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Hello All, I got this off of one of my ladies websites dedicated to hunting and thought it would interest the guys here. This was a nice article I thought, and was published in a newspaper. There was a lot of back lash, as expected. Perhaps some of you would be inclined to write this paper about your brainwashing techniques??? Here is what a local hunter wrote on the ladies website: The article below really stirred the pot in my area. People wrote letters to the editor to tell them how "men" were brainwashing women to take up hunting because sporting goods shops wanted to sell more equipment and other nonsense -- Yikes! This is my first post and I've enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, shooting & hunting since I've been a youngster. -- It's good to know that you all are out there and enjoying the sport. Great group, been enjoying the posts. Lots of good info here. I believe that being a "hunter" means more than just being a shooting lots of shells and will continue to enjoy the outdoors whatever the season. So like a friend told me this week -- keep your hands and the barrels warm. XXXX Medford, NJ Now here is the newspaper article: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Women hunt and find peace through sport http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-12142003-212606.html By LAUREN JANIS (Email: ljanis@phillyburbs.com) Burlington County Times It was sunny and brisk Friday morning and Kathy Smith went for a walk on a wooded trail. Like many women who take a daily constitutional, the 42-year-old mother of four from Shamong was out for fresh air, exercise and quiet time alone. Yet unlike many women, Smith did not carry a Walkman. Instead, she carried a shotgun, because she was also out for deer. "Nothing is more peaceful," said Smith, who has been hunting for more than 10 years. "I'm not doing laundry, I'm not cooking, I'm not home hearing 'Mom, Mom, Mom.' I'm just outside, by myself and it's relaxing." Smith is among a minority. Nationwide, only 9 percent of hunters are female, said Mark Damien Duda, executive director of Resource Management, a Va.-based research firm specializing in nature and outdoors issues. Following those percentages, of New Jersey's nearly 140,000 licensed hunters, there are about 12,600 women hunters in the state. Smith said there's no reason why that number shouldn't grow. "For years and years it was a man thing," said Smith, who works at the Sportsmen's Center in Bordentown Township. "Now it's becoming something that women are doing." Smith was introduced to hunting by a boyfriend. It was after her husband was killed by a drunken driver, and she was intrigued by the sport and liked the idea of being able to provide for her family. Yet she was initially met with skepticism, as men assumed she wouldn't know how to handle her weapon or would get squeamish. Her first time out, she admits she was a noticeable neophyte, wearing pink sneakers, jeans and an orange vest. Her boyfriend and his hunting buddies were driving deer in her direction. "They said, 'Stand here and if it has horns, shoot,' " she said. "Suddenly, there it was and I hit it. I wasn't out 10 minutes and it was my first time. He was a four-point and I had him mounted." She was hooked. Smith now hunts with shotgun, muzzle-loader and bow. She still occasionally gets surprised looks when she tells people she's a hunter - "they look at you like you have two heads," she said - but now the guys know and respect her. Of course, hunting for her might be a little different than it is for men. Sometimes her children call her cell phone when she's up in a tree. Sometimes she takes a break from her tree stand to shuttle one child to dance class and another to soccer practice. Sometimes, she feels like she's in it more for the enjoyment of nature than the thrill of the kill. "It's not all about harvesting," she said. "There are times when I've had a good shot and I've just sat there and watched. Deer are beautiful animals. Sometimes I just like being outside." To introduce women to outdoor sports, the state Division of Fish and Wildlife runs Becoming an Outdoorswoman classes. Part of a nationwide program, the state classes draw about 500 women each year to learn about hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. From there, women can become involved in the N.J. Outdoor Women's League, based in Somerset County. Cathy Blumig, the group's president, said the goal is to help women make the transition from the state program to participation on their own. She said it helps women get involved. "It's still not terribly widespread but it's growing," she said. "Women are making up a larger percentage of the hunting population." Blumig hunts deer, wild turkey and rabbits and, last week, hunted bear. She said the only meat that reaches her dinner table comes from what she hunts. She started hunting with her dad as a child, and remembers the first rabbit she hit. "There was anticipation and some regret," she said. "It's quite a feeling. You feel bad, because you don't want to see anything die, but there is pride and relief at having done well." She said she still feels those mixed emotions. "There's always regret," she said. "I feel bad for the animal." Smith said she feels the same way. She loves animals, respects nature and is the kind of person who will slow her truck for a passing squirrel. Yet she knows deer are overpopulated and she'd rather see them on her dinner table than killed by a car. Yet she said it's always hard to watch an animal die. "I think it's the mother in you," she said. "Men don't share that. I don't think they do." These days, Smith said she usually hunts alone. By next year, however, her 11-year-old daughter should be licensed and ready. Smith said she also knows wives of some hunters who also are planning to give it a try. She hopes they like what she likes about hunting: the confidence, the challenge, and the peacefulness of sitting up in a tree and watching the forest below. "When you're sitting up there and the wind blows and the tree starts swaying a little, it's like a rocking chair," she said. "It's just so relaxing. It doesn't even matter if you hit a deer. Any day is a good day that you're outside." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I plan to drop that newspaper an email speaking my mind. I am greatful they published something positive about hunting. How about some of you also doing so? | ||
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Ann, that's koool. Every woman that I taught to shoot, hunt, and fish wanted to a whole lot more than I could plan for. They wanted the big trips after they got hooked. Ya never know. | |||
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Interesting, it was my Grandmother who taught me how to shoot a rifle and hunt as my Dad was always gone and my Grandfather was too busy with the cows. | |||
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Great post. Thanks for sharing. E | |||
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Great post , recomended reading for the other occupants in the house . Nothing but ladies running around here except me . Should someone have the desire to hunt , it should not be denied . | |||
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Annie, did you ever get your chicken killing fox? | |||
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Not yet, now that we have some snow I will begin patterning him. Also have a friend who will help with a call. Good winter project if you ask me. | |||
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Great article, I will e-mail the paper. And as for the "mother" thing, I always feel a little regret for the animal, so it's not just a woman thing, even if some guys won't admit it. But as she said, better on the dinner table, than the side of the road. DGK | |||
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Ann-of-a-Thousand-Insights strikes again! Thank you for the article. Will try to pass it on to others as well. | |||
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Deja Vu I got my wife shooting 3D Archery because I really wanted (ooof, confession time) to get a new bow. She did VERY well and I thought for a bit she actually might want to shoot competitively (she kicks my butt). One day she said she wasn't that interested in shooting the 3D targets anymore. When I asked why, she told me it wasn't much fun because she didn't get to kill anything Well after making a mental note to NEVER EVER EVER get her pissed at me, I got her setup to hunt. She loves it. Heck I love it because now we have no problem filling the freezer with deer. She doesn't like to hunt with a gun (says it is no challenge) but always fills her tags during archery season (5 deer in our Texas county). Like all good husbands (remember, she said she liked to kill things) I clean and process all her deer for her. I count myself blessed to have a partner in life that is also my 'huntin buddy'! | |||
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