Heyyyy ladies: Women on the Wing welcomes females to game hunting, conservation

ALBANY – The Women on the Wing Wiregrass Chapter will host its Bobwhite Bash at Pretoria Fields Brewery on Oct. 24 to kick off a unique program designed to welcome women into the world of upland game hunting and conservation. The bash will take place from 6-9 p.m. Anyone who wants to contribute toward supporting women in the outdoors is invited to attend.

Whether you are a seasoned hunter, a couple looking for a fun night out, or a woman wanting the opportunity to learn something about hunting and conservation, the event will have something of interest for you. Tickets to the event are $50 per person with all proceeds going to support the newly-formed Women of the Wing Wiregrass Chapter, the chapter’s habitat projects, and outreach events. Chapters use 100% of the funds they raise for locally oriented conservation efforts.

The good news for hunters and other interested persons is that the bash is not a women’s-only event. Attendees just need to have the desire to support women in the outdoors. A variety of raffles will be held, with prizes including a variety of firearms, items from Silencer Central, knives, hunting apparel, and items for canine companions. Raffles also will be held that offer items for the youngest outdoor enthusiast. Taps will be flowing at the bar, and a food truck will provide a selection of foods to compliment the evening activities and raffles.

“We had about 60 ladies in the Albany area who were really interested in just leaning more about conservation as a whole and wanted to get more invested in hunting and shooting,” Audrey Hawk, the Quail Forever Education and Outreach coordinator for Georgia and Florida, said. “Over the past year, these women have worked to establish the Wiregrass Chapter in partnership with the Southwest Georgia Chapter of Quail Forever.”

Hawk explained that recognizing a growing interest among women in hunting and outdoors activities, Quail Forever created the Women on the Wing initiative to welcome women of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels into the world of upland hunting and conservation. Regardless of hunting experience level, the program combines the tools and mentorship to make learning new skills and building a level of confidence in a variety of outdoor activities an enjoyable experience.

One example: The recent Ladies Upland Adventure hosted by Women on the Wing at Longleaf Hill, where 13 ladies learned about shooting safety, developed shooting skills on the sporting clays course, and practiced the methods of how to walk safely up to a pointing dog and mount the gun to take a shot when the quail flush. That afternoon they participated in a hunt as single shooters while the others cheered them on from the bird buggy. Prior to supper that evening, the ladies learned how to clean and prepare the birds they harvested.

The following morning, the ladies once again took to the field, this time hunting in pairs, developing a better understanding of the intricacies related to a quail hunt. Asked to reflect on the experiences of the weekend, one participant replied, “Being able to be vulnerable and learn from every aspect of the weekend and everyone in the group. It truly was a remarkable experience that left me feeling empowered and connected to things I haven’t felt in recent years.”

“As we continue to empower women in hunting and conservation, the experiences shared and connections forged serve as a testament to the power of education, camaraderie, and shared passion,” Hawk said. “Together, we pave the way for future generations of women hunters to thrive in the field. With each successful harvest and newfound skill, participants pave the way for future generations of hunters who foster a legacy of gratitude and joy in the great outdoors.”

Another goal of the program is to reach out and engage women landowners who hold title to a third of all the farmland in the United States. Non-operating female landowners own another 87 million acres. The program seeks to educate them and engage them in conservation efforts through workshops and educational opportunities tailored for them. Hawk, the R3 coordinator, works to recruit, retain, and reactivate women into the realm of conservation and upland hunting.

The chapter’s next Learn to Hunt event will focus on conservation and deer hunting at Quail Country Lodge. All activities, lodging equipment and meals are included in the registration fee of $300. The event takes place on Oct. 25-26. Hunter Education and Conservation classes, rifle training, and a bonfire take place on the 25th. The next day, there will be a mentored hunt and instructions on deer processing and recipes. Following lunch, stand shooting and another mentored hunt will precede dinner.

An optional night at the lodge is available. For more information on the hunt and Women on the Wing, contact Hawk at [email protected]/event/101790.