The outdoors isn't divided - Neither are we!

Unpopular Outdoors: It’s Not Just About the Gear or the Guiding. It’s About What the Outdoors Gives Back.

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We sell apparel and offer guiding services—but those are just tools we use to do something far more meaningful.  We chose the name Unpopular Outdoors because, in today’s world, hunting, fishing, and trapping are becoming less common and often misunderstood. The name reminds us of our mission: to keep these traditions alive, to protect our rights to enjoy them, and to introduce more people—especially kids—to the power of the outdoors.

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Hunting, fishing, and trapping aren’t just hobbies. They’re experiences that shape who we are. They teach patience, humility, responsibility, and respect—both for nature and for each other. They require preparation, hard work, and perseverance. In a time where confidence, focus, and emotional resilience are often in short supply, these activities have a unique ability to build self-esteem, especially in young people.

And just as importantly, they teach something that is becoming rare in today’s fast-paced, screen-driven world: They teach kids how to simply be.

No electronics.
No notifications.
No outside noise.

Just you, your thoughts, your senses, and the world around you.  Learning to sit in the quiet—to feel calm, grounded, and connected—is a skill that has been lost for many. The outdoors teaches it naturally.  We believe it’s important for everyone to learn about the outdoor opportunities that exist right in their own backyard. In many communities—especially rural ones—kids often feel like they don’t have many positive outlets or supportive groups to belong to. When that sense of direction or belonging is missing, it can lead to anxiety, depression, or even substance abuse.  The outdoors offers something different:

A healthier path.
A hopeful path.
A community to belong to.

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The outdoor world gives kids a group built on shared purpose, challenge, respect, and adventure. It connects them to the land, to others, and to something bigger than themselves. When a child learns a new skill, earns trust, contributes, and feels like they belong, it strengthens their identity in a real and lasting way. There’s something powerful in giving a child a reason to wake up early, a goal to work toward, a skill to practice, and the pride that comes from doing something that isn’t easy. When a kid learns they can sit quietly… can solve problems… can fail and try again… can succeed through their own effort—it builds confidence that stays with them long after they leave the woods or the water. These traditions help kids grow into capable, grounded, proud young adults who understand where their food comes from, how to care for the land, how to respect others, and how to face challenges with clarity and resilience.

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We understand not everyone will love hunting, fishing, or trapping—and that’s okay. We don’t expect everyone to. What we do ask is that people understand the good these activities bring: the conservation they fund, the food they provide, the connection to the land they build, and the character and confidence they help develop.

 

Our mission is simple:

 

Step One: Awareness.
You can’t appreciate something you don’t know exists. We highlight the opportunities waiting in the woods, rivers, lakes, and fields around us.

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Step Two: Experience.
We create hands-on outdoor opportunities—especially for youth—to learn, try, build confidence, and feel what it means to belong.

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Step Three: Understanding & Respect.
If you try these activities and decide they aren’t for you, we respect that. All we ask is the same respect in return—for the people who find purpose, joy, and identity in them.

 

Our End Goal:

We aim to provide shooting sports, archery, trapping, and fishing opportunities to all students—not to force participation, but to give everyone a fair chance to understand what these activities are really about. Then each young person can decide for themselves:

• If it’s something they care about and want to pursue, or

• If it’s not for them, while still respecting why it matters to others.

We’re honest in saying we don’t yet know every step it will take to get there. But everything we do is focused on making that goal a reality—one conversation, one experience, one opportunity at a time.

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A Final Note:
We are not here only to teach the how-to of hunting, fishing, or trapping. A significant part of our mission is to help those who may never personally take part in these traditions understand why they matter to the people who do. We are not looking to create division between hunters and non-hunters. In fact, the opposite is true. We are searching for a new, better approach—a way to bridge the gap of misunderstanding that often exists between these groups. For many people, the outdoors is more than a pastime—it is their peace, their identity, their grounding force, and sometimes even their way of coping with life’s hardest moments. When we lose access to these traditions, we’re not just losing activities—we’re losing what keeps people connected, healthy, proud, and whole.

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You don’t have to participate in these activities to help protect the rights of those who do. You only have to recognize their value. We’re here to share what we love, pass down traditions worth keeping, and help the next generation find confidence, community, peace, and happiness in the outdoors.

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We respect your passions. Please respect ours.

 

The Unpopular Outdoors Team