Alyssa Jackson

A Cedar City woman who makes hunting a family affair

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

I was born and raised in Cedar City, where I currently live with my husband, infant daughter and three Labrador retrievers. I recently made the choice to start working remotely so I could be home to care for my daughter. When I am not home working and caring for a baby, you can find me on the mountain camping and enjoying the beautiful outdoors with my family.

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

In 2018, I met my husband and began to develop my love for hunting and wildlife. He taught me how to shoot a firearm and encouraged me to take hunter education that year so I could be eligible to hunt the following year. He essentially served as my mentor in hunting — helping me through the hunt drawing application for my first deer permit and teaching me how to hunt ducks in late October.

Since completing hunter education, I have enjoyed learning the skills and values of being a hunter. I enjoy being outdoors, putting meat on the table for my family and creating unforgettable memories. One of my favorite memories was the day my husband proposed to me during our duck hunt.

What is your favorite part of hunting?

Some of my favorite things about hunting are scouting for wildlife, trying new game meat, watching my Labradors at work and spending quality time with my family. I love the taste of venison, elk, duck and, believe it or not, ruffed grouse! I enjoy taking early morning or late evening rides in my off-highway vehicle with my husband and daughter in hopes of finding a nice buck deer or, my personal favorite, a beautiful bull elk standing in a meadow. I look forward to raising my daughter to hunt and take part in a tradition that is invaluable to our family!

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

For anyone that is interested in hunting, there are a few pointers I recommend:

• Tag along with another hunter to get a feel for it and to see if it is something you enjoy.
• Take advice and help from someone who is already a hunter. This is a great way to learn valuable skills, ethical hunting practices and to become comfortable with something that is new to you.
• Take some time to read and become familiar with the Utah Hunting Guidebooks. This is where you will find all the laws, regulations and specific hunt information before you head out in the field.

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

Angie Wonnacott

A bird hunter who loves the thrill of working with her dogs

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

I grew up in Davis County and still live there. I worked in the legal field prior to working for Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, which is where I work currently. I spend most of my time with my husband, Bret, and our three English setters. During the hunting off-season, we spend our time fishing or at dog trials with the National Shoot to Retrieve Association to keep our dogs in shape. I have been hunting for over 20 years.

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

I am mainly a bird hunter, and primarily hunt sharptail grouse and pheasants. However, I have also hunted doves, quail, forest grouse, Hungarian partridge, chukar and waterfowl. My husband is the one that got me into hunting birds. I joke that I fell in love with his American Brittany dog before I fell in love with him.

I went pheasant hunting with my husband the first fall we were dating. His dog went on point in a large patch of cattails, and my husband waded in to flush whatever was in there while I waited on dry land. It turned out to be a bunch of pheasants, mostly roosters, and some of them flew right by me. I couldn't figure out why he wasn't shooting them, but he said he couldn't see to shoot. That is when I decided that if I was going to tag along on hunting trips, I might as well carry a gun. I signed up to take hunter education shortly after that, and I do not regret that decision.

What is your favorite part of hunting?

My favorite part of hunting is working with my English setters. I love watching my dogs enjoying what they do and being outdoors — harvesting the birds is just a bonus. I also love being able to help other women learn more about the outdoors and get into hunting.

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

I would recommend that new hunters ask others for help and mentoring, and learn as much as you can about the species that you are wanting to hunt.

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

Heidi Heckethorn

A local woman who hunts to find her inner calm

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

I was born in Nevada, but I was raised in northeastern Utah and am still a resident there. For the past 15 years, I've been running the local county animal shelter. I love to keep life simple, eat good food and make lots of memories. Being outdoors in nature is where my heart is truly happy. I enjoy hunting, fishing, photography, camping and other outdoor activities.

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

Hunting has been a tradition that has been passed on for many generations in my family. I hunt in part due to family tradition, but I have continued hunting because it gives me a sense of empowerment. I started hunting elk in Colorado with my grandpa, dad and family friends. We've always hunted to provide meat for our families and to reconnect with each other. Originally, I hunted with a rifle, but I've found my true passion is archery hunting.

As I've gained skills and more confidence, I continue to hunt to remind myself that I am strong, I can do hard things, and to trust my instincts.

What is your favorite part of hunting?

With all the chaos of daily life, we need a way to disconnect from everything in order to be more grounded, and hunting provides that for me. Hunting takes away the present day stresses, brings an inner calm and simplifies life for a moment.

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

Practice shooting and become very comfortable with your firearm or archery equipment. When you're out hunting, remember to have patience, don't rush the shot and breathe. Also, a pack is essential — even if you're not hiking — because you can never be too prepared.

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

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.

Trisha Hedin

A Moab woman who uses hunting as a way to explore the outdoors

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

I grew up mostly in northern California, where my family made a living in the logging industry. My father was a timber faller for most of his life, but near the end of his career, he ran a small logging company working for Sierra Pacific Industries. I left my hometown and moved to Washington state for college and then remained there to begin my teaching career in Tacoma, Washington.

I moved to Moab in 2001 where I initially worked in environmental education, but eventually moved back into the classroom. Currently, I run an adult education program for Grand County School District, while also working for Utah State University within their environment and society department. I'm also currently serving as the county commissioner for Grand County. I spend my little bits of free time trying to be outside as much as possible hiking, climbing and — when it's that time of year — hunting.

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

The main reason that I hunt is to have an opportunity to explore untrampled country where I can be enveloped by that environment and the animals that inhabit it. I have been to amazing places and seen incredible things because of hunting. It makes you not only acutely aware of your surroundings, but it also expands your wonder as well as your knowledge.

I grew up in an older generation where girls weren't always included in outdoor endeavors. My father took my brother hunting, but I didn't go. So I didn't grow up hunting, but I did grow up trapping. I also had the experience of always living in a rural area and during a time when we didn't have devices that we were plugged into, so we roamed endlessly. I think that this upbringing gave me the confidence to explore the outdoors on my own.

I started hunting in my early 30s, and my father was extremely excited to help me in any way possible, even from afar. My initiation into the sport was not easy — lots of trying to figure it out and often by myself. But now my hunts are filled with my family (father, brothers, nephews), my partner and old friends that are also immersing themselves into the wonders of hunting.

What is your favorite part of hunting?

My favorite part of hunting is exploring new country — getting to know nooks and crannies of areas that I would have never have ventured into otherwise. I love surrounding myself with the sights and sounds of wild places, and hunting allows me to do that.

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

I would recommend finding as many venues as possible that will give you information and mentorship. There are many avenues that offer such information, but sometimes you have to dig for it! I would also recommend becoming involved in a conservation organization and surrounding yourself with people who are also interested in hunting. I currently work with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and find the passion and interests of those individuals to be a great motivator for my hunting endeavors. Lastly, I recommend getting involved with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. I have loved volunteering my time to be involved in their public process for fishing and hunting management and helping with their projects that bring me closer to wildlife.

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