From humble bargain cave beginnings to a sturdy and deserved rise to matriarchy in the hunting industry, one thing has remained a constant for Mary Cabela: family. Over the course of the week I spent in her company, it was increasingly evident that she was the thread that weaves multiple generations together, with her children and grandchildren always circling about. But if I was fooled by her maternal nature, I quickly learned that she has taken part in more hair-raising adventures than most, and has definitely gone on more hunts. From the highlands of Ethiopia to the far reaches of Alaska, the salt flats of glittering seas to the swamps of Botswana, Mary Cabela has lived a full life — a life unquestionably worth writing about. She even admitted to being a little bored in camp once the cheetah excitement was all over; she wanted to be out in the field in the middle of the action. A few helicopter patrols, lion dartings and collarings later, it seemed that her appetite for adventure was slaked, so I took the opportunity to sit down with her. 

I had heard that Mary didn’t really like interviews, so I needed to find a way to make her feel comfortable. The plan: whisk her away in a Land Cruiser to the other camp, taking champagne and the podcast gear to sit down and hear more of her life story. What a story it was, and what follows is only an excerpt. Kind, humble and full of passion for wildlife conservation, it’s no wonder that she’s gained the level of respect and admiration from not only her family, but from just about anyone she meets. And though her best friend and partner in crime has since gone on to the great hunt in the sky,