LEADERSHIP STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Learn more about Kelly Mason

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

If you could only hunt in one season which one would it be? Turkey season

What’s your favorite location to hunt? Edgefield County, South Carolina (home of NWTF)

Who introduced you to hunting? Myself! At some point I needed more help, so I sought out through friends someone who could help me and was introduced to Rhett Bickley from SC Department of Natural Resources, who recently passed away at 47. He gave me the opportunity to hunt on his land and the opportunity to git er done! I will always dedicate every animal I hunt to him and the time he took to spend with my son and myself.

What do you hunt for? Turkey, deer, duck, coyote, ~ bow fishing next!

What hunting skill would you like to master? Animal calls no doubt! I would love to master every call from turkeys to crow, owl and deer. I think it is nice to not have to rely on man-made tools to call in an animal.

What’s your biggest hunting challenge? Finding the right property to hunt on. I have tried various areas and even with a consistent pattern on the trail camera, it doesn’t always mean that you will see deer! Scouting can also be a challenge when the property is an hour away or so and you are in the mom, sports and work routine!

What would be the most amazing hunting adventure that is still on your bucket list? Elk hunting in Montana would be an epic experience I don’t have the option to do here in South Carolina.

What hunting skill do you wish you knew more about? Scoring a buck “on the hoof”. I have started practicing trying to score by eyesight after learning about the four core areas of measurement: 1. Inside spread 2. Beam 3. Tine length 4. Circumference

What’s the hardest hunting lesson you’ve learned? I planned on crossing the SC line to go into GA and hunt with a friend for a few days. I was not a seasoned enough hunter to look and see there was going to be a full moon which changed the migration pattern of deer and I truly lost 3 days trying to figure out what was going on!

If hunting was no longer an option for you what would you do with your time?
Ha! Can I delete this question? Ok, ok ride horses. I love trail riding in the fall.

What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation? Turkey hunting no doubt, from their keen hearing skills, to the number of feathers, roosting habits and overall how challenging this type of hunting is due to the intelligence of the bird; not to mention the difference between using a shotgun vs. a compound bow.

How many pairs of hunting boots do you own? My first pair of rookie hunting boots was a pair of cowboy boots and I quickly learned that is not the most brilliant idea! I currently own two pairs but my heart is partial to one of them so much I would wear them anytime….in SC I can get away with that!

NON – HUNTING RELATED

What do you like most about Shoot Like A Girl’s Mission: Growing up in my generation, you would know a “man” or male family member that could teach you outdoorsy things? I had it stuck in my mind that only a man could assist me in reaching my hunting goals! SLG has given me the platform to share my journey as a woman and a single mother with no support system to encourage and emphatically state that it IS POSSIBLE for any female to learn at any age to hunt, fish, shoot and pursue archery regardless of your situation!

If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
Travel to all the National Parks in the USA. People really don’t realize what amazing beauty is here in the good ‘ole USA.

What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?
Photography.

What non-hunting related skill would you like to master? Knowing more about fishing and fly-fishing lures and which to use for lake, river and fresh water.

What non-hunting related do you wish you knew more about? Learning how to successfully use power tools so I could build anything I would like for my farm!

What are you interested in that most people haven’t heard of? I must do a cattle drive in Montana…bucket list. I think people have heard of this, but most wouldn’t know much about it!

What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home? Petra, Jordan

Where do you usually go when you when you have time off? Bat Cave, NC or Lake Lure, NC

What are three interesting facts about you?

1. I became a criminal investigator in 2012 and got certified in tactical firearms after never growing up shooting guns! My first gun was a 38 hammerless revolver when I was 38 years old. We were not allowed as investigators to carry a 9mm.

2. I taught myself to hunt at 43 years of age as a single mom working 3 jobs! I never had a male or female influence in my family that hunted!

3. I am a prison minister and spend time trying to encourage women who have made mistakes or gotten in a tough spot to not become a victim but believe in restoration. Faith can change how decisions are made and great things are right around the corner. Your mindset can make or break you.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? It would be a mix of random foods that don’t really sound good mixed together but are my favorite! Papaya, mango, blueberries, dungeonous crab, lobster, lox, lamb chops and Baskin Robbins mint chocolate chip ice cream. I think my “last supper would be all of these things”.
List two pet peeves: 1. Being outdoors and seeing litter everywhere 2. Arrogance. I think everyone is an expert at something and being around someone that makes you feel small or incapable is unfathomable. I have achieved so many things later in life and had I listened to a lot of naysayers I wouldn’t have got where I am today.

Which of the five senses would you say is your strongest: Sight

One thing that not a lot of people know you love to do? Go to the drive-in movie theater called the Big Mo in this tiny farm town called Monetta, SC

Mountains or Beach? Mountains without question. Jaws did me in.

Anything else you would like to add?

I am a single mother of a 15-year-old young man. Single parents make up 50 percent of our population and it is not a victim status but a circumstance that is not to hinder but to strengthen you. Any woman, no matter the age OR lack of support system, is capable of learning to hunt, fish, archery, and shooting sports. I would love to help or share with any lady how I made it happen! I can’t wait to hear from you about how you overcame and achieved your outdoors goals!