Getting Started – Mentors

Many hunters get their start by following their families into the woods, often starting at an early age. This seems to hold especially true for men. It is not uncommon for Dad or Grandpa to take the boys out hunting, sometimes before they could barely walk. Thus, for many hunters, hunting was just something they grew up with and they learned all of the ins and outs of it through years of immersion and experience. But what if you did not grow up exposed to this way of life? Or what if your Dad took your brothers out, but hunting was not something that girls did so you did not have the same experiences? How do you learn the ropes and start on your journey toward becoming a seasoned hunter?

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Finding a good mentor is an important part of learning how to be a skillful hunter. If you are lucky enough to have a family member who is willing and able to take you out into the woods, this is a great place to start. Fathers and brothers are often more than willing to introduce their daughters or sisters to hunting if they know they have an interest. Many women are introduced to hunting through boyfriends and husbands. These too can be excellent resources. If you have friends who hunt, ask if you can tag along. I find that most hunters are more than willing to share their knowledge and help newcomers to the sport. Just don’t expect them to share their sacred honey holes. These are usually closely guarded secrets!

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Many organizations offer mentoring programs to help newcomers develop a level of skill, comfort, and confidence in a safe, supportive, non-threatening environment. Here in Washington state, we have WOW (Washington Outdoor Women), which offers a wide variety of hands-on workshop opportunities to help women connect with the outdoors. Several states have BOW (Becoming an Outdoors Woman) programs, which are similar to Washington’s WOW. The NRA (National Rifle Association) also has programs geared toward women. As more women become involved in hunting and outdoor activities, the number of mentoring groups will continue to increase.

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In my next blog, I will talk about the qualities to look for in a good mentor. Stay tuned!