It’s a common theme in the hunting world—and the gun world in general—to assume that it’s the man’s job to keep hunting traditions alive. It’s dad or grandpa who will take the kids into the woods to introduce them to all things hunting. It’s dad or grandpa who will teach the kids to shoot, clean deer and whatever else is required. And while it’s fantastic when the men in a child’s life are involved, it’s not just up to the guys to carry on hunting traditions. It’s for moms and other women, too.
Strong Female Role Models
As a shooter, hunter and mom, I get frustrated hearing others divide hunters into two groups: hunters and huntresses. While the term “huntress” might sound cool to some, it’s one I prefer to avoid. Hunters are hunters, end of story. That extends to the practice of teaching the next generation of hunters, too. Dad can do it, mom can do it, big sister can do it—as long as the skills are safely passed on, this can be accomplished by anyone.
For this article, the focus is on moms. Yes, I’m talking to you. The mom who thinks she can’t teach her kids to hunt because she herself never learned. The mom who does hunt but who steps back to let dad handle any and all hunting lessons with the kids. The mom who wants to be in the woods but gives in every time there’s outside pressure to “let the men handle it.”
Whether you have sons or daughters—and I have both—they need strong female hunting role models. Your kids need to know from personal experience that you can do it all: zero your rifle, go hunting, field dress a deer, drag it out and process the meat. While it’s great for these duties to be shared, it’s also a good idea to make it clear that you can do it yourself. We are not raising our kids to think women can’t hunt. We’re raising them to be confident that women can and should kick ass and take names in every aspect of their lives.
Moms, you should also be involved with taking the kids to the range, teaching firearm safety and walking them through the stages of zeroing optics. It isn’t just dad that can mount a scope or explain how to properly shoulder a rifle. Mom can, too.
For those who feel this means stomping all over gender roles, nothing could be further from reality. There’s a difference between bashing one gender over the other and simply making it clear you can stand on your own two feet—or sit in a hunting blind in freezing temperatures—just fine. Hunting has no gender. The deer don’t care who’s behind the gun, but this is something that does have an impact on your kids.
Learning Together
If you’re a mom who isn’t already a hunter, and if that’s what’s stopping you from taking your kids out, you’re in luck. Hunting doesn’t require an extensive skill set. You don’t need to channel Jim Shockey or Fred Bear in the woods. What you need is an understanding of firearms safety and the basics of shooting. Those are things you can learn by taking classes from a reputable source at a good range. There are also a lot of good books and magazine articles out there you can use to educate yourself.
Learning about your local hunting regulations and seasons is as easy as hitting Google. Every state now has its annual hunting guide online, making it simple to find out when, where and what you can hunt (and how many).
Going on an educational and learning journey with your kids to learn how to hunt is a fantastic idea. Your kids will see that you’re open to new things and that you’re willing to admit when you don’t know something, and that you take proactive steps to find out how. When you don’t know how to do something, you do what it takes to learn. That’s an invaluable lesson for our kids.
Not knowing how to hunt isn’t a reason to tell your kids “No.” Fix it. Learn how to hunt and help them learn, too.
Hunting: Your Alone Time
Yes, hunting is often one of the rare times to get some peace and quiet. Spending time in the woods is like church, and we cherish every moment. When you introduce kids to the mix, it becomes an entirely different experience, good and bad.
There’s nothing wrong with hunting alone. You need to be a relaxed, happy mom, and that means that your alone time just might take place in the woods. It’s absolutely possible to go hunting alone and also occasionally take your kids with you. You can take the time to make sure you get the best possible chance at your target buck, then take the kids out when you feel less pressure to fill your tags. Going hunting 10 times? Just take the kids once.
You can also use seasons when you wouldn’t typically hunt to teach your kids. That leaves your deer-chasing times for you alone (for now). Rabbits are a great starting point and ducks are a lot of fun because hunting them doesn’t require the same silence as deer. Don’t limit yourself to a single season. Just because deer are the most popular game to hunt doesn’t mean that’s what you must do. Whether you take your kids hunting for dove, deer, ducks, rabbits or hogs, it’s going to be a good time and a tradition worth having.
What Are We Upholding?
The traditions you’re trying to carry on with your kids depend on your family. Maybe you’re keeping the hunting going as it has been in your family for generations. Maybe you, like me, started your own hunting traditions. It doesn’t matter if it’s brand new or generations along, a tradition is tradition. It’s up to you to get things going and encourage your kids to do the same.
But You Don’t Want To Hunt
Maybe you truly do not want to hunt, but your kids do. Find someone safe and trustworthy to teach them and take them out. Just because hunting is not your thing, that doesn’t mean it can’t be good for your kids. Hunting teaches patience, kindness, ethics, responsibility, pride in a job well done and more. It teaches your kids to respect the animals they’re hunting and to go out and get their own food. If you’re really not interested, find someone you can count on to take the kids out for you.
Something that needs to change in the hunting industry is the idea that it’s a man’s world. It’s everyone’s sport, and it’s everyone’s world, and gender shouldn’t matter. Your kids are watching. Make sure you set a good example in every possible way, including taking them hunting.
One Hunting Challenge: Clothes and Gear
It can be a challenge to find hunting gear designed for women. Camo, boots, gloves—they’re largely created for men, and even the lines marketed to women can sometimes be subpar.
PHOTO CREDIT: IRISH SETTER
There are some companies with great products for women, though. These include Prois, Irish Setter, Kuiu, Cabela’s and Nomad. That said, there’s nothing wrong with wearing men’s camo and boots in the woods (or anywhere else). If you’re having trouble finding comfortable gear, venture into the men’s section. Do whatever it takes to camo up and have an excellent hunting season.
On the women’s side, Nomad’s Women’s Harvester NXT Jacket is a terrific option for crisp mornings in the deer stand. It’s currently offered in Mossy Oak Drop Tine, and there are pants available that go with it. As for boots, Irish Setter’s Women’s Vaprtrek eight-inch, 400-gram Hunting Boot is a nice choice when lightweight, comfortable boots are needed. The gear for you is out there, you just have to track it down. Consider it another type of hunt.
