Fox News anchor Sandra Smith traded the studio lights for open skies this past weekend, heading out on a hunting trip that she says will go down as one of her most memorable yet. Known for her passion for the outdoors, Smith has long spoken about how hunting grounds her and connects her to her Midwestern roots. But this outing, she said, brought “a perfect mix of challenge, surprise, and reward” — and ended with her setting a new personal record for game.

“It was one of those weekends where everything just fell into place,” Smith said. “The conditions were right, the dogs were dialed in, and the company was good. That’s when hunting really feels special.”

Smith was joined by a small group of friends and her trusted German shorthaired pointer, Whiskey. “Whiskey worked harder than I did,” she joked. “He’s the real star of the trip. Watching him lock in, tail frozen, muscles coiled — that’s the thrill before the thrill.”

The weekend had its share of standout moments, some of them planned and some entirely unexpected. On Saturday morning, Smith recalled a scene straight out of a postcard: a wide valley glazed in dew, mist lifting off the tall grass, and a flush of birds breaking against the sunrise. “It was almost cinematic,” she said. “For a split second I forgot I was supposed to be shooting. It’s that combination of beauty and adrenaline that keeps me coming back.”

One of the more memorable encounters came when Whiskey tracked a covey into dense brush that none of the hunters were eager to wade into. Smith laughed as she described what happened next. “We were standing there debating who was going to ruin their pants first, and then out they came — six birds exploding right over us. I didn’t even have time to think. Instinct just took over. I dropped two in a matter of seconds, and the guys I was with were yelling like it was a fireworks show.”

But the biggest jolt of the weekend came from an animal that wasn’t on the day’s list at all. While moving through a stretch of thick cover, Smith and her group startled a medium-sized wild hog. “It happened so fast. One second we’re talking quietly, the next this hog comes crashing out, snorting and barreling past. I thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest,” she said. Though the hog disappeared into the trees, Smith admitted the encounter left her wide awake for the rest of the day. “It was a reminder that you’re never really in charge out there. The land decides what you’re going to see.”

The weekend wasn’t all action. Smith described moments of quiet camaraderie around the campfire, where she and her friends swapped stories, cleaned birds, and reflected on the day. “Hunting isn’t just about the shot. It’s about those conversations at night, when the work is done, and you’re just sitting under the stars with tired dogs at your feet. That’s what I’ll remember long after the numbers fade.”

Still, the numbers were significant. By the time the trip ended, Smith had harvested a total of 25 upland birds — the most she has ever taken on a single weekend outing. “I don’t usually focus on the count, but I’ll admit it was pretty exciting,” she said. “To break my own record in conditions like that, with Whiskey performing the way he did, felt really special.”

She emphasized, though, that hunting for her is as much about conservation as it is about sport. “Every hunt is a reminder of our responsibility. If we want healthy bird populations and wild places for our kids and grandkids, we’ve got to take care of them now. That means habitat restoration, it means respect for the land, it means knowing when to call it a day.”

Smith’s respect for the land was evident when she recounted turning down shots she could have taken. “There were moments when I had a bead on a bird but let it go. Not every opportunity needs to end with a pull of the trigger. Sometimes it’s enough to just watch it fly.”

She also credited her companions for helping make the trip so memorable. “It’s not just about the hunt, it’s about who you’re with. The laughs, the ribbing, the teamwork — it makes the good shots better and the misses easier to swallow.”

By the time she packed up to head home, Smith said she felt equal parts tired and grateful. “It’s the kind of tired you earn,” she said. “Driving back, I thought, this is why I love hunting. It gives back so much more than it takes.”

Asked whether she plans to top this new record, Smith smiled. “I’ll leave that up to the birds,” she said. “If it happens, it happens. For me, the reward is just being out there. That’s enough.”