Women in Hunting - the importance of keeping a hunting diary

When I decided to share my hunting experiences in a blog a couple of years ago, it was so that I could help other people that were new to the fieldsports community to have the confidence to take that first step. I wanted to give them information about how it can sometimes go wrong, and how to prepare for that - rather than just having the shiny, perfect situations and highly technical information that some pros offer; which although awe-inspiring can be very intimidating for a newcomer.

I also want to ensure that newcomers understand that hunting is about more than just learning about the technical side of your equipment or competing about who can get the most amount of permission on land. First and foremost it's about understanding the way the countryside works (both its people, its weather and the land), and most importantly having respect for your quarry.

Hunting for me is more than just a countryside pursuit - it's a connection to my ancestors and to nature. Each outing is a chance to reflect, to honour tradition, a chance to feel humbled and grounded - and gives me a sense of purpose as a female hunter gatherer harvesting food for me and my family. But as someone who didn't grow up surrounded by generations of hunter gatherers, land managers, farmers; it takes time, dedication and practice to get that deep understanding and connection to nature. As a woman and a Mother, I have a certain understanding of cycles and an automatic connection to mother nature. But as a female hunter-gatherer, my most successful outings have been when I have kept a hunting diary - and paid attention to it!

The importance of keeping a hunting diary

As a hunter gatherer based in the UK, having a hunting diary is essential as it allows me to track weather, timings of outings, animal behaviour patterns and different areas of land and what they produce based on this information. I can therefore track and understand the outcomes of each hunt more effectively.

Record keeping helps me to become a more effective and confident hunter by having more knowledge learned in the best way - by getting boots on the ground. It allows me to understand which skills I may need to develop, such as reading the wind, tides, improving species identification - or even learning to read my body better; such as not ignoring neck pain or back stiffness that is affecting my technique and basically ruining my hunting experience.

As well as helping me to become a more effective hunter, a hunting diary is a great source of personal development as I really notice when I don't pay attention to my diary and lessons learned - because my hunting trip will be a failure!

Hunting equipment - product testing and real situation use.

The right hunting equipment - and knowing how to use it - can make or break a hunt. In some of my other blogs, like 'All the gear - choosing the right equipment when hunting', and 'Why use thermal imaging when hunting?', I talk about what gear I use, what works well for me depending on the situation, and what might need tweaking or changing. I also mention in blogs and on social media my mistakes - such as forgetting to charge the battery on my thermal imaging range finder or digital scopes! This is something that I am trying to get to grips with after years of using just glass, and not hunting quarry at night. I am also still learning that it pays to read the instructions when you get new gear! I am a very excitable person, and when I get something new to use for hunting I want to do just that - get out there and use it to hunt straight away!

My personal growth as a BIPOC female hunter

In my personal experience, navigating the world of fieldsports as a black woman has had its unique challenges, but mainly has given me some of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Every time I go out, every time I speak to someone that is - or isn't - part of the hunting community, every time I try to get new permission; every time any of these things happen it's an opportunity to break stereotypes and build my self confidence. And when I share these stories, it's a chance to inspire other women, other people of colour, anyone who feels nervous about entering the fieldsports arena no matter their background. My hunting journey allows me to continuously learn, build more resilience and celebrate the strength I feel, the wisdom I gain, the land I protect - and the food I harvest.

If you keep a hunting diary let us know how it has helped you. In the meantime - happy hunting!