I've known some outstanding female bowhunters. My ex-wife did everything on her own since one of us had to stay home with the kids, and she had great success. I met Judy Kovar shortly after she was run over by a giant buck in a ground blind and suffered several serious injuries – but that was the exception since Judy usually got the better of the big bucks she was after. And, of course, we have Vicki Cianciarulo, Michelle Eichler, Melissa Bachman and Eva Shockey, to name a few. Oh, and I have to mention my friend Joella Bates, who is the first female to take Africa's big five with archery gear.
Given the success these and so many other lady bowhunters have enjoyed, it shouldn't be a surprise when a woman shoots a giant. On the other hand, despite growing numbers, women still comprise only about 10% of hunters' ranks. That number is even smaller among bowhunters. It's fair to say that tiny number of female bowhunters far outperforms the odds.
Case in point is Ohio's Emily Schaad.
Emily takes her bowhunting seriously, and she doesn't let a lack of male muscle stand in the way of her pursuit of big bucks. She studies deer and patterns them, which is why she had her eye on a buck she named Freak in 2018. Freak wasn't much to look at back then, but what a difference a few years makes!
The pictures speak for themselves, but Emily's quest to take Freak is still a great story, which you can read in its entirety in the Fall issue of Rack magazine.
— Read Recent Blog! Life's a Dance: You won't get the girl or the giant buck if you don't ask permission.