Hunting, no longer just a man’s sport, is fair game to many of the females at NDA.

Hunting dates back to the prehistoric times, when the men were the hunters and the women were gatherers. In today’s day and age the times are changing.  Now women are often the breadwinners, and a male stay-at-home parent is not unusual.

To hunt, a license is required. However, getting a license does not require hard work. One just needs to show up to the classes for a half hour every few days.

“The classes weren’t that bad, but there were only about three girls in the class, and the rest were all guys,” said Mariah Maas, a junior and one of many female hunters here at NDA.

“Hunting gives me time to spend with my family. I take time away from my busy schedule and just get a chance to relax and have fun with my family,” junior Becky Schumacher said. “The girls are as equally good as guys.”

Senior Cassie Bohn said hunting gives her a chance to spend time with her dad.

That same reason, sort of in reverse, is how freshman El Hein became a hunter.  “My dad encouraged me to take the hunter’s safety course because he had hunted as a youth with his dad,” she explained.  For two years now she has gone buck hunting with her father.

Hein shot her first buck last weekend during the youth hunt.  She and her dad were “up north near Leona.”  After spending most of the day watching and waiting, the late afternoon shot was her first shot, her first buck.

“Girls who hunt seem powerful,” junior Mary Rose Olsen said.

However, some people have a hard time imagining females with a rifle in hand.

“I would think women would be a lot safer hunters, but it is just not something I usually think of,” said Mr. Mike Kelleher, science teacher. “ I picture the guys with beers in hand hunting together. But I do think seeing women hunting is cool to see.”

“They have the right to hunt, and they can do it if they want, but men are better hunters. It’s in our blood,” junior Michael Paluda said.

But many others do not have a problem with this new concept.

“If that is what they like to do, I say let them do it,” junior Elise Geiger said.

“If the girls want to hunt, they should. But it’s just not for me,” said Mrs. Eileen Montgomery, business teacher.

 “I think women could even be better at guys in hunting.  The men just need to deal with the fact that some women are just better,” junior Alex Williams said. “My best friend hunts and she is pretty amazing at it.”