More women drawn to tradition of hunting with family

When she was a little girl, Connie Mertz, of rural Danville, enjoyed the numerous hunting stories her father shared after a day in the woods.

So when she came of age, Connie asked her father if she could tag along.

“I always wanted to go hunting, but dad always told me that a girl’s place was in the home,” she said.

Now, decades later, that sentiment has changed drastically — so much so that the Pennsylvania Game Commission recently announced that the number of licenses sold to female hunters has increased by 25,000 in the past five years.

“Our society just doesn’t stereotype those sort of activities like it once did,” said Fred Gast, a longtime hunter education and firearms safety instructor from Watsontown. “I started teaching hunter education classes in 1995, and I noticed over the years that more and more of the students were female.

“In fact, I noticed two types of female students in those classes — the 12-year-olds who were preparing to go hunting for the first time and then there were an increasing number of women aged 20-30 that were taking an interest.”

Mertz, who is also a longtime hunter education instructor, agreed.

“When I first taught the classes 25 years ago, there were very few girls. Now, girls make up nearly half of the sessions,” she said. “You see the change in other areas, too. For example, on the Outdoors Channel, you see many more women involved. When I started hunting, I had to wear men’s clothing because all the catalogs back then catered to men. Now you can walk into Gander Mountain or other outdoors shops and they’ll have whole areas devoted to women’s hunting apparel.”

Behind the shift

There is no single reason why so many more females are into hunting. While some point toward the depiction of strong female characters using a bow and arrow in movies such as “Brave” and “The Hunger Games,” others suggest that local schools offering archery courses has sparked an interest in the sport.

“I think seeing others shoot got her interested,” said Mike Proger, of Selinsgrove, about his 12-year-old daughter, Isabel, who is fascinated by archery, recently completed a hunter education course and will be hunting for the first time this fall. “I think she also likes the challenge of needing strength, composure and somewhat instinctual aim in order to hit a target. School strengthened her interest, but she already enjoyed it by the time she got into it there.”

Proger admitted that family members who hunt have also had a huge influence on his daughter’s interest.

“Her Uncle Harry is a great story teller and also makes an effort to give the kids opportunities to shoot and she said he definitely is a big influence on her interest in at least trying out the sport,” Proger said. “His stories get her and others excited about what can happen and her experience target shooting has given her the confidence to feel ready to head into the woods.”

For 37-year-old Joey Beth Wise, of Turbotville, hunting became a way for her to connect with her 10-year-old son.

“He wanted to hunt, and his dad wouldn’t take him, so I went out and bought my license and come the first day of buck season, we went out and sat in a tree stand,” she said. “I love sitting out in my tree stand just watching the nature around me. One year, I got to see a beautiful red fox hunting in the field. I watch the birds and squirrels playing. It is just peaceful and quiet. Hunting is also an activity I can do with my boyfriend, dad, sister, brother, son and daughter. I love it.”

Nikki Hawk, of Sunbury, got involved via her boyfriend.

“I always had a love for the outdoors and was more of a tomboy as a little girl. My boyfriend is big into hunting, and at the time I just got really into shooting guns so it just made sense for me to give it a try,” she said. “I love hunting because I learn so much every time I go out. It takes a lot of focus and a lot of work. And when you do see something, you get a rush of adrenaline and the excitement of never knowing what may happen. It is a pretty cool feeling.”

Mertz said that over the past couple decades, she feels the biggest driving force are programs geared toward women and young shooters.

“The local 4H shooting program has been really popular in our region going back to the 1980s and 90s. It got kids — both boys and girls — really excited about shooting and hunting,” she said. “We also have had a very active Women in the Outdoors program locally. In that program, older ladies especially are getting involved.”

Here to stay

Regardless of the reasons behind the increase in women who like hunting, the trends suggest the phenomenon is here to stay.

“We’ve definitely seen an uptick in sales and interest in female-oriented equipment, and I hear that female-related hunter clothing industry is doing well. I don’t forsee it going away anytime soon,” said Keith Weaver, of Weaver’s Archery in Kreamer. “The way I feel, if you can get the women involved, it is good thing for the outdoor community.

“The more people doing it, the greater awareness we have of the outdoors in general — also you have more participation then from the family unit.”

Changes in gear have only helped women get more involved in the action.

“The manufacturers are making equipment for women that they can handle. They don’t need to try to use the bows of their fathers or husbands which may be 5 inches too long and 20 pounds too heavy to draw,” he said. “When it comes down to it, most ladies are really good shots.”