Welcome to Joy of Hunting!​

where women teach women to hunt
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More and more women are discovering hunting.   We feel good about putting healthy, sustainable food on the table.  Our spiritual side connects with the bigger picture - life and death, beauty and Nature.  Our fun-loving side enjoys the thrill of the hunt, the companionship of fellow hunters and the secret excitement of working with our own dogs!  ​
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But how do I get started?

Up until now, pretty much the only option was to learn from the guy who maybe taught you to drive, or to ski or... Remember? Or at an evening class, where you get told what to do but there's no chance to practice.  If you were lucky, your partner would thrust a gun in your hands and tell you to "shoot this" - but it was so uncomfortable you quickly gave up.  If you weren't so lucky you simply got left behind while "he" had all the fun. Or maybe you had no one to teach you.

The last thing you want is to show up at a hunt with no clue, be avoided by everyone in case you shoot them or their dog, get yelled at, feel embarrassed and lonely and vow never to do it again!
So imagine learning to hunt over several days, patiently practicing each new skill in the field, and experiencing an actual hunt? Becoming so confident and so much fun to hunt with that you create a great impression and never get left behind again - in any sense of the word!

Learn to hunt in comfort and privacy at 

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By the way,  if you're a guy and you like our style, don't feel left out: we'd love to welcome you on a co-ed course!  And if you're looking for a perfect gift for your darling beloved, a hunting seminar would work for both of you! Check out our Guys' Page 

Courses

Don't Shoot the Hens!

​You aren't sure you "have what it takes"  but you want to find out.  You'll learn to handle a shotgun, shoot clay pigeons and get a taste of being out in the field with dogs - without any pressure to shoot a live bird.

Safe and Savvy Hunter

Here you'll learn all  the foundational hunting skills you need, in a logical and practical sequence, to become an effective and lifelong hunter.  Hunting is included! Women-only and co-ed options.

Land & Water Stewardship

A "Chautauqua-like" experience, with a focus on stewardship of land and water to enhance your own property for wild birds and fish, guided by Bruce Kania, a recognized expert in these fields.
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Anne
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Andrea
Anne and Andrea are very experienced hunters and teachers and will be your personal instructors in the field. Bruce will be the inspirational voice - coaching, advising and story-telling. Our hunting classes are residential, in beautiful surroundings, with every attention paid to your physical and emotional comfort. Above all, the classes are hands-on. We don't merely teach you about hunting: we teach you how to hunt by doing it! You will learn:
  • Gun-handling and shooting skills, so you're safe and competent.
  • Hunting strategies so you know what's going on.
  • Where the birds hang out so you know where to find them.
  • Etiquette involved before, during and after the hunt.
  • We'll also help you to find a gun that fits YOU and clothing and gear that works for you.
  • We won't walk too fast, brush off your questions or tell you to "hurry up already"!
Our hunting season stretches for a full seven months of the year. But even outside of hunting season we hold classes so you're ready to go when hunting season starts. 
You can ask all the questions you like and learn at your own pace.  Your comfort and safety are paramount so we have small classes where you try out new skills in relative privacy.  We're serious about hunting and having fun doing it!

We specialize in wing shooting (bird hunting) but offer other modules as well, including beginner rifle, patterning a shotgun, how to hunt deer or elk, archery skills, dog work appreciation, wild game cooking and much more.  Let us know what you'd like to explore!
 You will live the hunt …the strategic thinking, the action, the conversation and fellowship, and even the meals.  We plan to inspire you, and if in fact there is a seed of the hunter in you, we will help it grow.  This is our promise to you!"