I have always been a tomboy and just wanted to be in the outdoors! I am at peace when I am in the woods. I went coon hunting off and on with friends and family since I was about ten but when I met my husband in 2009 it became a passion for me! It’s something that we both really enjoyed and we could enjoy it together. We got our first coonhound on March 11, 2011 which is our main boy Ruger! We then had our son two weeks later so they have grown up together.

For me, living the hound life is so much more than just hunting. We start taking these dogs in the woods at just a few months old and train them on up. We get to watch them go from playful puppies to determined hunters who gradually learn how to use their noses. The drive and ability of working dogs is unbelievable sometimes!

To have a dog that you raised yourself and taught how to be a good hunter and be able to hunt solely on one game is so rewarding and fascinating to me! I started shooting guns and still hunting with my daddy at a young age and then I started dog hunting continually (some say too much but I say never enough lol) when I was 18. My daddy taught me what I needed to know on stands and my husband taught me what I needed to know when running dogs.

My favorite hunting story would have to be this past hunting season my seven year old son killed his first deer solo while dog hunting and it was a beautiful 7 point buck! My advice to other women would be to pursue the things that make you happy in the outdoors! If you don’t like hunting then go hiking, pitch a tent and go camping or even just lay out underneath the stars one night! Something about nature and fresh air can make any day feel perfect!

The next area I am trying to get into and even perfect is doing bench shows and hunts! I am currently trying to find me my first registered Black and Tan coonhound to train on the bench and be able to bond with on a deeper level! It’s all about the friendship we create with our hounds.

I would definitely recommend taking a concealed carry class, find a pistol you are comfortable shooting and carry at all times. Learn how to be your own protection!!
Don’t ever judge other hunters if they’re preferences are different from yours! Some of us may run dogs while other sit in deer stands, but we all share the same love of nature and being able to provide food for our families! Support each other and lift each other up, don’t try to tear other hunters down.