Reasons why women hunt?

[choclabgirl]

So I am writing a term paper for my gender and communication class on women in the field and gender differences between men and women. I am interested on any input from ladies on why they hunt and possible reason that these may differ from men. Also how you were introduced to hunting and any stories you may have about being singled out because you are a woman. Thanks in advance for any responses.
Lauren

[S&P]

Hey Lauren. I'll give this a shot.

I hunt because I love the outdoors and anything that will get me out there. I also love the thrill of the hunt. It's probably like the thrill that some other women get when they find a pair of shoes on sale for half price, only it's much stronger I would think. I was introduced to hunting by my father when I was very young. He couldn't speak so my Mom would give him heck about going hunting alone. So, I started tagging alone and the love of the hunt has stuck with me all these years. (40) I am the only female that hunts in our club which has 12 members. We're all close friends and family, so none of the other members wives have any problem with me being there. But, if they did? Too bad, so sad. I don't give up the hunt. I was elected president of the club this year for a 3 year term.

The only difference that I've really seen between my methods of hunting and the men that I hunt with is, the amount of patience shown. I can sit on stand for most of the day but the guys don't seem to be able to do that. It's possible that it's just the men I hunt with. I'm sure there are plenty of men with more patience than I have.

Good luck with your paper.

[Atwater]

Lauren, I know you didn't ask for Men's perspectives, but as the husband of a woman who hunts, I thought I'd add my 2 cents.

My wife started walking with me while I hunted quail a few years ago. She had no knowledge of hunting, and no preconceived opinions for or against. She enjoyed the outdoors, the fresh air, the natural beauty, but was thrilled by the flushing of birds and the excitement and fun that I was having, so she went through the hunters safety course, and has been hunting ever since. She hunts dove, pheasant, quail and ducks. She likes duck hunting the most. I'm patient with her, as a new hunter, but just as hard on her if she makes a safety error as I'd be on a guy, which she insists on, but the fact is, women tend to not get their egos involved with new experiences, and in my opinion, are safer from the start if their training is good. I learned this many times over as a skydive instructor.

I asked Kim the questions you posted, and her answer was this: "I hunt because it gives me a feeling of appreciation for where food comes from, and a sense of accomplishment at knowing that I can take my place in the food chain with confidence."

With regard to being singled out, yes, it happens. I've been invited on several quail hunts on private property, but there never seems to be a slot for Kim. The fact is, some men think that women shouldn't hunt. It tends to be more prevalent with older hunters, but I see it also with young fathers who look forward to hunting with their sons, but for whatever reason, don't include their daughters.

I also think that a lot of men who's wives want to hunt, make the experience negative unconsiously, or consiously. They get hungup on the idea that they would be seen as less of a man if their wives hunt. Modern men sit in cubicles and perform "unmanly" tasks. Putting on camo and killing things gives them back a little of that primal animal, and makes them feel strong. Woman who hunt challenge that image, at least in their minds. (This is not a description of all men, just some)

For alot of men, however, hunting is their away time from work and family stress where they can unwind and be men (curse, fart, etc.) Kim says, "When men go hunting, they want to forget about work, the mortgage, all the stresses of life, and just hunt, where as some woman tend to spend that time talking about, and focusing on, all of those things."

[choclabgirl]

Thansk for the great insight so far and as Atwater did men are more than welcome to speak up and give there outlooks on this topic. So far I am on the same page and agree with what has been said and appreciate the replies, keep 'em coming.

[The BILL Collector]

Or.....
Why they should hunt.

To meet a good man.
Or to keep their man happy. http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-love-yellow.gif


http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-roll-eyes-fade-in.gif

[Jean]

Hi Lauren,

This is the short form. I hope this helps your research.

I loved going to the mountains (as I called them) when I was a kid. It was one of the few places I actually felt like I belonged in the world when I was growing up. I was dumb and stubborn and could not figure out how to get along with other kids. My dad taught me to fish when I was about 12 or so. I developed an interest in wild plants as food by reading and running around in the Santa Cruz mountains outside of Los Gatos when I was about 10. I cooked up cattails and day lily buds and cherry plums. Made blackberry and elderberry wine (with my parents permission). My hands can almost open the book "stalking the wild asparagus" to the right page without help from my eyes.
I set my interests aside when I met Todd toward the end of high school.
Years later my interests resurfaced as I stood next to the meat counter at Nob Hill Foods. I realized I had no connection to the life sacrificed within those little perfectly wrapped little packages. I guess I decided right there that it was necessary for me to have that connection, come joy or sorrow.
I joke about "getting in touch with the CroMagnon" in my psyche, but when I am hunting, I am so grateful and glad to be ALIVE. I belong and my soul is at peace.

As far as the singled out stuff, I have been told to my face "Women shouldn&#39;t fish." The guy who said it was greatly angered at the idea I should go out on his friends&#39; boat. I have heard other fishermen grumble (quite seriously) the reason we aren&#39;t catching fish is there is a woman on the boat. I have been called a murderer and had people ask me not to shoot them as part of a greeting at work. I have lost friends because I developed an interest in guns and reloading. I have been called a freak in that "imitation friendly haha I&#39;m not really joking" way.

There are always going to be people who hate me no matter what I do. I am prone to aggravating the situation by telling people things like, "vegetarians are morally superior because they kill living things that can not run away from them."

I have also had young men and women ask me about my limited experience. I tell them whatever I can. I think women are more approachable when people are worried that they might be asking a dumb question. To me, hunting is a tie to part of WHAT we are. It goes beyond the "who am I" personality stuff.

I hope my ramblings make some little bit of sense.

Jean

[choclabgirl]

Jean that was great and keep doing what you do and don&#39;t let people deter you from your path and beliefs. Thanks for the response.
Lauren

[Jean]

Thank you Lauren,
I am a very stubborn person. That is something that is not ever going to change about me.
There are many people out there who think it is perfectly okay to act with rude prejudice toward a person who hunts. A prevalent view seems to be that women are only nurturers and should not participate in other portions of the cycle of life (even though we do, and always have done so).

I posted my pig hunt story from last year in one of the latest WU ranch topics in the pig hunting forum. I don&#39;t know if that would help your research or not.
Good luck with your paper. Please consider posting it here when you finish.
Jean

[AnewBigDaddyB]

http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley_stir_pot_ani.gif my first ever experience with a female hunter was as an adolescent. She would come out each season to my uncle&#39;s father in law&#39;s ranch to shoot dove.
she was a quite large woman, worked for a rural post office, and loved to shoot dove, and I was her bird dog!
She loved it, I never had the insight to ask her why, I just knew what she enjoyed, and I today now know what that was.
Just being out in the fields, nature, and waiting for these birds to descend upon our so-called blind, and bang away at their darting acrobatics!
The next female I encountered was my aunt&#39;s sister, she would drive me all over the ranch in the jeep for me to shoot rabbits and squirrels.
she was a beauty, young, older than I of course, but, a young woman raised on the ranch and in as close to nature as possible.
She didn&#39;t actually hunt that much, but, had plenty of insight to it all. Loved to eat and help prepare the various game we harvested.
Finally, I met a fellow JHO&#39;er and his wife, she&#39;s as adamant about hunting as most men I&#39;ve hunted with, plus she trains her dogs, a most untraditional breed of bird dog as well, but, I did see and witness the prowess of this dog, a doberman pinscher!
This lady loves the uplands as much as I, we shared a few conversations regarding it, and it took only one to come to this conclusion!
I am an older hunter, from the "old school" so to speak, and I have my reservations towards the concept of women hunters, however, reality does surmize the obvious, that this sport is one of many that women can partake of just as well as a man, just to the typical male/female constraints there may be.
But, for the most part, the ability to shoot, learn the traits, habits of the game to be pursued, naturally a woamn can accomplish it all!
There&#39;s been more than one occasion the thought has run through my mind that I surely would rather spend the night after a long day hunting with my wife or a hunting woman rather than the crusty farts I&#39;ve been sharing the uplands with! Enabling the addtional natural joys of life we&#39;ve come to know in the fields or in the so-called norm?
Why womaen hunt has to be quite similar to why men hunt, the fun of it, and all it brings. It&#39;s a great sport and way to spend time, quite similarly to any other endeavor we choose to partake of, be it skiing, rafting, billiards, and yes, even the guys like to SHOP, we just buy a whole lot of different stuff, usually?

[gottahunt]

Another male perspective. I have 2 daughters. I have taken them camping since they were babies and when I started to hunt, I tried to get them involved. The older daughter loved to shoot (still does), and was excited to try hunting. When she actually shot a bird she decided hunting wasn&#39;t for her. I thought that would be the end of it since my younger daughter not only didn&#39;t like the thought of hunting, but went so far as to call me a murderer!

She always liked to shoot and eventually decided to try hunting, (I know, I couldn&#39;t believe it either). She loves it. She loves the thrill of hearing birds flush, climbing a hill and seeing the beauty of her surroundings. And I think she enjoys her time with me, I know I cherish my time with her.

She is a senior now at UCSB. She hunts with me whenever she can. I am going to drop her an e-mail and ask her to respond to this post. If she replies, I will post it under my name.

[gottahunt]

I wrote my daughter an e-mail and asked her to respond. With much trepidation, I submit her un-edited reply. http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley_prayin_ani.gif

Well, I think it&#39;s the one thing that only me and you do together. I mean we used to have volleyball too. You came to every game, and if you couldn&#39;t make it you came to my practice, and all of that while living at least forty minutes away. I rarely get to come home anymore because of work and I miss you a lot. I like spending time with you even if it means I have to get out of bed before the sun and walk up mountains. Plus, I do like running around with a gun blasting crap out of the air with Vim sprinting around like he&#39;s on crack. Basically I&#39;m saying I hunt for the same reason as the boys, I like shooting things. Oh, and did I mention I&#39;m usually the only girl out there? I&#39;ve only met two other girls in my life that hunt. Which means it&#39;s rare and therefore hot. Most guys I know haven&#39;t even shot a gun. I shoot a 12 gauge shot gun, that makes guys mouths drop. I&#39;m a tomby and I will always be a tomboy, and I think that&#39;s you&#39;re fault for not having any sons.

You can edit and post what you want. I&#39;m not sure if "crap" is appropriate for the website. Anyways, I love you and we are going hunting over Christmas break. I&#39;ll let you know when I&#39;ll be coming home!

[Scrapper]

I grew up in a family of hunters, so it was instilled in me you could say.

I especially have disdain for coyotes, and revel in their demise.

[dw33]

Interesting topic.

[7mm RM]

Not to many women hunters. For a guy to find one who would share the passion for hunting, fishing and being outdoors would be a real treasure. http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-jhp-rocks.gif

[Big 17]

Starting to wish I could go to school at UC Santa Barbara!

[7mm RM]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Big 17 @ Jan 17 2007, 11:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=806205)</div>
Starting to wish I could go to school at UC Santa Barbara![/b]
http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-laugh-point-up-yellow.gif
And Mr. Dad says http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-chainsaw-left.gif