Realtree’s Will Brantley to Launch New Hunting and Fishing Book May 5

April 24, 2026
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Realtree Editor Will Brantley is dropping a gem on May 5 with his new book, Skinning Catfish in Mary's Kitchen: Tales of Hunting, Fishing, Trapping, and Life in the Woods, published by Lyons Press in tandem with Field & Stream. Illustrated by the masterful wildlife artist Ryan Kirby, this isn't your sterile how-to manual—it's a rollicking collection of Southern-flavored yarns from the backwoods, blending gritty hunting exploits, fishing fiascos, trapping triumphs, and those raw slices of life that make the outdoors feel alive. Brantley, a Realtree mainstay known for his no-nonsense takes on conservation and wild pursuits, channels that same unfiltered voice here, promising laughs, lessons, and a heavy dose of that Southern charm that turns swamp mud into poetry. What elevates this beyond page-turner status for the 2A community is how it weaves the self-reliant ethos of the woods directly into our core values. Hunting and trapping aren't just hobbies in Brantley's world—they're lifelines of independence, demanding marksmanship, ethical shot placement, and the unyielding responsibility that mirrors responsible gun ownership. In an era where urban elites push narratives divorcing folks from their food sources, books like this reinforce why the Second Amendment thrives in rural America: it's the guardian of traditions where a .308 for deer or a .22 for small game isn't sport, it's sovereignty. Kirby's illustrations will no doubt capture those visceral moments—a perfect broadside on a buck at dawn—that remind us visuals of proficiency counter anti-gun propaganda better than any statistic. The implications ripple wide: as cultural battles rage, Brantley's tales arm the 2A movement with cultural ammo, humanizing the hunter as the ultimate steward, not the villain. Expect this to fly off shelves among Realtree faithful and Field & Stream readers, sparking barstool debates and family campfire reads that subtly evangelize for our rights. Grab it early—May 5 can't come soon enough for those craving stories that prove the wild heart of America still beats strong, one skinned catfish at a time.

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Realtree Editor Will Brantley is dropping a gem on May 5 with his new book, Skinning Catfish in Mary’s Kitchen: Tales of Hunting, Fishing, Trapping, and Life in the Woods, published by Lyons Press in tandem with Field & Stream. Illustrated by the masterful wildlife artist Ryan Kirby, this isn’t your sterile how-to manual—it’s a rollicking collection of Southern-flavored yarns from the backwoods, blending gritty hunting exploits, fishing fiascos, trapping triumphs, and those raw slices of life that make the outdoors feel alive. Brantley, a Realtree mainstay known for his no-nonsense takes on conservation and wild pursuits, channels that same unfiltered voice here, promising laughs, lessons, and a heavy dose of that Southern charm that turns swamp mud into poetry.

What elevates this beyond page-turner status for the 2A community is how it weaves the self-reliant ethos of the woods directly into our core values. Hunting and trapping aren’t just hobbies in Brantley’s world—they’re lifelines of independence, demanding marksmanship, ethical shot placement, and the unyielding responsibility that mirrors responsible gun ownership. In an era where urban elites push narratives divorcing folks from their food sources, books like this reinforce why the Second Amendment thrives in rural America: it’s the guardian of traditions where a .308 for deer or a .22 for small game isn’t sport, it’s sovereignty. Kirby’s illustrations will no doubt capture those visceral moments—a perfect broadside on a buck at dawn—that remind us visuals of proficiency counter anti-gun propaganda better than any statistic.

The implications ripple wide: as cultural battles rage, Brantley’s tales arm the 2A movement with cultural ammo, humanizing the hunter as the ultimate steward, not the villain. Expect this to fly off shelves among Realtree faithful and Field & Stream readers, sparking barstool debates and family campfire reads that subtly evangelize for our rights. Grab it early—May 5 can’t come soon enough for those craving stories that prove the wild heart of America still beats strong, one skinned catfish at a time.

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