The Truth About Hunting : Host Round Table, Real Stories & Lessons

Hey, guys. Welcome back to ASCEND podcast. Is that supposed to be a hit? Are we doing that? Is that a thing? Okay. Do you want me to start over, or we gonna roll with that? That's okay. Just go. Oh, man.

Welcome to the ASCEND podcast, a podcast by and for women in the outdoors. Every episode delivers real stories, practical how to's, and a welcoming community to help you start, sharpen, or rediscover your passion for the outdoors. Authentic women, real stories, outdoor adventures, ASCEND. Presented by Ducks Unlimited, the leader in wetlands conservation. Your next adventure starts here, the ASCEND podcast.

On today's episode, it's gonna be a little bit different. Instead of bringing on one guest, we are gonna catch up with each other. You know, over the last season, we've had some incredible conversations with just really cool people in the outdoor world. And, you know, let's recap. As you can see, we have Bethany, Adrian, Erin on, and including myself, Julia.

Gosh. The it has just been so fun. Like, I knew that if I felt like it was something I would enjoy, you know, as doing these interviews and hosting podcasts. But it's just been a blast being able to talk to people that I I know and dig in a little bit more and hear things I didn't know about them, or I've learned so much. There are so many women that know a lot about a lot of things, and that's not surprising at all.

know that I was quite ready for that. Oh, absolutely. Is there anybody that stuck out for your like, who you interviewed and who you had on the podcast that just like blew your mind away?

Yes. All of them.

All of them. Is there any one conversation that just stuck with you?

They're it's just they're all so great. Like, Lanny Barnes, we just had that podcast go live and she's amazing. An Olympian and a trick shooter and she, like, trains all sorts of people how to shoot and she's an artist and like She's an artist. Yes. It's ridiculous. It's not Yeah. You have to go on her Instagram and check it out. Like, it's ridiculous. It's not fair. Oh my that talented.

She did a runway in Las Vegas. She walked the gun way, the project gun She way

walked nobody's business. She's awesome.

She's so cool. And then she does all these really cool trick shots that I like, we go back and forth and tag each other and I'm like, I kinda wanna come shoot with you. Like I know. Is person.

Yeah. Like, she shot a what was it? Like, a penny the other day or something Yeah. Like a peanut. Like this like, with the 20 twos. Like, what are you doing?

Oh, well, you should see her balance on like the the yoga ball. Mhmm. Like, can balance on the yoga ball and do like the star and I'm over here like, I tried to do the star just standing up.

Yeah. If I

had a shotgun, maybe I have better luck, but that's not the case. Or she does it. She rides a unicycle sometimes. I can't even No.

Yeah. Whatever.

I can barely ride a bike.

I can barely stand. I don't need to ride things.

I don't need to break anything. What about you, Erin? Anything that stood out? And like, I guess that was like one of your fan favorites or just a good conversation.

Yeah. I definitely think the podcast that I did with Kelly Godfrey down in Texas about how to find your community near you for hunting and fishing, that has stuck out with me the most. I've had so many people reach out. She has to, it's encouraged me to be more active in my Uncharted Outdoorsman Facebook group. Like today, posted, I know a bunch of y'all have taken my turkey class, you wanna go turkey hunting together, so and I will give you pins.

Oh, that's awesome. Bethany, what about you? Anything? Number one. Yeah. I

really like talking about the conservation starts at home with Amy Hall, I think Mhmm. Was something I really liked. She's a really good friend of mine and just from like a mother standpoint, getting your kids in the outdoors and being really intentional about that. And then just as like a woman getting into conservation because I feel like it's such a big word and we're like, oh, I don't know if that's for me, but like it is. So that was a

really good

conversation. Yeah, we've, I've loved this last season, even just the online community to watch our socials kind of blossom and grow and people, you know, listening in and liking and resharing stuff, that's really been cool to see as well.

Oh, I think so too. Like, I have to agree with you a 100% on that. I had one person text me from, I guess I knew them years ago. They left a sweet message on our recording and he was like, oh, I remember ten years ago when you were coaching the high school team in in my local gun club, like, in ten years ago, I just started. Right?

What's been your favorite, Julia?

Oh, man. I'm torn. I I really enjoyed having Maggie Williams on our podcast. I thought that was just a unique conversation of, like, talking about those taboo topics. Do you is it, you know, the gun fit?

That's cool.

Yeah. It was it was great. Is there any topics that came up recently that, you know, we didn't know what we were gonna expect by having this conversation, it kind of was like, oh, wow. That's an eye opener.

So I have a couple of episodes. They haven't, come out yet. I did one with Courtney who works for, I believe, the Department of Conservation. Forgive me if this is incorrect, in, I believe, Alabama. And she, is like brilliant when it comes to wildlife biology and, habitat and all that stuff.

Maybe this is the reason why you don't have turkeys

on Yeah. Your Looking and looking around, like, there's so much you can do, and know, and I had another conversation with Joy, and it was about, you know, farm management practices, and it can be in terms of your farm, but also, like, food plots and stuff like that and water management and how to there's just there's so much stuff that you can do to better your chances of success and just to better, you know, Bethany is talking about conservation. If you can improve habitat, I mean, there you go. No.

Absolutely. That's that's amazing. That's a really good conversation. A lot of like key points.

You'll be especially interested in the one with Joy because she talks about how to improve wetland environments as well. So Oh, yes. Coming up.

I can't wait, you know, write it on my calendar. That's right. Awesome. Bethany, what about you? Any topics that you didn't expect to talk about as much as you did?

Yeah. So I had Priscilla Block on and she really went into, you know, as like someone that didn't grow up hunting, but like how she's learned stuff with hunting that applies to her work life. And, you know, also re talking about how nature just like really grounds you and balances and goes back to, you know, we like need that time away, you know, obviously she's really in the spotlight and so it's probably even amplified at the time that she's in the outdoors. So that was really interesting talking with her and I also got to talk to Jess Rice with Wolf Hurness and, you know, just talking about the women community and giving women opportunity to learn stuff like other than hunting, but kind of connected, you know, canning, you know, can canned deer chili and all types of other things, but That's so cool. Yeah, like how you can, you know, be like a gateway into like, it could be less, maybe you're learning how to can jam, but like now you're learning how to hunt, you

know, it's there's like, stepping stones

of just women. Yeah, women community. And so, that was a really great conversation and just seeing some of the experiences and just the women that come from all over, like just to have a woman on woman experience. And I'm sure Erin like knows this, like, we just want that woman experience, you know. We can't go to the local gun store and expect to see five other women there, you know.

So it's

just such

a that

would be awesome. I'd be like,

if I walk into one of those, like I would party. I'd be like, oh my gosh, I have friends.

Yeah. People were

like, of like

what's going on today? Yeah.

You know, that really interesting to see how women, you know, were willing to travel and pay and get around these, you know, other women just to have the same experiences. So that was really great to dive into those conversations and see some of the events that they put on and I just there's just so much that goes into that.

Yeah. Have did y'all talk a lot about, like, juggling time? I know as, like, I feel as a woman, just in general, we have no time. Like, our time is scarce and I'm like, moving at 90 miles an hour, twenty four seven. Like, did y'all talk about specifically of like, okay, this is how I juggle it or this is kind of what I do to have my me time and maybe that's my hunting time or maybe that's my outdoor time, whatever you wanna do, but that's like my time.

Yeah. I actually talked to Annie Hall a little bit about that and she was saying how we need to count the victories and sometimes that's not a sit in the woods. Sometimes that's I got to shoot my bow, you know, practice three or four times this month. Finding small victories because even like as a mom, there's a lot of time that you don't get out there and you're not going to be able to, you know, have as much scouting time or boots on the ground time. And so, yeah, she really talked about that and it was really resonating for me because I can relate to that.

You're, you know, it's

the same thing with hunting. You're going to have to, if you want to do it, you're going to make time to do it. And it might just look different. You know, it's not going to look like some of these people that post and they hunt, you know, three hundred and sixty days a year. It's not going to look like that. Yeah. And just be realistic with what your lifestyle can hold and manage.

No. I think that's so true. And, you know, I'm so glad you brought that up because that is definitely, you know, a challenge when you're taking it from, like, okay, you hunted in high school, you hunted in college, and now, you know, you have your new life, you're you're adult, you have kids, and it's those different chapters and different phases. And it's hard, like, because I'm truly learning that. I was like, for the first time ever, I'm juggling a full time job and then I get to go out in the woods and I was like, just sitting there in silence and I was like, man, I just love I'm in my waiters.

just a little bit of outdoor time. Nature is healing.

There

you I have like 50 books on them on it.

No. It's so true. It's so true. I've gotten, like, tons of people because they're like, what do you do to find your peace? And sometimes, like you said, Bethany, is just simply just getting out there, just doing something, whether that's your boat or just sitting out there or even scouting. I was like, man, this is so nice.

Yeah. Like you said about the intention, like, if your intention is to harvest every time, you're gonna be in trouble. Oh, yeah. Man, like

that a lot. Discourage.

I feel like that's so hard for athletes too because, like, being a competitor, I had to take a step back of, like, you don't win necessarily all the time in hunting, and that's hard for some people. Mhmm. That's hard for me. Super Yeah.

Yeah. It's like so, man, if I can get out and just walk around in the woods and, see an animal, like, of course, I'm at 9000 feet, 10,000 feet runner. Like, it's not like a walk, but it's like, you know, if I see an elk, I'm like, oh my gosh.

Okay. Well, Erin, do you have a topic that just got brought up that you're just

like, wow, this was an amazing topic? Yeah. I really liked having my personal hunting buddy on Caroline. I should really make a a blog about how we prepare and communicate for our hunts because since our our podcast went out, I've had I take lots of women hunting and fishing and to do cool stuff all the time. And it is so helpful when they have already watched that podcast, like I'm taking some girls Friday down south, it's like four hour drive and there's nothing around.

the birds? You know, do you see a sign

the birds? Yeah.

I don't see any signs. Yeah. I saw a deer sign. No. That's not the signs we're looking Yeah. Oh my goodness. That's amazing. And I think you bring up a really good point, honestly. They don't know what they don't know. And so how can you even start to ask a question before if you don't know anything?

Yeah. Or even bringing up like the uncomfortable things. Right? Like, oh, hey. I do have a little bit of trauma around guns.

Yeah. I think that's so good though that you're bringing them in. You're like, hey, I don't want you to be afraid of this. I want you to at least learn and be able, like, to go hunting when you want to go hunting. Mhmm. And it's not gonna be scary. Right.

Right.

Yeah. No. That's amazing. That's truly amazing. You know, when you were talking, I was like, you know, there's just awkward conversations you have to have on the side.

You got to.

What's the most awkward does anyone have any awkward conversations? Like, for me, it was like when I worked in a gun store and the girl, I sold my first gun to her, you know, I'm like, oh, yeah, I sold a gun. She pulled me aside and she's like, how do you go to the bathroom when you're carrying? And like, she pulled me aside, she's like, can you come with me? And I'm like, I don't think I can come with you, but I can teach you where to put it.

Yeah. Definitely. Pronghorn hunting, there's nothing to hide behind. Right? And if you've got to change a tampon, the way to do it is you take your plastic bag. I'm going there. You take your plastic Oh, I love You wrap it in duct tape. Right? Wrap it in duct tape, put gloves in there too. So that if, say like, say your gut and your antelope, and like, I've got to get into your bag for something like maybe your phone, your camera, something like that.

Did not think about that.

That's pretty smart. It's any I just got back from Mexico fly fishing in saltwater and, like, that was my technique. So it's not just hunting. Right?

It's any it's anything. I I think it's a smart technique, especially, you know Duct tape. Duct tape. And gloss. Yeah. Duct tape and gloss.

Like, I also have, like, 20 more tampons if you need one, you know? Like, that's the kind of guide I am. Like, what size do you want? Yeah. I

you know, I stuff them everywhere. My poor fiance, he looks at me, he's like, what are all these equipment stuff? I don't know what the colors mean. I'm like, don't touch those. Yeah. Have them all my, like, shooting back. I'm like, just in case, you never know when you're gonna need one.

Know. Whip it out. Yeah. I got you for a nosebleed.

You'll be

more than ready for a nosebleed.

You know, I found when you're ready for that stuff, you can make a really good girlfriend when you're, like, there for someone, and you're friends for life. It's like the ultimate rite of passage. You're like, oh, you need a tampon? I got

you, girl. It's like being in the bathroom in the two thousands. Right? Oh, yeah. Like in high school or at the dance club when that was a thing, and you're just like, you're you make new friends in there. Now, it's like get in and out. Like, take yourself Yeah. You don't even talk.

You don't even make contact. Like, we're like moving?

I'm like, no, girlfriends. We this is this is the women's bathroom. Like, let's hang on one second. What's his name? Do we need to dump him? I think

we need

to dump him, you know,

like It's so true. It's Yes. So COVID changed us. They're like, oh, we can't talk, we can't even get close, we can't, you know, wash our hands like 15,000 times, like, and then air dry, don't even use the towels, just yeah. It changed us. Yeah. Oh my goodness. What about you guys? Bethany, Adrian, anything any topics that you're like, man, didn't, you know, I did not see this on the bingo card today, but here it is.

I don't think anything is from that, but we were talking about like, you know, upcoming hunts and things that happened and three of my middle kids harvested their first deer this during this

season. Oh, that's awesome. Yes.

I was awesome. And I was with two of the three and, but my daughter was the first one that I was with and she missed her first shot, like the shot like right under it and the deer was like, love that, you know. Oh. And she was so nervous getting back into the blind and man, the and it was like, God knew because the way that the hunt happened, I can see him, I see this one doe and she knows we're in this blind and I'm like, if she blows, I'm

just gonna pick my nose up. She blows, she goes. Yeah.

And she knew, but all the other ones are like, and like single file line at like the perfect yardage are walking out into this food plot and she's so nervous. And I was like, listen, everybody misses. Like people miss, it's okay, you can take this shot. And so to get that like time with her and she was like, I just don't know if I can do it. Was like, you can do it, like you can.

big lesson. That's a big lesson for a 10 year old too, like how to overcome that. And she can take that on for her, you know, in life. Like Yeah. Just because something doesn't go the way you think it's gonna happen, how can you get up from that? What does that look like and how does it take? You know? That's amazing.

I think that's important for people to know for because social media is so much harvest, harvest, harvest. There's not a lot of losses that are shared on social media. And so as far, I felt like, especially for women and we already feel like in this male dominated space, like those, you know, you have these women are out there, they're killing it. And it's like, their social media looks amazing and I just miss this, just miss this deer, you know. Exactly.

They don't know if someone paid $15,000 for a bull elk hunt or if they did it themselves. Yes.

That's true. You know? Yeah. Did you pay for it? Did you get it naturally?

Did the guy drive the truck up to the elk? Like we I mean, that's our elk camp, like we can drive the truck right up to them pretty much. Oh, wow. And pull the trigger or did you like scout and like spend time out there and like spend time with the herd and like kinda get to know them and how that do you understand elk behavior? Yeah.

Totally different. Did you rough it? Are your Did you? Sturdy. Yes.

Do you have cactus in them?

When you see someone with like really really shiny clothes and they never been worn ever and you're like, you see all these posts on the social media, you're like, either someone got new camo for Christmas or Yeah. What kind of

washer you got, girl? Yeah. Must be amazing. Clean anything

like that. My Maytag does not do that.

Adrian, what was your highlight? Yeah.

Oh, gosh. So we well, two things. First, my husband and I both on the opening day of muzzleloader season in North Carolina that morning, and actually, I'd missed one the night before by the bow. Long story. Anyway, I may have gotten over it. Maybe not. Anyway First of

all, you a muzzleloader? Did you say it was a Me? Muzzleloader?

Yeah. Yeah. Like, I can shoot one like legally or personal?

No. Just like you can.

Oh, yeah. Oh, that's cool. So it's a super

cool here having a moment. Yeah. I'm

like, that's

so cool. You can actually you can watch it on our hunt this thing channel. No. Yeah. Hunt this thing. We have another channel that has some hunts. But anyway, so that morning, Robbie was up because I missed the night before, with a bow. And so that morning, we get in the stand and that, like, three days before. It's a place we had hunted, so we knew it. But he, like, got the stand set up so we could hunt together and we were gonna film, but then didn't decided not to.

you can watch

that, but it was super fun and we did, in fact, drive the truck to get the the elk, which was amazing because you just winched them up

and private land. That's nice. Yeah. On the other side of the ridge, that's why you pay that's why you pay thousands of dollars.

Yeah. Hey. Thankfully That thousands of dollars might save my back. Yeah. For sure.

Oh, yeah. And we are very blessed. We're very fortunate. We went with a friend, so it was his property and he got, you know, he, like, took us around and so that we were very, very fortunate because of that. But, yeah, it was it was that was super fun. And again, we doubled. Robbie and I doubled. Both got one in the same at the same time and that it's just super fun when you both can just be so excited

Yeah.

For each other

Yeah.

And for yourselves. Like Mhmm. So fun. Yeah. It was super cool and they fell down about, I mean, maybe 10 maybe 10 yards away from each other. So we found them both and it was a blast. So that was Awesome. Just a it was a super super fun season.

Heck yeah.

There's a couple of really great days that make you forget the ones that weren't great. So that's how

it's Hey, that that's how

it needs

to be. Yeah.

Blowing snow.

Yeah.

This is some great conversation. Let's take a moment and hear from our sponsors.

I shot my first elk.

Yes. Yes. You did. I saw that.

Let's hear about it. I okay. So my season was it was a rough season. I did get my National Forest permit, which is awesome. So I can take women on public land and show them how to never hire me again and like, I'm literally taking them to where I hunt my deer, where I hunt my turkeys and like, they're paying me. Right? Down security. Yeah. And 7% of the money goes back to conservation efforts of that national forest. So took out a bunch of gals.

That's right.

I just knew where And that is a supportive husband right there. That's like fan. A part

me a little too much, which is why I own Uncharted Outdoorsman. Right? So but I hadn't seen these bucks, like, was in the rut that I always try and get a rut tag, right? Because they're really active and they're coming out of that dark timber. So it's just easier to find them because it's so steep and there's just so many lodgepole trees there, you know, you might only have six inches to shoot something in.

more than once

Oh, really? Understand. Yeah. Oh, that's cool.

I've always wanted to go on a bear hunt. I really want to go on a bear hunt. I'm also terrified of bears. Yeah. Fun fact. And I'm not scared

of bears anymore. I think that's because now that I've seen them and I'm like, oh, she's just like eating grass. Okay. Like it's I kind of gotten over and I've seen around my house quite a bit. Mainly trying to come in my windows. That's terrifying. Season I know.

Back on topic. Talk about the elk.

Rough, And then I got to January because I I mean, I social media marketing is really hard right now with everything going on. There's a lot of noise on social media, and so I couldn't fill my elk camp. So I had to buy my last elk tag. So I did that, all three of our clients tagged out and I still had mine and so I'm leaving with that elk camp without an elk and not that I had like a ton of time to hunt it, but I had to work it and like feed everybody and like scout and all that, make sure they got their elk in the coolers, driven home or to the processor. So I just didn't have time.

Yeah. I mean, literally, the storyline right there, I mean

So they said, yes, and we went out and we got one. And it was I like go into shock when I get Oh, jerk. I'm like in shock, and I have like my checklist, like, get my photo, get this photo, you know, take a seat, like, take in the moment. But now my freezer's full and then, oh, it was late January. Right?

have six pounds of meat

hanging in your yard. Yeah. All this meat hanging in my garage. My husband, quote, do not bring that thing here. It's when I told

You him I bring that thing there.

That's right. Showed up, I posted a picture of him, like, holding the bags, you know, and he's like, he looks like the hunter. Right? Just

me and

my shenanigans.

Yeah. It's like, you did it, didn't you?

So, yeah. I got my first one and like, if you can't tell, I'm still like living that. That's awesome. Living in that moment is really cool. Because I my intention was to just find them. Right? To find them Yeah. And get, I don't know, within a mile. I don't know. Get within I was shot him at 200 yards.

Heck yeah.

I think we took all of our shots at like 300 but they had set like the ranch was like, it's gonna be at five, six hundred, 700 yard shot because it's in the plains, but we stalked her for like two miles, think, mile and a half, two miles behind a cow decoy. YouTube is coming, hopefully, video of that. So I'll post it if it gets out. So I got one. Like, my season was terrible until I was like, hey, can I like go do this?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Did it and your Yeah. Your husband loves you enough to bring it home, you know, bam. Right there.

Julia, we can't forget you.

Oh, man. What was the question? I would have highlight your duck hunt.

I'm like, thinking about this bear. I I mean, mean, I think experience from this season.

Think was your duck No. My yeah. Definitely my duck hunt was, you know, obviously being having glowing sin the second I came out of the duck hole. But no, I actually got to take my fiance hunting. He's not from a hunting family, and I'm definitely the shooter, obviously, of the family. And so it's hard. It's always hard, but he's getting there. We're we're training him. He's a football player, so there's no finesse. There's no finesse.

It's okay.

But the duck hunting was absolutely amazing. So I got to see him, you know, we're working on the shotgun thing. We're finally getting it down. And when he smoked his first duck, I think he jumped about, like, his vertical went up at least, you know, 15 more feet, I feel like, because he was like, did you see it? And I was like, yeah. No. I see it, baby. Congratulations. And of course, my dog, he's like taking off 90 to nothing over here. He's like, going to retreat.

He's done now. He's he's he's in it.

Oh, yeah. He already ordered some sickie gear. He's like, I'm all in. I'm like, baby It's addictive. We're we're gonna we're gonna get there. So he was talking about turkeys and I'm like, oh, yeah. Now we're speaking language. That's right. Ducks are good. You know, deer's okay when I'm reading a book, but

turkeys. Now we're talking.

I'm really excited So about the we'll see how, you know, everything goes. But, yeah,

that's You just gonna be moved. Like, where are you gonna turkey hunt? Are you going back?

We did just move. Talked about going out out west. So we have some friends. Yes. I know. I know.

It's like

I know. Well, girl, I'll call you if you're trying to hunt with

me though. It's we're doing it, girls.

Actually, so it's so funny you say that. I still have deer cameras up in my property in Tennessee and just there's so many turkeys. Like, I'm coming from a place that was, like, one guy. You know, one turkey out there just in the middle of the field every now and then. So many turkeys. I don't know if they got the thought that I left. And now they're like, oh, yeah. We can

I mean We're just strutting

over in the field? Don't worry Adrian about

can go check for you.

I can come here. I am the haven't seen a lot. So

If you're in Memphis. I I can get there. I might need someone to go check on her or meet me there. There you go.

There go.

There we yeah. Meet me there because, you know, I'm over here like checking a course in the middle of surgery. I'm like, oh, do

you see this? You see how many fingers do have?

Long weirds. Oh, I get so excited. But yeah. So that's the, you know, future, you know, milestone. We're gonna get them there, but it's been fun. Like, that's kinda my enjoyment and the biggest lesson that I've saw, you know, this season at least is getting someone new into duck hunting and taking away what that meant for them because he had so many questions, and I was not prepared for these questions. I was like, oh my gosh. I can coach shooting. This is my first time. I'm usually the lobby.

He's gotta go. The rules are the same. You know? Yeah. Stay warm.

You don't Yeah. Yeah. That was also a thing.

Yeah.

I I wasn't prepared for that either. He's like, stay warm. He's like, I brought these socks. I'm like, oh. Those are That's

my husband too. Yeah. Jacket. He's like, oh, what and I'm like, okay. Well, it's snowing. I whatever.

Yeah. No. I didn't realize that. And then also, like, I felt bad because the first time we went deer hunting, of course, he's texting me. I'm in surgery. I'm like trying to get off so I can get into the deer blind before sunset. You're like, I'm like, oh my gosh. He showed up in jeans and a sweatshirt.

Hell

yeah. Because I told him to dress warm. I did not specify. Hey. If as long as he's in a

blonde and they're warm, they can't see you.

Kind of. It was a flaming yellow Notre Dame.

Oh, nice. I was like What the

heck? What are you wearing? Yeah. Color vibe.

Let's see. Yeah.

But I was just like,

oh, we just stick it out like a sore I'm like, we're in the middle of like Yes. Flaming.

You know though, if you talk to enough enough people who have hunted a very long time, this is a story I have heard from so many people is, you know, grandpa used to come in the blind in his blue jeans and his red flannel shirt, smoking a cigarette, and kill the deer all the time.

So Back then there were like conservation laws in the '8, like anybody that's why, like, in the eighties is when conservation and tags and all that came about. Right? So they were just used to shooting anything anytime is kinda what it sounds like, And you could do that in whatever you want if it was any time of year.

Yeah. Yep. And I was

like, yeah. I mean, possible. I'm a It's possible. Like, dress the max. I look, you know, I will be one with the ground dirt No. On my face, especially when it comes to hunting. I will roll around in the woods and like, let's go. Anything for a turkey. Yeah. Deer, not so much. That's right.

I think that we take for granted as a more experience I think what we take for granted as more experienced hunters is that new experience when, you know, the gal does catch her first fish and she's in the moment. We're like, alright, let's get in there, like, let's move it. Get your photo and like, you just kind of like move through everything really quickly. And recently, I had a first experience with being in Mexico and just seeing all the birds and like seeing a lot of things for the first time. When the girls I went with, they see that stuff all the time like this is no big deal.

They're like,

we are so excited to see how excited you are. And I'm like,

oh my gosh. I and I get to

do this all the time. I get to do this for my career and give people and bring in new experiences. So we just as like, as it more advanced hunters, intermediate more experienced hunters is

the word

I'm looking for. Yeah. As more experienced hunters, we take for granted what we're giving to these new these new hunters. This first experience that can kind of change their life and we hope it does. Right? Conservation needs help, especially from the fastest growing demographic in the outdoors. Sure.

I mean, as a mom, like the same thing, like you just see those light bulbs come on, that like hunger, that drive to get in the stand again. Yeah. You know, my kids have suffered through some pretty cold mornings and, you know, they've duck hunting with me and I've had to take heated gloves and stuff them on my son's feet one time just to make the hunt go longer because he was like, I'm so cold, you know, but to see him like, he ended up shooting a duck that day and then I was like, I'll go and suffer in the cold anytime. There you go. Yeah.

He's over here toughing it and he's like, whatever it takes, mom. Don't worry.

Yeah. That's right.

Make that duck land right here. I love it. Sometimes they make the best stories too. You kinda like tough through something so hard and then you're like, dude, that was the best time and you're over here, like, person who's with you that's like looking at you, really? And every

time you go through a hard time, man. You turn that chapter, turn the page in that chapter and you're like, okay. I am oh, my my skin's a little thicker. Yeah. No. For sure.

Speaking of like new shooters, what's something, you know, beginners focus on way too much that you've seen?

The recoil.

Trying to be right. Like

Oh. You. Bethany, I like that. Trying to

be right.

Oh. Oh. Yeah. Mic drop.

Think there's just so much information out there. They're just like Mhmm. I gotta be right. I gotta be an expert. I already gotta know what to do and I'm Yeah. Embarrassed if I have to ask the question or I might be the most novice of the bunch that's around. So I'm just going to fake it until I make it, you know.

Yeah. Do you think a lot of that comes from like social media? Everyone sees all the positives and like you said, none of the negatives.

It could be social media or the group that you're around or if you're the only female and a group of men that's grown up hunting and went to deer camp and did all the things, and they don't got time to mansplain the conversation or whatever, or they don't, like you said, Erin, it's just another throw it in there. But that's your first time experiencing and you want to savor that moment a little bit, whether you're the person or you're mentoring someone. Yeah. It's hard to be with people that, you know, they I don't think people like to be feel inferior and we're in a social media world that's, you know, give me all the likes, show me all the the things and we don't wanna show the bad or the not knowledgeable person.

I think showing the bad is probably the best part, to be honest. Like, I think that kinda uncovers everything, and it's like, it kinda makes me feel like, oh, I thought that too. Mhmm. Or, oh, yeah. That's me. And you never wanna say that's you ever. But, I mean, I relate to that. I'm of course, I did a lot of, like, failure, you know, trick shots. So, like, showing the flaws got more likes than showing the perfect shot. And I feel like

A video that Scott posted back, it's been a while ago, but he was self filming himself, bow hunting. Mhmm. And it was just a a short on YouTube. It was, you know, like a thirty second deal, but the he had the camera facing him. And, you know, he goes to draw back and he you know, you know the deal.

know who got famous for kinda showing the flaws is like Bill Dance. I mean, didn't he get didn't he get famous for falling in the water? Is hilarious. I'm like, no. I'm just saying like, I mean, that's I mean, that's a flaw, you know, you're not really supposed to join the fish in the water, you know, like, and, you know, literally legacy legacy of a guy.

We need on on our on the ASCEND Instagram, YouTube, what we need to start doing is have people send in their failure shots, their

Oh my Yes. And just

have this whole series of Yeah. Of hunting bloopers, fishing bloopers, like, we're not nobody's perfect and, yeah, I heard somebody one time say, if if you say you've never missed, you've either never hunted or you're a liar.

Yeah. So And you never did it long enough. You never did it

long enough. Yeah. So, you know, that's maybe maybe that's the thing. Hey, you guys, if you, if you have any videos of you messing up, leave them up to see them and share them for everyone because we

all know that stuff. Tag us because we'd love to see it. Hey, let's repost a couple. Like, let's literally join the movement.

Tag us all. Tag d u send in your in your mess ups and

yeah.

That would be amazing. This real realness going, we can do it.

I think that's great. I mean, heck, I wanna see them. I just wanna see people, like, slip in the mud or fall with their waiters on. Like, I do at least one time a year. Like Uh-huh. And I'm coordinated. I'm a coordinated person. I'm sleeping for you, girl. Man, I'm

five three. Out of the mud onto the ice into the river is, like, my downward trajectory.

So you never caught a break. You just went bam bam bam. Yeah.

It's just that's just

the

It way goes sometimes. When the duck hunting is good, that's just

telling us. What what do they say? That's the way the cookie crumbles?

Yeah. That's the basic She's a

crumbled cookie. Crumble Oh my goodness. So before we wrap up, I would love to hear what excites you the most about the future of hunting really quick, and then let's just close it out.

I have recently seen a resurgence of women fly fishing that I haven't seen in years, and it's really good to see. I feel like last year, the fly fishing scene in Colorado or the West kinda like petered out a little bit, you know, it's like COVID. Like, everyone got into it and then it's just kind of like, well, there are more fly tying classes this winter than I've ever seen hosted by more than just me. So it's nice. That is awesome.

That has to make you feel good.

Mhmm.

It's amazing. Bethany, what's yours?

I think just more mom sharing their experience in the outdoors, whether that's taking your kids or the hunting being your thing and like preserving your identity and something that you love to do, you know, baby wearing outdoors tips to take kids in the outdoors, just showing kids in the duck blind, like, you know, taking kids again, think is something that, seeing that kind of family tradition resurgence, but with the mom, you know, is something that I really enjoy seeing and I'm glad that I can be a part of kind of that movement that's going.

Love it. Love it. It's

so I think, a couple of things. One is the number of, I would say, young females that I have met in the past couple months at least, who are like really into hunting. And not not just because it's cool, but because they really love it and wanna do it. Like the people in the, you know, like twenties and and younger thirties. So that was neat, because that that to me is it's if it is continuing and they're like duck hunting, which is, you know, probably one of the coldest and most miserable types you can do.

of good opportunity.

There's so many opportunities. So like Yeah. If you wanna do it, and it I I knew there were some, but my my eyes have been opened to how many opportunities there are out there. And that to me is just super cool that you can do it on your own. Mhmm. Like, I'm very, very fortunate. My husband is amazing and he got me into hunting and it wasn't a thing where he's like, I'm going hunting with the boys. You stay home. You know, like, he was like, please come. I want you to come.

He does when he can. I hunt more than him though.

Yeah. Yeah. If you have that opportunity that I have, awesome. If you don't, or if like me, if I wanna go on a women's hunt and I wanna go on a, you know, sandhill crane hunt or whatever, like there are so many opportunities. So many. If you wanna do it, you can do it.

Yeah. I think the bottom line is this. If any guys are listening to this, get your woman out with you. They'll complain less when you're gone or when you're doing something because you're just gonna come the women are gonna join you, and you're gonna get to do more things. So, I mean Maybe that's what maybe that was motivation.

I don't know. But

No. I think that's a really good tip for everyone who's listening. Wink. Wink. There you go. If you want to go, you know, hunting in Argentina, wink. Get your girl out hunting or do something fun.

The route. That's exactly right.

Yeah. They're never they're never gonna say no. Put it that way. No. That's amazing. I really like that. I really like that and that is very exciting. Very exciting. Well, I guess this is the end. I'm so glad we got to do this because, you know, it's always really good to look back on a lot of episodes and see what we can take from that and what we can learn from that and those amazing conversations that we've had.

Thank you for listening to the ASCEND podcast. New every week, the conservation driven podcast one week, and our adventure video series the next. Watch the ASCEND adventure episodes on the Ducks Unlimited YouTube channel, and be sure to like, share, and subscribe. Opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect those of Ducks Unlimited. Until next time, follow your outdoor story wherever it leads you. ASCEND. Don't forget to rate and review the ASCEND podcast. It's the best way to grow the podcast and help other women discover the next step on their outdoors journey.