Under Wing: Love for the Outdoors

Hi everyone! I am Olivia Stanley! I am twenty-two, a daughter, sister, friend, and hunter. I am from La Grange, KY, which is about forty-five minutes from Louisville. I have lived in Kentucky my whole life and wouldn’t change a single day here for anywhere else. I have played soccer my entire life. It was my passion even through college as I competed for the Western Kentucky University Lady Topper soccer program. However, through the last decade I have grown a love for the outdoors and hunting as well.

Growing up, my late grandfather (B-daddy) would always take me fishing. That was our thing. Anytime I was over at his house we would always be outside. Whether that was fishing, catching crawdads, playing in the creek, or tinkering with his Harleys, the outdoors was always the common theme. As I grew up, so did my interest in hunting.

My oldest brother Jordan was the only family member I had that hunted. So naturally, Dad made him let his little sister tag along. I remember like it was yesterday. I was in the sixth grade, it was a little misty outside, cold, and I was sitting under his feet in a one-person ground blind with a 243 Win on my shoulder. We were in a valley and saw a mature doe up on the hillside. He told me to get ready, so I plugged my ears. Jordan kept whispering to me if I was ready for him to shoot. I eventually unplugged my ears and said, “Well, are you gonna shoot her or what?” By that time the doe had vanished in the brush. I couldn’t hear him asking me if I was ready for him to take the shot and he didn’t know I had my ears plugged. He laughed at my frustration, which just made me even more frustrated. But I’ll never forget what he told me. “Liv that’s hunting for ya. All it takes is a split second to harvest an animal or to lose the opportunity.” Ever since then I have been hooked on whitetails.

For the next nine years I hunted every fall with him. Learning, watching, mimicking his steps, even some of his ‘good luck’ traditions. I loved being outside and in a blind or tree stand, however I mainly liked the time I got to spend with him. After a long nine years I finally harvested my first buck at my grandparents’ farm. It was a special day, and I’m glad my big brother was there with me.

I had only ever known men to hunt or fish and it seemed a little weird for me to fall in love with the sport. I never cared though because who was going to say no to taking a girl hunting? When I go hunting now, I make sure to always take at least two girls if they want to go sit with me. I want my friends to see why I spend so much time and effort into something that’s so rewarding. Women are just as detailed and strong enough to do all the dirty work that comes after taking an animal. Girls just have to be brave enough to ask and to learn by watching anyone that takes you hunting. There's no greater reward than to cook a meal that you know where exactly your protein came from.

I met Allison Voges through my college roommate. I was at her house back in Santa Claus, Indiana. Yes, it’s a real place. Allison had come over to her house for a graduation party. I had followed Al on Instagram for probably a year and watched her being a woman and mom in the outdoor community and she inspired me to continue my passion and drive for the outdoors. My roommate, Kerragan, knew I was fan girling over Al and introduced us. An hour or so goes by and Al has me signed up to go noodling with her and twenty other ladies that summer. I’m convinced Allison could get anyone to go under dirty water, get bit by a 25-pound catfish, and have fun doing it. After that trip I had found my mentor, big sister, and a lifelong friend.

Growing up I only ever hunted with my brother or guy friends. No girls around me hunted or even wanted to try it out. I think it is so important for girls to get into the outdoors and the outdoor industry. I have found so many female hunters through Allison and through American Daughters of Conservation. ADC is a female hunting organization that puts together hunts, community service, and services that help women in other states meet over the same love for the outdoors.

When Allison asked me to go on a waterfowl trip, I was all in, but I had absolutely no clue how to duck hunt. Then she mentioned it was in Canada and I was sold. Canada had been on my bucket list for a long time, but getting to hunt up there too? A dream. When we first landed in Alberta, Courtney, Allison, Lyndsey and I were questioned by the security team pretty hard. Maybe because they had never seen four women with shot gun cases come through customs. And to our guess, they hadn’t. Canada absolutely took my breath away. The mountains far off in the distance, the cool crisp air, everything was starting to come together, and I knew I was right where I was supposed to be.

Remember the bucket list I talked about earlier? Well during this trip I crossed off another box. The Northern Lights. Joe captured the most beautiful photo of us girls under the lights. Definitely a night I won’t forget.

The first morning we hunted I had no clue what to expect. I had watched some YouTube videos and asked some local waterfowlers what to expect and all I got back was “You’re gonna be so spoiled.” They were right. When the sun broke, there was around five thousand birds flying all around us. The sound was something out of a movie. Then our Ole Dog Outfitters guide Thomas yelled “Shoot!” I didn’t. I was frozen, in awe, in shock. I looked around and these ladies to my left dropped every bird that they meant to shoot at. I was then in awe of them. I remember I thanked God for allowing me to be on this trip, meeting such genuine people, and for His creation. Beautiful.

The biggest thing I learned in Alberta was the quality time waterfowl brings to people. It’s not like big game hunting where you have to be quiet and still, well until the birds start getting closer. I went on a hunt with all random strangers, except Allison, and left with friends that I talk to now daily. All because of waterfowl. The comradery that it brings is just as good of a feeling of hitting your limit.

On the flights home all I could do is look at pictures and videos of our time there. It all felt like a dream that I didn’t want to wake up from. Since being back in Kentucky, I have had two unsuccessful waterfowl hunts, but the same amount of fun as I did in Canada. Well maybe a little less. However, I now have a favorite hunt. And its waterfowl. My passion was always big game. But feeling the same thrill as harvesting a large animal once a year as I do hitting limits days in a row in waterfowl… that can’t be beat.