Had the most amazing experience the other night with our 12-year-old daughter who just got her very first bow this past Christmas, and of course, I had to share...We were out doing some target practice.  She had already done some with her Dad, but this particular night, he was not home, so she and I went out back to shoot.  I was excited to see how she was doing with her bow, and I know she and her Dad have been working at getting it all tuned in for her.  I noticed some things about her stance/form that didn't look right to me.  I watch the Hubby and the guys at the bow shop shoot, and I really pay attention to how they stand, how they hold their bow, etc.  I had her make a few changes, and on her SECOND shot after she tried some of my not-so-expert "recommendations", she shot her very first bullseye!!  You should have seen the look on her face!  I wondered if it matched MY OWN excitement!?? She's pretty much become obsessed with target practice here lately, which we are glad to see.  Keeps her soon-to-be 13 year-old mind off of other things...namely BOYS!!  HA HA!  We are really pleased with her progress.  She's really doing well and already chattering away about Spring Turkey Season!  Feels good to be teaching her all we know and sharing our bowhunting obsession with our kids.  We are doing our part to "grow our sport"!

So, the hubby reminded me this morning of the Iowa Deer Classic in March...as if I needed reminding!  HA HA!  He's gone on and on about how cool it was last year (his first time to attend), and boy I can't WAIT to go for the first time this year!  It's really not all that far away when I got to thinking about it!  It will be here before we know it.  Was wondering if any of my fellow bloggers were planning on going?  I am especially excited to see the archery exhibits and shoots! 

Let me know if any of you plan on going!

OK, OK!  I have ALREADY received a couple of messages from ppl wanting to know why I hunt...  Boy, you all REALLY DO read and pay attention!  HA HA!

Well, here's my answer...

Have ya'll SEEN "KansasBowGuy" (AKA: Big Daddy)  in his camo?  GOODNESS!! 

Seriously, there are several reasons I personally have morphed into a hunter over the past couple of years.  I will write more about them soon to post and share here. I've covered the story of how I got started in a previous post, but I will write more about what's kept me in the game sometime soon.

But, for now, I will just leave you with this image and maybe you will get a feel for one of the primary reasons I chose to take up bowhunting...

Enuff said!  (wink, wink)  Look at that bad boy!

I have been really excited reading messages sent to me from other women who are either interested in or have just recently decided to give hunting a try.  It seems the majority of women I've heard from became interested in the world of hunting by either their husbands or boyfriends, and some by their fathers or brothers.  Still, several girls somehow became interested on their own, without really even knowing anyone personally who hunts. 

However a gal manages to find that she comes to call herself a "hunter", there seems to be one common thread present for most...a love of the outdoors!  

There have got to be countless reasons why women are becoming more and more interested in what has "traditionally" been considered a "man's" sport. 

I am really interested in hearing from the women out there on this one... Tell me why you hunt!!!  

Or, for those of you fellas who have a sweetie who loves to hunt, let me know why it is they enjoy this sport?  If you don't know...ASK THEM!  ;)  

Can't wait to hear back!

Well, I had a very sweet gal shoot me a reply regarding my post on "I want my wife to hunt with me"... 

She shared with me that she absolutely had no desire to go out with her husband, but after reading my blog post (at her husband's request), she was willing to at least give it some more thought. 

After a little "back-and-forth", it just seemed to me that she was primarily concerned with having to go out and sit in the cold and "waste time".  She stated that she had so many other things to do as a wife and mother, the last thing on her "to-do" list would be to go out and brave the cold and sit and do nothing but think about all the things she could or should be doing.   

Now, being a wife and mother, I agree, does involve considerable time and energy and effort.  I know this firsthand.  My SECOND "job" is working as a full-time registered nurse.  I also am active on other committees, have other hobbies and interests, am involved with my children's school, sports and activities. 

But, guess what?  I still have the time to go out with my husband to hunt.   

It's only during turkey and deer season that this really involves some creative time-management.  Target practice, scouting, food plots, etc. can all be worked into our evenings and weekends fairly easy. 

Finding considerable chunks of time to actually get out and hunt can be tricky at times, but it IS DOABLE.  

Where there's a will, there's a way, right?  ;)  

I have always thought that if a person really wants to do something, they will find a way to make it happen.   

Maybe instead of going hunting and sitting there thinking about all of the things one "should or could" be doing, a person can learn to use that time to take a break from all of that.  Focus on something else for a while.  Relax.  Enjoy the wonderful GIFT of nature that we have all been given, but few truly take the time to enjoy.  

Most of us have a list a mile long of things we "should or could" be doing besides spending time doing what we love.  Hunting may not be something you "love", but maybe the person you are spending time with in the woods just happens to be someone you love very much.  ;)   

Bottom line, don't knock it until you've tried it.  Give it a fair shake...then, if it's still not for you, at least you can say you tried. 

But REALLY and TRULY "TRY"!!  You might be pleasantly surprised!