Raising Wild Hearts: The Importance of Introducing Young Girls to Hunting and the Outdoors

By: Steph Lane, Iowa Program Coordinator

I started hunting as a very young girl, and it is one of the best gifts my family could have given me. Hand me down, mixed match camo, moving my little legs as fast as I could to keep up with my Dad and Uncles. What started as an attempt to spend time with the men in my family has become a lifelong obsession, lifestyle, and experiences that have shaped who I am. 

There’s a spark that lights inside a girl the first time she watches the sunrise from a duck blind or feels the soft weight of a trout in her hands. It’s not just about learning to hunt, fish, or hike — it’s about discovering a part of herself that’s capable, curious, and deeply connected to the wild world around her.

For too long, the outdoors was seen as a man’s space — the hunt camp, the deer stand, the fishing trip. But every time a young girl steps into those spaces, she’s rewriting that story. When we teach her to follow tracks in fresh snow, shoot straight, build a fire, or gut her first deer, we’re giving her more than skills. We’re giving her confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging that will stay with her for life.

Confidence Born from Challenge

Hunting teaches girls that hard things are worth doing. The early mornings, the missed shots, the patience it takes to wait — all of it builds grit. When she learns to stay still and steady her breath as a deer steps into the clearing, she learns something about herself: that she can do hard things and stay calm under pressure. Those lessons echo far beyond the field.

Connection to Nature and Food

When girls are part of the harvest — when they clean their own birds, cook wild game, and understand where their food truly comes from — they grow a sense of respect for the land and the life it sustains. They learn that conservation and hunting go hand-in-hand, and that being a steward of the outdoors means protecting it for generations to come.

Representation Matters

When young girls see women leading hunts, teaching archery, or running outdoor retreats, they see what’s possible. Mentorship is powerful. The more we share our stories, skills, and space, the more doors we open for the next generation of female outdoorswomen. Every girl who learns to hunt or fish becomes a bridge — connecting tradition with the future.

Passing It On

Introducing young girls to the outdoors isn’t just about hunting; it’s about passing on heritage, values, and a lifestyle rooted in respect for the natural world. It’s about showing them that strength and softness can coexist — that they can be nurturing and fierce, gentle and wild.

Because when we raise girls who are confident in the woods, we raise women who are confident in the world.

And a special thank you to our female mentors for their mentorship and for lighting the way!