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Jesse's Hunting > Hunting Articles > The Diana Factor (Women in the Field) > What's Different About Today's Hunter
What's Different About Today's Hunter
Julia Lloyd - JHO Pro Staff
February 06, 2004
As I join the check in line I can feel the eyes of the other hunters on me. Don’t get me wrong, they are always polite, never stare outright and usually treat me with respect. Some smile and wish me luck, other use discrete sideways glances. I am just not what they usually see. I am female.
I keep hearing that women are joining the ranks of hunters in record numbers, but so far I have yet to see many in the field. Obviously, my fellow hunters don’t see that many either, that is why they look.
What they don’t know is I am looking back. What I see sort of fascinates me. Today’s hunter is not the old Hollywood stereotype of yesteryear. Today’s hunter is something else entirely.
Today’s hunter is usually carrying several electronic gadgets in his pack. Many hunters use GPS devices these days. This helps them track zone boundaries, property lines and paths taken (so they can get there and back again). This also makes it easy to find those secret spots again year after year, even when the landscape has changed.
Range finders are another popular item. Knowing how far the shot is helps to decide when to shoot and when to move in closer.
FRS band radios have become popular with those hunting as a team. I myself have a waterproof set that my hunting partner and I use. Most of them offer a two-mile line of sight range, along with other functions such as silent mode, hands free operation, and weather band.
Even the clothing has gone high tech with micro-weave synthetic fibers and scent blocking features. All these items are made portable, weather resistant and compact to fit into even the smallest packs. Even the packs are camo patterned and waterproof.
Today’s hunter is more often than not a computer owner. Many make online purchases or read online hunting related sites (like this one). This allows hunters to connect with like-minded people, research gear, and comparison-shop for the best price. The "wired" hunter also has the opportunity to learn from other hunters who they may never meet in person. This online forum, Jesses Hunting and Outdoors has over 7,000 active members (as of this writing), and an incredible 300,000 plus posts. Hunters have embraced the Internet as the new communications medium. It's not at all uncommon to overhear hunters exchanging email address instead of phone numbers.
Today’s hunter has more information available then ever before. With online topographical maps, hunting regulations and weather tracking, a hunter can hit the field more prepared than ever to meet the challenges of the outdoors.
When I was growing up the men of my family hunted. I was never invited to join in the hunt, but I always invited to go and camp while they hunted. I never saw much gear beyond the warm clothes, rifles and ammo. I am pretty sure that my father hunting in the same plaid shirt and overalls that he always wore. It kind of makes me smile to think of him in Mossy Oak Breakup insulated bibs with Scent Loc technology radioing in his coordinates to my brother on the FRS radio.
Times have changed. To many hunters, I'm sure I (and others of my gender) represent those changing times to them. But then again, as I watch another hunter armed with radio and GPS approach the check-in window... they do the same for me.
Ed. Note - Julia will be playing with gadgets and gear again at this year's SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Be sure to check in next month to see what she's found!
~ Julia Lloyd
JHO field writer & pro staff
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