Shelby Bessette – Texas
Shelby grew up in South Carolina alongside her two older brothers, tagging along to Boy Scout campouts and learning firearm safety through steady shooting lessons with her dad. She didn’t begin hunting until after high school, when studying biology gave her the opportunity to try it for herself—but once she did, she was hooked. Hunting transformed her relationship with the outdoors, deepening both her ecological understanding and her spiritual connection to wild places.
For the past decade, Shelby has built her life and career primarily in Texas, much of it focused on coastal conservation and habitat management. In every landscape she’s called home, she has learned the land by walking it, working it, and hunting it—finding her way both physically and personally through each ecosystem.
As an Artemis Ambassador, Shelby is passionate about creating welcoming spaces for women to learn, ask questions, and step confidently into hunting and conservation. She believes mentorship, stewardship, and strong community are essential to protecting wild lands and ensuring the future of our sporting traditions. Through storytelling, hands-on conservation work, and advocacy, she is committed to amplifying diverse voices and helping other sportswomen find their own path in the outdoors.
