Feb 2, 2007 8:31 pm US/Central
More And More Women 'Heading Out On The Hunt'
by Mary Stewart
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 News) ―
Hunting has always been thought of as a 'man's sport,' but new numbers show that's changing. From big game to fowl, more women are loading up their shot guns and rifles and heading out on the hunt.
CBS 11 News talked with Shirley Weiss who says she's been hunting since she was a kid. "I went with my grandfather and three male cousins that got to go, but they didn't like to go because I was a better shot."
As an adult, Weiss says she gets mixed reactions to her hobby. "When I tell people that I hunt, especially men, they're interested, but surprised."
Steve Wagner, with the National Shooting Sports Foundation, isn't surprised. He says the number of women hunters is booming. "This year we'll see over three million women take to America's woods and field. There's been a 72 percent increase just over the past five years."
If estimates stay on target, women will drum up about one half billion dollars of business this year alone. Those numbers have the sporting goods industry rethinking its strategy.
"Manufacturers have begun introducing more lines made to fit the sizes and the shapes, and especially the styles, of this whole new customer base," Wagner said.
Selah Zigrosky designs a women's line of hunting clothes called 'Foxy Huntress.' She says the clothes are functional and durable. Even store like Cabela's in Fort Worth have entire sections devoted to female hunters.
Clothing designers aren't the only ones taking notice; a number of manufacturers are retooling guns to fit a woman's smaller features.
What seemed forever a "good old boys" club is joined more regularly now by wives and sisters, mothers and aunts, daughters and girlfriends.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Stumble It!
