At 10 years old, Jim Shockey hadn’t yet become the legendary outdoorsman he is today. He was just a kid that liked collecting things, not animals at that point, but things like rifle cartridges – always with the intention of having them displayed someday. For 45 years, Jim has continued to collect things like wildlife, literature, ancient artifacts and more, and now his lifelong ambition of displaying these collectibles has been realized. The “Hand of Man – Museum of Natural History, Cultural Arts and Conservation” is Jim Shockey’s private museum that is now open for the public to come explore and experience.
This week, Jim joins The Revolution to talk about the launch of his museum and the role it plays in preserving history, advancing conservation and educating the population about our origins. Jim references one of the very first natural history books ever written that is on display at his museum and explains how early natural historians became explorers and then international hunter travelers, all in a natural progression. He says that hunters, explorers and scientists are one in the same and that’s what his museum is all about. While we may wear different clothes, speak different languages and subscribe to different religions, there is a tie that binds the human race which is the fact that we came from the same source, from the same hunting and gathering background.
Jim has an incredibly extensive collection on display at the Hand of Man Museum, like the tusks of a Mastodon found in the Yukon; the skeleton of an Alaska Yukon Moose – the largest moose species in the world; and a pristinely taxidermied Muskox – the fourth largest known to man. While everything there is interesting and has important historical value, he highlights some of the pieces that stand out the most to him, personally. One of those happens to be the moose rack from his father’s last hunt, a hunt they went on together which was featured on Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures on Outdoor Channel about 10 years ago. A bullet hole is visible through one tines of the moose rack, a missed shot the first time around before his dad made the lethal second shot. Jim says that by definition, “trophy” is a memory of an event or an accomplishment and items like his dad’s moose rack are real trophies for him – they bring back and elicit those memories. Jim says that there is nothing better or more important than that. Jim’s first whitetail, his children Branlin and Eva’s first whitetails, his father in law Len’s last whitetail – all on display at the museum, Jim says anything to do with family are the items he finds most important and valuable. Tours of the Hand of Man Museum are free and can be booked online at HandofManMuseum.com – if you happen to be in the area, be sure to make the trip, it will be well worth it!
Jim Shockey is a man of many passions and that includes being actively involved in efforts that support both former and current military personnel. In fact, many people may not be aware that he is an active member of the Canadian Armed Forces, serving the rank of Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel (HLCol) of the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group. Jim will highlight the therapeutic effect that the great outdoors can have on service members and their families and says when it comes to thanking them in a meaningful way, it’s hard to ever do enough. However, always seeking to do more for them, Jim is a part of an upcoming event with these service members in mind. December 2nd and 3rd in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Jim will be hosting the first ever Jim Shockey Classic. Teaming up with the Freedom Hunters, a Colorado-based non-profit group dedicated to reuniting veterans and military families with the great outdoors, “The Jim Shockey Classic.” will be a two-day gathering honoring those who protect our freedoms, and aiding in providing USA and Canadian military personnel with once in a lifetime hunts. This event will include a Jim Shockey meet & greet, a military presentation, a fundraiser auction, a military tribute golf tournament on a private 18-hole facility and a post-golf awards BBQ banquet dinner. Jim says that he picked up the sport of golf at 40 years old after being skunked on the course and has been working on his game since. He likens golf to archery, requiring the same mental strength and patience required.
Tune in to this fun and incredibly informative interview with hunter and conservationist, Jim Shockey. Be sure to catch episodes of “Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures” on Outdoor Channel, Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.
Thanks to the amazing Jim Shockey for joining us, it’s always a pleasure!
Trav
