03/23/2006
Women Are a Major Force in Hunting and Conservation
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As a child, Kathy Butt enjoyed time spent outdoors with her father, but he never offered to take her hunting and she never asked.
It was her husband, Foster, who took her to Colorado mule deer hunting and changed the course of her life.
"It started out as something I could do with my husband, and evolved into something I love to do," Butt said.
While Butt might be in the minority since she's a female hunter, research commissioned by the National Wild Turkey Federation shows that other women believe she has every right to pursue wildlife in the great outdoors.
In fact, Responsive Management, a research firm specializing in wildlife and outdoor recreation, found that 95 percent of women said it is OK for women to hunt even though only 23 percent have actually hunted. The respondents included current and former Women in the Outdoors members, as well as women in the general population who may have little experience in the outdoors.
Research also showed that women have different motivations than most men for spending time outdoors. Men hunt for the challenge and for sport, while women relish the experience itself, which includes rest, relaxation and spending time with friends and family.
"Hunting is a time-honored tradition in North America that brings families together," said Rob Keck, NWTF CEO. "Families hunting together is good for hunting and conservation."
While many women are interested in learning outdoor skills, four out of five women surveyed were unaware of outdoor education programs such as the NWTF's Women in the Outdoors program.
Since 1998, the Women in the Outdoors program has reached out to women of all ages to teach them about conservation and the outdoors.
"More women are participating in hunting, shooting and other outdoor sports every year," Keck said. "These women purchase equipment, food and other supplies while providing jobs and economic opportunities for local communities. They also support the future of hunting by encouraging children to hunt."
In fact, women have become a powerful force in both hunting and the NWTF. There are nearly 40,000 Women in the Outdoors members in the NWTF. Many became members by attending events designed to introduce women to conservation and the outdoors. The events offer classes on firearms, archery, gardening for wildlife, camping and outdoor cooking to name a few.
Members also receive Women In The Outdoors magazine four times a year. The publication features articles for, and on, women and outdoor activities for families to enjoy such as hiking, camping and birding, as well as hunting and fishing.
The research shows that women want to participate in outdoor activities, but work, family and other responsibilities interfere.
According to Mark Duda, Responsive Management executive director, reaching women may take effort, but with 1 in 5 surveyed saying they were interested in hunting, it will be well worth it.
For more information about the NWTF, the Women in the Outdoors program or the women's research, call (800) THE-NWTF.
