Do you remember what you were thinking about at three-years old? Did you know what you wanted to do with your life at seven-years old? Or even 16-years old? Kylie McCrea sure did. Born in Texas and raised by a dad who ran an outfitting company with her uncle, Kylie has never had any doubt – she wanted to hunt. She got her first gun at almost three-years old by potty-training for it, earning stickers toward a .22 rifle. Now a SilencerCo Ambassador at 16-years old, of course, meant we wanted to talk to her to find out more about her story.
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What is your shooting background?
I grew up around the hunting industry. I knew that’s what I wanted to be when I was little, I wanted to be a hunter. I had a drive for hunting at the age of three, that’s when I got my first gun and my dad and I were going elk hunting in Colorado. I woke up at 3 in the morning and got dressed, and I was ready to go in my overalls and my boots.
I shot my first turkey when I was five and my first deer when I was six. I’ve just always had a love for the outdoors – not just hunting, but also hiking, swimming, fishing and kayaking. Just being out in God’s beautiful creation has always been so appealing to me.
How did you get involved in the industry?
In 2012, I attended the National Turkey Federation show. It was a blast, talking to people about their experiences and realizing that it can be a job. I remember thinking this is what I want to do, doing what I love and also making a career out of it. And I want to make it my own ministry, spreading God’s word through it.
How did you get involved with SilencerCo?
In 2017, I started working with Remington and that’s where I met Jessica Kallam. She believed in me and supported me when lots of people in the industry thought I wouldn’t make it or were waiting for me to give up. Then she went to work for SilencerCo, and with her help I became an ambassador for them in 2020.
What do you hope to accomplish as an ambassador?
I want to spread awareness that using a suppressor is a good thing. I feel like a lot of people have negative opinions of suppressors, but they are so good for the environment and better for your own personal hunting. Now a lot of my family and friends want to purchase one because they didn’t realize all that it can do.
What is your favorite part of being a SilencerCo ambassador?
I love being a part of the SilencerCo family. They took me under their wing and made me feel like I was important to them, which is sometimes really hard when you’re my age and in the hunting industry and people only see you in a certain way instead of as a true hunter.
They treat me with respect and don’t look down on me. They build me up and make me feel important to them, which is huge for me.
How would you suggest someone get started using a suppressor?
A person has to have gun that is threaded to accept a suppressor. You can buy a new gun already threaded, but if you have a favorite gun, you can have it threaded for one through most gunsmiths. The first suppressor that we ever bought was for a .22, so I would suggest doing that first because they are great for practicing and you can see what a suppressor can do. It’s the best way to get into it unless you’ve already shot a suppressor then definitely go with whatever your favorite pistol or rifle is.
Is there anything more that you would like to let people know about the benefits of a suppressor?
I had an opportunity to hunt javelina, but I got in a wreck and had a really bad headache. If it wasn’t for my suppressor knocking down the sound and recoil, I wouldn’t have been able to go. So, it’s opened up opportunities for me to experience more of the hunting industry.
You can keep an eye on Kylie’s experiences and growth on Instagram at @kylie_l_mccrea.
Editor’s note: We featured Kylie a few years ago when she successfully completed a Grand Slam for turkeys.
Nancy Keaton is a retired college administrator, president of her local gun club, competitive shooter and freelance writer whose work has appeared in A Girl and A Gun Women’s Shooting League, "American Shooting Journal," "American Concealed," "Northwest Meetings + Events," and other publications. She enjoys writing about a wide variety of topics and interviewing ordinary people doing amazing things. To see a compilation of her writing, check out her website at www.nancykeaton.com. View all posts by Nancy Keaton
