Do Not Go Quietly

05/17/2025

Elon University Young Life lost their house this year when the University purchased it.

We put it to prayer and the Lord moved. We found this house off-market and are renovating it to make it available to Young Life here at Elon University.

What we are right now calling the Summer House , is going to be a big project but it will be awesome to see what God does with it & the Elon students

03/01/2025

Going to be permission and public next year.

Didn’t renew my lease. Too much pressure from people not supposed to be there made it a non-option.

Used the day to pull down set and cameras. Good to be back out in the woods though.

Time to get some miles on the boots scouting.

12/12/2024

This is my 2nd season bowhunting. I didn’t realize how lucky I was last year when I arrowed a great buck in Southern Illinois on day 2 of my hunt.

This season has been a real struggle mentally. My home state of SC has been very disappointing with very few deer even seen and zero shot opportunities.

I struck out chasing Elk this past September in Colorado. For 7 days I never heard a bugle or saw a bull elk.

I took 2 trips up to Missouri and hunted family property for the 1st time. I had only scouted this property once and, as a new hunter, I know that I am missing a lot more than I am seeing.

I saw a lot of deer in Missouri which was a real blessing as it gave me some renewed confidence that I’m not completely clueless.

Ultimately, there were no shot opportunities on a mature buck and I drove home with a tag in my pocket twice.

Bow hunting is remarkably humbling. Yes it’s a challenge physically to be prepared & skilled in your shot process. However, the mental aspect is so much more difficult.

I don’t know how many hours I’ve spent scouting, walking up and down drainages, or hanging from a tree. So why do I keep doing it ?

There is no place more peaceful than being in God’s creation unencumbered by the presence of society and development.

Yes I want to harvest and yes I want to be much better at this than I am. No matter how many times I come home empty handed, though, I am still afforded the unique opportunity to experience Gods presence and peace.

Bowhunting is a humbling and simultaneously enriching endeavor and I am grateful for it.

09/12/2024

It was December of 2022. I could barely walk to the end of my driveway. Major spine and neurological issues had hobbled me and I barely recognized the man in the mirror.

A visit to was a new beginning for me. was both the architect of my rehabilitation and the first clinician to give me hope.

For almost 2 years I rehabbed, trained, and dreamed of taking on an elk hunt in the western part of the country. 4:45 am every day Monday through Saturday looked exactly the same.

4:45 - Bible Study & Ice
5:30 - Prayer
5:45 - Train

Gods Providence

Nothing derailed me from my preparation. was constantly there. From the dark times through the hard work to the sacrifices she had to make for me to leave everything for a week and chase my ghosts; there is no way to express my love & gratitude for your undying support & understanding of what makes my soul stir. You are my heart Gracie.

Western hunts are romanticized but there is nothing romantic about total silence. I hunted from 5:30 am to 8 pm every day. 14 hour days of absolutely no bugles & no elk. All of that training, all of those idyllic visions of chasing screaming bulls, all of that romance about the west became really long days turning up nothing.

1 day turned into 2 turned into 4 turned into 6. I started falling down mentally. Why do I think I belong out here ? What made me think I could do this ? I could be at home with my family. Why would I ask her to make this sacrifice ?

I called her on Day 6 and shared my doubts. “ You took off a whole week for this. You’ve trained for almost 2 years. Stop focusing on what isn’t happening. Focus on the beauty. Focus on the gift you’ve received of being able to climb mountains & just be there. Focus on the blessing. Get out & hunt.”

She was right. I pivoted with renewed energy. I sat a blind. I used a decoy. I called. I did everything I could think of.

I hunted dawn to dusk until last light of the last day. I left every bit of me out there.

I didn’t harvest an elk but I was given the gift of renewal. As I reflect on this, I cannot ask more.

TY🙏 to everyone who was a part of this. U R Tagged

07/31/2024

Kevin describes his father and grandfathers experience escaping to a cave during WW II to avoid the Japanese Imperial Army and how that shaped the arc of his fathers life, and in turn, presented Kevin with the opportunities he has today to educate all of us in essential survival and bushcraft skills.

Links to All Platforms in Bio 👆

Kevin Estela is a Multi-Media Content Creator. Podcast Host, Blog Writer, Guest Speaker, Film Presenter, and regularly featured Subject Matter Expert in bushcraft skills.

He is a Professional Educator and published Writer working for Fieldcraft Survival and the Tua Group. Kevin is the Best-selling Author of “101 Skills You Need To Survive In The Woods.”

Kevin is the Former Lead Survival Instructor of the Wilderness Learning Center and Estela Wilderness Education.

A Modern-day Adventurer/Explorer & Student for life, it was a joy to sit down with Kevin.

You can listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeart Podcasts, and Podbean by searching Do Not Go Quietly w/ Eric Wilson

You can find Kevin on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/estelawilded/and visit his website

07/27/2024

Decided to glass as the sun set today after I got my last set in place.

No one creates a view like the Lord. Hope y’all have a great evening

07/16/2024

Even if today is a hard day, it’s a gift. So many would trade all that they have for your health, or your family, or your job, or some aspect of your life you take for granted.

This is a reminder to myself as much as anyone. Today is a grind for me. I didn’t want to get up. I don’t feel like training. I have meetings from 8 this am until 6 tonight non-stop.

I’m thankful I commit the first part of my day to prayer and Bible study. It makes me focus on the positive before anything else.

Today is a gift. Treat it that way. Take a moment to be thankful for the blessings in your life; large or small as they may be, then go get better. 🙏👊

10/07/2023

Jeff & I discuss the NIL, Transfer rules, and the new CFB environment of free agency. The future of CFB could be very surprising. Take a listen

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZhwHaA5bKedD6DxMcHFomMiFPXAlS-6b&si=VR339p3RnFPDsT2A

09/04/2023

So many people strive for the accolades, the job that gets them praise, or something that garners fame or glory.

I took this photo in Paris, Missouri at the cemetery by my in-laws farm.

Both my and my wife’s families come from a long line of farmers. I spent my summers with cousins playing in soybean bins, with my Grandpa riding on tractors, slopping silage with my uncle , and seeing what hard work really looks like.

This country was built on the backs of farmers, mill workers, skilled laborers, and the like.

In an age where everyone seems to say “look at me” it was humbling to be reminded of the millions who have, and still do, get up every day and make this country run.

God bless American workers & God bless America 🇺🇸

Below are just a few companies that make their products in the US with US labor that you can support.

If you agree with me repost this on your story or feed. Let’s spread the word today and remind people Labor Day isn’t a day off work to eat and drink too much. It’s a celebration of the American worker.

06/17/2023

Branlin Shockey is a storyteller. He most recently created the You Tube film 'Once We Were Wolves' featuring Cameron Hanes and Kip Fulks. Released a little over a month ago, at the time of this podcast it has over 800,000 views on You Tube. Raised in the outdoors, Branlin brings weaves his in-depth....

06/08/2023

If you haven’t listed to my podcast with Mark Ellis, the leading sports coordinator in the film industry, check it out today. ( You Tube link in Bio ☝️ )

Among the highlights are stories about Adam Sandler and his rise in Hollywood, Al Pacino & how he commands the set, & the challenge of casting the greatest hockey film of all time in Miracle.

His credits include The Longest Yard, Jerry Maguire, Invincible, Any Given Sunday, We Are Marshall, Miracle, The Rookie, Semi-Pro, The Replacements, and the list goes on.

This was an extremely interesting visit for me ( even my daughter listened to the whole thing and she doesn’t always love my stuff ).

It’s a rare glimpse into the inner workings of some of the film industry’s biggest names and most iconic sports films.

You can also find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeart Podcasts, and Rumble

Mark Ellis is a Hollywood filmmaker who's credits include Jerry Maguire w/ Tom Cruise, The Waterboy w/ Adam Sandler, Any Given Sunday w/ Jamie Fox & Al Pacin...

06/02/2023

Mark Ellis is a Hollywood filmmaker who's credits include Jerry Maguire w/ Tom Cruise, The Waterboy w/ Adam Sandler, Any Given Sunday w/ Jamie Fox & Al Pacino, The Replacements w/ Keanu Reeves, The Rookie w/ Dennis Quaid, Radio w/ Cuba Gooding Jr. , Miracle w/ Kurt Russell, Coach Carter w/ Samuel L....