#021 From 3 AM boat ramp conversations to thawing frozen hands with body heat, Wade Shoemaker pulls back the curtain on what it really means to bridge the gap between the waterfowl industry and the passionate hunters who fuel it. As the driving force behind Migra Ammunition's revolutionary Boat Ramp Tour, Wade has transformed what began as simple marketing into something far more valuable – genuine connection in an increasingly fragmented outdoor community.

Wade shares his remarkable journey from youth pastor to railroad manager to waterfowl industry insider, revealing the unexpected parallels between ministry and his current role. The conversation takes a particularly poignant turn when discussing the challenges of balancing intensive seasonal travel with family life. "When I am home, I'm home," Wade emphasizes, describing how he makes every moment count with his young sons during the brief respites between trips.

Parents who hunt will find Wade's candid advice on introducing children to waterfowling particularly valuable. Beyond the practical tips – never forget the heater or blind snacks – he offers something more profound: permission to prioritize your child's experience over the hunt itself. His story of warming his son's painfully cold hands against his stomach during a frigid morning hunt exemplifies the lengths great hunting parents will go to ensure positive first experiences.

The Boat Ramp Tour itself emerges as a fascinating case study in authentic marketing. What began as simple shell handouts has evolved into a powerful conduit between brands and their consumers, with Wade and his team serving as trusted intermediaries. Perhaps most remarkably, these pre-dawn conversations at public access points are helping to resurrect something many believed lost – the cooperative spirit that old-timers remember from duck hunting's "heyday."