Women gather for 3-day wildlife event

By Sam Waller

More than 20 people gathered in Shackelford County earlier this month for the Women of the Land  dove hunt sponsored by the Texas Wildlife Association.

The event was held Friday, Sept. 16 through Sunday, Sept. 18, with attendees staying at the missile silo south of Albany.

The Texas Wildlife Association’s stated mission is to serve Texas wildlife and its habitat while protecting property rights, hunting heritage, and the conservation efforts of those who value and steward wildlife resources.

“Being part of this event, as both an organizer and a participant, has been so rewarding,” Amanda Gobeli of the Texas Wildlife Association said. “I’m thankful to have been able to get to know these amazing ladies, to witness their progress from shooting practice to first hunt to first harvested bird, and to share in those experiences myself. It’s great to have a program that brings like-minded women together to teach, inspire, and motivate each other in their land stewardship goals and pursuits.”

Albany’s Tamara Trail said 21 association members spent three days enjoying outdoors and social activities in addition to the hunt.

“The women of the Land Event provided an opportunity for mentored hunting in that there was a mix of seasoned hunters and beginners, all celebrating a love of the outdoors in an encouraging learning environment,” Trail said. “Like many hunts that take place in Shackelford County,  we get to demonstrate the value of rural working lands and support the community that provides accommodations, catering,  shops,  and other benefits. Not only do we have the opportunity (and duty), to demonstrate the hunter’s role in conservation, but we are given pathways to connect urban and rural residents with the places that provide food, clean water, sequester carbon, and other ecosystem services that people don’t always think about in their daily lives.”

Prehunt activities included shotgun safety techniques, selection of firearms, and ammunition based on the game being hunted, then practicing on the shooting range.

Trail said the weekend was as much about education as shooting birds.

Participants hunted Saturday morning then cleaned birds while learning about aging doves and looking at the anatomy between dove and quail, comparing the migratory bird to the resident bird.

“When women think about the habitat provided, compare the anatomy of migratory versus resident birds, examine what the birds have been eating when they dress them, feel more literate about firearms, eat wild game, enjoy time in a rural community, and pause and reflect while the sun rises on private land stewarded well,  they take these things home. They share,” Trail explained. “This is why we do what we do. We pass on a tradition that resonates and that makes our rural heritage relevant.”