RAISING GIRLS TO BE HUNTERS

— Cultivating Reverence, Responsibility, and Respect

The idea of women as hunters isn't new, but like most things worth passing down, I believe it requires care, intention, and cultivation. As a mother of two young daughters, I want to raise them to understand the natural world, their place in it, and the quiet strength that comes with being a capable provider. Yes, I want to raise hunters. But more importantly, I want to raise thoughtful, ethical ones.

THE POWER OF SCARITY

There's a beautiful lesson in wanting something just enough. As adults, we know it — too much of anything can dull the experience. The same holds true with kids. One of my daughters is old enough to go to the range. The other isn't quite there yet. But the one who is ready only gets to go twice a year. Not because I don't want her to shoot more often, but because I want to keep it special. Scarcity breeds reverence. She knows that range time is a gift, and that makes her stay focused for the full two hours. No "I'm thirsty" or "Can we leave early?" like we get at the playground. She knows if she calls it early, it'll be six months before she gets another turn. That kind of anticipation turns into attention. And attention is the foundation of discipline.

MENTORSHIP STARTS AT THE DINNER TABLE

We talk openly with our girls about where food comes from. We don't dive into the graphic details — they're still young — but we do ensure they understand that meat doesn't come from a plastic tray. It comes from life. From an animal. And with that, life comes responsibility. At dinner, we'll explain what's on the plate. "This meal came from the store," we'll say. "But this one came from Daddy's rifle." We have chickens, too, so they understand that the eggs we eat were laid just outside the kitchen window. It's all part of a bigger conversation — one that roots them in the natural world and builds respect early on.

They're not yet ready to witness a harvest. But when the time comes, they won't be shocked by it. It won't feel foreign or cruel. It will feel connected.

NERF GUNS AND TEACHABLE MOMENTS

We also use Nerf guns to teach gun safety, and it's one of the best tools I've found for early education. It lets them mess up in a way that's safe. They get to learn about muzzle awareness, trigger discipline, and responsibility without the stakes being too high. Sometimes we'll even talk about "the rules" while playing with water guns — always treating them like they matter. Because they do. Gun culture shouldn't start with fear. It should start with understanding. And starting early gives them space to grow into it.

RESPECT, ALWAYS

We teach our girls that we love animals. We love our chickens, and they love us back — not with wagging tails or kisses, but with the quiet consistency of eggs in the coop. And we explain that hunting is an extension of that same relationship. It's symbiotic. It's not about domination. We don't kill more than we need. We harvest one deer at a time. We use everything we can. And we make sure the shot is clean and quick — out of respect, not just skill.

We teach them that being a hunter is as much about knowing your limits as it is about knowing your capabilities.

FINAL THOUGHTS

In our home, hunting isn't a gendered tradition. It's not something reserved for the boys. It's a way of life, a mindset, and a tool of self-reliance — one that I want my daughters to have access to, just like their father does, just like I do.
And while we're still in the early days — Nerf guns and dinner table talks — I can already see the seeds being planted. Seeds of reverence. Of understanding. Of quiet, confident strength. That's the kind of hunter I want to raise.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Basma Orgel lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and has a bachelor's degree in Clinical Laboratory Science. Basma has two beautiful daughters and enjoys hunting, hiking, cooking, and shooting. Basma currently works as a professional photographer.