LEADERSHIP STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Learn more about Amy Hunter

We asked Amy Hunter a few fun questions. Leadership Staff Spotlight is designed to help you get to know our awesome team of Leadership Staff a little better. Amy lives in Pennsylvania and is and an avid hunter

If you could only hunt in one season which one would it be?
Hands down deer season! I love every phase of it: the early October woods leaning in to fall, late October watching the rut, the excitement of gun opener in November, and then late season where we typically have snow and it is a quiet insulated world.

What’s your favorite location to hunt?
I am a fan of hunting deep woods, well-travelled deer paths, the quiet areas that take time and patience to get into.

Who introduced you to hunting?
My father and his hunting buddies gave me my love of the sport, but I only ever went once with my father and he thought I was too noisy and sent me home! I actually have taken bits and pieces from many people and taught myself to hunt.

What do you hunt for?
Supper! Actually, I always eat what I harvest, but I really enjoy all hunting seasons and will hunt any of them I get an opportunity to get out in. Typically, though, I only have time for deer, bear, and turkey.

What hunting skill would you like to master?
While I don’t think I am ever going to master any, my favorite is spot and stalk which I have had success at during rifle season, but would like to get more proficient at it during archery.

What’s your biggest hunting challenge?
Like everyone else, time! Balancing time at work, time with my son, and time taking care of life stuff makes it difficult to carve out that time to hunt. So it can be a challenge to find pockets of effective time to hunt. Thankfully, my partner and I both love to hunt so whenever he or I get time off to hunt we try to include the other.

What would be the most amazing hunting adventure that is still on your bucket list?
Hands down I want to go Moose hunting. Getting one-on-one, in the woods, at bow range with an animal of that size would be breathtaking!

What hunting skill do you wish you knew more about?
I am trying to learn all I can currently on group/herd habits of deer. It is interesting to me the moves that they will make year after year, and in the same places. Once you learn a little more about what they do all year around hunting season, you can learn better what to expect about what they will do during hunting season.

What’s the hardest hunting lesson you’ve learned?
Probably the same one we all learn at some point unless we are very lucky, you don’t always make a clean shot, no matter how well you prepare. The harsh reality of hunting is that no matter how much you try to make the most ethical shot on an animal, sometimes things go wrong and you cannot recover an animal. I never want an animal to suffer, but it is also the loss of a meat source in my house that we hold in high regard. It isn’t just about the thrill of hunting; it is about providing.

If hunting was no longer an option for you what would you do with your time?
I am sure I would still spend a lot of time outdoors. I also work in an archery shop whenever I can, so that would keep me close to the sport. I would hope I could continue to mentor women and youth hunters and keep the sport alive.

What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation?
Learning to shoot a bow. I could likely talk for that long on choosing a good location for a treestand as well.

How many pairs of hunting boots do you own?
Not as many as my hunting partner! But, I do have one pair I wear in the fall, and one pair I wear in very cold temperatures. Honestly, I am very picky about them and when I get one pair I really like, those are all I wear.

What style of hunting are you most passionate about?
Archery, hands down. I love the close proximity you can get to your prey and the quiet of the entire process just feels in sync with nature.

NON – HUNTING RELATED

What do you like most about Shoot Like A Girl’s Mission?
I have always been an advocate for women in the shooting sports. Not just getting them involved, but getting them involved in a manner that makes them feel safe and knowledgeable with equipment that fits them. Too often I see women taught how to shoot with equipment set up for their boyfriends. They instantly don’t like it, or worse yet get hurt. I just loved the Mission of Shoot Like a Girl right from the beginning. Empowering women is what we should all be working together to do!

If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
Read. I love to read! And on a variety of subjects. I love everything from biographies and political thrillers, to technical manuals. I am a true life-long learner.

What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?
Gunsmithing. I have always been interested in how things go together, what parts make up the whole of anything. I would love to have more range time, and to be able to work on the building of my own firearm would really be fulfilling.

What non hunting related skill would you like to master?
I would love to have more time to hone my skills with my DSLR camera. I number of years back I got a very nice set up and while I can take good pictures, I would love to be able to learn more about photography and ultimately know how to develop my own film.

What are you interested in that most people haven’t heard of?
When I tell people that I am a competitive archer most people look at me like I grew two heads! I don’t think most people even remotely understand what being an archer is, then how we compete. I often have to say “You know, with a bow and arrow?” and then they give the light bulb just went off look.

What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?
Either Oklahoma or Florida. Sadly, I have not travelled extensively outside of about a 750-mile radius.

Where do you usually go when you when you have time off?
My partner and I have some hunting land we use outside of town and we like to go up and hike or sit on the tailgate and watch the sun set.

Who inspires you to be better?
My son, hands down. Before he came along I always thought I tried to be a good person, you know, the one your grandparents would be proud of. But once he came along, I realized how much everything I did was watched and learned, and I wanted to be the best example I could be for him. Not only in doing things right, but also in handling the things that go wrong.

What are three interesting facts about you?
I grew up rodeoing, I can tie my own flies for fly-fishing, and I am a very accomplished quilter.

What is your biggest fear?
My son being disappointed in me as a role model for him. He always says he doesn’t think I am like a lot of other moms, or that I won’t grow into one of those little gray haired old ladies that has a perpetual frown on her face not doing things. Even if his teenage self cannot always admit it, I think he has always been proud of how involved I am and my fearlessness at trying new things.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pizza! I love pizza, almost any kind without onion on it, but sausage, black olives, and artichoke is my favorite!!

List two pet peeves
Loud eaters and procrastination.
I cannot stand when someone says they will do something and just don’t do it because they just don’t see the value in follow through.

Which of the five senses would you say is your strongest
Hearing. It drives everyone around me a little nuts I think. They are always a little surprised at the things I can hear. My son has always been a bit surprised by it I think, haha, it’s always been a good mom tool! It also comes in handy in the woods.

One thing that not a lot of people know you love to do?
Knit. I love to sit down and knit, whether it is a blanket or a pair of socks, or something else, it keeps my hands busy and let’s my mind unwind.

Mountains or Beach?
Boy, I have a hard time with this one. Can I have a really big lake up in the mountains? I love the seclusion of the mountains, and the scenery. But I do love to hear the waves crash and smell that salty air

Anything else you would like to add?
Hmmm… I have always been one to try new things. I have a ton of varied interests, from cooking to crafts, to art, to hunting and fishing, and just about anything in between. I always joke that I can’t die for about 100 more years because I have too many books to read and projects to complete and new things to learn!