A Woman Hunter’s Journey: It’s All In The “W”

When my good friend and fellow angler, hunter and wildlife conservationist, Chester Moore, invited me to be a regular contributor to the Texas Fish & Game newsletter, I asked myself, why not? As I thought about what I wanted to write about in my first article, it struck me that so much of my journey into hunting and conservation falls into the realm of the “w’s.”

I look forward to sharing stories and exploring more concepts in future articles, but today I’ll explore the why in my decision to learn to hunt and share some information about the world of Women in Hunting™ and of the Wild Sheep Foundation’s Women Hunt™ Program.

Listen to Renee Thornton and Chester Moore talking more about Women Hunt on the latest edition of Higher Calling Wildlife.

I grew up in rural Alberta, Canada amongst a family of farmers. While I spent much of my childhood on my relatives’ farms learning about grain farming and animal husbandry, hunting was never a topic of conversation. Upon reflection, I can only imagine that it wasn’t a topic deemed suitable for women in my very traditional family. All I mean to illustrate by this is that when, at the tender age of 45, I decided to learn to hunt, I truly believed that I was on my own and knew no one who could possibly support me on my journey as a solo, female, adult-onset hunter.

My why was initially all about wanting to learn to hunt to source my own protein. I knew enough about farming environments that I had already started to source meat from small, local producers but in my mind, I kept fighting the idea that hunting would be the best way to do that for myself. Fear was the reason I pushed this idea aside for nearly a decade. I didn’t know where to start; I didn’t know anything about firearms – and I was afraid of them; I was terrified of making an animal suffer through a poor shot; I didn’t understand how to gain access to private lands or to safely navigate a crowded public land scenario; I was overwhelmed at the complex process of applying for tags and draws; and on and on.

One day I found myself exhausted at the end of yet another unfulfilling, unhappy corporate workday, and heard my inner voice tell me that I was, in fact, wholly capable of figuring this out. I experienced a breathtaking moment of clarity and realized that all I needed to do was make the commitment to myself, take the first step, and surrender to the uncertainty of what I was doing. I knew that if I remained focussed and determined, the rest of the (many) unknowns would reveal themselves. Sound a bit overwhelming? You’re right, it was.

The first 12-18 months of my experiences on this path were both exhilarating and exhausting, positive and negative, nurturing and discouraging. There were two times during that first stretch where I almost threw in the towel and declared an unconditional surrender. Thankfully, I’m a tenacious and persistent woman and I chose to persevere, and that decision changed my life…but that’s for another article.

I often think about the early part of my journey into the hunting world, and I understand that there are many women who might feel too discouraged and disheartened and will choose not to persevere. We all have our own stories and our unique life experiences which influence everything we do and it’s not for us to judge another’s journey, but it’s so important that we find a way to help women who might otherwise throw in the towel.

When we decide to take a course of action in our lives, we most often don’t know exactly where it will lead. But the when is so personal to our journeys that one must strive to not ignore the moment when our inner voice tell us, “It’s okay, you don’t have to have it all figured out, just take the first step!” If you’re reading this and thinking that this concept still feels overwhelming, the great news is that there is a whole, huge community all around you with a wide variety of awesome opportunities to learn, volunteer, build relationships and camaraderie, and more.

I have been truly blessed along my journey into hunting and from early on I’ve wanted to find a way to give back. In 2017, I became a member of an exemplary conservation organization, the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF), whose world headquarters are in Bozeman, Montana. WSF’s purpose is To Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain®.

The wild sheep of North America are my favorite species, and I believe the most majestic and iconic found in our landscapes. Through my membership with the WSF, I was asked by a past Chairman of the Board to lead a program for Women in Hunting™. I am privileged to chair the Wild Sheep Foundation’s Women Hunt™ Program and to lead a volunteer-based committee made up of smart, talented women who are passionate about engaging and helping more women cross barriers on their journey into fields and the mountains.

Apply For The Women Hunt 2022 New Hunter Program Here.

Last fall we kicked off the Women Hunt™ Program with the delivery of a New Hunter Course at the FTW Ranch in Barksdale, TX, where 12 women learned everything one needs to know to start hunting. You can learn more about the Women Hunt™ Program, the New Hunter Course, the successes of last year’s participants, along with your chance to be chosen for the 2022 course, by checking out our website, following us on Facebook and Instagram, and watching our content on our YouTube channel.

In upcoming articles, I look forward to talking about how one’s why can change over time, the critical role women play in wildlife conservation and preserving our hunting heritage, thorny topics including predator hunting, personal safety in hunting camp and finding a well-matched hunting mentor, as well as telling a few hunting stories along the way!

Renee Thornton (https://www.wildsheepfoundation.org/womenhunt)