Thoughts and Lessons from the Woods: A Woman’s Take

It's no secret that the hunting world is still largely male-dominated. Historically, that made sense—in early human societies, men were primarily the hunters and providers, venturing into wild and dangerous terrain to bring home food, while women stayed behind to care for the children and manage the home front. But society has evolved, and today, women are stepping confidently into the woods, rifles on our shoulders and bows drawn, joining a tradition that’s no longer bound by gender.

I’m proud of the strides we’ve made. Women in hunting are no longer an anomaly; we’re a growing, passionate part of the outdoor community. Still, being a woman in this space comes with its fair share of challenges.

Raise your hand if you’ve heard:
"Sorry, hun, no girls on this hunt."

"This is a guy’s only trip to deer camp."

“Do you even know how to gut that deer?”

“Why are you wearing so much makeup to go trudge around in the woods? You just want attention.”

 

The truth is, being a woman of the outdoors often means dealing with assumptions and gatekeeping—from both men and sometimes, sadly, even other women. But over the years, I’ve learned a few things that have helped me push through noise and pursue a rewarding hunting lifestyle, and I’d like to share them with you.

 

1. If you want to be a hunter, be one.

Fortunately, I grew up in a hunting family, but I understand it can be intimidating to start brand new if you’re not brought up in this lifestyle. But, for newcomers, just know the barrier to entry is just as much mental as it is social. Don’t be afraid to step up to the plate. Don’t fade into the background while others take the lead – just take the leap and join the game. Practice. Learn. Lead. If you want to see change in the hunting world, be that change. The right people will respect you for it and help you on your journey. And if they don’t? They’re not the ones you want to learn from anyway.

 

2. Educate yourself.

Knowledge is power—and in hunting, it’s confidence. Learn everything you can: animal behavior, habitat, ethics, tracking, gear, and safety. Confidence grows from knowledge—and in this world, that’s everything. I’ve learned most of what I know by just getting out there and doing it. And let’s be honest—there’s nothing more satisfying than holding your own in a conversation or in the field, especially when someone wasn’t expecting you to.

 

3. Build a solid community.

Find people who love the outdoors as much as you do and who support your journey. Whether it’s family/friends, local hunters, online groups, or women-specific workshops, being around others who share your passion (and lift you up) makes all the difference.

 

4. It’s okay to hunt alone – it’s actually pretty enjoyable.

If you're told a hunt is “just for the guys” or you want to get into the woods and noone is available, don’t let it stop you. Go alone. Scout your own spot, hike solo, and stay safe. It might feel unsettling at first—especially walking in before daylight with eyes staring back at you through your headlamp—but you become more comfortable in time. There’s power in doing it on your own, and you'll grow because of it.

 

5. Wear whatever you want. It does not matter.

Some days, I want to put in the energy to wake up, do my hair and makeup, and look like a girly girl in the woods to show that it’s okay to hunt and look cute doing it. Some days, I roll out of bed, throw my hair in hat, grab my bag and hit the road. Whether you go in full glam with Sitka gear, or with no makeup in a hand-me-down suit that your dad wore in the 70s, it literally doesn’t matter. It doesn’t affect your skill level. Women should support each other, not tear each other down. If you want to look nice—great. If not—fantastic. Hunt your way, be kind to others, and never apologize for how you show up. You are uniquely you. Own it.

 

6. Lead by Example—Because Others Are Watching

I have a story for you.

One year, while browsing the aisles of Tractor Supply in search of a Christmas gift for my 5-year-old niece, I came across something that got me pretty pumped, a hunting-themed barbie doll set. It came complete with a doll dressed in camo, a deer, a blind, a pair of plastic rattling antlers, a toy rifle, and even a little tree stand. I couldn’t have been more excited (arguably more excited to play with it than my niece). She hadn’t been out in the woods with me just yet, but she had always shown a genuine interest in hunting—watching me prepare for hunts and process my own deer, and actively asking questions and wanting to learn. So, I thought this was the perfect gift.

Come Christmas morning, she tore the wrapping paper off and couldn’t open the box fast enough. We cleared a space in the living room and set up a mini hunting scene with the fuzzy carpet doubling as a forest floor. I took the toy deer and pretended it was walking under the stand she had carefully positioned near the Christmas tree.

What unfolded next is a memory I will never forget.

Without a word from me—no coaching, no prompting—she set her Barbie in the tree stand, picked up the plastic antlers, and began rattling. I didn’t even know she knew what those were for, but she did. She’d just been watching me for years. Learning. Absorbing.

So, I walked the toy deer into the clearing right underneath the stand. She carefully set down the antlers, lifted the toy rifle, and shouted, “BANG!” Barbie had her first successful harvest.

But it didn’t stop there.

She climbed her doll down from the stand, walked over to the deer, and said, “Thank you for being food for my family”. Then, she grabbed a piece of ribbon from the pile of torn wrapping paper, tied it around the deer’s neck, and dragged it across the carpet to her brand-new, remote-controlled Ford F-150—gifted from Pap. She tied the deer to the truck bed, drove it under the coffee table (our makeshift garage), hung the deer up, and said, “okay, time to peel the deer!” What she calls “peeling” it— is her term for skinning, which I’ve now coined as the term for skinning that I will use forever. How cute is that? 

Once Barbie finished “peeling” her deer, my niece announced, “Alright, now we need to cut it up and bag it so we can make some soup!”

I sat there, completely still (and actually a little teary-eyed), watching it all unfold—this entire hunting sequence, recreated in the imagination of a six-year-old girl, entirely on her own. It wasn’t just cute, it blew my socks off and brought a lot to my attention.

In that moment, I realized that the gift of a simple Barbie doll in camo was an outlet for a little girl into the beginning stages of a lifestyle and tradition that’s been passed down in our family for generations, and she’s learned everything she knows just by watching me. I am the gateway.

Whether you're aware of it or not, you’re paving the way for someone watching. Every time you show up with confidence, kindness, and knowledge, you break down a little more of the invisible wall that still keeps some women out. And, who knows, maybe someday you will get the reward of a moment like that: a little girl, rattling plastic antlers and thanking a toy deer, already understanding the heart of hunting—taking what she’s learned from you and dreaming of the day she’ll get to do it for real. I’ll be the first to admit, there isn’t a much better feeling than that.

It’s not about being the loudest voice in the room or the most seasoned hunter in camp. It’s about showing up and living the lifestyle with authenticity and heart, no matter if you’re a man or a woman. It’s about modeling respect—for nature, for tradition, and for yourself—because others are watching and looking for a way in. Be the gateway.

 

In Conclusion:

The woods doesn’t judge your gender, your outfit, or your experience level. What truly matters is the respect you show—the appreciation for the land, the game, and your fellow hunters. That respect goes deeper than appearances or assumptions. It’s earned with grit, humility, and a willingness to keep learning.

Every experience, whether tough or triumphant, has happened for a reason. It’s all been part of the process—one that’s made me stronger, more knowledgeable, and more grounded in who I am and why I hunt. Growth doesn’t come easy, and it shouldn’t. The lessons you learn on your own are the ones that stay with you the longest.

For me, hunting is about more than the harvest. It’s about carrying forward a tradition that shaped our species, sharing my harvests with family and friends, and finding clarity in a world that often moves too fast. It’s about understanding that we share this vast, beautiful earth with countless other creatures—and respecting that connection.

Some of my best memories live out there under tall hemlocks and in quiet tree stands. They’re not just about tags filled, but about early morning sunrises, solo walks, small wins, and stories that will be told around campfires for years to come.

So, to every woman drawn to the wild—keep going. Keep learning. And know that your path, however it is winding, is your own. It will make you better. It will make you whole. And you absolutely belong here.