Women have been hunting for centuries; in fact, new studies and archaeological findings are showing that women were not limited to the gathering role. Given recent evidence from ancient American archaeological dig sites, researchers now suggest females accounted for 30 to 50% of ancient big game hunters. Today, when we are witnessing a rise in modern-day numbers of female hunters, the hunt doesn’t stop at motherhood.
Instinctually, women want to nurture their families by cooking food and caring for them. Hunting is just another way we feed our families. It provides a beginning-to-end, full-circle moment for us. We work for these meals. It takes skill refinement with tools of the trade, woodsmanship, calling technique and more. Time spent in the field working for a harvest and time in the kitchen preparing the harvest for a meal.
The hunting mom faces many obstacles, but with a little strategy, they can be navigated. Planning is key; most mom’s time in the field is limited. Not to mention, moms need to overcome logistical challenges such as childcare, scheduling conflicts and time management. We must adapt to unpredictable circumstances and be willing to adjust expectations and embrace flexibility.
Moms need to find support that is for more than just childcare. It’s building a network of fellow hunters, mentors and resources. The NWTF Women in the Outdoors program in Oklahoma gifted that to me. Through my involvement, I met two of my best friends and several other amazing women. We all love to hunt and love our families. I’m blessed to have friends who have taught me things and grown with me. Mentorship and camaraderie are two main components to keeping the hunting traditions alive for the next generation.
I have been chasing turkeys for several years now, well, kind of. I guess it is better to say I have had about one or two opportunities to harvest a turkey in the last three years. As a busy homeschooling mom with five kids, my husband’s deployment, time had not allowed me to hunt much during turkey season.
Last year, my friend, Destiny, who was six months pregnant at the time, invited me to go hunting with her on a family lease in west Oklahoma. We heard turkeys gobbling in the roost when we arrived. We were set and thought we would have them bagged early. Well, turkeys do what turkeys do, and nothing! We saw a few far off, and they were putting on a show but had no care about coming into our decoy or calls. So, day one was a bust. We had one more opportunity in the last week of the season. We woke up at 2:45 a.m., both of us having a three-hour drive from different parts of Oklahoma. Meeting up about an hour before sunrise, this time with a different plan. The turkeys also had a different plan.
They were not vocal that morning. We headed to their favorite field and spotted several toms and a few jakes. After their morning show, of course, the hens came toward us, and the toms went the other way. We made it through a close encounter without getting busted by the hens.
Then, the chase was on, again. Going through fences and jumping creeks, the gap closed between us and the toms. Coming upon an open field, we dropped everything but our guns. Having to belly crawl about 50 yards, me in the front and her side crawling, a bit uncomfortable with a six-month pregnant belly. A group of four turned and were heading straight for us; frozen in the prone position, we waited. There was a bush and some down logs in front of me, so I could not see, but Destiny had a narrow view. One rounded the left side and spooked. They all came around the right, and I hammered down. As I shot, the one at the tail end began to fly back across the creek, and Destiney shot him on the fly. We had doubled down before 9 a.m.; we worked for those birds. It was my first turkey and an experience I will never forget.
In the whirlwind of nurturing our families and managing our households, it’s crucial to recognize the importance of nurturing ourselves and pursuing our passions, especially those that connect us with the great outdoors. With the demands of family life, it’s easy for mothers to neglect their well-being. Prioritizing self-care is essential for our physical, mental and emotional health. Nurturing our passions replenishes our spirit and enables us to show up fully for our loved ones.
I acknowledge that there are challenges, but there are also rewards. Juggling motherhood and outdoor pursuits is a delicate dance, often requiring careful planning and flexibility. From scheduling hunts around your child’s extracurricular activities to finding childcare, the challenges can seem endless. However, the rewards are immeasurable. I have only been able to turkey hunt four days in three years. That’s the reality for a hunting mom; not all of us get to get out all the time, and sometimes that means we have little feet following close behind.
Finding a balance between our passion for the hunt and our responsibilities as mothers requires careful consideration and communication. It’s about striking a balance that honors both our love for the outdoors and our commitment to our families. Whether it’s involving our children in age-appropriate hunting activities or setting aside dedicated hunting days and weekends, we can navigate this balance with intentionality and grace. By nurturing our passions and fostering a supportive community, we can embrace motherhood wholeheartedly while honoring our connection to the hunt.