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 Lyndsey Braun. This is her story!

Lyndsey Braun

About Me: My name is Lyndsey Braun and I have an addiction to the outdoors. True story! Understanding nature, working with it, and feeding my body with what it offers is my addiction to the outdoors. Farming, hunting & conservation drive me through life. I’m continuously wanting to become a better steward for the environment. Experiencing what beauty comes when we nourish and better understand the land is a reward like none other.

I spent a lot of my youth in Alaska, surrounded by great hunters & foragers, but lost touch when my family had to move to Washington State. My parents did their best to facilitate my desire of experiencing & learning about the outdoors, but our location often made that difficult. As an adult I wanted to return to that lifestyle and begin hunting again. My curiosity and craving for that connection to the land drove me to step outside my comfort zone and search out ways to reconnect and deepen my knowledge. Through my journey I have become a better conservationist, hunter, and a stronger woman. Additionally, I have been able to shift career paths and begun working for the conservationist, Doug Duren; where a team of us have created an initiative called, Sharing the Land. I’m extremely passionate about this organization and what it is doing for ensuring the future of hunting & conservation.

How I began my journey: As often as I curse social media, I’m grateful for the connections & opportunities I have found through it. It is where I began seeking out people & organizations that focused on hunting & conservation. I discovered many folks in the same position as me or that were there previously and wanted to mentor and help people on their journey into the outdoors. I then emersed myself with some of these folks & organizations- it has ultimately changed the trajectory of my life and found many additions to my tribe.

My advice to women seeking connection to the outdoors: It is often difficult to connect with women that share the same passion for hunting & conservation. Fortunately, there are many great organizations and folks out there that want to help & welcome you. I firmly believe that challenges help us grow in all aspects of our lives. Learning more about conservation & hunting has presented me with many, but I’m forever grateful for experiencing all that comes with those challenges. I encourage you to get involved, ask questions, explore your curiosity, and take the time to educate yourself. Remember, we have all been the new person before, so don’t be afraid!

Personally, I have been fortunate to find both female & male mentors along the way by joining organizations like Sharing the Land, Artemis, Pheasants Forever & Backcountry Hunters & Anglers .  Engaging with these groups and like-minded people will help you  challenge  yourself and make  connections  which will  help empower and help you grow in all avenues of your life- along with making lifelong connections with people who also want to share their knowledge, time, and experiences with you.  My experience is not unique, it can also work for you!

Follow Lyndsey @bayrosee. 

Read more Women in the Outdoors stories!