When did you first start hunting?
I started late in life, when I was 28 years old. no one in my family was a hunter. I was always out in the forest as a little girl (with grandma or by myself) picking blueberries and mushrooms, my soul needed forest time, but I did not know anything about hunting.
Who mentored you and what did you learn from this person?
Two older gentlemen (fathers of my friends) took me out, and I realized that my longing for the outdoors was true happiness, when I could harvest my own food. I´ve been hunting with these guys for almost 20 years now. They taught me all about respect and awareness about wildlife. Things I can bring on to my kids, when they hunt with me now.
When did you first attempt the Extreme Huntress Competition?
In 2018, I competed in Texas, and I was lucky enough to win the Extreme Huntress 2019.
What changed between the time that you first competed to this year’s competition?
The FTW ranch with SAAM training was kind of the same but hunting in Zimbabwe was something extraordinary, absolutely amazing. An experience, I´ll carry in my heart for the rest of my life. DesFountain Safaris gave me new knowledge, an exceptional African adventure. Hunting dangerous game, just gotta love it.
What have you learned about yourself having gone through this competition?
I´m a true outdoors person who loves nature, love to explore new things, empowering women and work hard for conservation, These competitions has strengthened my positive believes in that. My mind is strong and I love to encourage women, hunting women. I now know that if you have goals, share them with others, we are stronger together.
What part of the competition did you enjoy the most?
Hunting Buffalo and Eland was amazing, can´t really say anything else. My team with PH Donza and trackers was the best. We made it happen, calm, nice and we worked wonderful together. Closed all our hunting days in the best way, Did I tell you that I love to hunt? 😉
Most of all I enjoyed to get new friends and explore Zimbabwe. When I close my eyes I can still feel that warm wind in my hair as we drove through the landscape. Visited school and local people, learned a lot. I believe that with knowledge comes power.
What would you like to say to women who are interested in hunting?
Go for it, be proud and dare to take the fight. Cause if we don´t, who will… Hunting provides us and our kids with the best food you can get, we spend time outdoors and get healthy fresh air, we probably live longer 😉 And stand up for each other, women need to empower each other. Learn from those who have more knowledge, try to put your success in a bigger perspective, so that all of us can become better.
You have come under heavy attack on social media and elsewhere for your hunting and for being a part of Extreme Huntress. What would you like to say to the general public and what would you like to say to the anti-hunters?
Man has interfered with nature already, building towns, villages, farms right up to the edges of animal habitats… and local people hunt everything because they need food. So there has to be wildlife management. Regulated hunting is one of the ways. Conservation is everything, about putting a value to the animal and save the species for next generation. That´s what hunting is all about, taking care of wildlife. (I almost never get attacked, maybe because I hunt for food in a conscious way and bring my kids out, I´m just a girl from the country side and people can reflect to that)
How can people vote for you and support and follow you on social media?
Start by follow my Instagram and Facebook “swedishvenatrix” where I tell you all about my hunting and outdoor adventures every day. Venatrix is latin for huntress. And I hunt 3 days per week year around, sometimes more. Protecting crops from wildboar, taking care of too many predators, trying to keep numbers down of moose because of car accidents, mountain hunts in demanding terrain, but of course hunt for food also. My passion and love for what I do is my fuel, constantly moving me forward.
What do you do to get the next generation interested in hunting?
Because I´m a mother of two kids and to me it´s important to take them with me out. It´s all about our heritage, history and lifestyle, we need our kids to understand and fight with us, otherwise there will be no wildlife left in the future. I love wildlife and wild places, I want them to remain forever for future generations.
