By ProStaff Evin Damuth
Over the last year I have had the opportunity
to Pro-Staff for several outdoor companies. Through this experience I have
become friends with countless women who share such a strong passion for the
outdoors. It is because of this that led me to become interested in Huntress
View.
Huntress View is a community of
women who are passionate about hunting and wildlife, are outdoors any chance
they get and share their experiences. This community of women is coming together
for each other essentially. Founded by Andrea Haas, Huntress View tests outdoor
products designed for women, shares stories of successful and unsuccessful
hunts, recipes, and tips for women. This website is for anyone who is new to
hunting or who is a seasoned hunter. Since I’ve had the opportunity to be part
of their Pro-Staff I have made friends with wonderful ladies and learned things
myself. It is so wonderful to be able to create a network of women who want to
genuinely help other women get started!
With that being said, I have read numerous
articles from both men and women’s perspective of getting young girls and women
introduced to the outdoors. While the content of these articles are spot-on, I
wanted to share from my own perspective. Even though I have spent a few years
in the woods and have learned much, there are times when I need to remind my
fiancé or even my dad that I’m not as seasoned as they are. Here are my tips
for women who are interested in hunting this season:
1.
Don’t
have a pre-conceived idea of what it will be like. I think a lot of women have a bad
taste in their mouth for hunting because of what they think they know about it.
Who wants to smell like doe urine, sit immobile for hours, and get eaten alive
by mosquitos? Throw out all pre-conceived thoughts you have about hunting and
just go for it. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.
2.
You
don’t have to have the most expensive gear when you are just starting out. I can’t lie, I love Bass Pro as much
as anyone else does, and I’m always willing to splurge a little on hunting.
That’s because I know what I need and I may be hunting in frigid temperatures
all bow season long. If you’re getting started and are accompanying your
husband in a deer blind 150 yards from the feeder, don’t feel the need to spend
$100 on a pair of scent-proof gloves. Get the essentials and build from there.
3.
Be
patient. Be patient in
every area of hunting. Whether that means you’ve been sitting under the same
tree for three hours or you’re trying to learn archery. Be patient. It won’t
come easy, it requires work, patience, patience, and a lot of patience.
4.
Hunting
isn’t a beauty contest. I’m
a little guilty in this area! I still want to feel and look good when I go
hunting. But the reality is, the animals don’t care. Outdoor Channel may have
warped our thinking on this because who doesn’t want to look like Tiffany or
Eva posing next to their harvest? The reality is though, that we’re going
hunting, we’ll get dirty, sweaty, and hopefully draw some blood. Leave the
lipstick at home.
5.
Try
to be ‘present’ during the hunt. For
me, hunting is all about being away from stress, the phone and just spending
time with whoever I’m hunting with. Take time to enjoy the beauty of the nature
around you.
6.
You
don’t have to be as strong as the men. I
can’t pull back a 70 pound bow, load a buck in the back of my truck by myself
or move feeders. I need help, and that’s ok. That isn’t to say that as women we
are completely helpless or unable to hunt alone. I hope each year to be able to
do things I couldn’t the year before. Just know that we can take our own pace,
and that’s completely fine.
7.
Don’t
shoot out of your comfort zone because you feel pressured to. There have been numerous times when
dad and Cody have whispered, “Shoot it, shoot it, shoot it now,” and I haven’t.
What is a good distance or enough light for them might not be for me. I won’t
shoot unless I feel confident about the shot. Cody target shoots his bow at 100
yards; I haven’t even attempted that. Know your limits and comfort zone and
stick to it.
8.
You
may get criticized for trying a ‘manly’ sport. People always look at me surprised when I say I hunt.
Then when they find out I bow hunt suddenly I’m on a whole new level. Hey,
girls hunt. I know a lot of girls who hunt a lot better than some guys I know.
Hunting is easily a women’s sport just as much as a man’s sport now.
9.
Be
open to teaching moments. When
I first started hunting, there were a lot of tears. Frustration would get the
best of me. If you want to be serious about chasing game then you have to be
open to teachable moments. I’ll never know everything, and I will always have
something new to learn. If you’ve made a mistake just remember it and next time
improve from it.
10. Have fun, make
memories. For me, hunting
is where I make my best memories. I have moments where I feel so defeated, and
moments where I feel I can accomplish anything. The best part is that I get to
have those moments beside my dad and my fiancé. I can’t adequately describe the
feeling of walking down a blood trail with those who are the most special to
you and see what you were able to harvest. The hugs, the laughs, the happy
tears, it’s a complete package.
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