Building the Next Generation in the Blind

With the Balance of State duck opener sitting just a few weeks out on the calendar, we are turning our eyes toward the blinds, the rice fields, and the heritage that makes Northern California waterfowl hunting what it is. This week's field note comes from a guide who is actively building the next generation of duck hunters right here in our backyard. Laura Allen, of MOA Outfitters, sent in a reflection on why she built a guide service dedicated to welcoming women into the blind, what it takes to step into a male-dominated field, and why the future of the sport depends on community over competition. You can find MOA listed on our Local Boys page at norcalhunt.comHere is Laura's story in her own words:"Being able to provide ladies a safe, welcoming hunt environment is always top on my list every season. Why all ladies? Let’s admit that waterfowl hunting is a very male driven sport. The idea of meeting strangers on the side of the road out in the middle of nowhere at 4:00 am is a lot less intimidating when you know you are meeting up with a group of like minded women. Running a guide service in the Sacramento Valley not only enables me to host women, but share the tradition and heritage of what waterfowl hunting is all about. We are fortunate enough to have wonderful relationships with quite a few other guide services in the valley that totally support my mission of “getting women into the sport of waterfowl”. The vibe on these hunts is incredibly supportive and not competitive at all. Women are so understanding and want to support each other no matter what the skill level. So if you are questioning yourself about being able to jump into it, I promise YOU that you can do it! My motto is 'find you a group of likeminded women and pull the trigger, literally'...