When a first-time hunter steps onto a South Dakota lodge at dawn, the scent of sorghum and the rustle of dry grass set the stage for a three-day, women-only hunting retreat that promises both skill and camaraderie.
Women’s Hunting Retreat Takes Aim in South Dakota
Founded by Karen Butler, the program evolved from the 2008 “Shoot Like a Girl” initiative into “Hunt Like a Girl.” It is a weekend that moves participants from range to field to learn small-game hunting safely. The retreat uses Al’s Pheasant Ranch, a 6,000-acre private habitat near Emery, offering guided pheasant hunts with trained dogs, firearm-safety classes and on-site bird-processing.
According to a 2022 federal survey, women account for roughly 22% of the nation’s 3.7 million hunters, making them the fastest-growing segment. The National Shooting Sports Foundation reports that nearly half of the 11 million first-time firearm purchases in 2020-21 were made by women, showing rising interest.
Butler, who began hunting while going through a difficult divorce, says the sport gave her a sense of achievement and community. “At a time when I felt the very worst about myself, shooting sports made me feel the best about myself,” she told participants, emphasizing the supportive environment she hopes to replicate.
Many attendees cite empowerment and self-sufficiency as motivations. A survey by the nonprofit Girl & A Gun found that 35% of new women shooters prioritize the social aspect of learning marksmanship.
Emotional Response and Personal Reflections
Recalling the rapid sequence of actions, she found it hard to keep the order straight when a bird appeared. The required motion—gun to shoulder, safety off, aim, then fire—must occur in about a second and a half. She began chanting the steps like a mantra while walking, keeping her hands and mind aligned. The rhythm helped maintain focus during the fast-paced encounter.
When the first pheasant fell, uncontrollable tears surprised her, even though she anticipated emotion. Butler explained the feeling as reverence for something beautiful and alive. She accepted feathers of violet, green, and brown, promising to craft something beautiful from them. Using the breast filets he taught her to remove, she vowed to create a healthy, delicious dish, echoing Butler’s belief that hunting itself is an act of reverence earned through effort.
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First Day on the Field
The opening morning began with a safety briefing. She covered muzzle orientation, trigger discipline and the consequences of lapses, setting a serious tone before the hunt.
One hunter, after adjusting to a smaller-bore shotgun to match her frame, struggled initially but on the final morning took two birds in quick succession.
Beyond the hunt, Butler demonstrated how to break down a pheasant, showing how to locate the breastbone and separate the breast in one clean cut. She stressed that using the animal fully honors its life.
In the broader picture, Second Century Habitat Fund pays South Dakota landowners to maintain sorghum through 10-year contracts, keeping the land productive for both agriculture and wildlife. Sorghum also acts as an effective carbon sink and doesn’t require a lot of water, making it an all around sustainable crop.
The early morning air carried a dry, hissing rustle as wind moved through sorghum stalks, a sound amplified by two years of drought.
From Field to Table: Processing and Cooking
Following the hunt, a processing station allowed participants to learn field dressing, with instruction to locate the breastbone using a thumb and to run a knife along the keel.