Posted on 11/02/2015 10:48:37 AM PST by w1n1
The guide for every man on exactly how to show a lady a miserable time in the woods
Women are joining the hunting ranks at a faster rate than men. But, we ladies still encounter a few problems when it comes to learning the sport. The No.1 problem for women going afield is trying to find places to hunt.
The No. 2 problem? You guessed it. It's you guys.
Don't get us wrong. We're not trying to man-bash. We love that you're willing to take the ladies in your lives hunting. But, sometimes you guys make mistakes big ones that may prevent us from wanting to ever hit the woods with you, or anyone else for that matter, ever again. If you truly want us out there with you, then read on to find out how to make our experience more enjoyable. If you don't, then read on to learn how to ensure that the ladies in your life will never want to go hunting again.
We asked some of our female hunting friends to help us list the top 12 reasons women get turned off while hunting. We also provided solutions, because we care. (Also, remember that dark chocolate is usually the choice of the female hunting masses.)
1. Underestimating the importance of comfort I know we have cushy bottoms made for sitting, but not for hours on end in the briars. During one of my first turkey hunts, my guide made me sit on the ground in a briar patch where I couldn't see anything coming or going just a small swath directly in front of my feet. The temperatures started dropping from the high 50s to low 40s with light, and then toad-strangling, rain. We sat there for six hours. My legs jumped and moved all on their own, just trying to keep some body heat. When I finally stood up, I almost fell back down. I had to stop at a gas station, change in the bathroom and wipe down with paper towels. Now that I know more about turkey hunting, I would never do that to a new hunter.
The Solution: Remember these words: "This is fun." If it ain't, call it a day. How can you tell? Well, look at her face. If you see strained expressions or grimaces, she's done. Or, she might say something like, "Sure would be nice to take a bath."
2. Behaving condescendingly, because big girls do cry "There have been times while hunting alongside men that I have heard the words, You stay in the blind; we will put out the decoys too cold for you! I once made the shot on a bird, but the guy next to me screamed, ËœHow did you like my shot?" I have been told, You shouldn't shoot a 3 1/2-inch shell too much for your little arms to take! and I have even heard, The only reason you get any attention is because you are a woman hunter and they are so rare you don't have to be good.
The Solution: Don't push. Just be there. Kimberly advises, It can be very tough. When I take women out with me, I make it about what they are comfortable with. I don't ever push, but I try to make it a bonding and fun experience that keeps them wanting to get back out there. I try to be positive, supportive and encouraging all the things I would want from someone. Allow them to push themselves. Read the rest of the story here.
No problems figuring out which one, first and most important would be: decision to hunt with a woman!
If a lady is going out into the field / woods .... she already HAS enough wherwithall to purchase / own a weapon ... use it ... and during that time has been around other hunters and drank some beer, listened to the stories ... etc.
Oh yeah ... I have not read the article ...
yet
My daughter hunts with her husband and her brother. She doesn’t require any different treatment. She cleans the animals, and, unlike my son-in-law and son, gets some good recipes and does all the cooking.
We guys do need to be considerate. To us, sitting for six hours on the ground in a briar patch in toad strangling rain, waiting for that perfect turkey, is part of the fun. It proves how tough we are when we hunt. But that doesn’t mean as much to the ladies, for whom a chair would make it nicer.
Turkey hunters are strange anyway.
Where are these elusive ‘hunting women’? Even finding one that will come with to take care of the camp is hard enough... Even with a motorhome...
Isn’t the point of hunting/fishing to NOT be with women?
[duck]
My daughter wants to go hunting someday with me (upland birds). She needs to do her hunter safety course though - and she keeps dragging it out.
She’s a better shot than me and is pretty tough when it comes to the weather and walking. We went shooting this weekend in a pouring rain. “Yeah - I didn’t really want to get out of the truck, but once we started shooting I was fine.” Of course that was shooting. If she had just been sitting and waiting for a turkey.... One of the reasons I like upland birds - while not always shooting, you are always walking and hunting.
That and we usually dress appropriately for the occassion. If the forecast is for rain and cold then having warm weaterproof clothes is a given. Sitting for hours is part of hunting. So, most of the article isnt about female or male. Its about being commonly courteous and respectful of your hunting partners et al.
In my younger days I went hunting once with my husband just to see what the hype was all about. Decided right away that it was a guy thing which gave him time for bonding with his male friends. Also saw it as a time when he would be gone for a few days and I could do some girl things with my friends or nothing at all. He shot it, cleaned it, cooked it and I ate it - was all good for both of us.
Did lots of trips to the range with him for trap and skeet shooting and did participate. That was quite enough for me.
I figured the biggest issue would be #1 and #2, literally. There is no way on this green earth my wife would pop a squat in the field.
The only hunting my wife will ever do is at the supermarket. She won’t even kill bugs. That’s my job.
[[Isn’t the point of hunting/fishing to NOT be with women?]]
Or for the wives to be rid of hteir husbands for a week or so
I read the article. If you don't want to hunt, don't go hunting. If you don't want to be outdoors in atrocious weather, don't go hunting. If you don't want to sit, silently, waiting for your prey to come within range, don't go hunting. If you don't want to deal with the messy aftermath of having killed an animal, don't go hunting. Etc.
The whole thing came off as snarky, smarmy, condescending and bossy.
Well, there’s THAT, too.
Win-win!
Silly me!
When I first saw the title of the article: 12 Mistakes Men Make when Hunting with Women
I thought it said hunting FOR women.
My eyes are going bad...
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