ProRodeo Sports News - April 3, 2020

JEFF ASKEY’S ARSENAL Hailing from Beech Creek, Pa., Askey has forged his path in life as a three-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and as an accomplished hunter with a focus on predators in East Texas. “A lot of people who follow me on Facebook and Instagram are from the East Coast because that’s where I grew up, and it’s mind-blowing to them that you can ride around with an AR and shoot a group of hogs at night,” Askey said. “Where I grew up, it’s a lot different than in Texas, but here it’s more my style. You can hunt year-round, go hunting with a thermal scope or a semi- auto, and there’s coyote hunting – anything goes in Texas.” The 32-year-old cowboy primarily hunts coyote and wild hogs. “I go a couple of times a week if I’m not rodeoing,” Askey laughed. “I joke with my wife that I don’t know what I did before I did this.” Bobcats are another predator that Askey’s been chasing down. “We got a lot of bobcats this year, well a lot for East Texas anyway,” Askey said. “I’ve probably killed a dozen bobcats this winter – that’s pretty good for

“I just like the outdoors and I was raised around it,” Radley said, adding that he goes fishing two or three times per week. “When I get time off, I like to go fishing and do anything with the outdoors. It’s almost like an addiction, but I don’t know if it’s a good one since it costs a lot of money. It’s just part of me, I guess.” Rodeo is as much a part of him, but that’s on hiatus after tearing his meniscus in Fort Worth, Texas. He had surgery in February and estimated he would be out of competition for a few months. “I feel bad for the guys who were planning on rodeoing now, but it definitely worked out well for me,” Radley said. “There’s never a good time to do it, but it could have been a worse time, like while on the bubble. I think I’ll have a better chance than I was expecting (at making the Wrangler NFR), and I think I can make it work. I’ll go hard at it when I get back.” Until then, Radley has plenty of time to fish. “Whenever I want to get away from rodeo,” Radley said, “I go fishing and clear my head.”

East Texas – and about 60 coyotes. That’s not bad for East Texas either.” Askey rotates between his nearby hunting grounds, some he owns and some owned by his friend and rodeo sponsor, Byron South, all about an hour fromAskey’s home. “He (South) is always hunting for content and things for promotional purposes,” Askey said. “It kind of works out that I get to hunt and he gets pictures and footage.” Askey has a sweet deal worked out with South, the owner of Convergent Hunting Solutions. “They’re like a sponsor but we’ve developed into friends,” said Askey, whose bull riding vest and shirts have Convergent Hunting Solutions on them. “When I hunt with them, our intent is to get videos and photos for social media,” Askey said. “I’ll post it on mine and tag them, and I tag them on my rodeo posts so they get exposure to the rodeo world.” Radley is a Louisiana bull rider who brings a Cajun kick to the arena and to the dinner table as an avid angler. “Growing up in Louisiana, it’s part of the nature down here,” said Radley, 21. “Every kid grows up here fishing. There is water on every corner, and we always fished and had fishing camps. I kind of got away from it for a while when I was rodeoing so hard, but I’ve had some more time to fish. When I get time to go, I do.” Radley, who qualified for the last twoWrangler NFRs, is in a good position for a variety of fishing options close to home with freshwater, saltwater and marshes nearby. REELING IT IN WITH KOBY RADLEY

Photo courtesy Kody Radley

Growing up in Louisiana gave Koby Radley a variety of fishing options close to home.

ProRodeo Sports News 4/3/2020

ProRodeo.com

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