Taylor Reisbeck of East Helena wants your vote — not for political office, but to become the next Extreme Huntress.
Reisbeck is one of six finalists competing in Extreme Huntress, an online competition where the goal is to create positive role models for women who want to get into hunting.
“I think I would make Montana proud. I mean it’s Montana — we are all about hunting,” Reisbeck said.
“I just know that I want to be an inspiration to people. I know I want to be a positive role model for all those people out there trying to hunt or wanting to get into the outdoors,” Reisbeck said.
The number of female hunters has grown at a steady pace in Montana over the past 10 years — and with many of these new "huntresses" below the age of 30, many see this trend continuing.
“I like the rush; I mean even if you don’t kill anything it’s still fun. Your heart starts pounding if you get close to anything. I mean you get to go outdoors; I get to bond with my dad, so I think there is a lot of things to contribute to why I like it,” huntress Amy Lawry said.
With more role models and more equipment companies catering to female hunters it’s easier than ever for females to try hunting.
“I enjoy it, I’m out every weekend trying to at least harvest something, shed hunt. I just love to get out in the outdoors and I want other people to do the same,” Reisbeck said.
“If you don’t know what hunting is and you are not against it, just go out and try it because you might find you like it. You never know if you are going to like it if you don’t try it,” Lawry said.
Woman make up about 20% of all Montana hunters.
