Mentors

It’s such an important part of sharing experience and wisdom, the simple act of connection, an invitation to join, follow, and watch. Though I harvested my deer earlier in the season this fall, I could not pass up an opportunity to head out into my beloved woods with the person who connected me with my passion for hunting here in Washington. Wes grew up in these forests around Snoqualmie, and has spent a decade sharing these special places with me in an attempt to pass on his knowledge and love of the outdoors. My grandfather also connected me at a young age, and I am so grateful for the people in my life who saw my love of wilderness and helped me embrace it.

I spent my own childhood catching anything that moved with my bare hands- except snakes! The days of barefoot creek wanders and horned toads scurrying thorough hot red sandstone cliffs lining oak scrub woods in Oklahoma set a tone of nature connection. My grandfather picked up on this soulful draw, and taught me the song of the red bird (cardinal), how to catch a crappie, and why asparagus needed to be cut young. When I moved to Washington, I was not expecting to become a hunter. The notion of killing a large animal had remained daunting. I’d harvested a few road kill deer in my life, but perusing big game in the epic forests of The Pacific Northwest seemed a step beyond my capabilities, until I met Wes during a long bow making workshop. Wes and his wife Sharon, also an accomplished hunter, gave a talk on bow hunting and how to get certified though hunter education for legal harvesting with proper tags. It was an informative and motivating talk, after which, I approached Wes and Sharon to ask what to do next. They said to get certified and then contact them. So I did, and it changed my life.

Since getting certified and starting on the road to harvesting wild food, there’s been a lot of learning. Wes has been there through most of it, coaching my shooting, honing my sights, and building up my confidence through encouragement and just the right amount of push. The opportunity to observe and shadow a man so gifted and connected to nature has deeply influenced my own place and self-identity. I don’t walk into the wilds with just anyone- especially with guns and the intention to kill an animal. This truly sacred act is one best done with someone you trust. For me, Wes is family, and he has taken me places I’d never have gone alone. This mentoring has deep purpose in us humans, and sharing talent, expertise, and confidence is a priceless thing, given without expectation when given freely. I don’t think Wes would have been as invested if I was not following through on my own. My first deer harvest was entirely solo. I kept going out, got certified as an instructor myself, and have taught with Wes to ensure our privilege to hunt remains strong.

This is an important part of mentoring, to ensure the continued knowledge and experience grows through future generations. We are not blood kin, but Wes is family, he and I are both non-parent adults, but see the sacred bonds that form through mentoring and know you don’t have to have kids to teach, share, and devote time to supporting young people. Mentoring is a way to give stability to kids in need of safe adult connection. It’s a worthy way for me as as confirmed non-mairrage/non-parent to still be deeply connected to the future generations, helping to cultivate joy, confidence, and personal growth- for me and my mentee. I’ve not only continued to mentor in the hunting world, but also in our local school system, to ensure the gifts I received in time and energy from other loving adults keeps growing. I think it’s one of the most profound ways to thank my mentors- passing it on. What a world we could live in with more adults being kind and connected to youth around them.

What Wes has offered me is priceless, and I know I will proudly carry on his lineage of nature connection and profound respect for the living world I am a part of forever. I also have a vision of being in my 70s some day with a shadow of my own who keeps the learning alive. In laughter, celebration, and gratitude to all who connect, share, and care. Thank you all for giving me such light in my life, and the skills to be thriving in this world.