Lady Hunter Magazine March/April 2014

LadyHunter

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 1

MAGAZINE

TALKIN’ TURKEY with Vol 2 Issue 2 Mar/Apr 2014

Brenda Valentine Ladyhuntermagazine.com

2 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

Welcome to Lady Hunter Magazine From the Editor

Contributing Editors Kristi Lynn Hair Kimberly Snyder Anita Williams Candy Yow Joella Bates Christy Turner Judy Erwin Branham Candace Hubble Ashlet Petrof

Special Thanks to Mary Dugie Marketing and Sales

Thanks for choosing Lady Hunter Magazine.

In this issue we have an interview with Brenda Valentine by Judy Branham who attended the NTWF convention. Judy will be interviewing Jana Walker of Skullbound TV this week and will provide the article in the May/June issue. In addition to that Jen Shultz has an interview with a young lady who shoots with a mouth pull. As we continue to grow we are still a platform for all of the ladies to tell of their adventures in the outdoors.

We still invite all of you to like us on facebook ( http://facebook.com/ladyhuntermagazine ) and please share with everyone. If there are any events or activities that you would like for everyone to know about please let us know so that we can share on our facebook page.

I want to thak you again for your continued support of our magazine.

Thanks Team Lady Hunter Magazine

LADY HUNTER MAGAZINE

4336 Milsmith Road, Chester, VA 23831 gary@LadyHunterMagazine.com.

No part of Lady Hunter may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher.

Copyright 2013.

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 3

Table Of Contents Deer Management: To Shoot or not to Shoot Ashley Petrof ...............................................................................................6 Wild Hog Hunting Tips Candace Hubble ............................................................................................8 BACK COUNTRY HUNTING Dylan’s Archery Hunt Candy Yow ..................................................................................................11 Family Time in The Great Outdoors is The Best Time Christy Turner.............................................................................................14 Talkin Turkey with the First Lady of Hunting Brenda Valentine Judy Erwin Branham....................................................................................16 The Passion of a Waterfowl Hunter Kimberly Synder..........................................................................................24 The Hardcore Huntress Point of View My Most Memorable Hunt Kristi Lynn Hair..........................................................................................28 OUTDOORS WITH ANITA Dare To Try Vension Heart Anita Williams.............................................................................................32 Wild Game Recipes Judy Erwin Branham....................................................................................34 Speeding Ticket and Pearls Joella Bates..................................................................................................36

4 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

Our Previously Published Huntresses

Joella Bates

Anita Williams

http://ladyhuntermagazine.com/joella-bates.html

http://ladyhuntermagazine.com/anita-williams.html

Kimberly Synder

Candy Yow

http://ladyhuntermagazine.com/kimberly-snyder.html

http://ladyhuntermagazine.com/candy-yow.html

Kristi Lynn Hair

Teresa DePalma

http://ladyhuntermagazine.com/kristi-hair.html

http://ladyhuntermagazine.com/teresa-depalma.html

Christy Turner

Judy Erwin Branham

http://ladyhuntermagazine.com/christy-turner.html

http://ladyhuntermagazine.com/judy-erwin-branham.html

Beka Garris

Amy Hughes

http://ladyhuntermagazine.com/beka-garris.html

http://ladyhuntermagazine.com/amy-hughes.html

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 5

Bio’s can be Found at the links provided

Candace Hubble http://ladyhuntermagazine.com/candace-hubblehtml

Shannon Deskins http://ladyhuntermagazine.com/shannon-deskins.html

Jennifer Shultz http://ladyhuntermagazine.com/jennifer-shultz.html

Candace Crick http://ladyhuntermagazine.com/candace-crick.html

Join us on facebook At Amanda Jackson

http://facebook.com/ladyhuntermagazine

http://ladyhuntermagazine.com/amanda-jackson.html

For those of you who like to fish please check out Lady Angler Magazine http://ladyanglermagazine.com

6 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

Deer Management: To Shoot or Not to Shoot

By Ashley Petrof

Have you ever been in a room full of people where a topic comes up and immediately blood pressures rise, tempers get flared, and forehead veins start bulging? Its topics like these that most tend to shy away from in fear of the reaction it may cause. For some, deer management is one of those topics.

When a 2 or 3 year old doe walks out in front of you, do you let her pass or do you fill your tag…Do you take your barely legal bucks or do you allow them to grow?

I’ll never forget the time that deer management was brought up to my dad during a Christmas party that my parents hosted in their country home nestled in the middle of 60 acres of thick Pennsylvania woods. You could’ve heard his reaction from miles away. Needless to say, the topic didn’t go over well. My dad grew up living off the land.

He hunted and fished not only for the passion and thrill of it, but as a means to survive. In his eyes, killing a young doe could potentially take 3 deer off the property for the next year. I grew up learning everything I know from my Dad and was

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 7

taught that antler size didn’t compare to putting food on the table. At the time, deer management was less than an afterthought.

Now that Gene and I have our deer lease in Hays County, Texas (argued by some to have the highest population of deer per acre) we have been faced with the topic of Deer Management. In our situation we have 32 acres in a suburban location, where it’s nothing for us to see 20+ deer in one trip. We have plenty of deer that range from fawns to post prime. Some Wildlife Biologists that we spoke to recommend that we harvest as many deer as legally possible on this property in order to try to control the deer population. When it comes to Deer Management, we are somewhere in the middle. We’d love to harvest a mature buck that would score 160+, but due to the over population and lack of nourishment we know that growth is not possible without management. We will only see a buck that size if we give less deer more nutrients.

Deer Management is not a one size fits all program. It’s a program that’s tailored to each individual property and hunter’s style. We prefer to grow bigger deer; therefore we have to do our best to manage the population. Other people want to see 50+ deer because it makes them feel good about their deer herd. So, the next time you go out hunting… to shoot or not to shoot?

Ashley Petrof Vital Obsession TV ProStaff

Wild Hog Hunting Tips

8 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

By Candace Hubble

I

n my first article I explained the ‘Appeal of the Squeal’ and how my addiction for hunting hogs has led me to hunt them alone in the dark. I hope I sparked some interest for anyone looking to start hunting them and because I get a lot of questions about hunting wild pigs. I wanted to follow up with some of my wild hog hunting tips.

Many people are intrigued with the hog epidemic in Texas and the southern part of the country and I want to share a few basic important points of hog hunting that I have learned along the way.

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 9

of time before shooting. It is also important to be able to ‘let down’ your bow quietly without your arrow making noise. Check your rest for any ‘noisy spots’ and add adhesive felt where necessary.

1.) Scent/Wind - You will never beat a hog’s nose!

When hunting wild hogs you must always have the wind in your face to be successful. I always say “Wind in your face, you’re in the right place!”

Pigs will always smell you and the bigger boars are much smarter than most deer. Their sense of smell is their key to survival because they can smell food buried deep below the ground which is why in a hog infested area it will be rooted up all over.

Don’t skimp on the scent cover and play the wind always. I have tested this theory more times than I can count, most of the time not on purpose. Swirl- 4.) Landscape/Water - If you are scouting for a ing winds are one’s worst enemy when hunting place to hunt hogs, you must have a water source pigs and will get you busted EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. for them. No water, no pigs, it’s as simple as that.

Water is more than a thirst issue for them, because 2.) Stalking - One of my favorite ways to hunt they can get water from other sources like cactus, wild hogs is spot and stalk, especially stalking at although it’s a last option; but pigs can’t sweat night. With their less than stellar vision you have much so they either need to be able to root up a slightly upper hand at night; however, stalking the ground to get to cooler dirt or find water to and especially night stalking is dangerous so make stay cool – this is where you get ‘pig wallowing’ sure you are prepared with a sidearm or another from. If you set up to hunt near water, you can’t go experienced person for backup. When stalking it is wrong, just check your wind! Always look for signs always important to be as quiet as possible but if of uprooted dirt, brush, and plants in the area near you can’t be silent, you should march as you stalk; water as well for tell-tale signs of hogs. Droppings do not drag or shuffle your feet and here’s why and hoof prints are always a giveaway too; com- find out if the land you are hunting has cattle; bine all the above and you’re in a great spot! this is important because marching will make you sound like cattle walking instead of shuffling your feet. The hogs are accustomed to hearing the cattle moving and won’t spook as easy. Also, if you do step on a stick or make noise, stop for a minute and let it quiet back down.

3.) Practice - Wild hogs are always moving, es-

pecially when eating which may force you to draw your bow or hold steady for a while until a shot is presented. Because of these types of scenarios you should practice shooting from different angles and practice holding your bow for longer periods

10 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

cause they aren’t as bright when bow hunting and won’t create as many shadows when stalking, but green lights are great too. I recently discovered the Nite Hunter Archery bow light that mounts above my sights for much better visuals at night. I have tried numerous stabilizer lights but had problems with them especially in ground blinds. Stabilizer lights sit lower than your sights and arrow and they can reflect back in the blind and make for difficult shots. The above the sights light has enabled me to hunt and kill many more pigs at night successfully. Regardless of what you choose you should have a red or green flashlight as well when stalking because any white light will spook them.

5.) Baiting - Most states where hog hunting is

plentiful allows baiting; Texas is one of them. Using corn, sour corn, or other sweet attractants if you can is a great way to get hogs in range. If you are feeding corn, but they aren’t coming to the feeder, you might benefit from corning the roads or paths you will be stalking. They will find it quicker than you realize because of their great nose and it sets up for great night stalking.

I hope some of these tips will help anybody who is excited to go hog hunting. I have put all of these tips to test in the field for years and had my share of mistakes to learn from and for that I am grateful.

I continue to make mistakes and learn and grow and I hope that through them other women (and men) can use them to their advantage as well. The most important tip I will leave you with though is to be safe and have fun!

6.) Lights - Wild hogs tend to be nocturnal, espe-

cially in the warmer months & full moon phases, so you may have to go nocturnal too. Investing in some red or green lights will enhance your experience and allow for more accurate and effective shots. If you will be using lights, remember it’s the shadows created from the lights that spook them, not necessarily the lights. I prefer red lights be-

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 11

Dylan’s Archery Hunt

By Candy Yow

12 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

ble to avoid. Randy kept softly cow calling as we crashed along hoping the other animals would think we were cows grazing along. This hunt was Myself, Randy (my husband, and Dylan (our grandson), archery elk hunting in Eastern Oregon. There are some great elk in this area but not lots of them so our goal was to just fill the freezer. Randy let off a few bugles here and there to no avail at first, then a bull answered to our left. It never fails the sound of an elk talking to you can bring life into anyone, our senses were tense as we strained to hear exactly where the bugle came from. We could hear a couple soft cow calls too, so we went ahead and set up. Dylan got settled under a tree beside a big tree where I could get behind him with the camera in a position to hopefully get shooter and bull on film. Randy went further up the trail to try to call them in, the excitement and enthusiasm in

The chilly morning seeped into our bones as we stepped over down falls on our way to check out a wallow up the canyon. A fire had ravaged the area a few years ago and it was like walking through pixie sticks only hip high pixie sticks. This hike was a much easier hike than most as far as steepness but the workout was great nonetheless due to all the downed trees. We had had a good rain in the last week but being quiet was still not possible, each step had crackling twigs that were impossi- Dylan was almost more than I could watch without cracking up. Its like his enthusiasm was jumping out of his whole being, focusing on the direction of the bugle his eyes bulging, arms twitching and breath in short quiet gasps. His strained face was white from the cold with perfect red circles where his cheeks were, just like in a cartoon. All to no avail the elk must have winded us and went the other direction. Disappointed but still caught up in the awesomeness of the whole experience we head on up the draw.

We continued this routine daily to no avail, only the next couple days there were no bulls or cows talking back,.. Frustration starts to sink in after a few days of this, we know there are elk, we just

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 13

following the sound of his bugle. We get about 100 yards away and I think he got scared of another bull as he shushed up and moved off a ways.

About 10 minutes later he started talking again, so away we went after him. This time we got within 30 yards but no clear view of him before we blew him. He didn’t just trot off this time, he gathered his cows and was gone. Hunt over for the day and we have to head home, but that is the way it goes you don’t always come home with harvest. I think that is what makes it so rewarding at the end of the season is you will not always get one, so when you do it is that much more appreciated. It was lots of hard work and very time consuming, but tons of great memories were made. can’t find them. The rut is running a couple weeks behind this year and the bulls are not gathering their cows or talking. We had one more day to hunt and then we had to head home to work, so we take off way before first light and hike up a towards a ridge we had seen 3 cows and a rag horn on earlier in the week. About half way up Randy starts to cow call and bugle when we get an answer immediately. A little shocked as quiet as it has been all week we start to think it was a human.

He calls again and it answers again, the problem is its back at the bottom. So now do we go back down after a bull we don’t really know where it is or continue our hunt up to the ridge? We debate for some time while talking back and forth with this bull, (which we were pretty sure was an actual bull now) and decide to go find him. Off we take

But not to end on a bad note, when we got closer to home a small management buck was spotted not far from our house, we got Dylan there in time to get a great shot at him and Dylan was successful, so Dylan ended up getting his first animal with his bow, that made the whole trip worth while. What’s even greater is he was just as excited about this little management buck as he would have been about a great bull, That my friends is what hunting is all about.

Until next time, shoot straight, and keep looking up, God Bless Candy Yow

t y l i m a

great outdoors is th e h t n i eb ime

By: Christy Turner

I had read a post on Facebook that had said, “Kids don’t remember their best day of television.” It had a picture of a Dad and his little boy out hunting in the woods. That statement has stuck in my head and I find it so accurate. I have two little girls and we will have our occasional “girls night” when their Daddy is away. We make popcorn, wear cozy pj’s, polish our nails and watch a movie together. But it is when we are out in the woods hunting, fishing, looking for deer sheds and even just finding a nice shady spot in the middle of know where were we can lay down and rest for a little while, that makes great memories. Sometimes we will get the giggles while trying to be quiet in the stand. Other times we just sit in silence for long periods of time before our adrenaline starts spiking when we see the wildlife start moving in front of us or when our bobber goes under the water and we start reeling in our line. The silence and then the burst of energy and adrenaline is something you cant get from t.v., video games or all the new and latest electronics and toys these days.

e st

ti

me

F

14 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 15

I know there is a lot of controversy around hunting something that you are not going to eat. But the people who are upset about this has never put a lot of money out and hard work to have one of these predators kill your investment. On some of the Ranches that I hunt on, if I had the opportunity to shoot a predator and I didn’t, the Ranch owner would be so upset with me and probably not allow me to hunt on their property again. It is that big of a problem to try and get it under control. Now the Feral Hogs we do eat! We make breakfast sausage and can make a bunch of pork chops!

Deer season is over, now what do we do until Spring Turkey Season? Predator hunting is what my family likes to do! We live in Texas so at the top of the list of course is the Feral Hogs. They are taking over and destroying everything in their path. We also target the Foxes, Bobcats and Coyotes. All of which are susceptible to carry Rabies and Mange. They also go after and kill our chickens, baby goats and sheep. We spend a lot of money and work very hard all throughout the year raising our livestock and chickens also feeding and taking care of the whitetail deer and Wild Turkey in our area. I have seen during deer season a pack of Coyote’s taking down a mature doe. It was a horrible site.

Just like Deer hunting, Turkey hunting, or Predator hunting we hunt together as a family. We harvest most of our meat as a family and sit down for dinner as a family. We protect our investment as a family and we live out adventures and make memories as a family. I think Dr. Suess says it best when he says, “Sometime you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” Just like that post off of facebook, “Kids don’t remember their best day of television.” They remember being in the great outdoors with their family.

16 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

TALKIN’ TURKEY with the “First Lady of Hunting®” Brenda Valentine

By Judy Branham

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 17

Known all over the world as the “First Lady of Hunting®” for her speaking and hunting abilities, Brenda continues to blaze a trail of humanitarian efforts for lady hunters who follow her with pride and dignity.

Brenda Valentine standing in one of her food plots holding a bucket of Purple Hull peas from her farm.

L

ush green fields full of corn stalks raise high against the clear blue sky in North Western Tennessee as a soft summer breeze rustles through the oak tree grove, all planted by a modern day pioneer woman named Brenda Valentine.

“We eat out of my food plots all summer. I plant enough for the deer, turkey, squirrels, rabbits and Valentine’s,” she said. Brenda’s delightful southern accent and vibrant personality are adorned with humbleness and thoughtfulness for others above herself. Whether they are Veterans, children or the physically challenged she is there with open arms ready to assist them in a moment’s notice. Having had opportunities above and beyond her wildest imagination, Brenda has lived an adventurous life in the outdoors. From the hills of Tennessee to the Afghanistan mountains, to the plains of Africa and other exotic locations she has hunted wild game to feed the hungry and for conservation efforts.

During her seminar at the 2014 National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Convention, Brenda used an open forum for sharing hunting stories in a relaxed campfire like atmosphere. Many wonderful stories were shared by men and women alike.

She spoke of younger days when she experienced coon hunting with her father, and of teaching her own children and grandchildren about the wonderful outdoors and hunting.

Before she could walk her father, David Johnson, was carrying young Brenda on coon hunting trips in his hunting jacket. She grew to love the outdoors through youthful experiences with her family living in remote North Western Tennessee. Brenda began our interview by explaining about her father/daughter relationship and how it encouraged her hunting career.

Brenda’s father holding her on a red-tick coon hound, her father’s uncle is in the white shirt.

Brenda’s seminar during the 2014 NWTF Convention in Nashville, TN. Photo by Judy Branham

“He didn’t encourage me as much as he just drug me along,” she said with a grin.

Picturing Brenda’s childhood is difficult for most people. The Johnson family was extremely poor; coon hunting for hides, meat and to train dogs.

Their farm was at the dead end of a dirt road.

There were times she didn’t see other people from the time school let out in spring until fall when it started back again. Brenda was the oldest child, when she began to walk she would trudge along beside her father hunting.

18 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

Brenda spoke of how there was always a shotgun over the mantle and two or three behind the door.

“We hunted for recreation and for money, everything in our lives just rotated around hunting. Back then it wasn’t as season specific with the bag limits and everything. People hunted if they needed fresh meat and would just kill a batch of squirrels or rabbits as we didn’t have deer then. When I was a small child deer hadn’t been established, we didn’t have turkeys either but lived mostly on small game and raised dogs,” she said.

Her father was a major influence as he was known all around the community as a crack shot and good hunter, being especially good with dogs. Her mother, Sarah, was also a crack shot. It didn’t matter what they brought in she would fry up crows or anything.

“We would come dragging in old turtles or whatever, but I guess I took pride in that everybody kept talking about what a wonderful shot my father was,” she said remembering her youth.

Guns were everywhere and a kid just had enough sense to not pick them up and play with them.

If an adult said don’t touch that gun, you didn’t touch that gun.

She said with significance, “You weren’t afraid of the gun you were afraid of what you’d get if you touched the gun. So I didn’t have to be told twice don’t fool with it; but in the same hand there was always a common sense issue around there. If there was a coyote in the chicken yard you went out there and shot the coyote, it wasn’t a big deal, you didn’t go hunting you was just taking care of what was yours. People don’t understand that now.

We never locked up a gun. The only gun case we had was two big nails on the wall and you just laid

them up there so they wouldn’t fall on the floor.”

Family life for Brenda is very important. She could never have gone into this position, not just the NWTF, but into the hunting industry when her kids were little. She began traveling and hunting professionally when her girls were in high school and college. However busy her career has been she still makes time to keep the family hunting traditions alive by hunting with family every chance she gets.

Brenda shared that when given the opportunity she would not say anything different to a young girl hunting prodigy than she would a young boy beginning to hunt. However her thoughts were clear on the diverse instincts of female from male hunting skills.

“I’ve told so many young girls that being a girl is not a handicap and they should never feel inadequate or held back because of their gender. In fact I find that being a girl will help in a lot of situations as far as hunting just because we are patient and we see the little things. We have so much of a honed intuition. Maybe it is instinct, I know wild animals have that and I think women have it.

I think it’s a gift because of being mothers. Maybe it comes from protecting our kids, but there is an instinct there,” she explained.

Brenda with daughter and granddaughter; a hunting family tradition being passed down.

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 19

Brenda and Barney Valentine family photo

Barney, Brenda’s husband, is supportive of her humanitarian efforts through hunting. She said her husband is the best man in the world; when she was travelling so much he was working but has since retired. If she drives he goes along saying, “I’m Driving Miss Daisy.” He told her “I know you love what you do” so really it has never been an issue, he has always been supportive.

had never been trademarked. So she registered the name and it has been registered to her for around 17 years.

She stated, “It’s not a slight to all the other women out there who hunt their hearts out and do very well it is just like Coca Cola, it is a registered trademark.”

People have told Brenda she is the first woman they really ever watched on TV hunting representing women in a dignified way, and the first woman appearing in magazines that wasn’t a model who wasn’t there just to advertise a product, she was there on her own two feet because of what she knew. This began to open doors for other women.

“Anybody can interpret it any way they want to but I owe it to that radio announcer and he just said it because they have to have something to say. It just worked out that I had the trademark and although I didn’t come out with a clothing line I have done a few things with it and I have it if I ever want to,” she said.

Brenda clarified how she became the “First Lady of Hunting®.”

She was giving a seminar at the Springfield Bass Pro Shop as a member of their hunting team when the radio announcer introduced her saying “and the First Lady of Hunting®.” He began calling her that so she looked into it thinking of starting a woman’s clothing or jewelry line and the name

M.R. James, founder of Bowhunter Magazine, states “Brenda is the real deal when it comes to hunting.”

Brenda and her husband, Barney, logging trees

People in the hunting industry have great respect for Brenda, her hunting, speaking and writing abilities, not only due to her abilities but because of her humanitarian efforts using those abilities. She humbly told me M.R.’s compliment was as high a compliment as she could ever hope for. She never desired anyone to see her as a counterfeit hunter image.

“There are some real deal women hunters out there and I am very supportive of them and I hope that they carry this flag on. There have always

20 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

been women that hunted, but there’s not always been a public acceptance of it. It just wasn’t socially the thing to do and people kind of downed women that did it and I think maybe that’s what I helped change, that view. Women hunters now, we are mothers, grandmothers, nurses and teachers; we are not somebody fighting with our identity.

We know who we are, we are mama and grandmamma and we like going out and hunting with our grandkids or whatever. It doesn’t set us apart as having something quirky; we don’t hide it, we flaunt it, and we are accepted in hunting camps,” she proudly resolved.

It first hit her when men started approaching her with their serious hunting questions about how to kill a buck or what kind of loads she shoots. What calls does she use and basic hunting questions that they would never have allowed themselves to ask a woman began to surface during seminars and in the evenings via phone conversations. Men will sit on the front row and ask technical questions about rifles, bows, broadheads or just anything, she described with humbleness.

“They have no problem; it’s just like one woman asking another woman for a recipe for cornbread.

These men want to know exactly what grain bullets I’m shooting out of this gun and what my velocity is on it and how much kinetic energy am I getting out of this bow set up. So they are serious and they take me serious as knowing the answers. That is flattering to me. They have figured out a bunch of us aren’t hunting for any other reason than they do. We are born with that “hunters heart,” we feel the need to hunt just like they do, and we are not there to impress them or anybody else,” she explained.

Brenda in full armor in a remote area of Afghanistan

Brenda’s humanitarian efforts for our military, environmental management and her desire to introduce women, children and the disabled to the outdoors are honorable traits which improves the lives of those she interacts with. She explained the Outdoor Legends 2012 Tour and her goals for the upcoming year. Revealing her schedule of planned hunts with Veterans, diverse meetings and just drifting along doing the best she can as she goes explaining how once in a lifetime chances have just popped up during a relaxed day in her office.

“I’m in my office one day, the phone rings and it’s the Pentagon wanting me to thank the troops. My family was worried to death as we weren’t just going to thank troops; we were going into Special Forces camps toward the front lines wearing full body armor. It was a dangerous situation. Those kinds of things, you don’t set for goals, when the doors open you just walk through,” she said.

One of the many flags Brenda took to Afghanistan from home to show patriotism for the troops

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 21

After reading her diary of the Outdoor Legends Tour (which you can find on her website), I was even more astonished at her career and heart felt efforts for our Veterans. The photos and explanations of who they visited and where they were are breath taking. Dangerous doesn’t begin to describe what they endured to thank our troops. This wonderful experience is one to cherish and appreciate reading about. However, our interview revealed even further dangerous adventures Brenda has accomplished to assist those in need; such as one moose hunting trip where she took a female artist along who desired to experience beautiful scenery to paint.

“We would sit all day long in the front of that canoe looking for moose, but there were wolves, there were bear, just to pull up and to eat what we could find and wash our face in the river. That was it, but it was absolutely the most relaxing time,” she said.

However, adventurous these trips may seem, her most impressive hunt was one to Botswana. One of the landowners there invited her to help attain meat needed for the local villages. She and another woman stayed three weeks without an outfitter in a very primitive camp. Donning two bows and ten dozen arrows she virtually killed truckloads of impala and warthogs and delivered them to the village’s medicine man that was in charge of disOne of her favorite memories is this very float trip tributing it out to the village people. This was not from the Northwest Territory down to Alberta a fenced in hunting area, this was wild Africa. Hipon a canoeing moose hunt.

Try to imagine all day in a 20 foot cedar canoe pos in their camp, elephants tromping down her slowly gliding downstream. Blaze orange and brush blind were only a part of the dangers they yellow maple trees glowing in the sun alongside faced. green fir forest, colors painted against a clear blue sky as they float down a remote stream filled with each day’s fresh supper. Dream of sandbars to rest on cooking over an open fire then sleeping in a small tent all while watching the Northern Lights dancing around through the vinyl roof at night and hearing the wolves howl. Brenda’s explanation of this trip is a book in itself for any outdoor enthusiast to read. Power lines, bridges, nor vapor trails from planes were seen; it was the purest trip she has ever taken. Her friend undoubtedly found numerous subjects for her paintings.

22 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

Brenda’s voice lowered as she explained intensely, “It was some very hairy experiences; this was all with a bow, so that was a true adventure. In fact, my family just knew I would never return home because we had no professional hunter with us.

This was just free range, two women, just go in and shooting meat animals, gutting them out and delivering them in to this medicine man that doled out parts to the members of the village according to their rank. I was afraid of the Zimbabweans that were right across the creek warring; you’d hear guns blasting off at night, and I slept with my skinning knife under my pillow every night. I tried to bar the doors of this little mud hut I was sleeping in.”

Since that initial trip Brenda has returned to various parts of Africa at least seven times including deavors. She is at the stage of life where desirlast July when she took her youngest daughter ing to make more of a difference, to have more of a voice, legislatively in gun rights, hunting isand two grandsons. sues and game laws. These things are really im“I have decided that it makes more sense to give portant to her. Although she has no desire to be a my kids and grandkids memories and experienc- politician, she is becoming more political, meanes they can treasure forever than to leave them a ing more vocal, encouraging people to vote and little money when I am gone plus I get to enjoy it look around in appreciation of what we have now. with them now. We have two daughters, two sons- That’s the kind of “stump message” she claims to in-laws, three grandsons and one granddaughter,” be preaching these days. she said.

“If we don’t take care of what we have now we are After this fascinating story of community service sure not going to like what we are going to get.

I wondered what else she could desire to accom- That is the direction I am really going right now, to plish in life as a hunter. So I asked if there was one try to stir people to wake up and be active in proparticular item she hasn’t accomplished that she tecting what we have. That’s for my great grandwould really like to do. Turns out Brenda’s buck- kids and your great grandkids and everybody’s out et list includes taking a coastal Grizzly bear. Her there because we have it good and I treasure what positive attitude of, fine if I do, fine if I don’t stood we have, but we can become complacent and lose out again, as a higher calling awaits her future en- it all,” she said with sternness. “I guess when I die I want people to remember me in a kind light, that maybe I just tried to be good to everybody. And maybe if I could teach everybody one little thing that would help them outdoors or encourage them or whatever it takes to make their life fuller, what else could a person want?” Brenda concluded.

From small game hunting in Tennessee to her dream trip to harvest a Cape buffalo in Africa with her compound bow, Brenda has accomplished numerous feats throughout her career bridging the gender gap in hunting arenas. As Brenda would say “Runnin’ by the hair of my tail,” she keeps a busy schedule of speaking engagements, hunts and conservation projects to assist the humanitar-

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 23

ian efforts she is passionate about. She is a strong hearted but humble woman with a fascinating life in the outdoors. This is only the beginning of what the “First Lady of Hunting®” will give us.

For a list of organizations Brenda is involved with go to her bio at http://brendavalentine.com/. Many of her accomplishments as a female hunter along with her Field Notes and diary of the Outdoor Legends Tour to Afghanistan, Germany and S.W. Asia are found there also.

Brenda Valentine can be found on social media and is author of the book, Hunting Misadventures with the “First Lady of Hunting®.” This book will be included in my product review section of Lady Hunter Magazine very soon.

Brenda is National Spokesperson along with Michael Waddell for the NWTF. She is Head Archery Coach at Bethal University of Tennessee and a champion archer, a member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association and columnist for Mossy Oak Biologic GameKeepers Magazine. She also is one of the five original Bass Pro Shop’s National RedHead Pro Hunting Team Members along with TV Co-Host at Bass Pro Shops 100% Real Hunting program on the Outdoor Channel to name a few items she is currently active in. *All photos submitted by Brenda Valentine

24 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

r

Th

nte

W a a f t o e r n f o o i w s s lH a P u e

By Kimberly Snyder

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 25

In December 2013 I was notified that I had been selected as a finalist for the2013 Prois Award. This is a tremendous honor for a woman in the hunting industry to be selected by Prois Hunting and Field Apparel and the prestigious judges. The Prois award honors women with dedication to conservation/community, dedication to hunting, encouragement of women hunters and the determination, guts and passion that goes into women in the industry who hunt. I would like to formally thank Prois for the nomination. Even though I did not win the contest a very worthy and beautiful representative to the prestigious award did win and will no doubt be a wonderful role model to other women and continue with the passion that we all so deeply feel. With the nomination I started to reflect on “Why was I chosen”, me a simple woman who works full time, holds family very dear, who is just like anyone else. But I chalked it up to the fact that God had blessed me to be recognized for what I love to do: hunt, educate others on hunting and strives to contribute in conservation, habitat growth and community involvement. It wasn’t until January 18, 2014 I realized how my passion truly has an effect on others and how my passion runs deeper than I ever imagined.

That day was just like any other day hunting. My husband and I had packed up four dozen decoys, prepared everything and loaded the duck boat.

We went out to a blind on the creek and had taken three other gentlemen, two of which had never hunted before. My husband and I showed them how to take leads on birds, how to recognize what to shoot and basic duck hunting 101. We had a pretty good morning but noticed that the water was starting to leave the creek. Even with a mud boat we knew it was time to pack up and head back to the marina so no one got stuck out in the blind till high tide came back in. We packed up all the decoys, loaded the boat and got everyone on the boat to head back to the marina. The water was very choppy but we took it slow like normal and approached the marina and the docks. When someone says to you “things happened so fast, I’m not sure what happened”, the next recollection is just that! My husband noticed the back of the boat was starting to lift and a wave hit the front of the boat, taking some of the decoys off the boat with the wave. He asked some of the guys to move to-

26 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

wards the back. Just then panic set in and three men ran towards the back of our boat. When the back started to get heavy they then ran towards the front of the boat. This shift in weight in the boat and the choppy water was too much for the boat to take on. It was then when we realized that the front of the boat was starting to take in too much water and we were going down. My husband quickly turned off the motor and we braced. We didn’t how deep the water was, we knew that three of us had waders on and that the water temperatures were right at freezing level. We all watched the boat take on water, our bodies were holding onto the side of the boat with all the strength we owned. We did not know the depth of the water and if we had passed the 16 foot drop past the pier.

One of the guys without waders fell off and swam to the pier. The other hunter without waders panicked and decided to head towards the pier. The boat didn’t have the weight anymore and it was about to capsize. My husband and I both kicked the boat away as to not trap anyone underneath.

That was the moment, we either had bottom or we had to figure out what to grab to stay buoyant.

Instinct kicked in as I grabbed the bag of decoys floating beside me and looked to my husband in disbelief. Just then he said “We have bottom baby”. Then fear turned into, we need to get out of this water immediately. Myself and the other gentleman with waders headed towards a boat and pulled ourselves up as my husband dragged our boat to the pier so no one else would hit the overturned boat coming into the pier. Everything could have been so much more different that day. I have tried not to reflect on how blessed we were or how I am still here to type this but to educate all of you on the safety that speaks in this article. That safety is the #1 rule… DON’T PANIC! For anyone reading this I want you to know there are risks we all take every time we go hunting, we are around beginners, we are subject to the elements of weather, we take risks and we do it because we have a passion and a love for the outdoors that speaks volumes, even speaks more than the regard for our very own lives sometimes. Looking back I wouldn’t change a thing about how we reacted that day. All of our gear was recovered by some amazing fellow waterfowl hunters and everyone came home safely. It doesn’t always happen that way, every year many hunters lose their lives following their passion and doing what they love. I would like to recognize those hunters who didn’t come home this Water-

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 27

After this experience I have struggled with what am I doing, going out in negative temperatures, hunting, chasing my passion? To that I am going right back out to hunt this Saturday, looking at the entire event as another blessing from God and an education on how to stay calm, remember to grab decoys, crawl in a ball to level out weight and all the other educational tools that everyone should know to keep them coming home after a beautiful day outdoors. We must all follow our passions, we must remain steadfast in our ultimate goal to follow our dreams, continue to educate others and remain faithful in our convictions. My passion and dedication was justified on Saturday January 18th, 2014 and my passion, guts, determination and love for not only Waterfowl hunting but the admiration for seeing God’s fingerprints every day I am in a duck blind, on a marsh, pond or in a field will continue as long as God enables my eyes to see them. Passion can’t be stifled by Fear but needs to be reinforced with respect, respect for the animals, community, outdoors and God. All of which I witnessed firsthand that Saturday.

Be safe my friends and follow your passions no matter what you may fear! fowl season. My respect goes to them and their Duck, Duck, Goose families and to their lives as a great testament of their passion, guts and determination.

Kimberly Snyder

28 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

The Hardcore Huntress Point Of View

By: Huntress Kristi Lynn Hair

My Most Memorable Hunt

I

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 29

’ve been contemplating this for quite some time.

What was my most memorable hunt? And Why? I’ve come to the realization; it wasn’t about the size of the rack, or the beauty of my surroundings. It was about discovering a strength & passion so deep, it has forever changed me.... I hope my journey inspires, encourages & motivates you...

Let me begin by giving you some background knowledge about myself. I am an avid outdoorsman. I not only hunt, I ride horses. Horses are actually my true passion & a passion that was ignited from my earliest memories as a child. There is nothing more freeing than being on the back of my horse, galloping with the wind in my face, the horse lending me wings that I lack, providing me with strength I will never have, and lending me the grace I will never come close to obtaining.... I feel most at home, more free & most joyous when on the back of my horse. There is nothing more beautiful to me. I ride all the time & I ride hard. I am not one to ride in an arena. I feel restricted. I need to be free. Free to go out into the wilderness, I enjoy climbing steep mountains, riding the rim of the mountains, swimming my horses in streams & exploring the wilderness on the ultimate 4 wheel drive, the horse. I literally just get lost, me & my horse, together as one. My horse knows the way home. I just ride.....

I was merely riding around my farm & I’ve made this run on my horse numerous times.... There is this one particular strip of grass where I love to gallop my horses; it is a long, straight strip next to my long gravel driveway & relatively “safe” terrain comparatively speaking... Montana Grace & I were on the home stretch, & she wanted to run like the wind & I wanted to feel the power of my mare. I let her have her reins & we RAN & RAN & RAN. She was @ full speed & is extremely powerful. It felt so amazing, like we were flying! This joy came to an abrupt end when Montana Grace hit a hole and stumbled; I flew straight over her head, did a flip or two and landed on my back on my long gravel driveway. Initially I was unable to move, the wind was knocked out of me completely and I couldn’t breathe. I’ve never been so scared in my entire life. Clay, my husband, witnessed the fall & came running to help me. Montana Grace stopped over me, looking intently into my eyes, you could tell she was devastated... I could see her pain. It was never her intention to hurt me & this was not her fault..... Long story short. I suffered a torn rotator With that type of riding comes risk. & I’m willing cuff, had road rash the entire way down my left to take that risk, I long to be free & become one side, multiple cuts & stitches in my side where a with my horse. This brings me to have obtained rock had sliced my side so far open that it cut bean injury or two throughout my life while chasing neath the subcutaneous fat layer.... With this cut my passion & living my dreams. On one such day, came infection & I had to have the area stitched,

30 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

drained & re-stitched multiple times. The pain my body felt was unbearable & I was basically house/ bed bound for 6 weeks.

I breathe, try to collect myself & shoot!!! In epic fashion, I shoot RIGHT over him!!!! However, I was able to SHOOT! I felt such a joy, it still chokes me up to this very day...... I did the unthinkable. & I begin to heal my heart.....

I couldn’t RIDE. I couldn’t HUNT. All of my passions were slowly slipping away. I HAD to get out. This wasn’t a choice. It MUST be done, my soul needed replenishing. My husband was in KY hunting & I was at my breaking point. I needed to go out & sit in a tree. I needed to feel normal. I needed to restore my soul. Without knowing if I could even pull my bow back, I grabbed my trusty Mathews & with my torn rotator cuff & stiches in my side, I headed out back to my favorite tree stand. The walk was a hard one as it’s straight up hill, but I did it. I made it into my stand, painful as it was. Merely accomplishing that small task, I felt the beginning of restoration....

After an hour or so in the stand, out walks this nice 8 pointer. In complete excitement, I stealthily grab my bow, waiting for the perfect moment. He stands broadside at 25 yards..... I attempt to draw back.... & much to my amazement, I was ABLE TO!!! This in and of itself was an accomplishment!!!

Knowing this area very well as it’s on my own personal property, I knew the buck came from the bedding area & there was a good chance I could catch him slipping back right before dark. Therefore, my game plan was to go home, rest & prepare for an evening hunt..... I took my bruised and battered body & did just that. As I returned for the evening hunt, I already felt accomplished & getting this buck would not define nor deter the progress I already made today. I was thoroughly enjoying this evening. Watching the squirrels, the cardinals, the blue jays & the hoot owl who regularly visited the tree 25 yards in front of me... I was cherishing the sun beginning to set & the stillness of the woods. Then, I hear the leaves crunching...

Was it another squirrel or was it deer? I slowly turn over my left shoulder & it was MY BUCK!!!!!!!!

I start to calm myself through deep breathing & then I said a prayer before I grabbed my bow....

I was waiting until the opportune moment, then slowly drew back & let the arrow fly. What a beautiful moment of release, pure, uninhibited JOY! My lighted nock illuminated my prey. I HIT HIM! I actually HIT him & it WAS a kill shot! I just knew it.....

I immediately texted my husband & told him to get home, we needed to track my deer. I was not in the position to physically track through the thick woods & hills on my property due to my injuries &

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 31

I knew this, but I also knew I hit him. I watched the direction the buck ran & I knew we needed to give it a few hours, then go after him. My husband was not only shocked, but he graciously came home & cut his trip short..... He was only an hour and a half away, perfect timing to let my buck lay.... Upon his arrival home, we quickly found the bloody arrow, the blood trail & we found MY BUCK! I accomplished what I never would have imagined possible.... Through the pain, injuries, hurt, disadvantages, disbelief.... I still was able to do the unthinkable. I overcame all of the odds. Not only did I do this, I did it on my own terms. I was not bound by a medical diagnosis which told me to stay in bed. I was bound by sheer will, determination & the strength of Christ... I really can do “ALL things through Christ whom gives me strength”. Phil 4:13..... This is my most memorable hunt. This is also my “smallest” buck measurement wise, however, he has had the BIGGEST impact on my life & hunting career.... This hunt, this buck restored my soul.... You see, it’s not the size of the rack that matters, it’s the memories obtained from the hunt!

Good day & God Bless!!!

Peace, Love & Venison, Kristi Hair

32 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

Dare To Try Venison Heart

By Anita Williams

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 33

One of the best things about hunting is getting to eat what I harvest. I enjoy preparing venison a variety of ways and am constantly on the lookout for wild game recipes. Venison heart is delicious, and since I have an adventuresome palate, decided to give it a try.

The heart muscle is simple to prepare. Make sure to rinse the heart in cold water to remove any blood.

You could also soak it in a bowl of cold water.

Next, trim away the fat from the heart and slice it lengthwise into two pieces.

Then chop the meat into 3-4 ounce pieces.

Add ½ cup red wine 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1/3 cup soy sauce 1/3 cup melted butter

Combine ingredients in a plastic bag and place the meat chunks into the bag and zip shut. Flip the bag over a few times and place in the refrigerator to marinate for 2-3 hours. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a frying pan over medium high heat. Drain the marinade and place the meat in the melted butter. Cover and cook for two-three minutes on each side. Serve with vegetables, and parsley red potatoes. The velvety smoothness of the meat pairs beautifully with Yellow Tail merlot wine.

Anita lives in Grand Rapids, MN and is the mother of two adult children. She has been a hairstylist for thirty years. Her empty nest allows time to pursue interests of photography, bow hunting, fishing, travel and food. You can follow her on facebook , youtube and huntervids.com and listen to a podcast about her adventures at the Hunt Fish Journal where Williams is featured as one of the five huntresses of autumn.

34 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

Wild Raspberry Crisp by Judy Branham Fill a buttered 13 x 9 glass pan 2/3s full with wild blackberries or raspberries.

Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of white sugar evenly over the berries.

In a medium bowl combine 1 cup light brown sugar, 1 cup oats, 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ cup flour; Spread the mixture evenly over the berries. Dab ½ cup of butter sliced over top of mixture.

Bake at 350° for 40 minutes.

Enjoy!

This is one our favorite wintertime deserts made from berries picked during the summer months then frozen for a special treat!

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 35

Easy Venison Vegetable Soup

By Judy Branham

Brown 2 lbs ground venison adding 1 large chopped white onion until onion begins to lose its color.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

While browning meat and onion open 3 cans of “Red Gold” or another brand of stewed tomatoes and mash in the bottom of a large pan.

Add 1 can corn, 1 can green beans,

1 can peas, 1 can carrots to mashed tomatoes.

Warm to boiling and EAT!

Now that you have harvested a deer and have meat in your freezer there are many tasty venison recipes to choose from!

Our household enjoys chili, spaghetti, soup, meatballs and burgers from our ground venison.

We fry venison steaks in olive oil flavored with onion or garlic.

I always use more onion and garlic for venison then when I cook with beef.

I cut my venison steaks about ½ inch or less thick while butchering then wrap them in freezer paper tightly.

Using a plastic bowl to measure I fill 2 lbs of ground venison in the bowl then place it upside down on a sheet of freezer paper then wrap tight to freeze.

36 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

SPEEDING TICKET AND PEARLS By: Joella Bates

Joella and her son, Bo Bates, celebrate his 7th birthday with her scoring on her first wild turkey on April 28th, 1991.

We all have those years that we look back on and just shake our heads. Two of mine were 1986 and 1987, but then came 1988 and 1989. Oh well, with each year, we add experiences to our memory banks that we share from time to time.

In October, 1987 my divorce was final. While eating in a little diner in Franklin waiting for the court appearance, I recognized an old college friend. We exchanged phone numbers and said goodbye.

Several weeks later, Brent Lay invited me to go deer hunting with him. Eventually, he invited me to attend a monthly meeting of the Nashville Tennessee Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. I had no clue that what happened that night would lead to me become obsessed with hunting turkeys.

Jerry gave me a double reed diaphragm call which I put in the roof of my mouth. Both Jerry and Brent told me how to create a turkey sound with the call.

For eight days, I tried and tried to no avail, before finally uttering the first sound that resembled a turkey. All the effort had made my mouth very sore, but I became obsessed to learn the new skill that was sure to lure a tom into gun range.

I proudly demonstrated my ability to speak “TURKEY” at the next month’s meeting. I practiced daily and before long, my mouth had toughened to the use of the call. Additionally, I had grated on everyone’s patience with them reluctantly listening to my “turkey talk” practice.

I bought an instructional calling tape at an outdoor show. It promised to teach me the different Jerry Peterson, owner of Woods Wise, still manu- sounds or calls that a turkey makes. I practiced factures game calls to be used to attract many dif- performing the calls with proper rhythm, tone, ferent species of wild animals. Little did he know and pitch. But never having played any musical inwhen he gave me my first turkey call, he would at- strument except for a flute-a-phone in 4th grade, I tract a human female into a world that she would didn’t really have an ear for recognizing that I was become obsessed with. not anywhere near mimicking the sounds that real

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 37

turkeys made.

We had several domestic turkeys in the chicken yard that I also listened to and practiced calling.

It became a game to call and watch and listen to how the domestic birds responded. I was amazed that slamming a door, yelling, dogs barking, and even some songs on the radio could make the males gobble. I really wanted to sound like a turkey and get them to talk back to me, but the ultimate goal was to get a turkey close enough to me that I could shoot it with the 20 gauge Remington shotgun.

Over the course of a few months, I had become obsessed with turkeys. In 1988, with April’s arrival came the opening weekend of turkey season, and my first turkey hunting adventures. I worked late on Friday night, so I could hunt early on Monday morning. Each night while driving home, I would practice my turkey calling. On this particular night, I was once again practicing my calling while listening to the tape, when I saw blue lights in the mirror. I looked down and saw my speedometer on 72 in a 55. When I pulled over on the side of the road, there was a DEER CROSSING sign staring me in the face.

I guess he did somewhat believe me….believe that I was going turkey hunting because he added, “Good luck if you turkey hunt tomorrow.”

“Thank you sir,” I added as I put the Ford Ranger in drive and eased back onto Hwy 70 headed west toward Waverly.

Brent and I turkey hunted many days that season. On day one, I spooked turkeys every time he called them near me. He became frustrated with my inability to remain still and let the turkey walk in front of my shotgun before moving a muscle.

I managed to spend at least part of 42 days in the woods chasing turkeys that first season without getting the first shot at a turkey. Brent turned me loose to call my own turkeys, so he could shoot some gobblers before the season ended.

The officer came up to my driver’s side door and asked to see my license. I about gagged on the turkey call that I had in my mouth. I took it out and laid it on the dash. Turkey melodies were still echoing from the cassette player. I opened my billfold where my badge rested opposite of my driver’s license. He saw the badge and proceeded to chew me out for driving too fast at 11:30 at night on a road known as a “hot-spot” for vehicle-deer collisions.

I apologized and told him that I was distracted practicing my turkey calling. I know what he was thinking. “This woman dressed in high heels, dress and panty hose, driving alone at 11:30 at night, must be totally out of her mind to think that I would believe that she is speeding because she is distracted practicing turkey calling.” Right! Right!

He wrote me a ticket and chewed me out again.

“MS Bates, you need to slow down. Since you have a badge, you know more than others that deer are likely to jump into the road. They are dangerous.

So are you. Now, be on your way and be safe.”

Joella poses with her first wild turkey taken in her Sunday best dress hidden under the coveralls. She is adorned with pearl beads and dangling pearl earrings. This goes to show you that a lady can go straight from high heels to hunting boots and perform perfectly as the hunter/harvester.

38 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

The next year, my luck was much the same. I made every mistake a novice turkey hunter could make in my journey to harvest a turkey that I called in for myself. I called and called, but when the turkeys would get close, I would move at the wrong time.

Then one morning, we spotted turkeys in the field directly in front of our house, so I quickly changed into camo and grabbed my turkey call, hat, face mask, and shotgun. I called Tootsie, the Eskimo spitz, and put her in the house.

As I kissed Mammie for luck, I said, “Please don’t let her follow me!”

“You better hurry!” Mammie instructed. Bo and Jana watched through the big picture windows.

I hurried through the woods and climbed the big hill where I could peek into the field to locate the turkeys. They were in a dip out of my line of sight. I spotted a tree covered with green briars and honeysuckles on the western most tree line bordering the field. I crawled through the May apples then leaned my back against a tree. With my knees raised, I shouldered the shotgun and rested it on my right knee. I removed the turkey call from my chest pocket and placed it in my mouth.

completion of the second gobbling series, the bigger bird broke into a full run headed my direction.

I made a rookie error. The butterflies were about to jump out of my chest when the tom closed the distance and reached gun range. I tried to swing my shotgun bead to his head, but the vines obstructed my movement. Even at a full run, the gobbler picked me out. He broke to my left and I shot in frustration as he moved away. I missed.

I had invested many days over two seasons and still had no turkey to show. Tootsie came to the door expecting to sniff my turkey, but no turkey.

Bo and Jana were also disappointed.

As soon as I could catch my breath, I yelped with the call. I saw the tom’s red head pop up out of the dip. He and another tom were spread into full struts. They both gobbled in unison. I called again, and they looked my way and double gobbled.

With both toms feeling the need to breed, upon There is definitely something to be said for persistence. On April 28th, 1991, my son Bo celebrated his 7th birthday with a very special present.

AND NOW THE REST OF THE STORY --

After Sunday morning church service, I was driving my mom’s car when I spotted two strutting gobblers in our bottom fields. I went straight from the car to my bedroom where I pulled my camo coveralls over the top of my Sunday dress. I grabbed the 20 gauge Remington shotgun, turkey calls, and face mask. I slid my boots over my pantyhose-covered feet and high tailed it down to the bottom field. I peeked around the fence post and spotted the birds still contently strutting their stuff with one jake trying to out-do the other two.

I crawled into position placing my back against

www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com | Lady Hunter Magazine |Mar/Apr 2014| 39

the fence post and stretching out my legs where I could prop the shotgun perfectly aimed in the direction where I anticipated the turkeys would come. I called with the diaphragm call while trying not to gag on the saliva oozing from my mouth.

I called one sequence then another and another, without hearing them respond. I didn’t want to be seen, so I sat motionless. I had learned this lesson repeatedly over the two years….they will see you if you move.

All of a sudden, I heard the wing-beats of flying turkeys. Seven jakes sailed into the area around me. One nosey turkey landed within three feet of my left shoulder. I hid behind the mask and never moved a muscle. He began stretching his neck and tilting his head side-ways trying to figure me out.

Then a putt from him just about made me jump out of my skin.

About that time, two strutting jakes ran in front of my shotgun barrel. I squeezed the shot and in one continuous motion I pounced from the reclined position to a full run across the muddy plowed field. Slipping and sliding, I pounced on my stonedead bird. I felt a little – heck a lot – silly, but I had been told that you had to hurry or the turkey would get up and run then fly away. I later learn how valuable that advice could be when I out-last a fleeting Rio while hunting in Texas.

I proudly carried my jake turkey to the house and presented my son, Bo, with his birthday turkey. I was just in time for birthday cake. Bo was not impressed with my hunting habit at that moment; he wanted something besides a turkey as a present.

I proudly posed with my turkey while still wearing my dangly pearl earrings and beads along with my camo over the top of my dress. We went to town and check in my very first turkey that I called in for myself. I forget what I bought him for his birthday, but I made him happier with what he considered a more appropriate gift.

My first turkey weighed in at a whopping 12 pounds 10 ounces and sported a short stubby little beard, but I had finally broken the ice.

MY OBSESSION WITH TURKEY HUNTING HAS CONTINUED….AND IS JUST AS STRONG TODAY AS IT WAS BACK THEN. Watch for more turkey hunting escapades over the rest of the season.

40 | Mar/Apr 2014 Lady Hunter Magazine | www.Ladyhuntermagazine.com

For the Outdoor Woman Who Loves the Water....Visit

LadyAngler MAGA ZINE

FISHING

FOOD FUN

FISHING - Articles from all over the world. Our writers are from the United States, Canada, Italy and Japan bringing you a diverse mixture of cultures and styles FASHION - The latest in fashion on and off the boat. Lady Angler showcases fishing apparel, beauty and health products, eye wear, jewelry and more FOOD - Lady Angler will reveal the best ways to prepare your catch, highlight new recipes, specialty restaurants and healthy eating.

FUN - Lady Angler features fishing travel, the best weekend getaways, great photography, festivals, fitness, art and more.

LADYANGLERMAGAZINE.COM