The Value Of Female Hunters

[Alexandro Faria]

Hi guys and gals,

This week I have the pleasure of writing on a topic I really feel strongly about- it was recently national Woman's Day here in RSA and I want to do something to commemorate that with everything that's been going on lately.

I hope you all enjoy it. As always, please feel free to let me know what you think!

Cheers,
Alex

 

[BeeMaa]

My wife with her Kudu, taken with a high neck shot at 100 yards in May 2019.
She used a Savage Lady Hunter 270WIN with a Trijicon 4-16x50.
One shot and it never took another step.
She is my hunting inspiration.

 

[Newboomer]

Women are as capable, if not more so, as we men. They just need the chance to develop the skills. I'll bet a marriage would be much happier if both shared hunting experiences.

Oh, I know what some are thinking. "She's a woman. She can't do it. Women aren't supposed to do ----." How do you know that without giving her a chance and teaching her just as someone taught you. You might be in for an ego bashing if she might have a natural ability and show you up shortly.

Case in point is my daughter. As a kid she picked it up naturally and can shoot nearly as well as I can now regardless of caliber. We talked about going to RSA and I hauled out my 375HH. She'd never shot anything bigger than a 22 rifle before we went to the range. After a couple rounds to get used to the recoil she had a 3 inch group at 100 yds off the sticks. Surprised the hell out of me. Recoil doesn't phase her. Anything I give her it's the same, 223 to 375, 9mm, 45, 44 mag or 12 guage.

So, give your ladies a shot, no pun intended, and you might be pleasantly surprised. I'm speculating you'll have a new hunting partner. Just be aware that she might confiscate your gun(s) for herself.

.

 

[Alexandro Faria]

Women are as capable, if not more so, as we men. They just need the chance to develop the skills. I'll bet a marriage would be much happier if both shared hunting experiences.

Oh, I know what some are thinking. "She's a woman. She can't do it. Women aren't supposed to do ----." How do you know that without giving her a chance and teaching her just as someone taught you. You might be in for an ego bashing if she might have a natural ability and show you up shortly.

Case in point is my daughter. As a kid she picked it up naturally and can shoot nearly as well as I can now regardless of caliber. We talked about going to RSA and I hauled out my 375HH. She'd never shot anything bigger than a 22 rifle before we went to the range. After a couple rounds to get used to the recoil she had a 3 inch group at 100 yds off the sticks. Surprised the hell out of me. Recoil doesn't phase her. Anything I give her it's the same, 223 to 375, 9mm, 45, 44 mag or 12 guage.

So, give your ladies a shot, no pun intended, and you might be pleasantly surprised. I'm speculating you'll have a new hunting partner. Just be aware that she might confiscate your gun(s) for herself.

.

I'm glad that there are other hunters that share the same sentiment. My experience of female hunters is that once they get into it, they're deadly. Women are usually better listeners (generalization, I know) and thus learn a little faster.

They also shoot really well, as a general rule- I'm always weary of female shooters that walk up to the stand when I'm shooting sporting as more often than not, I'm about to be put to shame.

Best relationship I've had (my current) is with someone who loves hunting as much as I do. It's realy under rated.

 

[Jfet]

The very heart and sole of all things good that comes from the Dallas Safari Club is because of the women that are involved. Fortunately, there are enough wise men in DSC that will say "Yes, Dear" and then tote that box to where it needs to be.

 

[BeeMaa]

On being embarrassed by a woman...

My best friends wife is an attractive woman.
Blonde hair, nice figure and very outgoing...a pleasure to be around.
We all go to the skeet/trap/clays range where all the guys start to stare at her.
You can see them making comments to each other about her potential shooting skills.
The clays start flying at the first stand and she breaks all 4...now the jaws really drop.
She will usually finish with a score above 20 out of 25, eclipsing most other shooters.
We just chuckle and head to the next game.

Nothing more attractive than a woman who knows her way around a firearm.

 

[WAB]

My wife with her 2019 buffalo. She is with me on every Safari!

 

[Timbo]

My wife with her Kudu, taken with a high neck shot at 100 yards in May 2019.
She used a Savage Lady Hunter 270WIN with a Trijicon 4-16x50.
One shot and it never took another step.
She is my hunting inspiration.
View attachment 362980

Great article!! I hope more people (ladies certainly!) would take up the sport. Whether it's competition shooting or sport hunting, shooting/hunting really poses no barrier - to sex, age or disability - for anyone to successfully participate and enjoy it. My daughter enjoys hunting with me and has taken PG in Zimbabwe, but the trophy she likes best is her NT buff taken with my Ruger M77 .30/06:

 

[BigSteve57]

Hi guys and gals,

This week I have the pleasure of writing on a topic I really feel strongly about- it was recently national Woman's Day here in RSA and I want to do something to commemorate that with everything that's been going on lately.

I hope you all enjoy it. As always, please feel free to let me know what you think!

Cheers,
Alex

Alex - thanks for this wonderful post. It was my wife that got me started in hunting as I was the city boy that married the farmer's daughter. Without her I probably wouldn't have experienced what has become a life long passion of hunting and competitive shooting. We've both tried to do our parts by volunteering for the local Woman On Target and other classes with my wife serving as a line coach and me serving either as a line coach and/or safety officer (I'm a certified NRA RSO).

After all this time observing first time shooters, young & older, male & female, my wife and I are not being gratuitous when we say: "Shoot like a woman IF YOU CAN". She even has a T shirt with that emblazoned on it.

Thanks again.
Steve

 

[cpr0312]

It is great to see more and more female hunters every year for sure!!

 

[BeeMaa]

Thankfully the industry has started to move beyond "pink it and shrink it".
Everything from firearms to clothes & gear are being made specifically for women.

 

[AZDAVE]

When we were dating my wife went with me on my first safari in 2013. She was planning on going out with me for a couple days and doing all the non hunter things. The first kudu she spotted in her binoculars and you couldn't pry her away from going out each day. She had never hunted before there was two lady's in camp that were hunting and they asked her what she was going to hunt. Long story short she took a nice impala and was hooked. We were married on our second safari in 2015. On the last two safaris she shot more kritters than me. I have a hunting buddy that is adventurous and I enjoy watching her joy on each new hunt. It is great that more ladies are going afield and there are those of us guys that are lucky enough to be going with them.

 

[Ragman]

Agree with all the above. I convinced mine to get her first whitetail tag in 2017. She has shot 3 bucks now in 3 years with 3 shots. This year she will try for #4 and her first mule deer as well. Newboomer mentioned how they’ll claim you’re rifle...he’s bang on. In 2014 I bought myself a .243 as a birthday present. I barely got to use it when she took it over. Now it’s “her” gun! She also came with me on my 2nd Safari and was there when I shot my dream Kudu. The following pic is her 2019 buck which was the first one that I didn’t see her shoot. The four of us were in the blind together until my stepson and I had to meet my Dad at the corral as we needed to sort calves for the auction. The corral is less than a half mile from our blind and only took a couple of minutes to drive there. Just as I pulled up I got a text from her saying that she’d just shot and I needed to go back! I didn’t really believe her, but back we went. On arrival we found her and my stepdaughter trying to find blood. Minutes later I found her buck dead after a perfect shot from my “former” .243! I was upset that I missed seeing it, but very proud!

 

[Fred Gunner]

You can't Cuddle with a Kudu...

 

[rinehart0050]

Great article and totally agree with all your points.

I'm lucky enough to have a wife that loves hunting as much as I do. Here she is with her gemsbok:

Also, my Mom joined us on our NZ hunt and ended up shooting her first animal ever at the age of 67!