Woman of the Hunt
Woman of the Hunt: Chris Plourde shares her perspective on women involved in the art of deer hunting.
Chris Plourde looks through the sights of her rifle in the woods near Marquette, Michigan. She is one of the few women hunters in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (photo by Ron Caspi)
Chris Plourde leans her rifle against a tree as she sets up a makeshift blind for deer hunting in the woods near Marquette, Michigan.
Deer camp – In the Upper Peninsula of Michigan stories of legendary proportion are woven throughout the local fabric describing the glories, heartaches, and comedies of the deer camp experience. For the most part, the world of hunting culture in the U.P. is a man’s world. There are however, a few women who have taken up the art of hunting. Chris Plourde born and raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula shares her perspective as a woman of the hunt stalking her prey, the white tail deer.
Chris Plourde poses for the camera with her rifle in Marquette, Michigan, Nov. 27, 2013. (photo by Ron Caspi)
“It’s invigorating!” says Chris of being one of the few women in an activity dominated by men. She seems to thrive from the challenge of the hunt and the ensuing adrenaline rush resulting from a successful pursuit. When asked why she thinks more women don’t hunt she had many ideas to share ranging from; women enjoy having a break from their men, squeamishness over taking a life themselves, nervousness around guns and guts, and just not having the opportunity to do it.
Two white tail deer forage for food in the winter near Marquette Michigan. (photo by Ron Caspi)
“It’s like having a front row seat to nature, without anyone knowing you’re there.” says Chris of sitting in the forest hidden within the deer blind waiting and watching. Ever since a friend took her out years ago she has been hooked. For Chris, time goes by fast in the blind even though one might think it would drag on; sitting still in the cold all day. She loves the challenge of seeing how long it takes for the deer and other animals to notice she’s there. The stillness and quiet of the woods allow her an opportunity to unwind from daily stresses and gives her a feeling of connectedness to nature. “You can hear a lot when it’s quiet.” says Chris.
View of two white tail deer from Chris’s blind in the forest near Marquette Michigan. (photo by Ron Caspi)
When asked by other women, why she doesn’t hunt with a camera instead of a gun, she says that hunting feels empowering. It’s an experience that makes her feel a part of the wild world of nature in which life and death hold each other in balance in a healthy way. She admits that it’s intense to take the life of a deer and she experiences a surge of adrenaline and pride upon a successful kill. Although she hunts by both bow and by rifle she prefers the bow and arrow; although, she has yet to take home a buck with this method. “It’s addicting!” she says and feels there is more skill involved to hit a deer in archery. Of course, you may have noticed by now that this is a woman who thrives on challenges.
Chris Plourde poses with a buck she killed rifle hunting near Marquette, Michigan. (photo compliments of Chris Plourde)
Chris Plourde looks through the site on her bow in the woods near Marquette, Michigan. (photo by Ron Caspi)
Chris has learned a great respect for nature and a connection to the lives of the deer she hunts. This makes it very important for her to utilize everything from the bucks she slays. Like many hunters in the U.P. she has her deer processed and eats the venison meat all year long sharing with friends and family. “Nutrition wise, venison is almost equal to chicken.” says Chris and the best venison she’s ever had was prepared by her daughter’s grandmother who cuts it into small pieces, fries it up, and melts cheese on top.
Most of the women Chris knows who hunt say it was a skill passed on to them through their family by their fathers. This year Chris’s daughter shot and wounded her first deer with her dad. It was a hard experience for her daughter; knowing that since she had only wounded the deer it would likely die on its own later. Even so, Chris feels it was a good lesson for her to build an appreciation and respect for the life of the animals she’s stalking. She’s concerned that these values of respect for nature and the animals living within it will not be passed on to the gaming generation; whose electronic shooting games can cause them to be emotionally detached and are only a two-dimensional experience.
Chris Plourde becomes almost indistinguishable from the background as she blends into the forest in her camouflage gear. (photo by Ron Caspi)
Chris had some suggestions to offer for other women who are interested in hunting but have never tried. She recommends finding a friend to go along with to see if you enjoy it before investing in hunting gear. Going to a shooting range and firing some guns to see if you’re comfortable with that is also a good idea. She also highly recommends a great local program she has participated in called Being An Outdoor Woman (BOW); that offers hunter safety courses for women.
Perhaps, by keeping the tradition alive and with the inspiration of other women hunters, as with many other activities mainly considered to be the realm of men, more women will empower themselves in learning survival skills. To awaken their inner Artemis, the Greek goddess of wild animals and the hunt!
Chris Plourde looks poses for the camera with her rifle in Marquette, Michigan, Nov. 27, 2013. (photo by Ron Caspi)
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