The Texas woman hunter

Abstract

Previous research has focused on males' hunting behaviors and activities. Because women's leisure research indicated differences between male and female leisure experiences, this study assessed the hunting behaviors of Texas females and compared specific variables to Texas-male hunters. A survey questionnaire was mailed to 2,200 female hunting license purchasers to determine initiation patterns, motivations and constraints. Analysis of variance tests showed significant (P = 0.0001) differences between males and females on initiation ages and hunting instructors. However, no significant (P = 0.1999) difference was found between groups on achievement-oriented hunting motivations. Analysis of variance showed that structural and interpersonal constraints contribute more than intrapersonal constraints to the significant (P = 0.0375) variation among females' hunting experience. Findings suggest Texas-female hunters are initiated into hunting by husbands; motivated to hunt because of achievement, affiliative, and appreciative reasons; and confront very few barriers to their participation. In addition, a woman's family participation in hunting is linked closely to her own participation. It is suggested that recruiting efforts targeted to women by state agencies focus on the familial and affiliative aspects of hunting. Differences between hunting and nonhunting groups of women should be researched in the future.