Sisters in Arms, why should women consider shooting sports?

I would firstly like to thank Terry Doe for asking me to host this piece, and an interesting topic it is too. Why should more females consider our sport? A while ago I wrote my story for Air gun world explaining how I fell in love with the shooting experience and why…

Well here is a more detailed look in to why my hunting expeditions have always stayed with me and helped me…

When I was just 18, only 3 years into shooting, I had my first child. I thought it would be so easy, but due to complications with the birth and undergoing surgery I was truly traumatized for months after, leading to post natal depression. Going from having the freedom, the peace and tranquillity, to then having this little bundle of joy depending on me 24/7 took me by surprise. I was over the moon and totally in love with my son, but being a parent came with big responsibilities. I was also unable to get about as easy as I could before due to the surgery. Months went by, and in total, I hadn’t been to my perm in a while. I was going a little cabin crazy. I needed to get out there! With every sunny day that came there’d always be a moment in the day where I’d be wondering what was going on at the perm, and I’d convinced myself that when I finally had the time to get back there, the place would be totally overrun by my furry little friends and all my previous hard work would have been in vein. So after months of broken sleep, dummies, nappies, feeding the baby and pushing a pram about, I finally cracked and asked a relative to look after the nipper so that I could just have some ‘me time’ a micro mind holiday. Over the years, I’ve had a very busy life raising not only my son, but my two precious daughters since then. Every day is so different and unpredictable. As a young mother of three I find my emotions are all over the place, on a day to day basis I have no idea what the day will bring and these emotions have never been stable since my first child. I do suffer anxiety and have very bad days with this sometimes, however, I do the best I can and try to see the positive in every living situation. I had to grow up very fast the last 6 years and I have no regrets at all, I have at times had to put my hunting on hold, just like every other parent does, as family always comes first. I will always feel very lucky though on days that I do get that little bit of freedom away from the family and get to go hunting. I mentioned in my previous write up, it’s not about the kill for me as that’s just a bonus; it’s all about the experience, the peace and the time out from the hectic scheduled that being a parent brings. Every time I am able to slip away to my field it’s very overwhelming, with everything that goes on around me, I almost forget how beautiful this place is sometimes. I feel emotional and so relieved to be having a day to myself, just me and my gun! Sitting in my hide gives me opportunity to think, life can get so busy and I rarely have time to just sit and reflect, I’ve found myself lately lay in my hide for hours taking in life and how lucky I am. It also allows me to take myself away from the daily responsibilities and gain my identity back for some time.

As a mum, I get to talk to other mums (and even Dads too) on the school run, at school meets and even at the local playgroup I take my youngest daughter to. They often ask me what I do in my spare time, when I tell them that I hunt in my spare time, or I target shoot in my back garden they are totally astonished. They are also very intrigued and I find myself talking to a group of very curious parents whilst all the children are in awe! “Wow, Dominic’s mum shoots real guns!” they say. Bless the little tykes!! The questions I have been asked are somewhat amusing, but I love chattering about our sport and so don’t mind standing in a playground full of parents giving them the information they want to know, and if it interests them, great!! I do have to be careful with my explanations and leave the gory bits out as we all know, there are the anti-shooters. But so far I’ve only ever had good feedback and curiosity from others. People seem to find shooting air rifles fascinating, but lack of knowledge and confidence holds them back. This is why I’m not afraid to speak up and try to encourage other parent’s, other women, to get involved in the sport. Plus I get to reassure people that people involved in shooting sports are just the same as they are. We are also parents or grandparents, and most of us live ordinary lives like themselves. I hope to inspire and give as much as my knowledge as I can to others. I’ve even had a couple of people stop me on my back to the car leaving school and say that their husbands have always wanted to experience a day’s shooting, and on a couple of occasions I’ve invited them along and given them the opportunity to do some target shooting, which on both occasions they left having had an extremely good time!

As an individual who suffers anxiety and emotional problems, I can’t express enough how shooting helps me stay level! I do feel that if other ladies were to get into our sport, it could help take the stress off their day to day lives and routine, and also give them the confidence boost they truly deserve. The feeling of accomplishment and pride after a successful hunting trip is far deeper than when you go to get your hair cut, or your nails done. In my circumstances, a doctor’s prescription could never give me the feel good factor that a few hours out shooting can and does. The self confidence that shooting gives me is the most amazing feeling in the world and I would encourage any lady, no matter what your life circumstances to be, to get out there and just give it a try… once you’ve taken that first shot you might find yourself catching the shooting bug. A lovely friend of mine, who I met through the Trigger Happy shooting community on Facebook is Alli James. Also Mum of two, she explains how she got into shooting and how she feels it helps her… “The first time I picked up an air rifle was on holiday in Ibiza a couple of years ago. Bored with sitting around the poolside, I signed up for the rifle shooting competition. From the first shot I was hooked! I came second in that competition and from then on I was the first one in the queue at the daily rifle shoot for the rest of the holiday.

Upon my return I was speaking to an old friend who mentioned he was into airgun shooting. I begged him to take me out and let me try out his rifle. It was a Brockcock Specialist in .177. Shooting tin cans at about 25 yards was the start of my journey into the shooting world.

I started off plinking in my back garden with a second hand Crossman CO2 pistol until a friend gave me a BSA lightening that her ex-husband no longer used. I was added to a group on Facebook called “Welsh Air Gunners”.

This is where I met a fantastic group of guys who were so supportive and provided me with all the help and advice I needed. I’d meet up with the guys on a local air rifle range where they’d help me with shooting technique and taught me how to zero my scopes. I quickly discovered the accuracy and ease of using pre-charged air rifles and bought my first one which was an Air Arms S300.

I was getting hooked on shooting and found upon joining a local small bore club, my nights out with friends in pubs were getting replaced with nights out to the local shooting club. As a mother of two girls aged 8 and 10 years and working part time I had to use my time wisely and it was a bit of a juggling act if I’m honest.

If I had a pound for every time I got asked “so what does your husband shoot?” I’d be a rich lady by now. My husband isn’t remotely interested in shooting but is really supportive in what I do. I have a relatively stressful job and shooting never fails to provide a release and get my adrenalin going after a hard day at work.

Currently I am a committee member of a small bore rifle club, a member of a full bore club as well as getting out in the field as much as possible for vermin and pest control. I hold a Fire Arms Certificate and a Shot Gun Certificate.

The memory of shooting my first rabbit and putting it in my slow cooker will stay with me forever! It was a proud moment indeed.

I’m lucky in that I have the support of my family. I usually try to go out hunting when the girls have gone to bed and my husband is there with them. Or I go out early in the morning and get back by lunchtime. I find that my having my own time while shooting makes me appreciate the quality time I have with my family. I have to admit the housework has suffered from time to time but guns take precedence over the iron…

A lot of people find it amusing that a girl who wears makeup and heels can get dressed up in camo and go shooting but mostly the people I have encountered in the shooting community have been nothing but supportive. I smile every time I hear the words “you don’t look the type to have a gun”. A morning out shooting with friends far outweighs a night out in a pub for me these days and is much healthier! I’ve met a lot of new people and made some great friends.

I’d love to see more females getting into the sport and I actively encourage my daughters to get involved. My eldest daughter is a junior member of the rifle club and is already shooting accurately to 35 yards.

I can only say, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Get out there ladies!” So there we have it, coming from two very busy Mums out there, why not have a think about trying out our sport? If your partner or Husband is a hunter, or is in a gun club, why not go along a give it a go? It might just change your life for the better! Thanks so much for Reading, Danni