MEET ULTIMATE EXTREME HUNTRESS LINDSAY CHRISTENSEN
THE ULTIMATE EXTREME HUNTRESS™ COMPETITION IS ABOUT PRESERVING OUR OUTDOOR HERITAGE. OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE POSITIVE ROLE MODELS FOR WOMEN WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN HUNTING.
The Extreme Huntress Team has taken the competition to new levels! They now have ULTIMATE Extreme Huntress! Four ladies, who are previous winners of Extreme Huntress square off. We are introducing you to one of the contestants.
This competition helps spread awareness of ladies in hunting and the outdoor lifestyle.
(MUST validate your vote by checking email and confirming your votel. Failure to do so will disqualify your vote. You have to click on the voting link to have them send you an email verification, then you must go to your email and confirm your vote. )
Voting is open until June 1st
Check out contestant Lindsay Christensen
Lindsay was born and raised in a small town in the foothills of southeast Idaho. Lindsay’s father was blessed with two daughters and no sons, and as a result, she grew up doing everything that a father would take his sons to do. Lindsay thought hunting, fishing, and shooting guns and bows was a “normal” thing for little girls to do.She begged her dad for her own bow and arrow when she was a toddler, and she finally got one at the age of 4. Lindsay started shooting local 3d archery tournaments on the weekends, and her skill level steadily increased. She soon began competing in state, national, and even world events, but being on the mountain was her true love. Lindsay’s passion for hunting was immediate, but it grew even more so when she was able to harvest her first deer at the age of 12. She was hooked! Since then, Lindsay has hunted in several different states, Canada, Mexico, England, and Spain. In 2017, she received the world-renowned title of Extreme Huntress and became the first known woman to harvest a Gredos ibex with a bow. Lindsay is now working on the Spanish ibex slam, harvesting a Beceite ibex with her bow last fall. This year, Lindsay gets the opportunity to compete against three previous winners of the Extreme Huntress Contest for the Title of Ultimate Extreme Huntress. The hunting and skills part of the competition will begin at the FTW Ranch and end in Zimbabwe later this summer. When Lindsay is not hunting, she can be found mentoring nursing students, caring for the sick or injured, playing with her nieces, running down a dirt road, or shooting her bow
Ultimate Extreme Huntress Contestant Questions:
You're a past winner of EH. Since then what have you done in the hunting community?
Due to my exposure from the Extreme Huntress Contest, manufacturers in the outdoor industry expressed interest in supporting my hunting and shooting endeavors. Some of these companies include the Kryptek Outdoor Group, Kenetrek Boots, Gold Tip Arrows and Meopta Optics. I am grateful for these partnerships.
I have also been able to attend the SCI and ATA shows where I worked sponsor booths as well as mingled with some of the big names in the outdoor industry.
Additionally, I became the first women ever to harvest a Gredos Ibex with a bow. I am now working on the Spanish Ibex Grand Slam, harvesting my second species of ibex last fall. The Gredos is a silver medal in SCI, and the Beceite is a gold in SCI, for archery.
I harvested a pope and young elk with my bow in 2017. I gave a quarter to one of the nurses that I work with. Her husband is unable to work due to a disability, so I try to give them meat from all of my Idaho harvests.
I was asked by an editor from Petersen’s Bowhunting to write about how I got into hunting, how tournament archer relates to hunting, and my 2018 mule deer hunt. It will be in the June edition of the magazine.
**Public statements regarding commissioner Fischer and Mr. Crosland’s trial.
What is your definition of wildlife and habitat conservation?
My definition of wildlife and habitat conservation includes balancing the natural ecosystem so that wildlife and plant species can be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
Every state is different, but in Idaho, the Fish and Game department is responsible for managing all wildlife species, both game and non-game. I feel that it is important for the public to know that 100% of the budget to do this comes entirely from money generated by hunters. There is no money supplied from the state’s general funds.
Since competing/winning the Extreme Huntress contest, I have been able to enjoy countless conversations in the hunting and archery world regarding these topics.
What have you done to promote wildlife conservation?
I am an active member of the Mule Deer Foundation, Pheasants Forever, The Pope and Young Club, and the NRA.
I also just recently got the privilege of participating in a turkey depredation hunt here in southeast Idaho. The turkey population had far exceeded the carrying capacity of the environment, resulting in destruction to property and significant damage to crops. The Idaho Fish and Game worked with local landowners and the landowners were able to choose eligible participants to help reduce the turkey population over a period of about six weeks. In a discussion with one of the landowners, he stated that the turkeys have eaten/destroyed over 6 tons of his hay this winter.
(Pittman Robertson Act-1937, federal aide for wildlife conservation, 11%)
****Hunters, as conservationists practice sustainable use of wildlife resources****
What have you done to promote women who hunt?
I believe the biggest thing would be social media presence. I try to post almost weekly about my outdoor hunting and shooting experiences and include the women who I compete with in those posts. I am a member of the Kryptek Ladies Legion, which is a group of 27 women who enjoy hunting and the outdoors as much as I do.
I wrote an article titled Bowhunting Basics for Women and made a video to go with it for Reel Camo Girl Facebook page and website.
Last fall, I was able to take a friend on her first ever backcountry mule deer hunt. Although she was not successful, she already has plans to come back this fall.
Recently, I got the privilege to speak to a church group of young women about how I got into hunting and why I continue to hunt. I was also able to introduce them to archery and we played games to show off their skills.
Additionally, I teach 4H archery classes every summer, and my sister and I will be teaching archery at a girls camp here in a couple of months.
Hunter numbers have dropped significantly over the past several years, but the women population is the fasted growing.
Why do you hunt?
The number one reason why I hunt is for food. In my 30 years of life, I have never bought red meat at the grocery store. My dad taught me how to hunt and provide for the family at a very young age, and it is a practice that I have chosen to continue as I have gotten older.
Secondly, enjoying the outdoors is something that I can do with my family. Some of my greatest memories have been made in the mountains of southeast Idaho.
Thirdly, I hunt to challenge myself both mentally and physically.
Can you call yourself an animal lover when you kill animals?
Yes. I have always had a dog. It breaks my heart to see an animal hurt or suffering, whether it is a pet or a wild animal. I practice with my bow every day to try and minimize the potential for error or making a bad shot. The last thing I want to do as a hunter is wound an animal.
Being killed by a hunter is actually one of the most humane ways to die. Disease, starvation, being killed by a predator, or being hit by a car are the other options.
Take me through what happens when you kill an animal.
After the arrow leaves my bow, I am overwhelmed with emotions. Sadness, gratitude, nervousness, excitement, etc. I think about how fortunate I am to have an opportunity to hunt that animal. I wait 30 minutes before starting the recovery, no matter what. I wait in my stand or the blind, and often times, other wildlife will be in the area to observe during this time. I then find my arrow and begin following the blood trail. I practice almost every day, year round, to try and minimize the possibility of making a bad shot, so usually the blood trail is quite short. Once I find the animal, I take the time to admire its unique beauty. Then I notch my tag and begin the process of field dressing and packing out. The pack out is one of the most rewarding parts of the hunt. Pack outs with friends and family make for great memories.
I try to capture more than just the trophy in photos, but the whole process so that people who don’t hunt can get an idea of how much work and preparation actually goes into hunting.
What is the difference between hunting and poaching?
Hunting is taking game by legal means in legal seasons, meeting harvest objectives to maintain stable populations. Whereas, poaching is an illegal act of stealing wildlife. (The animals are owned by citizens of the state in the U.S.)
In other parts of the world, there has been eradication of species because of poaching.
How can conservation work by killing animals?
In an ever-shrinking environment, there is not a single animal species that can maintain a stable population without the involvement of hunters. Wildlife managers do their best to determine the carrying capacity of the land and assign harvest objectives and set seasons accordingly.
Why don't you buy your meat at the grocery store like everyone else?
Wild game is a clean, organic source of protein. It has less fat and is more healthy for you than other red/white meats. I also gain satisfaction by processing my harvests because to me, it is important to know where my food comes from.
An interesting note on that subject: pictures of meals that I make with game that I have harvested. Socially active responses come from more than just individuals in the hunting community.
Why would you take kids out and teach them to kill animals?
I would take them hunting to help them understand the cycle of life. Part of teaching kids to appreciate wildlife is teaching them to understand the role that hunters play in this cycle. I want to teach kids that there is value to their food. It doesn’t just come from a fast-food drive up.
What are the biggest threats to wildlife?
Shrinking habitat, uncurable diseases (CWD), and anti-hunters
Anti-hunters get laws passed related to hunting that cause problems (Wolves and Grizzlies)
***Poor representation of hunting, by hunters***
What are your biggest concerns about competing for UEH?
Honestly, my biggest concern is that I might not have a job after I take that much time off of work. Additionally, I will be all out of vacation time by then, so I will have to take that time off without pay. I am currently getting my doctorate degree in nursing, and the bills that go along with that are not cheap.
FTW SAAM training and skills?
I am worried about the pace. As a bow hunter, I tend to be slower and deliberate in the shot process. Rarely do I ever feel rushed.
