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 Sharenda Birts. This is her story!

Sharenda Birts

I am one of four founding members and Directory of Community Affairs with an outdoor women’s organization named wildHERness.  I am an adult-onset hunter that began exploring the outdoors when I was 39 or 40 years old.  I did not come from a family background of outdoorsmen or firearm owners.  I began without any guidance getting started.

My advice for women in the outdoors: Don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed to ask those mundane or “stupid questions”.  Clarity and understanding of a process contribute to successful tasks and adventure.

How the outdoor industry can support women: Invite someone to join you outside of your circle.  If you are not visibly expressing the desire to teach and welcome others to the outdoors or your organization, how do expect to increase your reach and demographics?  The same holds true for those that are curious but never seek to reach out.  All it takes is an introduction or an invite.

How women can get involved in the outdoors: Check out wildHERness!

How I Got Started:  The people that pointed me in the direction of reputable organizations to learn certain skill sets have been a huge part of my growth and outdoor development.  Family, friends, and industry retailers allowing me to try their gear and discover what I liked or would be beneficial for me to add as a staple piece of equipment have been a huge blessing.

How I support other women:  The most interesting was the day my vegan friend said she was embarrassed to ask to go fishing because she did not want to touch the fish.  I told her if she was serious, I could unhook it for her, or she could unhook it with pliers, eliminating touching it.   Her response was, “I thought you were going to laugh at me?”  The following week she bought a fishing rod and reel combo, and a shotgun advising she wanted to shoot clays.

Why I’m proud to be a woman in the outdoors: Active women participating in shooting sports and the outdoors numbers are growing We are showing we are comfortable and capable.  Minority women’s participation is increasing too. Four years ago, I could barely locate more than 1 or 3 social media accounts of black women outdoors.  Today I am a social media acquaintance with a few and admire the adventures and skill set of many.  The adventures and publicly shared goals of each other are motivating.

Challenges women face in the outdoor industry: Clothing. I am a plus-size woman, fit and functionality have been the most challenging for me.  Outdoor women come in all shapes and sizes and the industry is ignoring an entire profitable market. It will be refreshing for me when a task as simple as purchasing an upland game vest is not a $200 waste of time and something as simple as a hydration pack is optional.

How I overcome challenges:  I have reviewed a few products from a novice perspective. I don’t hesitate to contact manufacturers for a short Q&A or request a wildHERness QA event if other ladies are interested in the same products I am inquiring about.  These events are either free or low-cost.  We do not want cost to be a barrier.  

Follow Sharenda Birts @pinkshears or on LinkedIn.

Read more Women in the Outdoors stories!