HER Q&A: Taylor Drury

Taylor Drury grew up in a hunting dynasty in St. Peters, Missouri, just outside of St. Louis. Her dad, Mark, and uncle, Terry, founded Drury Outdoors in 1989, a company that produces hunting and outdoor programming, including “Drury’s THIRTEEN,” a television series airing on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on Outdoor Channel.

Drury, 20, is studying business and marketing at Columbia College while also working behind-the-scenes and in front of the camera on “Drury’s THIRTEEN.” Drury co-hosts the show along with her father and uncle, cousin, Matt, former major league baseball player Jim Thome and Gary Levox, lead singer of Rascal Flatts.

Drury travels throughout the U.S. representing the show and she and fellow hunters Eva Shockey and Tiffany Lakosky (each has their own show on Outdoor Channel), were recently named Under Armour Hunt women’s athletes.

HER Magazine spoke with Drury about the show, currently in production for its third season.

HER: Was it practically destiny growing up in the Drury family that you would be a hunter?

Taylor Drury and her father and hunting partner, Mark Drury.

TD: Drury Outdoors started six years before I was even born, but that’s all I knew growing up. I was born into it. My mom and dad have photos of me hunting when I was younger but my first harvest was when I was around 8 years old. I always wanted to be outdoors; I didn’t spend a lot of time inside playing with dolls. Hunting was also a perfect way for my dad to include me in everything. Today hunting is truly a passion.

HER: What’s it like being on the show Drury’s THIRTEEN?

TD: “Drury’s THIRTEEN” has changed my life. It’s a huge responsibility and has made me grow up a lot. Two weeks ago, I switched to online classes to have more flexibility in my schedule. This season in addition to Missouri we will be traveling to Utah, Iowa, Texas and Kansas. We keep a tight schedule but we really enjoy working on the show.

It’s a lot of time and effort, sweat and tears, and there’s a lot of camera work to produce 13 authentic episodes. We have to foreshadow what the work is going to look like, step back and plan, film and do everything. Usually my dad is my main hunting partner so he’s the one filming me, and all of us get to express ourselves when the camera is rolling. Once I graduate, I want to be more involved in our company. The producing side interests me.

HER: What happens when you’re not in production for the show?

After we stop shooting in January, we start doing appearances at trade shows and meeting and greeting our fans and hunters from all over the world.

We go to The Archery Trade Association (ATA) Trade Show and NSSF’s Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show & Conference in January, and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Convention & Sport Show in February. We also make appearances throughout the summer.

We receive so much feedback and it’s great to put a face to a name with dedicated fans and to spend time with people who all share the same passion.

HER: You’re big on social media and have a large digital following. What is that like?

TD: I love social media, I can’t meet every single fan in person so it’s a good way for me to read their messages and for them to interact with me and our show. I do get negative messages, too. It’s human nature to judge a book by its cover but I’m trying to help educate everyone that hunting and harvesting goes way beyond just killing. That’s a message that other people support, too.

A piece of jewelry given to Taylor by Brittney Cliburn of Sugar & Lead.

I love getting to know other female hunters like Brittney Cliburn, who is one of my longtime followers on Instagram. She is always positive. When we first started talking on Instagram, she sent me some of the jewelry she makes and I’ve been wearing it ever since. There are so many amazing strong females out there like Brittney who enjoy hunting.

HER: According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, women are one of the fastest growing segments in shooting sports. Why do you think the number of female hunters has increased?

TD: We just got back from Deer Fest in West Bend, Wisconsin. Five or six years ago most of the people at the trade shows were male but that’s totally changed. The hunting industry has also changed. Under Armour is making clothing that fits women and bow manufacturers are making bows that suit a woman’s frame—but there’s also camo gear for women who don’t want feminine accents. All these amazing companies offer just as many products for women and that’s definitely added to more proud female hunters. Our ancestors were hunters and gatherers and it was thought of mainly as a man’s job, but now there are so many proud female hunters and I want to represent and be a positive role model for these women.