To the Moms Who Get Us Outdoors

Did my mom introduce me to the outdoors? You bet, and look at me now! Pheasants Forever File Photo

Too often in this “manly” world, we recognize fathers, grandfathers, uncles for taking us hunting or fishing when we were young, but Mom gets little or no mention – or credit.  But Moms are frequently the unsung heroines, who feed the dog, pack the lunches, maybe cook an early breakfast or are right there with shotgun or fishing pole in hand.

Women are the fastest growing population in the shooting sports these days.  And we’re hearing more from women hunters too.  Programs aimed at introducing women to the outdoors have been popular and supported by conservation organizations.  Women are having fun going out in their own “packs” too – just a bunch of gals getting together for a hunting trip.  In my experience I have found that women enjoy helping other women, are a little less competitive, enjoy the social aspects as well as the hunt and can hold their own in the field or the forest.

When I once asked my mother (now 91) if I could take her anywhere or do anything with her, her response was, “Well, I’d really like to go fishing. I never had a chance.”  So fishing we went.  My sister and I took her for a weekend and we had the best time.  We mostly caught fish the size of bait, but we laughed and told stories and enjoyed the time outdoors. In Mom’s time, men went off to camp and the women stayed home.

Did my mom introduce me to the outdoors?  She did as much or more than my dad . . . in all kinds of little ways.  She took us on picnics and cooked out in the summers.  We visited parks and went camping.  I was free to ride my bike anywhere I wanted and spent most of the summer outdoors.  I didn’t grow up in a hunting family, but my joy of being outdoors certainly led to my interest in going hunting when I had a chance.  Yep, mom was a definite influence on me.  I’d like to hear your favorite Mom stories.

Celebrate Mother’s Day with the gift of Pheasants Forever membership. Sign up and that special mom will receive a special Pheasants Forever ladies cap.

Get ‘em Outdoors is written by Cheryl Riley, Pheasants Forever’s Vice President of Education and Outreach. Email her at CRiley@pheasantsforever.org. 

Tags: hunting moms, outdoor moms, Pheasants, pheasants forever

This entry was posted on Friday, May 4th, 2012 and is filed under Hunting, Outdoors, Pheasants, Pheasants Forever. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.