While writing for the now discontinued Foremost Hunting I learned something very interesting about who was reading my articles. I was notified that a poll was taken and that 70% of our readers are women. I looked into this and found some interesting facts about today’s outdoor culture. Hunting and Fishing is not just a guy thing anymore.
Why so many women taking up the outdoor sports, I asked myself? Circa 1970 the culture changed in the US to a single parent family in many cases. To me I found this to be a sad fact, now at 40%.
Men found other interests other than Hunting and Fishing, while few Fathers taught this to their children in the dwindling two parent families. Cell Phones and Video Games took the place of Guns and Fishing Rods as Soccer became the sport of youngsters and the not so great indoors.
Mothers finally took note that their boys were turning into little cup cakes while any real men were few and far between, mostly away in the military or seeking fortune in overseas companies. The single mothers started learning how to give their children a new sense of adventure and get them out of the house. They started reading intently how to Hunt and Fish.
I took note of this and found a new generation of Outdoor Writers and they are female. The Gentlemen really like the Videos, while the Ladies will read the written word of the story tellers, and from what I see the new ones spin a pretty good yarn.
I could have interviewed and reported on Lacy Byles aka Lady Hawk and be done with it but I found she had a writing talent, and expertise far beyond her Falconry skills. Bowhunter,Carlee Smith Magness showed us multi skilled outdoor interests and put them into words, while Turkey Hunting Champ, Shirley Webb gave us a great article with more to come. They aren’t the only ones that write for Outdoors Unlimited Magazine, just the ones I brought into the fold. More surprises on the way …Pass it on
By John Simeone