We joined the world in celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) earlier this year by shining a spotlight on women in the outdoors and those who make it a better place for all. We shared the stories and words of advice and encouragement of leaders, role models, mentors, mothers, sisters, and daughters to uplift and empower all the women who share the outdoors. We have met and gotten to know many more incredible women since March 2022, and we simply couldn’t wait until IWD 2023 to introduce you to more Women in the Outdoors! One of the women we are proud to call our friend at Savage is Diana Rupp. This is her story!

Diana Rupp

I’ve been the editor-in-chief of Sports Afield magazine for the past twenty years, and I worked in various editorial roles on other outdoor magazines before that. In addition to editing various publications over the years, I’ve written four books and many magazine articles.

One of the benefits of a career in hunting magazines is that I have been incredibly fortunate to have had the chance to hunt a variety of big game all over the world—everything from Cape buffalo to grizzly to Asian ibex—and write about these adventures. 

I’ve always had a passion for the outdoors. I was born and raised in rural Pennsylvania, where the opening day of deer season is considered one of the most important days of the year, and I grew up hunting whitetails, thanks to both of my parents being avid hunters. These days I live in Colorado, where I hunt elk and mule deer. I also love to fly fish, especially in the high mountain lakes here in Colorado.

Support and Encouragement

I have had amazing support from others in the outdoor magazine business, both men and women, throughout my career. Especially in the early years, there were so many who took the time to help me learn the ropes. My husband, who is in the outdoor industry as well, has been and remains my greatest champion.

There weren’t a lot of other women in the industry when I started, but they were all tremendously supportive. In return, I try to pay it forward. If we want our cherished outdoor traditions to continue, it’s so important to be welcoming and inclusive.

I work hard to encourage other outdoor women through the pages of Sports Afield, both by publishing stories by and about women hunters, as well as writing about my own adventures. I have been approached many times by readers (both men and women) who have told me they were inspired by articles in the magazine. Sometimes a husband tells me he showed one of my articles to his wife, and as a result, she decided to go hunting with him. Other times, a woman will come up to me and tell me she read a few of my articles, realized “hey, other women do this!” and decided to give it a try. To me, this is the highest compliment I could possibly receive, and one of the biggest reasons I love what I do.

What makes me proud to be a woman in the outdoors

It makes me proud to be in the company of so many other amazing outdoor women, especially the ones highlighted on this blog. I also have tremendous admiration for the women who blazed the trail. This includes my first and best female mentor, my mom, Loretta Berger, who passed a few years ago. When she married my dad back in the 1950s, very few women hunted. But that didn’t bother her; she loved it. She was a tough hunter and an excellent shot with both a rifle and a recurve bow, and over the years she brought lots of deer home for the freezer. Her fearless embrace of what were then mostly male-dominated pursuits was one of the major factors that inspired me to pursue a career in the outdoor world. 

Advice to other outdoor women

If you’re just starting out, don’t get frustrated by the learning curve. All outdoor pursuits, especially hunting and shooting, are lifelong learning experiences. Ask questions, seek out mentors, and practice your skills. You’re not going to be an expert your first time out, or even your twentieth time. But you’ll learn something every time you go. You may not always have success, but you’ll always have fun!

Then, just as important, pass on what you’ve learned. Never assume other women you know aren’t interested… ask them if they’d like to tag along sometime. You might just end up with some new friends to share your adventures with. The only thing better than experiencing a fantastic day in the field is sharing it with someone else. 

Follow Diana Rupp’s adventures on Instagram: @trailsend_media

Like Sports Afield magazine on Facebook: @SportsAfield

Read the story of Diana’s Tajikistan ibex hunt with two female guides: https://sportsafield.com/2019/adventure-in-the-high-pamirs/ 

Read more Women in the Outdoors stories!