Lindsey Browne Davis

A Salt Lake City resident who loves harvesting her own food

Tell us about yourself: Where did you grow up and where do you live now?

I'm an outdoorswoman based in Salt Lake City, but I'm originally from Colorado. Experiencing nature connection through food and wildlands is my passion, whether that is gardening, foraging, hunting or fishing. I'm a passionate steward for ecosystem health, wildlands and wildlife. I work as the Director of Conservation and Advocacy at SITKA Gear, and currently serve on the board of directors for the Outdoor Alliance and The Conservation Alliance. I am a founding board member of the Utah Wildlife Federation, and I have also enjoyed volunteering as a citizen scientist for the Wasatch Mammal Watch program. Visit @lindsey.browne.davis on Instagram to find out more about me.

Why do you hunt, and how did you get into it?

I was never "supposed" to be a hunter. I didn't grow up exposed to it, nor did anyone in my family. But after years of getting my hands dirty peeling back the layers of nutrition, food systems and ecosystem health, I arrived at hunting's doorstep. After farming and raising my own animals for meat, I eventually sat down to my first plate of wild game with a friend of mine here in Utah — and peppered him with enough questions that he invited me to join a hunt.

I enrolled in Utah's Hunter Mentoring Program and went out with my friend to harvest my first ever mule deer in the Uinta Mountains. That experience changed my life. After the first few bites of my deer, I knew hunting was for me. I got hooked on the deep connection to places I experienced, and how my food tied me to a life lived more fully and richly connected to the wilderness. Eight years later, hunting is the backbone of my family's food system and is how my family prioritizes our time off and community.

What is your favorite part of hunting?

My favorite part about hunting are the unique ecosystems it takes me to. My drive to hunt has me pursuing public lands all over the country. When I'm out, I get to experience these places with incredible depth because of the focus and presence that hunting requires. I get to see wild landscapes and animal behaviors and interactions I never would otherwise. It is exhilarating to engage in the circle of life and get to experience wild places as a part of the ecosystem. If I'm lucky, I relive those memories and the things I learned through the food it also provided me for the rest of the year.

What are some tips you would offer someone who is interested in learning to hunt?

Hunting is one of the most complex and beautiful things one can pursue. It will teach you so much more than just how to harvest an animal. Be patient with yourself, determined in your self-study and build your community around it. Do as much as you can to learn from other hunters. Most mentors are responsive to someone who is putting in the time and effort to learn, so focus on the above, and someone will likely recognize your determination and invite you into their hunting community. Lastly, never give away another hunter's spots if they introduce you to them!

To learn more about hunting, visit wildlife.utah.gov/teamwildlife.