Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Nina Roulac started her hunting journey at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge with curiosity and self-doubt. As a participant in the Field to Fork program, she transformed into a confident hunter with a sense of community and newfound self-assurance.
Nina recalled her first encounter with the idea of hunting while fishing with her mom at the refuge.
“Lamar came by. He was a refuge manager, I believe, and so he said, ‘You know I see you guys here all the time fishing,’ and he said, ‘Would you be interested in hunting?’ He was excited about telling us about it and we told him we lived in a neighborhood, and he thought that was really important living in the neighborhood and coming to John Heinz to hunt,” she explained. “We seemed really excited about it and thought that was something we should do and that’s how it all started.”
Her first mentor, Courtney, played a crucial role in her journey.
“She just absolutely loved hunting, and we just connected in a way that I never thought that we actually would. We look different. We come from different places, but none of that matters.” Nina shared.
Despite her initial enthusiasm, Nina faced challenges and moments of doubt.
“I remember leaving one day with my mom and almost crying and I was just like, ‘I don’t understand why I can’t harvest a deer. I’m going to give up. I don’t care. I don’t want to do this anymore.’ My mom just listened and said, ‘Okay, okay. Well, I’ll see you tomorrow. What time are you picking me up?’ I’m like, ‘I’ll pick you up at 4:30.’ You know, I’m still going to do it” she said.
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Nina’s perseverance paid off. She felt immense happiness and pride when she finally succeeded, despite the initial disappointment in herself. This success reinforced her determination and showed her the importance of not giving up.
Her journey through the program transformed her perspective on hunting. She became proud to be part of the program and hoped it would one day be available in every community. The experience shifted her views on hunting and its culture, showing her its positive aspects.
Hunting has now become an integral part of Nina’s life and it represents more than just the act itself.
“Hunting to me is like sitting at a dinner table. That’s what the blinds represent to me. Growing up we always sat together as a family and we talked and we shared,” she explained. “It’s sitting at the dinner table, being vulnerable, talking about what you love and what you don’t like, how life is going to be better. It connects me to the love for people.”
Nina’s journey from curiosity to confidence highlights the power of community and perseverance in hunting, and she hopes to inspire others to take part in this transformative experience.
Do you remember your first hunt?
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