Some Philosophy on Hunting, Nature, and Women

[Guest Jersey_Girl_Hunts]

Good evening everyone.

I was reading through the "Funny Stuff That Happens While Hunting" post and was amused by some of the stories and incidents that were shared (except for Scary Porn-Tent Guy. Not amusing at all. Downright creepy, in fact).

In the thread, there was an undercurrent of assumed helplessness or "awe, cute, she hunts!" attitude on the part of men who hunt. It started me thinking about the nature of hunting, and of the physicality involved in hunting and that women (and men) are so uniquely adapted to be able to do this activity despite things that may limit their mobility or seem like a liability (gender, pregnancy, tending to young).

I really think its quite amazing, our capacity to adapt to surroundings to do the work involved in providing food. When it comes right down to it, hunting, although we enjoy it for many reasons, is about providing food. It is so wonderful that women and men can partake so meaningfully in such a basic life-sustaining activity, even after giving birth, as one man recounted in the story of his wife hauling in a doe just weeks after her child was born.

I enjoy hunting for so many reasons they are difficult to enumerate. I get to sit and be quiet and breathe clean air. I notice the patterns of tree bark, the sound of birdsong, the play of shadows in the woods as the sun traces its path along the sky. Sometimes I see the moon set and rise, exchanges places with the sun. Snowflakes do not melt the instant they land, and I can trace the intricacy of each unique shape as they fall on my clothes. And I can hear the snowflakes fall. And get this...I do not even have to come home with a deer on the hitch haul to feel like it was a good day of hunting.

I think it is the very connection to something primitive, to natural rhythms, and to attuning ourselves to the seasons and the dictates of survival that draws us all, male and female, to participate in hunting.

Perhaps one day more women will feel drawn to the hunt, and dispel some of the seemingly prominent views about women and hunting in the predominantly male hunting community. I personally hunt with a great group of men who are excellent teachers for me. But outside of my group, I do often encounter people who think it is either "cute" that I hunt with my boyfriend or think it is just a phase I am going through so he will stay interested in me. It is neither cute nor a phase; I have had a passion to be outside and wild since I was very young, as evidenced by the premature grays my mother swears I gave her everytime I would fall out of a tree.

I am not up on all of the hunting jargon; I have great respect for the appropriate amount of firepower for the appropriate kind of animal, but I do not keep myself up to date on the latest ballistics or weapons technology; I am a fairly straightforward, low-tech outdoorswoman who will adopt a technology that I find useful but leave off the extraneous gadgets that just add weight to my pack. So I suppose that my lack of knowledge or my reluctance to embrace most of the jargon or technology out there will always make me appear to be a novice to guys who ask me questions or try to "test" my knowledge about (and thus my dedication to) hunting.

How can I explain in few words that for me, hunting is more than gadgetry, guns, Gore-tex, and hitting my bag limit? That the deep connection I feel to the woods and the wild is something that transcends gender, and that being female, while possibly altering the experience in some ways, does not limit my outdoor experiences, and that a woman's dedication to hunting is as serious and necessary as any other hunter's?

I realize that there will always be a condescending voice, in any activity one chooses to pursue, a voice that expresses disbelief or is excessively fawning and protective. It is not necessarily a bad thing, and is usually motivated by a human desire to protect and to help, though sometimes for the wrong reasons. In some ways, it also erodes the realtionship of the hunter to her quarry and the environment, by implying that female-ness cannot equate to hunting, and thus survival. I see many, many bright spots, however. Starting with this board and the great people who have a lot of respect for each other's accomplishments and interests, regardless of age, gender, or ability. The best message we can give to new hunters, non-hunters, and the sport of hunting in general, is to foster a spirit of respect, to allow independence when desired, and to give help when asked.

[Guest TnLadyhunter]

Re: Some Philosophy on Hunting, Nature, and Women

Wow! Do you write for a living if not you could! That was one of the best write ups I have ever read!

[HuntnMa]

Re: Some Philosophy on Hunting, Nature, and Women

couldnt of said it better.........that was awesome.....

[mrswtnhunt]

Re: Some Philosophy on Hunting, Nature, and Women

That was great! I totally agree. I am the one that lifted the doe onto the front rack of my 4-wheeler less that 4 weeks after having a baby. Boy did my kids enjoy the tenderloin. I get such satisfaction in being able to provide such good food for my family.

Wish that people could understand us better. Way to go Jersey Girl...You said it perfectly!

[Guest Andrea]

Re: Some Philosophy on Hunting, Nature, and Women

Good stuff Jersey Girl. You should send that in to one of the hunting magazines.

[buckee]

Re: Some Philosophy on Hunting, Nature, and Women

[ QUOTE ]

Wow! Do you write for a living if not you could! That was one of the best write ups I have ever read!

[/ QUOTE ]

ditto ..can I say that?

We all love hunting for the same reasons, and you stated our case so well.

[wtnhunt]

Re: Some Philosophy on Hunting, Nature, and Women

That is great. Have to agree with Andrea, you should send that in to an outdoor magazine.

btw, Happy Birthday.

[Ravin R10 man]

Re: Some Philosophy on Hunting, Nature, and Women

Very well written, Id a said it in a sentance...its just me. but I felt I was swimming in quicksand reading that..you have a future if you want to be a Lawyer..LOL