From the title, something tells me you can guess what this article is going to be about. Ladies + hunting. What you may not know is the direction I am about to take. I recently had my first successful deer hunt (YAY) which also just so happened to be a hunt that was dedicated to just ladies. I can tell you all my lessons learned or maybe some funny stories, but since many of us have spent lots of time outdoors, I am sure you have your own.
Let's cover the importance of camaraderie for ladies in hunting instead.
Allyship is really important y'all. There is no denying it. However, what I found to be extra yummy was hunting alongside my fellow ladykin. This particular hunt was pretty cool stuff because women guided women. I have to admit that after being in the woods a lot with men, it's more my comfort zone.
It can be nice to have men help pull or carry or fix things. While I would never question a woman’s ability to hunt just as well as a man, my experience lacked here and so did my confidence. However, I found it very refreshing to not only learn from women, but to learn in a different way for myself.
You see, when I was 1:1 with a woman, I felt more responsible for what I was doing. Prince Charming wasn’t about to swoop in and save the day for us. We had to put that cape on and save ourselves. Which was good, really good. Plus, since we are both girls we could chit-chat about all our experiences in the woods and truly understand the other’s experience. Every time I am in the woods, I learn how capable I am.
This time, I got to see firsthand how capable my fellow women were. Let me tell you, these ladies can hunt!
Let’s admit it, as a new hunter and a new lady hunter, it can be hard to learn all the things. Who knew there were zones and dates and types of guns and ammo and the figuring out of winds and patterns – whew! I mean, it's a full-time job and I need some sort of checklist here, people!
Finding a group that can commiserate can be helpful. That is one of the many reasons why MissPursuit is incredible. Cute little tips and tricks along the way make life easier and make life more fun. The women I met were kind, supportive, and encouraging. Knowing the challenges that you have faced is not just yours, and then solutioning those problems for future generations – there’s magic in that.
The moral of the story? Seek out other women. Share your experiences.
Hunting is a beautiful thing that can be shared with family and friends. The sense of gratitude and appreciation for the animal, for the Earth, and for the opportunity is simply my fav. Don’t give up because you will succeed and when you do it will be worth it.
Three cheers to the NWTF in North Florida for allowing me and other ladies to learn and grow.
