Women Go Hunting Awards Challenge: A Youth Pheasant Hunt Got This Winner Started at Age 12

SCI’s 2025 Women Go Hunting Awards Challenge attracted women of all ages and experience levels to document their hunting journeys by entering SCI’s World Hunting Awards program. We asked each of our 10 winners to share her hunting story and provide advice to other women contemplating hunting. Here’s how Ashley Frederick, overall winner of the WGH 2025 Awards Challenge, advises other women and girls to start their hunting pursuit:

I started my hunting journey when I was 12 years old, joining my dad at an SCI Pittsburgh Chapter Youth Pheasant Hunt. That experience ignited a lifelong passion for the outdoors, conservation, and the thrill of the chase. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of hunting on four different continents, each experience deepening my respect for wildlife and the traditions of ethical hunting.

For women interested in hunting, my biggest advice is to just start. Find a mentor, whether it’s a family member, a friend, or a local SCI Chapter. Don’t be intimidated! Hunting is just as much about learning, patience, and respect for nature as it is about skill. And most importantly, enjoy the journey. Every hunt teaches you something new, whether it’s about the animals, the environment, or yourself.

Happy hunting! – Ashley Frederick