WOW Weekend Success!

September 20, 2015 / Jen / 2 Comments

Clockwise: Washington Outdoor Women, my two arrows in the yellow, my shot at the bear target, skinning a duck to get the breast meat.

Before I make several big, long posts about the amazing weekend I had at the Washington Outdoor Women fall retreat, I just wanted to quickly post about how great of a time I had.

I highly encourage every woman to look for something similar in their state. I know when I googled it before, several of these groups came up in different states.

Not only did I learn some great skills during the three workshops, I met wonderful women with shared interests in hunting and fishing. It was refreshing to be able to talk about it with a group of women who all understand the same love of the outdoors.

I’m not sure exactly what my expectations were for this weekend, but I do know this far exceeded any expectations I had. It was a weekend I didn’t want to end and won’t soon forget. I’m already planning the workshops I’ll sign up for next year.

I’ll be making my first long post full of pictures on Wednesday. I’m excited to share some of what I learned on here.

P.S. I fell in love with shooting a bow, I can’t wait to get my own bow and head out for archery season next year!

Gearing Up for WOW’s fall workshop!

September 16, 2015 / Jen / 4 Comments

I’m starting to pack and get ready to head out this Friday for the Washington Outdoor Women’s 17th annual fall workshop! I can’t wait. The workshops I’m taking are: Duck Hunting 101, Archery, and Big Game Hunting Basics. I’m really excited for all of those and know I’m really going to benefit from this. I wish I could’ve gotten into a fly fishing class but there’s always next year!

I’m glad I’ll be taking the duck hunting workshop since I’ll hopefully be out doing that soon with my family.

Outside of going to learn these skills, I’m really looking forward to meeting other women with similar interests. It’s harder than I thought finding women who share a love of the outdoors. Hopefully I can come back from this on Sunday with a couple hunting and fishing female friends.

Expect many posts about everything I’ve learned when I get back!

Surf Fishing on the Oregon Coast

September 9, 2015September 9, 2015 / Jen / 5 Comments

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend!

I spent my weekend on the Oregon coast and got to experience surf fishing for the first time. Quite the change from fishing on a quiet lake!

I was given the homework to learn how to tie an improved clinch knot before the trip. The night before we headed out, I helped get the poles ready and tied a couple of knots. I was definitely slower at making my knots than my friend, but the lines held up in the ocean current so it worked!

You need to get a ways out there in the waves to get the line far enough, a bit too far in the ocean for my liking. So I stood back on the beach and took pictures/hoped waves wouldn’t knock him over!

Toward the end, he had me try to cast the line out once. It was a ten foot pole and not the easiest to cast out as you’re trying to keep your balance with waves hitting your legs. You definitely had to stand in a power stance to keep your balance.

Reeling the line back in with the current was also a little difficult. A lot of line went out so it took awhile to reel it all back in. It was definitely fun and I’d love to try it again!

He had one bite on the line. He said it felt big, quickly brought the rod down then left with the bait. It could’ve been anything swimming out in that ocean, part of what scares me about surf fishing. I wouldn’t want to reel in a shark!

It was an absolutely beautiful night after raining all day. So enjoy the many pictures I took of the waves and sunset.

Salmon Fishing Pt. 2

August 26, 2015August 26, 2015 / Jen / 2 Comments

During our salmon fishing trip in the San Juans, we caught a couple of fish that I wasn’t expecting to catch—a dogfish! Basically a little shark.

We caught two dogfish that day and it was really interesting to see them up close. Both had completely different markings. We looked at them, took pictures, then threw them back in the water.

Here are more pictures from that weekend. It was a beautiful day from start to end!

Salmon Fishing in the San Juans

August 13, 2015August 13, 2015 / Jen / 9 Comments

This past weekend, I had the amazing opportunity to go salmon fishing in the San Juan islands. It was my first experience with salt water fishing, completely different from what I’ve done before!

We started the morning on the water at 5:30am and went to pick up another couple heading out with us. It was a beautiful morning—calm water, perfect temperature, and beyond stunning surroundings.

We started trolling an area with one other boat, there were three lines in the water. Three of us were new to salmon fishing so we decided to take turns with who would reel in the lines. I was standing in the back to watch the lines and take pictures, it was a breathtaking view.

I noticed one of the lines starting to bob up and down and mentioned I thought a fish was on the line. They yelled to grab it, but being totally honest, I froze up a little. I knew this was expensive fishing gear and I had the worry I’d either mess something up or drop the pole in the water to never be seen again.

The main guy taking us out came back and got the pole then handed it to me while saying, “Reel!!” Having only reeled in small catfish in a tiny lake, reeling in a bigger fish with a current was a bit harder. I reeled and eventually got the fish to the surface, several yards behind the boat.

It was a salmon! I kept reeling as he got the net ready to scoop up the fish. I was worried the salmon might get off the line as it got near the boat, but it was close enough for him to net it and get it into the boat.

My first pink salmon!

We spent the day on the water trolling for more salmon. One more was caught that day. A few made it on the line but were lost. It was an incredibly fun day.

I also caught another first, but I’ll post about that next week. Here’s a hint, you can only catch it out in salt water!

Late Summer Plans

July 30, 2015 / Jen / Leave a comment

I’m slowly settling into this being my new view. Life’s been hectic with all the changes, but things are starting to get back to normal.

I’m going to go try out bows in a couple of weeks. I’m really excited to find one I love.

Next weekend I’m headed out salmon fishing in the Puget Sound. I’m really looking forward to it! Definitely expect a post. Hopefully I can catch one!

Hunting season is just 2.5 months away!

Women’s Outdoor Retreats

July 15, 2015August 11, 2015 / Jen / Leave a comment

Women’s outdoor retreats, a weekend geared toward women learning new skills in the great outdoors. This year, I’m attending the Washington Outdoor Women’s weekend workshop to learn new hunting and fishing skills. I’m really excited!

Here is a snapshot of some of the workshops offered this year.

Through the course of the weekend, you take three workshops. I’m hoping to take archery, duck hunting, and fly fishing. Regardless of what I’m able to take (workshops can fill up and you get your second or third choice), I’m really looking forward to learning new things in the world of hunting and fishing!

I’m also really looking forward to meeting other female hunters. Part of the reason I started this blog was to connect with women hunters and hear their stories. It’s great that there’s an event in my area that allows me to meet several other women also interested in the outdoors.

Check to see if your state has a similar weekend. My quick google search showed similar retreats in several other states.

I can’t wait for September! A great event to kick off hunting season.

Have you ever attended a women’s outdoor retreat? Did you like it? Share your experience below!

Connecting to Nature

July 8, 2015 / Jen / Leave a comment

One of the things I like most about hunting is the fact I can disconnect from the hustle of life and enjoy nature in solitude.

This past weekend, I went camping to celebrate the Fourth of July. I had zero phone service for 3 days and it was amazing.

I enjoyed being outside and spending my time talking to the people I was with. It’s funny how little people actually talk to each other these days.

One of the things that drew me to hunting was being in the outdoors. It’s an escape away from being so connected with technology.

This past weekend reminded me just how much I like to disconnect and has me excited for a fall full of it. I’m also excited cause we’re going to hunt close to where we camped and I saw a nice three point buck in it’s velvet! Always gets the adrenaline going!

So, do you love to disconnect from technology and enjoy your time in the outdoors? Share your thoughts below!

I’m still in my transition period of this new job and place to live. It’ll probably take a couple weeks before I’m completely settled and can start planning hunting things out this way. Good news is that I’m able to go on an awesome hunting retreat this fall, I’ll post more about it next week!

Finding My Happiness

June 24, 2015 / Jen / Leave a comment

I read this quote earlier this week and it really struck a chord with me.

I’m in the midst of packing to move to a new city and start a new chapter of my life. Packing everything has been a trip down memory lane of my time here. From my hunter safety certificate to hunting boots with mud still caked on, I thought about everything that led me to create this hunting blog.

In some people’s eyes, I’m sure it looks like I’ve changed from the person who I was when I moved here. I’m leaving with lots of camo, hunting gear, and a new passion for the outdoors. But I feel that more than changing, I just found myself.

I found something that excites me and makes me constantly want to learn more. I found something that has me looking forward to a 4am alarm clock. I found something that challenges me and makes me strive to be the best I can be. I found something that brought me closer to my family and connects me to nature.

I found something that makes me truly happy.

There’s more to it than merely changing. And if some people don’t like who I am now, that’s okay. Different things make different people happy. But I haven’t been this excited or motivated about something in a long time.

So am I leaving here the same person I was a few years ago? Not at all.

I’m so thankful to be the person that I am today, with a new, evergrowing passion for hunting.

PS – I’m going to do my best to keep posting during this transition, but it might take me a couple weeks to get settled in before I can put my full attention back to the blog. I have a lot of exciting hunting things planned for the next several months and I can’t wait to write about them!

Favorite Seasons

June 3, 2015 / Jen / 2 Comments

As much as I love hunting season, I also love baseball and college football seasons.

It has been several years since I’ve enjoyed a Major League Baseball game in person.

I’ve spent the last couple of days in the sunshine watching America’s favorite past time, which means the post I planned on writing didn’t happen. I’ll post it later this week (there’s a hunting film tour likely coming to a city near you!) But I didn’t want to miss a post for this Wednesday.

Besides hunting, what seasons do you love? Share below!

Country Huntress

Huntress Jen