Laura Schara is an American television host, outdoor enthusiast, and lifestyle producer best known for co-hosting the long-running regional outdoor program Minnesota Bound and national outdoor broadcasts including Due North Outdoors. Combining conservation advocacy, competitive sporting clay shooting, and outdoor culinary arts, she represents a prominent voice in modern North American outdoor media.
Born into one of the Upper Midwest's most recognized outdoor broadcasting families, Laura Schara carved out a multifaceted career spanning traditional conservation journalism, field hunting, lifestyle design, and television production. While many viewers first encountered her alongside her father, regional television icon Ron Schara, her individual portfolio extends to national networks such as the Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, and regional network affiliates across the United States.
Early Life, Outdoor Roots, and Educational Foundation
Growing up in suburban Twin Cities and the wilderness expanses of Minnesota, Laura Schara developed an early appreciation for the natural world. Her father, Ron Schara, created Minnesota Bound in 1995, introducing viewers to stories of woods, waters, and their beloved canine companion, Raven the black lab. Laura was immersed in outdoor storytelling from childhood, accompanying production crews on hunting camps, fishing expeditions, and field shoots across the northern woodlands.
Schara pursued formal academic training in design and communications rather than traditional broadcast journalism alone. She attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Retail Merchandising and Fashion Design. This deliberate combination of field heritage and formal design education created a distinct cross-disciplinary perspective:
- Visual Communications: Developing an eye for aesthetics, composition, and visual storytelling that transferred seamlessly into television production and set styling.
- Commercial Merchandising: Cultivating an understanding of brand strategy, consumer products, and apparel performance, which later informed her work with sporting goods manufacturers.
- Field Knowledge: Maintaining active engagement in wingshooting, angling, and game management alongside collegiate studies.
This dual background enabled Schara to navigate both rugged backcountry sporting culture and commercial broadcast production with equal fluency.
Television Career and Signature Outdoor Programs
Schara’s broadcasting career developed through a portfolio of broadcast syndication, regional network shows, and national cable programming. Rather than remaining exclusively behind or in front of the lens, she took on roles encompassing field hosting, segment producing, script development, and brand ambassadorship.
Minnesota Bound
As a primary co-host and field reporter on Minnesota Bound, broadcast regionally on NBC affiliate KARE-11 and regional syndicates, Schara delivers narrative segments highlighting:
- Conservation Issues: Spotlighting wetland preservation, invasive aquatic species management, and wildlife habitat restoration throughout the Upper Midwest.
- Angling Expeditions: Documenting open-water walleye chasing, fly fishing for native brook trout, and boundary waters wilderness canoe trips.
- Regional Portraits: Profiling artisans, guides, and everyday outdoorsmen and women shaping regional lake culture.
Due North Outdoors
Airing on regional and national sports platforms, Due North Outdoors established Schara as an authority on destination angling and cold-weather adventure. Co-hosted alongside veteran outdoorsman Rick Anderson, the program emphasizes experiential travel, tactical tackle reviews, and location scouting across the United States and Canada.
National Outdoor Network Appearances
Schara expanded her national footprint through featured work across key outdoor and sporting channels:
- Outdoor Channel & Sportsman Channel: Hosting specialized competitive segments, wild-game cooking tutorials, and live field reporting for premier sporting conventions.
- Specialized Outdoor Series: Co-hosting programs like North American Hunter television series, evaluating field gear, testing hunting arms and optics, and tracking big game alongside professional outfitters.
Outdoor Specializations: Shooting Sports, Angling, and Game Cooking
Laura Schara distinguishes herself in an evolving outdoor media landscape through deep technical competence in several distinct hunting and conservation disciplines.
Sporting Clays and Wingshooting
Schara is an accomplished shotgunner, regularly participating in competitive sporting clays, skeet disciplines, and upland wingshooting. Her technical emphasis focuses on fit, gun mount mechanics, and swing-through shooting techniques. She frequently leads field clinics aimed at introducing women and novice shooters to proper firearms handling, hearing and eye safety protocols, and range etiquette.
Tactical Angling
Her fishing coverage spans multispecies freshwater angling across the glacial lakes of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ontario. Schara regularly details:
- Modern electronics interpretation (down-imaging, forward-facing sonar).
- Structure targeting for walleye, smallmouth bass, and muskellunge.
- Ethical catch-and-release practices for trophy game fish to preserve broodstock populations.
Field-to-Table Gastronomy
A major component of Schara's media presence is wild game and fish preparation. Under segments often labeled around wild gastronomy, she counters outdated culinary approaches that over-soak or over-cook wild game. Her recipes emphasize:
- Proper field dressing and temperature management to prevent spoilage and off-flavors.
- Modern culinary techniques such as sous-vide preparation for lean venison steaks, upland bird smoking, and pan-searing fresh cold-water fillets with seasonal regional produce.
- Utilization of whole animals to reduce waste and promote ecological respect.
Media Roles, Brand Strategy, and Lifestyle Production
Beyond television hosting, Schara has maintained an active footprint in commercial production, lifestyle styling, and outdoor commerce.
| Dimension | Scope of Work | Primary Audience / Output |
|---|---|---|
| Broadcasting & Hosting | Co-host of Minnesota Bound, Due North Outdoors, syndicated television | General outdoor recreationists, regional families, sports enthusiasts |
| Outdoor Culinary | Wild-game recipe developer, culinary host, live demonstration chef | Field-to-table home cooks, conservation-minded hunters |
| Apparel & Styling | Commercial photo stylist, outdoor apparel consultant, lifestyle blogger | Retail brands, commercial production houses, fashion consumers |
| Conservation Advocacy | Emcee, keynote speaker, youth clinic coordinator | Angling associations, sporting clay leagues, state conservation groups |
| Digital Content | Outdoor lifestyle journalism, field tutorials, video series | Social media audiences, outdoor lifestyle subscribers |
Her work as a fashion stylist and commercial set designer represents a unique dual career track. By working with major commercial lifestyle brands across the Midwest, she bridges the aesthetic gap between practical outdoor utility gear and contemporary design trends.
Media Profile: Production and Career Milestones
Broadcasting Philosophy
Authentic outdoor storytelling requires genuine field comfort. Audiences instantly recognize when a host lacks familiarity with the gun, rod, or terrain. Success in modern outdoor broadcasting rests on actual proficiency, respect for the quarry, and a willingness to show the challenging conditions alongside the triumphs.
Schara has spent over two decades developing high-volume video production routines. Operating in sub-zero winter shoots on frozen lakes or navigating insect-heavy backcountry waterways requires robust field planning:
- Gear Redundancy: Managing production electronics, battery life in sub-freezing temperatures, and weather-sealed audio gear for remote expedition documentary shooting.
- Species Seasonality: Aligning television production schedules with migratory bird patterns, seasonal spawning runs, and regional hunting draw seasons across multiple state jurisdictions.
- Safety and Ethics Oversight: Demonstrating regulatory compliance on air, including personal flotation device (PFD) usage, blaze orange requirements, and valid licensing guidelines governed by state departments of natural resources.
Comparing Modern Outdoor Media Formats
The outdoor television industry has experienced substantial evolution over the course of Schara's career, transitioning from traditional Saturday-morning syndicated blocks to hybrid digital-linear models.
| Metric | Traditional Outdoor TV (e.g., Early Syndication) | Modern Hybrid Outdoor Media (Current Landscape) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Distribution | Over-the-air affiliate syndication, dedicated cable tiers | Broadcast, ad-supported streaming networks, video on demand |
| Narrative Approach | Trophy-centric harvests, specialized technical mechanics | Lifestyle integration, family involvement, conservation ethics |
| Demographic Focus | Predominantly male, seasoned sportsmen | Broad demographic, rising female participation, suburban outdoor seekers |
| Culinary Integration | Basic camp cooking or omitted entirely | Elevated field-to-table cuisine and artisanal preparation |
| Host Role | Singular hunting or fishing guide | Multifaceted communicator, conservationist, and producer |
Schara’s versatility enabled her to maintain steady relevance throughout this transition, attracting non-traditional audiences to hunting, shooting, and wilderness recreation without alienating legacy sportsmen.
Practical Insights for Entering Outdoor Media
For aspiring outdoor media hosts, producers, and content creators looking at the trail blazed by Schara, several foundational principles emerge from her career trajectory:
- Acquire Formal Field Competence First: Credibility cannot be simulated. Spend time mastering shooting sports, knot tying, navigation, and boat safety before stepping into field production.
- Diversify Technical Skills: Complement on-camera presence with technical skills such as editing, scriptwriting, camera operation, or commercial styling to remain versatile during shifting production budgets.
- Champion Sustainable Conservation: Center storytelling on wildlife biology, public land access, and ethical hunting rather than solely on harvesting trophy-class specimens.
- Focus on Broad Appeal: Translate complex field tactics into accessible, engaging narratives that welcome newcomers without diminishing the depth of the sport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Laura Schara?
Laura Schara is an American television host, outdoor media personality, and lifestyle producer recognized for co-hosting outdoor programs such as Minnesota Bound and Due North Outdoors. She is also known for her work in competitive shooting sports, field-to-table wild game cooking, and outdoor lifestyle design.
Throughout her multi-decade career, she has combined regional broadcast storytelling with national outdoor series, advocating for conservation, female participation in shooting sports, and natural resource stewardship.
Is Laura Schara related to Ron Schara?
Yes, Laura Schara is the daughter of Ron Schara, the founder of Ron Schara Productions and longtime host of Minnesota Bound.
While she began her career working within the family’s production enterprise, she developed an independent media footprint as a national host, commercial stylist, and outdoor lifestyle journalist across multiple television networks.
What TV shows does Laura Schara host?
Laura Schara co-hosts the regional television program Minnesota Bound and the outdoor lifestyle series Due North Outdoors.
Additionally, she has hosted and appeared on shows such as North American Hunter, national sporting event broadcasts on the Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel, and numerous regional outdoor specials.
What are Laura Schara’s main outdoor pursuits?
Her primary outdoor disciplines include wingshooting, sporting clays, multispecies freshwater angling, and wild game cooking.
Schara frequently participates in upland bird hunts, waterfowl expeditions, and seasonal open-water and ice fishing trips across North America, documenting these pursuits to educate the public on wildlife harvest and culinary preparation.
Did Laura Schara study broadcasting in college?
No, Laura Schara graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in Retail Merchandising and Fashion Design.
She later integrated this formal education into commercial lifestyle styling, brand consulting, and outdoor television production, leveraging visual design principles to enhance field storytelling.
The Enduring Impact of Regional Outdoor Storytelling
Laura Schara represents a key bridge between the heritage traditions of North American sporting culture and modern lifestyle-driven media. By prioritizing conservation, firearms safety, elevated wild-game culinary arts, and accessible outdoor recreation, her body of work continues to influence how outdoor stories are told across television and digital platforms. Whether through seasonal broadcasts on Minnesota Bound or live field events, Schara's contributions emphasize that the sporting life is accessible, creative, and intrinsically tied to the stewardship of our shared wild spaces.
