Blogger Interview with A Reel Lady

A pinch of Pioneer Woman, a splash of Shemane Nugent and a hint of Rachel Ray, is the title of one post you’ll find on A Reel Lady’s blog. After reading her “About Me” section I couldn’t help but think she was referring to herself. I very much identify with Glynn’s comment about being a “walking contradiction”, loving the outdoors and feeling just as comfortable getting dolled up as heading out to the treestand or having a fishing rod in your hand.

I have followed A Reel Lady’s blog since the beginning and always enjoy her witty posts as well as her encouraging tweets when I’m sitting in a stand, or get excited  to show G2 the buck she shot this year after she posted to Instagram. Since I have enjoyed her blog and support as a huntress so much, I had to do an interview.

A Reel Lady, Glynn with Fireman and Hunter Partner Hubby

Q: What got you into the world of hunting and do you have any distinct memories from some of the first hunting experiences you’ve had? 

I was introduced to hunting by my father.  My earliest memory of actually hunting, and not shooting, was when I took my first whitetail.  I was 11 years old, and hunting with my father.  I remember sitting on the ground, in front of a tree, and watching what I believed at the time was a huge deer. I remember the moment when I squeezed the trigger on the black powder rifle, and watched the buck fall.   That hunt was over 12 years ago, and I still can see the buck walking before I squeezed the trigger, and my parents still have the four point rack hanging proudly in their house.  The way I hunt, what I hunt, and how I hunt has changed for me since then, but it’s a moment that I will never forget.

Q: What is one of the top adventures/hunts on your bucket list?

To pick just one seems impossible, so I’m going to cheat just a little bit, and pick one hunting and one fishing.   Hunting my dream would be to go on a safari.   Africa is such a romanticized country by hunters, and the animals native to Africa are so exotic and outlandish to me.  I really don’t have one animal that I would have to take if I did go on a safari, since hunting to me is so much more than taking an animal.  Just to enjoy the beauty of the nature in Africa would be mesmerizing.   My top “to-catch” big game fish would be a blue marlin.   The fight these fish put up is amazing, and they are such beautiful fish.  They change colors during the fight, and jump out of the water so many times, if I were to catch one I would have a marlin replica on the wall in my house in Oklahoma!  If you can tell the beauty that lies in nature is what drives my passion for hunting, and fishing.

Q: Through your blog,  people can see we can be adventurous, outdoorsy women while still being fashionable and feminine. What are some of your fashion favourites or style icons?

Wow, this is by far the toughest question so far.  My style is something that fluctuates.  I might wear a plaid shirt with dress slacks and cowboy boots one day, and wear skinny jeans, riding boots, and a bohemian inspired shirt the next.   I love Pippa Middleton’s style.  She always looks so classic and flawless.  I’m not sure the next is a style icon, but I sure love her style.  Anna Hunt off of the television show “Texas Women,”  I love how she can be gorgeous in a dress and heels, and then rocking boots and jeans the next.   She always looks adorable no matter if she’s hunting, roping, or going out with her fellow “Texas Women.”  I definitely think she’s got the “Reel Lady” style.

Q:   You’re also one heck of a cook~ Do you have any favourites?

Well I love to bake, but that is a very vague answer.  What I cook completely depends on my mood.  I go through phases where all I want to eat is mexican food, or where all I want is a steak.   I’m a very particular eater, so having one thing I could make over and over again isn’t really something that I do. I have one food I could eat summer, winter, any day of the year.  There was a diner in the town I went to college in, just a mom & pop shop.  One of my best friends and I would eat there once a week, and they serve the most delicious “loaded baked potato soup” in a sourdough bread bowl.  I haven’t found another recipe that comes close to theirs.

Q: Do you have any advice for ladies that are just getting into hunting?

The first piece of advice would be don’t be intimidated.  I’ve taught friends who had no idea about anything to do with shooting how to shoot.  At first yes they were scared, guns are loud and have quite the stigma surrounding them, but by the end of the day they were begging me to take them to the range again.  The second and most important part of advice I have to share here is do not let boyfriend, husband, man in your life choose the gun, or bow you will be shooting.  Having grown up shooting, I’ve learned a good gun or bow is like a good suit, tailored to fit.   When choosing a bow last spring, I researched, and researched, and then shot several different bows, only to settle on the one that felt the best in my hand.   I’ve shot competitive trap (clay target shooting with shotguns) since I was 13.  I’ve shot over 400 rounds in one day through my 12 gauge shotgun.  If that gun didn’t fit right, I would probably still not be shooting.  An ill fitting gun can cause several things, but most of all it is uncomfortable to mount, or shoot which generally leads to bruising and pain while shooting, which is going to discourage just about anyone from enjoying the sport, so whether it’s a pistol, rifle, shotgun or bow you want it to fit right, so you can enjoy it.  So would you let your husband, boyfriend, or dad buy you clothes?  No, then don’t let them choose a gun that you will be shooting.

Thanks so much to Glynn for being kind enough to do the interview with C&C, you can find her blog at A Reel Lady or contact her at areellady@gmail.com.