Donna McDonald is the Gem of the Valley | Savage Journeys

Donna McDonald is a hunter, rancher, business owner, and outfitter. She is a role model, mentor, guide, and leader. She is a conservationist and a jack of all trades. She is a trailblazer, pioneer, and a Montanan. She is passionate, wise, caring, and inviting. Donna McDonald is the Gem of the Valley. This is her Journey.

Sometimes you do what you are meant to do before you even know it. For me, it started as a child chasing deer in the field and turned into a passion for introducing the outdoors to new hunters and explorers. 

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be outside. I recall, at the young age of six, sneaking on hands and knees to get close to deer grazing in the field.  I tried as hard as a child could, but to no avail, to get close to those deer.  If I had to take a wild guess, I would say part of the reason I was never successful was that my mom dressed me in a bright red jacket so she could quickly find me in whatever field I was stalking a very aware deer. The deer remained unsurprised, but unfortunately, I was able to get much too close to an angry mother badger who got fed up with my shenanigans. She charged and I took off running as fast as I could, hollering for my dad like I knew my life depended on it. My dad came running, thinking something much worse was chasing me based on the high-pitched screams echoing through the ranch. The combination of my dad sprinting to the rescue and the shrieks of a six-year-old sent the badger to retreat underground to her babies

This passion for observing wildlife grew with me into my formative years. The only thing that was better than exploring the mountains right out our backdoor was being able to do it with my little brother. We shared a desire to be outside and an unquenchable thirst for adventure. My brother and I would challenge each other to see who could climb the highest, last the longest, and use the best survival skills to spend nights comfortably in the mountains with a limited amount of supplies. Those days gifted me with skills, knowledge, and a love of the outdoors. At that time, I didn’t realize this would become a lifelong journey.

I found myself growing up surrounded by hunters, the majority of which were men. I shared with them a yearning to be in the wilderness, but I began to see that this was not a typical lifestyle or desire for most girls my age. I enjoyed my mountain time, but I was also still a young lady and proud to be a woman. I stayed true to myself and embraced my femininity while hunting with my brother, dad, and all their friends. There was no way I was changing who I was to fit into a “man’s world.” I was a tomboy and a lady, and the mountains were my playground.  I was always treated well by those men, but I wondered why more women didn’t hunt!

When I started guiding hunters about forty years ago, I was truly a bizarre sight.  Wearing baggy, uncomfortable clothes that were hand-me-downs from my male hunting buddies, I had to have looked more like Elmer Fudd’s girlfriend than an experienced hunter.  It was interesting to see the expressions I was given when I told some of our hunters that I was going to be their guide.  I was told, “No, I want a male guide.” I was asked if they could tell their wife a man guided them, and I was watched with suspicion every step of the way.  I didn’t say much; I just helped them and did my job. After a few hours in the mountains, they soon relaxed. It would quickly become apparent I knew the mountains and how to hunt big game, and we’d have a great week.  Those disapproving looks, discouraging words, and doubt never stopped me. It gave me the drive to work even harder.

Some of my favorite hunts were with men who had a deep respect for the outdoors, wildlife, and care for conservation and the future of hunting.  I would often be told, “I wish my wife, daughter or girlfriend would hunt.” I would ask why they didn’t.  I’d question if they had invited the ladies in their life to hunt. This would get them thinking. It opened the door for me to talk about what it takes to encourage your partner to feel comfortable and welcomed in the outdoors/hunting world.  Looking back, those poor guys were stuck with me for five days in the mountains, no escape, while I talked about how they can make the outdoors an enjoyable experience.  I encouraged them to find the right clothes; don’t expect anyone to have a good time if they are cold, help people feel comfortable with firearms, and teach them about outdoor skills. My advice was to be patient and remember the beauty in the mountains can speak for itself. Hunting isn’t all about the harvest, it’s about getting outside together and sharing the experience of the outdoors.

I have been fortunate that my family and friends also have the same devotion as I have to get more women outdoors. We have helped women to become both hunting and fishing guides over the years.  Many of my friends and clients enjoyed the mountains and we wanted to help others feel comfortable in the outdoors, even if they never had the desire to hunt.  It soon became apparent that not just ladies, but also kids and men, were seeking out ways to learn about the sport of hunting, surviving, and staying safe in the wilderness. It was sometimes as simple as a desire to feel confident taking a hike in the mountains.  

I wanted to help open that door for more people to enjoy the outdoors.  I became involved in the outfitter's association as one of the first women outfitters in the state of Montana, and I was appointed to government boards to help with wildlife, conservation, and hunting decisions and legislation.  At our ranch, Upper Canyon Outfitters, we have dedicated a week called “Discover Week”.  For over twenty years, we’ve dedicated this week to teaching women about not only hunting skills, but how to survive in the mountains, tracking, and shooting. Most of all, it was about building confidence to get out and enjoy the mountains, no matter the reason to explore nature. 

I soon discovered other ladies with this same passion to help introduce the outdoors. Women's hunting clothing companies started to show up, and women's photos started to be in Outdoor Life and Field and Stream as hunters.  The hunting world was starting to welcome ladies. Today, it's not a strange sight to see ladies in the gun department or buying camo at the sporting goods store.  We are welcomed, acknowledged, and no longer have to wander the wilderness looking like Elmer Fudd’s begrudged girlfriend. I would say we always were welcomed by most men, but to see it on a larger scale is like having all your friends invited to the same club.  I certainly would not have had the courage I did without the support of the men in my life.  

There will always be men and women who didn’t grow up with a hunting background, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to learn.  If you are a true hunter, a true sportsman, and a lover of the outdoors, then share it.  Don’t think someone isn’t interested - ask and invite them. 

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