From First Deer Hunt to Mentor: A Field to Fork Story
Mentorship in the Duck Blind: Living the +ONE Promise
Learning, laughter, and unforgettable moments in the field are the products of a successful guided hunt. First-time turkey hunter Christa Forrester, Vice President of Shoot Like a Girl, was invited on a hunt with long-time friend Karen Butler, President and CEO of Shoot Like a Girl, to experience the excitement of turkey hunting.
“You told me not to move!” said Forrester.
She was so focused on following Butler’s instructions that she nearly missed her chance to take the shot at the turkey in front of her. That’s exactly what happened on this unforgettable turkey hunt that became the perfect lesson in mentorship.
After two exhausting weeks on the road for their work with Shoot Like a Girl, there was one narrow window of time to squeeze in Forrester’s first-ever turkey hunt before the season ended. Butler was diligent about all the details to make Forrester’s first turkey hunt as enjoyable as possible.
Butler swept clean a path to the blind for safety, prepped and staged the gear, and briefed Forrester on expectations. All that was left was to get into the blind.
Along the way, Butler identified some key insights for other mentors to consider when they are preparing for a hunt with a plus one.
✓ Safety – preparing the path, anticipating risks
✓ Communication – being crystal clear (not just “clear enough”)
✓ The Experience – creating memories that last forever
Butler’s efforts and guidance paid off in the end with Forrester getting her first turkey–a mature tom.
One clear hunting lesson in this story is the importance of sitting still while hunting to not spook animals. Though that is a critical tactic while hunting, Forrester was so focused on pleasing her mentor by sitting still that she almost lost her chance to harvest the tom they had called in. There is a time and place for sitting still, but a quick draw or lift of the hunting weapon is sometimes needed to get the job done.
Butler and Forrester share some big laughs in this story. Congrats to the team!
Shoot Like a Girl is a +ONE Official Partner. Shoot Like A Girl is an event marketing company with a mission to grow the number of women who participate in shooting sports by empowering them with confidence. Since 2008, over 50,000 visitors have participated in their experiences.
“Ask someone–the person you’d least expect that would want to go hunting–ask them: Hey, I’m going hunting this weekend. Do you want to come?” said Butler. “You’re going to be surprised at the answer.”
