David -

I agree with you that we are one of the things that will help save the sport, because a diverse hunting population (including gender diversity) increases both how accessible we are to non-hunters and how much political clout we have.

And I definitely agree with you about hunting camps. Just blogged about my first experience in one. It was hilarious.

But in my short time as a huntress, I've started seeing some other distinctions:

* Women get colder than men, particularly our extremities. My huntress friends and I believe that this is a key reason there are so few women waterfowlers (waterfowling has the lowest percentage of women hunters among four types of game: big, small, waterfowl and other - e.g., varmints). Could this be a contributing factor to the fact that we also spend fewer total days hunting than men?

* Women seem less inclined to shoot something they won't eat, like a coyote. Statistics bear this out: the biggest reason women hunt (47 percent of us) is for the meat. The second biggest reason (27 percent of us) is to be with friends and family.

I'm starting to see other distinctions too, based on hunting with women v. hunting with men, but it's too early to tell yet. One may be that women put less pressure and stress on each other during a hunt, so it ends up being more relaxing. I've read about this being the case in other outdoor pursuits where women venture out amongst themselves. And I'm going on four all-girl hunts in the next four days, so I'll see soon if that impression holds.

But do these differences have any practical impact? The latter one not so much. The one about being cold, yes - we need proper gear. And none of these affects ability.

Thanks for weighing in, and sharing your experience with that guide!

I think another difference is the competitiveness or ego factor.
I've never heard women put one another down the way men do over like say "Mine's bigger than yours!" or "My hunt required more skill" etc.
And,
We tend to actually learn or take advice when it's being offered.

That's just my view on it, we ain't perfect by no means...but we're darn close! ;)

I'm sure there are physical differences in tolerances, strengths and weaknesses between women and men- but also within genders. I think like many things, once you move past hype and stereotypes, it's gender-neutral.

Each of us has the potential to excel, be focussed and succeed in whatever endevour we pursue.

However...some of the differences between men and women arise simply from who we are- our character and spirit- and what we choose to bring to the hunt- our gifts or our garbage.

Hunting alone, I determine my hunt. Hunting with others, male or female, introduces dyanmics. There's always a bully know-it-all. Always a generous teacher. Alweays a leader I feel compelled to follow. Always someone I teach a little something to myself. Someone always excites me, someone always turns me off- whether it's male OR female...it's ALWAYS different.

One difference I do most note though- there is definitely a fun lightheartedness hunting with men as opposed to women. WHen I catch Heavey and Petzl giving each other $#!^ in the pages of F&S, it takes me back to all the moments shared hunting with the men I know and love.

Thanks for laughter; thanks for sharing it with us. Like WandaH says, come back & see us again, Dave!

007, that's hilarious - and generous of you to be understanding.

Back to my daughter for a moment, we gave her a Buck knife for Christmas in '06 and was she ever happy. Her boyfriend's dad said that any girl that shows up to see his son with a fishing rod and tackle box in the back seat of the car is ok with him. She is the proud owner of a .257 Roberts and knows her way around it and is probably safer (both of my kids are)than a lot of adults I know. Of course ol' Dad's not a bit proud.

I just started hunting elk and deer two years ago and have been on many hunts with friends, both male and female. A few weeks ago I joined an elk hunt with 5 male friends, which was the only time I've been the only woman in the group.

The only differences I notice (aside from the anatomical ones!) is that after I downed my elk, I was concerned that everyone else should get one too! Now maybe the guys have the same concern for one another's success rate, but I don't know that they voice it. Maybe it's also just a personality thing!

Just as NorCal mentioned, I've also run into men and women who doubted that I actually did get the animal. Some say I just don't seem like "the type" and perhaps others find it threatening. Who knows, but I don't spend a lot of time worrying about proving myself to anyone other than the animal anymore!

Thanks for an interesting discussion and appreciate Dave's perspectives!