Hello fellow lady hunters!  It is so exciting for me to share my stories with women who have the same interests.   My name is Rachel Jones.  I was born and raised in the mountains of East Tennessee. I love the mountains I grew up in and never plan to move far from them.

My love for the outdoors has always been a big part of my life.  Growing up, I wanted every type of animal for a pet.  My passion for hunting developed slowly, in fact growing up I couldn’t understand why my dad and brother enjoyed taking the life of an animal.  I grew up loving fishing, swimming, and scouting the woods with my dad.  Through my childhood and teenage years I was a die-hard horse lover.  My family showed horses.  It started as a small hobby, which landed me in a world championship horse show where I placed fifth in the world in the youth amateur owned and trained trail pleasure class.   Soon the show circuit glitter dimmed and I was more focused on graduating school and my future. 

It was at this point in my life that I started dating.  Growing up the only granddaughter of five grandkids.  I had always been drawn to hang out with the guys and from learning to hunt to drag racing I was a tom boy.  While dating I was introduced to hunting and after a few trips in the field, I fell in love with being there.  The peace that came over me as we settled in under a big Oak tree to listen to Mother Nature wake up, started a spark in me that was soon to become a wild fire.  I learned to love the conversation between the hunter and the turkey.  The anticipation I felt as the turkey got closer really surprised me.  Soon I had plenty of experience in deer and turkey hunting, I just hadn’t decided to take up a weapon myself.

I began shooting a bow for the fun of it.  That started an addiction in me.  I began shooting daily and was soon ready to carry it to the field.  Perhaps I was a bit unprepared for the challenge of bow hunting so to get more experience I hunted with a gun first.  I harvested a doe for the table first and soon learned that I enjoyed gun hunting with a rifle and a muzzleloader but archery equipment is by far my favorite.

I am truly blessed to work with the companies that I do.  I truly believe they are the best and would not work with them if I didn’t.   I am a Hoyt staff shooter, Carbon Express staff shooter and I also shoot for Quality Archery Designs.

Writing for companies such as WomenHunters is a great honor to me because companies like this, and the Women in the Outdoors program are so interested in getting families involved with the outdoors.  Our children are the future of hunting and I hope if you ever have the opportunity to teach a child this sport you will embrace it with open arms. 

A few of the greatest feelings I have ever had was planning my first Women in the Outdoors event at Fall Creek Falls State Park.  Watching the lady participants learn to shoot archery equipment and shotguns, I realized that some there who loved every minute of shooting may have never had that opportunity if it hadn’t been for great organizations, volunteers, and instructors.  Also, participating in the Kids hunting for a Cure programs, knowing that while you introduce kids to the outdoors you are benefiting a great organization. I feel blessed to have the chance to introduce women and children to the outdoors and take full advantage every chance I get. I hope everyone who loves this sport as much as I do takes the time to first Thank God for this beautiful world he has created and then try to introduce someone else to it so they to can experience its beauty.