Women Duck Hunters Find Their Mojo

Written by: Elle Scheele, Zania Barrett, Jen Moore and Olivia Hansen

In a pursuit historically dominated by men, Jen Moore has carved out a unique and inspiring space for women in the world of duck hunting. Her journey from hesitant novice to confident leader of a growing group of female hunters is a testament to determination, passion, and the power of community

Jen’s love for duck hunting was immediate (12 or so years ago), but finding her place among the seasoned male hunters wasn’t easy.

“In the early days, I found it hard to build my confidence,” she recalls. “I wouldn’t fire first; I’d practice my duck calling at home but never use it out on the water. I wasn’t into the whole ‘special occasion’ cigar smoking, and I was too shy to ask why my aim was off or what I was doing wrong. But I knew I loved it – I just wanted more.”

It was this desire for more that sparked the idea of creating a women-only hunting group, a space where women could build confidence, share experiences, and, most importantly, have fun without the pressures of a male-dominated environment.

“I always had this idea in the back of my mind,” Jen says. “I wanted a non-judgmental group of like-minded women who could just give it a go.”

What started as casual outings with a close friend quickly grew into something much bigger.

“At first, it was just the two of us, going out mostly on Opening and Closing Weekends. We had an absolute ball, but I still wanted more. So, I threw the idea out to a couple more friends who weren’t hunters yet but were keen on the idea. Before I knew it, word got out, and we grew into a group of eight confident women, with more waiting in the wings to join.”

As a mother of five, Jen knows firsthand how challenging it can be to balance family life with personal passions.

“It’s a struggle to get out of the house, but it’s so important for mental health to be in nature,” she explains.

“I’m lucky that my husband Sam supports my passion – he sees it being passed down to our children. They’re born into it, and often show up to Saturday morning sports with camo paint still on their faces after an early morning hunt!”

Jen’s group, Huntress, has developed into a tight-knit community, with members from all walks of life, including health and safety officers, immigration consultants, farmers, teachers, and full-time mums.

“We’re such a mix of personalities and backgrounds, but in the maimai, we’re all just camoed-up duck hunters,” Jen says with a laugh.

“We started out pretty novice, with some girls having no experience at all, but three seasons in, I’m so proud of how far we’ve come. Everyone now holds their firearms licences, and they’re confident enough to host shoots, share tips, and butcher everything we shoot.”

One of Jen’s proudest achievements is the creation of a ‘Girls Only Dam’ in Waipukurau, where the group can enjoy their passion in a space they’ve made their own.

“With the help of our awesome hubbies and boyfriends, we’ve created something really special,” she says.

The girls' maimai - "The bitches Box"

“We built a huge main maimai that we named ‘The Bitches Box.’ It’s got everything we could ever need – a huge shooting deck with astro turf, couches, storage seats, a bar leaner, a BBQ, outhouse and even an outdoor entertainment area with shade sails for when we manage to get away from the family. It’s become our haven.”

The group’s enthusiasm and camaraderie have even sparked a friendly rivalry with the men’s hunting group.

“We’re very competitive,” Jen admits. “When we’re both out hunting, we’re always checking in to see who has the most ducks. It’s all in good fun, but there’s definitely a lot of pride on the line.”

Jen Moore with a couple for the plate.

Even outside of hunting season, the group stays connected through social gatherings, pest control shooting, season planning, and working bees. They sometimes get together and do some work to earn money to pay for equipment, licences, and other necessities.

“We’ve done things like gardening and splitting firewood to raise money,” Jen explains. “One of the things I wanted to do was get a duck taxidermy as a trophy for our end-of-season prize-giving. A local taxidermist, Graham Renner, kindly offered to do it for us. We’ve also created a team logo and now have some awesome printed hoodies that always get loads of compliments.”

They also love to get out to Patangata Clay Target Club for private group coaching.

“Organising private shoots at a clay target club and getting coaching was a huge part of growing a lot of the women's confidence and all round skills in dropping birds.”

Looking to the future, Jen has no shortage of ideas to keep the group growing and evolving. “I’m working on setting up a social media platform where we can actively support other women, share tips, and show them what’s involved in duck hunting,” she says.

Just a few camo'd up duckshooters Elle Scheele, Jen Moore and Olivia Hansen.

“I want to inspire other women to not only give it a go but also to keep these traditions alive for the next generation. It’s about teaching our children confidence, safety around firearms, and where their food comes from. There’s something incredibly rewarding about providing for your family in this way.”

Jen Moore’s story is one of empowerment, community, and the joy of breaking new ground in a traditionally male-dominated sport. Through her leadership and passion, she’s not only carved out a place for herself but has also paved the way for countless other women to do the same.

As she puts it, “Duck hunting is more than just a pursuit – it’s a community, a lifestyle, and a way to connect with nature. And there’s no reason why women can’t be at the forefront of it.”