Female Hunting Participation
Increasing, RMEF Hails Growth
By mark Holyoak
he rocky mountain elk
Foundation applauds recent
research that indicates more
female hunters are heading into
the woods, mountains and backcountry
than ever before.
Hunting is not just for good old boys,
said David Allen, rmeF president and
CeO. more and more young girls, teenagers and women of all ages are getting
out in the field. That’s a great thing and
not just for them personally, but also
because it bodes well for ensuring the
future of conservation and our hunting
heritage.
Data accumulated by the national
Shooting Sports Foundation from participation studies conducted by the national
Sporting goods Association shows a
Accept No Limits | outdoorwomenunlimited.org
combination of 3,346,000 women, toting
either a rifle or a bow, actively hunted
in 2012 compared to 3,041,000 in 2008.
That growth of 305,000 represents a 10
percent increase in just four years. in
contrast, hunting participation over that
same time period was just 1.9 percent
for males.
Those numbers also mirror the overall
growth of hunter participation on a larger
scale in other recent research. The 2011
national Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and
Wildlife-Associated recreation showed a
nine percent increase among American
men and women 16 years and older
from 2006 to 2011. Over that same time
period, the percentage of female participation among all hunters jumped from
9.6 percent in 2006 to 11 percent in 2011.
Hunting is an American tradition. That
way of life holds true despite gender,
ethnicity or location. The fact that more
girls and women are making their way in
the woods or on the water only increases
our ties to the wildlife and land around
us, added Allen.
About the rocky mountain
elk Foundation
Founded over 30 years ago, fueled by
hunters and a membership of more than
200,000 strong, rmeF has conserved
more than 6.4 million acres for elk and
other wildlife. rmeF also works to open
and improve public access, fund and
advocate for science-based resource
management, and ensure the future of
America’s hunting heritage. Discover
why “Hunting is Conservation” at www.
rmef.org or 800-CALL eLK.
Spring/Summer 2014 | BLAZE | 43