When most people think of the term 'hunting,' they immediately picture camo-clad men who own dozens of guns and live in houses filled with taxidermy animals. When they hear the term 'girls hunting,' they think of camo-clad, classless hillbillies. Or Katniss Everdeen.
While I don't consider myself classless, nor a hillbilly, I am a girl who hunts. No, I don't live on a farm and shoot animals off my front porch. I don't even live in the country.
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People are quick to stereotype me with their conception of what they think a girl who hunts should be. When I was younger the few boys in my class who hunted would try to shame me about it. Those who didn't were disgusted at the blood and gore, thinking me heartless and gross.
I will admit some parts of it are a little gross. But I've been doing this since I was nine years old and I grew up around it my whole life. At first, I did it just to try it and to please my dad―
he never got the boy he wanted so that role was cast upon me―and I always assumed that when I got older I would stop and be normal, just like every other girl in my class.Why is it that girls are cool for being athletic or having a tomboy edge to them, but the second hunting is brought into the equation, they become weird? 
It really bothered me deep down, even though my dad was proud and my family told me how cool it was for a little girl to be doing what I did and do still to this day. One teacher at school even kept a newspaper clipping with a picture of me and the deer I'd killed that year and gave it to me laminated. Even so, the general surprised and disgusted reactions I got discouraged me.
But I didn't want to stop hunting because it was something I enjoyed. It gave me an appreciation and an understanding at a very young age of how precious life is and what it means to hold it in your hands. As I got older I shook off the negative stigma given to me and showed people how wrong their stereotype of me was and is.
It didn't matter what people thought about me holding a rifle and wearing camouflage. I felt strong and empowered. When I go hunting, I often get up at four or five in the morning, hike across fields in the dark, and sit in trees silently for hours while holding a gun. That's pretty badass.
Just two years ago I was prom queen at my high school and went out the next weekend turkey hunting (I was successful). I even wore my sash and crown for some pictures.
Now, I don't feel weird about telling people I hunt anymore; I feel fierce. To any girls who hunt or want to...do it and don't let anyone make you feel inferior about in. Channel your inner Katniss and go shoot some things.
