Gal Gab: Amy Hall, Operations Assistant at ‘Hook & Barrel Magazine’ and Podcaster

Gal Gab: Amy Hall, Operations Assistant at 'Hook & Barrel Magazine' and Podcaster

Meet Amy Hall, a woman who has worn many hats in her life. Formerly a program coordinator for the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, Amy is now the operations assistant to the chief operating officer of "Hook & Barrel Magazine." She primarily manages print and digital distribution and oversees other operations. Amy is extremely mission driven, and she writes that "Hook & Barrel has an amazing mission of connecting people to a community ... This aligns with my mission personally, as well as professionally."

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In addition to her work at "Hook & Barrel," Amy is an enthusiastic supporter and former board member for WildHERness, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating women and fostering a love for nature through a wide variety of events  and workshops. She's also the owner and host of "Her Wild Outdoors," a podcast that focuses on outdoor living. Each episode contains beautiful nuggets of wisdom on anything from balancing a busy life and community to connecting with the outdoors through hunting, fishing and more.

Amy founded "Her Wild Outdoors" in 2020 as a way to give back to the outdoor community. At the time, she had recently started hunting and struggled to find a female mentor. "The women I interviewed were my mentors. It is my way of learning and giving back at the same time." Amy writes that the journey to where she is now in her career wasn't easy. "I have been told there is no room for women in this arena. I have been accepted, but not supported. I have been used as a checked box only to surprise those involved that I have merit and a place at the table. It is now earned, not just given."

As a single mom, Amy has two teens who love the outdoors. "Passing this onto my daughter and son is another reason I do what I do ... We have a voice to make a difference. There is a responsibility to use it! To learn, do, and teach." At home she has a micro farm with 10 chickens, seven ducks and two dogs. In her spare time, you can find her attempting to find every waterfall in Tennessee, where she makes her home. Read on for this marvelous woman's answers to our six Gal Gab questions, and make sure to take a look at her advice to women and read about how she'd kill a giant!

What does a typical day in your work life look like?

I love this question. My work days are anything but typical in comparison to the 9-to-5 world. I work for "Hook & Barrel Magazine" and each day can bring something new, whether I am walking through operations, working event spaces, connecting with others in the outdoor industry, writing articles, or hunting turkeys in South Dakota. I love supporting an extremely talented team the best way that I can! 

"Hook & Barrel" has an amazing mission of connecting people to a community. There are so many different ways you can find relatable content with this form of media, whether it is through print or digital. We all have so many differences, but we are all looking for ways to relate to each other and encourage growth, leadership and a continued drive to be a better version of ourselves. 

What's the #1 piece of advice you would give other women who want to break into the industry?

I would first and foremost encourage women to be genuine. Be honest in your skill levels, your successes and especially the lessons that you learn from when you are not. 

The second piece of advice I would give is to be slow to respond to interactions that may seem to be aggressive or negative in nature. Do not take it personally. Those who do not know you have no authority over you. Take it offline and offer a civil conversation, but if there is no engagement, let it go. Grow from it, learn from it and then let it go. Focus on those lifting you up rather than those who tear you down. 

I have one final piece of advice: learn, do and teach. That is a mantra I speak over all aspects of my life. Learn it. Do it. Then, pass it on! 

What motivates you?

I was asked one time, "Why do you hunt?" It took me a while to get to the core answer. The more I thought about it, the deeper I dove into the real reason: it is simply because I can. Growing up, I was never told I could not hunt, I just was never told I could. The absence of that encouragement stuck with me. I am motivated to keep talking to the women around me and make sure they do hear that message. They can hunt, fish, camp, hike or do whatever they want to invest time and effort into. 

What is the most unexpected thing you've learned while working in your career field?

The most unexpected thing I have learned about working in the outdoor industry is how small and connected it truly is. When it comes down to it, you will find that every company or group is linked whether it is through someone, shared missions or participation in the same spaces. Within a larger picture of our country and beyond, the number of outdoors men and women, hunters and anglers is a small percentage. Our industry supporting that community is even smaller. This reminds me of the responsibility we all share to be strong and respectful  representatives. Even the smallest voices can have a huge impact if we all work together.

What is your favorite product in the outdoor or shooting market right now?

Oh this is a hard question. What is my favorite outdoor or shooting product in the market right now? Something that I use more than anything else across the seasons of hunting, fishing, gardening and camping is a knife from Montana Knife Company. It is with me wherever I am. The other notable item is my Sig 365X. 

Let's have some fun ... what weapon would you use to battle a giant?

I would keep it simple and unassuming – a slingshot.

Follow Amy Hall on Instagram – @herwildoutdoors and @amyhall_hunter – or, on LinkedIn.

Source: Gal Gab: Amy Hall, Operations Assistant at 'Hook & Barrel Magazine' and Podcaster