My Not so Easy Hunting Life

Profiles In Perseverance By Brandy Elrod

Currently in the United States there are 15.2 million hunting license holders with the average hunter being a white male. Of the 15.2 million hunters, women make up a mere 1.1 million hunters in the US. Amongst female hunters there is an even smaller group of hunters that have varying physical challenges that they do not let affect their ability to hunt. Analiese, Becky, and Rachel are the epitome of partaking in a not so easy hunting life, but they persevere to enjoy what they love.

The Beauty Queen

Analiese is a 20-year-old college student from Central Louisiana. Analiese was born with Spina Bifida, a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord do not form properly. Analiese uses a walker to move short distances and a wheelchair for long distances and she does not let this stop her. She currently manages a ranch and horse boarding facility and is a Rodeo Queen. Her outdoor hobbies include: riding horses, fishing, four wheeling, kayaking, being on the water and most recently hunting.

As you can imagine, using a wheelchair or walker can make any hunting experience very difficult. Walking through brush and packing out game is not an option, so Analiese relies on easy to access stands and a lot of assistance from guides and her wonderful traveling partner, her mother. Due to numerous surgeries Aneliese’s hands shake so she uses tripods or stands for her rifle. Analiese comes from a single parent home, so without a male figure in her life she has had to rely on friends and organizations for disabled hunters. Analiese grew up in a community where hunting was common, but she didn’t get started until she was a senior in High School and was offered an opportunity by her principal.

Analiese has mobility issues, so she struggles with finding accessible stands and areas to hunt and she is very unsteady, so she requires stands for her rifle and different accommodations. To help with the accommodations, she needs, Analiese hunts with various organizations that specialize in helping hunters with physical disabilities. Analiese has hunted with the Wyoming Disabled Hunters, National Wild Turkey Federation Wheeling Sportsman, Hands of a Sportsman with BRM Wild Adventures, Able Outdoors, and the Hunters Enriching Lives of People (H.E.L.P) organizations. When I asked Analiese what she wanted the world to know about hunting as a disabled person she stated, “I want the world to realize the dedication it takes in both the hunter and the organizations that help. I’d also like people to understand that these challenges that we face are sometimes the best things to build character because they can make or break you as a hunter.”