Wild Chix Introduction to Hunting Weekend – My Adventure into the Unknown
- isabell8785
- Oct 16
- 3 min read
by Sue Denby
I’ve just come back from the Introduction to Hunting weekend with Wild Chix — and wow, what an experience!
To be honest, I was super anxious about the whole thing. I’m 61, have had two hip replacements, arthritis, and I’m definitely not breaking any cardio records these days (though I do my fair share of reformer Pilates and yoga for strength).
I imagined the weekend would be full of young, super-fit women leaping through the bush like gazelles while I huffed along at the back. To put it bluntly — I was shitting myself.
When I arrived and spotted another woman around my age, I breathed a little easier. And from that moment on, Izzy, Katie, and Nat made sure I felt comfortable and capable. They were absolute legends — supportive, knowledgeable, and hilarious.
Our first night kicked off with a walk into the forest (thankfully on a road!) where we had to be silent, using only our red headlamps. The idea was to listen to the forest. I heard the unmistakable flap of a kererū, a morepork calling, and something that sounded like a banshee — which we were told was likely possums scrapping. Back at camp, we gathered around the fire for a chat before heading to bed for our 6am start.
Sleeping was in dorms — four to a room. I came prepared with earplugs and didn’t hear a thing, though sleep was tricky with all the excitement buzzing around my head.
The next morning, we split into three groups: Izzy took the fit and fast crew, Nat had the middle ground, and Katie got those of us who wanted to “take it easy” (no prizes for guessing where I ended up).
Katie was brilliant. Not only is she the queen of the kitchen (seriously, this woman can cook), but she’s also an awesome teacher. She showed us signs of deer — including how to tell the difference between male, female, and even young deer poo. Who knew deer droppings were so educational?
Sitting silently in the bush, waiting and listening, was surprisingly peaceful. Every woman there was so supportive. When it came to sliding down a steep bank, we all helped each other — lots of laughter, mud, and “graceful” moments included. Thanks to Hunters Element for the loan gear — we were dry, warm, and looking the part!
After breakfast, we had a great session on what gear to take with you, navigation, and how to us the NZTopo app - a serious game change for hikers and the like.
After lunch came the target practice session, which was heaps of fun! I may have volunteered to go first — purely strategic, of course — so I could squeeze in a quick nap before the 4pm call for our next bush trek. The girls were totally on board with my plan - to be honest they didn't really have an option.
When it was time to head out again, I joined Liz from Hunters Element — and wow, this chick is awesome! Liz has years of experience and a wealth of knowledge. She pushed me just enough to remind me what I’m capable of and kept checking in to make sure everyone was doing okay. It honestly felt like being a kid again, tramping through the bush with my uncle.
I won’t lie — I was very happy to see the lodge again at the end of that walk - we went up steeper terrain than I was expecting - my muscles were just about done. Katie had outdone herself with venison burgers (and catered beautifully to my gluten- and dairy-free needs all weekend). I demolished that burger, had the best shower ever, and felt like a new woman.
On Sunday morning, I decided to skip the early hike and catch up on some sleep (zero regrets there). After breakfast came the butchering session — the part I’d been a little nervous about. I don’t do well with blood… or so I thought. Turns out, I only have a problem with human blood — deer, not at all! I actually really enjoyed learning how to break down the beast and left with a few cuts of venison I’d helped process myself.
The absolute best part of the weekend? The women. Being surrounded by such like-minded, supportive, funny, and capable ladies was empowering. We laughed — a lot — and I walked away feeling stronger, more confident, and utterly inspired.
I might have arrived nervous and doubting myself, but I left exhausted, proud, full of new skills, and already dreaming about my next hunt.
Bring it on.
