Leupold Core Insider

The optic on a firearm is one of the most critical components of the shooting system and should be a known constant, not a variable. By focusing on the optic and the platform it's mounted on, you can gain a better understanding of your entire shooting system. In this episode, Nic Kytlica and Scott Rousseau sit down with the guru for all things shooting - Leupold Optics Academy lead instructor, Michael Baccellieri. Topics Discussed: Training at the Leupold Optics Academy; Pigs vs. Hogs; the basic anatomy of a riflescope; big mistakes at the range; mil vs. moa; and more.

6 states. 7 bulls. 5 bucks. That's the premise of a new day-by-day Youtube series, Tradition. Leupold's Scott and Riza sat down with Jason Phelps and Nick Schmit of Angry Mountain Productions to discuss what it took to pull off this epic adventure and what fans can expect to see. Subjects Discussed: Why Tradition; best and worst hunts; living life on the road; varying personalities; and more.

Adam Foss is a photographer, filmmaker, and co-founder of Foss Media alongside his wife, Frankie. With a background rooted deep in mountain bowhunting, at the age of 24, Adam became the youngest bowhunter to harvest all Four North American Sheep. His skills, not only on the mountain but with a camera, have led to some of the industries' most dynamic content. Leupold's Scott Rousseau and Lucas Burt sat down with Adam and Frankie to chat about the ever-evolving media landscape and how photography has changed their lives. Subjects Discussed: Getting started with photography; living out of a suitcase; the progress of gear; social media's impact on content; borrowing boats; telling the 'story' through visuals; and more.

There are legends in every sport. Michael Jordan and basketball. Tom Brady and football. And in the world of professional shooting, there is Doug Koenig. Doug is that once in a generation talent, whose potent combination of speed, accuracy, and shooting skills has produced wins in various multi-disciplined shooting competitions; with more than 70 National and 10 World Championships, including his unprecedented 18 Bianchi Cup Championships. Leupold CEO Bruce Pettet sits down with Doug to get an inside look into the man behind the trigger. Subjects discussed: Being an athlete in the world of shooting; diet and exercise; balancing competition with hunting; the importance of dry fire practice and preparation; entering into PRS and long-range shooting; and more.

The western regions of New Mexico – a state known for trophy bulls and its rugged terrain – provide an ideal hunting ground for chasing late-season elk. By mid-November the bulls are herding back up for the winter as the rut becomes an afterthought. Leupold's Shawn Skipper sits down with Kali Parmley of Petersen's Hunting, Jon Draper of NRA's American Hunter, and Jason Gilbertson of Browning Ammo to discuss the week's events. Subjects discussed: the challenges of late-season elk hunting; putting miles on your boots; the new SX-5 Santiam HD spotting scope and BX-5 Santiam HD binoculars; the benefits of the VX-6HD riflescope.

Brian "Pigman" Quaca is known and loved throughout the outdoor industry for his powerful and truly one-of-a-kind personality. For years he's given viewers a look at his rough and tough day-to-day life as he entertains them with a different take on traditional hunting television. Pigman is also a dedicated fan of the Leupold brand, and recently paid a visit to our Beaverton factory to sit down and chat with Leupold President and Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Pettet. Subjects discussed: American manufacturing; building custom rifles; Pigman's 2014 automobile accident recovery; hog hunting; and more!

Colorado is a hunter's paradise – and never more so than in mid-November, when the largest elk herd in the United States is on the move and bruiser mule deer bucks emerge from the sagebrush for the rut. Battling single-digit temperatures and bouts of snow, Leupold's Shawn Skipper was joined by Browning's Shaundi Campbell and the Editorial Director of all NRA Publications, John Zent, to recap their weeklong hunt. Subjects discussed: Colorado's rich hunting grounds; trucks breaking down; having a deer crush; long periods of glassing with the new SX-5 Santiam HD spotter; and even a few at-home taxidermy tips.

Few big game species are as elusive as the Columbia blacktail deer. Hard to find and harder yet to get a shot on, chasing blacktail is a demanding hunt. Leupold's Shawn Skipper and Nic Kytlica are joined by Adam Heggenstaller (American Hunter) and John Snow (Outdoor Life and Field & Stream) to recap their week-long blacktail hunt in northwestern Oregon. Subjects discussed: John Snow's relationship to Kit Harrington; under-appreciating blacktail; battling vast timbered terrain; unseasonably warm weather and fog; perils of true public land hunting; utilizing mountain bikes as means of travel; and more.

Leupold's Nic Kytlica sits down with Josh Lowry of Oregon Rifle Works to talk about their dedication and love for shooting and training. Josh isn't a professional shooter, an Instagram celebrity or an instructor - he's just an average guy who's committed to refining his skills on a daily basis. If he can do it, so can you. Subjects discussed: Getting in a routine; the benefits of dry-fire practice; girls getting guys into guns; working a retail counter; competition shooting; training classes, and more.

Hunters never stop learning, never stop growing – even after decades in the field. There's always a new strategy to try or, in some cases, an entirely new medium to adopt. That was the case for Leupold's Lucas Burt and Riza Lesser, who gave their first go at the ever-challenging world of bowhunting elk. Subjects discussed: Shooting the Total Archery Challenge; limited practice time; getting kicked out of the cool kid's group; onX Hunt saving the day; to bugle or not to bugle; checking things off the list; and other reflections from amateurs.