiences, respect, understanding, and determination I am building through hunting, I feel not only makes me a better individual but a better parent! I am almost as crazy about hunting as I am about my 3 sons and I feel the personal growth I get out of hunting reflects into my parenting! I love sharing the past time with my children and I hope that they gain more than just trophies from our hunting adventures. They will learn not only to respect weapons, nature and the laws concerning both, my hope is that since MOM is the one teaching them and sharing the experience with them that they will develop a deep respect for women! Enjoy reading your blog and look forward to more!
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December 7, 2010 at 6:23 pm
hawgnsonstv
Keep up the great work!
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December 8, 2010 at 8:25 am
njadams1
Thank you for stopping by and reading my blog. Good luck this season.
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March 5, 2011 at 11:03 pm
Dixie
I liked your article. You really went gunho with hunting. I went deer hunting with my husband 2 times. First time was in winter, we didn’t see any deer when we were together. But when I walked back to the camper I saw 1 but he had the gun.
The next time we hunted from a tree stand. The first morning of the season. we saw a 6 pointer and he shot his bow and hit it. That was exciting that I brought him luck on the first morning.We had to follow the blood trail ( which was very hard to spot) but I found it. I just never hunted myself. I just tagged along.
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March 5, 2011 at 11:31 pm
njadams1
Thank you Dixie! Hunting is definitely a way BIG part of my life and to be able to share that with my husband, Richard, makes it a way of life for us. We have memories of a lifetime that we were able to experience together. That is very exciting that you were able to share your hunts with your husband as well. Congratulations on the deer harvest. I hope you take the opportunity to hunt again in the future and who knows….maybe you will find that you may enjoy being in the woods by yourself in a stand. I absolutely love the solidarity and watching the wildlife. Good luck to you and your husband. Thank you for stopping by my blog, I hope you visit it again in the future.
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February 29, 2012 at 10:22 pm
Georgette Wood
I really enjoyed reading this as well as the rest of your articles. Congrats on launching your new website today.
God Bless and Happy Hunting from one huntess to another!
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March 1, 2012 at 6:59 am
Bonnie Monroe
Mikie would have loved this magazine Nancy Jo, it is so full of the most wonderful articles and pictures. Thank you so much for making sure that we knew about it. May the Lord Bless you Always. Bonnie Monroe
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October 31, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Louann Barstow
Hi there,
after reading your hunting lifestyle posts and other hunting-related articles has recharged my excitement for my first deer hunt. Needless to say, I’ve watched my husband and my sons go year after year, but I’ve never gone with….until now! I’d love to have you read an article I wrote about men vs. women and how our strengths and weaknesses help each other during the hunt (Hint…it has to do with our eyesight).
If you are interested, I can send it your way for a quick review.
Much appreciated,
Louann
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November 6, 2012 at 10:03 pm
njadams1
Ladies in Camo would love to highlight your story on our website if you are interested. If you decide to do so, email it to tailsofthehunt@ladiesincamo.com.
Hunt hard, harvest ethically and may your drag be short. ~Nancy Jo
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April 23, 2015 at 2:03 pm
Nancy Jo Adams
Helen:
The photo you are requesting was taken with an iPhone so I do not have a high resolution photo. Also, I really do not think the owner of the property would allow me to sell the print since this is a private lodge. I am sorry I could not be of assistance with you but as of right now I will not be able to allow you permission to use the photo. Thank you. Nancy Jo
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