Paul Vang

Donna McDonald, an outfitter and guide at Alder, Montana, is running for the title of “Extreme Huntress.”

The Extreme Huntress is a contest sponsored by Tahoe Films, Ltd, a company that produces outdoor adventure films for television, including hunting programs shown on Versus, a cable and satellite outdoor channel. According to the Tahoe Films website, people entered the contest by submitting essays. A panel of judges evaluated the essays to come up with the top ten candidates. The winner of the contest will be selected by online voting at the Tahoe website. The winner of the contest will win a mountain sheep and goat hunt in British Columbia, to be filmed for a TV program, along with a whole raft of merchandise. The entire package is worth over $50,000

Donna McDonald, in her essay, writes about growing up hunting on the Ruby Valley family ranch, which operates a hunting lodge, Upper Canyon Outfitters, as part of the business. She became one of the lodge’s guides and in 1989 became a licensed outfitter, creating quite a stir when she first showed up at outfitter association meetings. She is now president of the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, and represents the association on a number of government boards, and credits her mother for a belief that, “The passion of the sport has no gender.”

McDonald works hard to preserve the American hunting heritage, and as part of that has worked to develop “Big Hearts under the Big Sky,” a program that offers hunting trips to children with life threatening illnesses, wounded warriors, and women with breast cancer. In her essay, she says she looks to preserve the future of hunting and encourage others to get involved. “I enjoy the peace and harmony with nature; being ethical and excited by the thrill of the hunt, but always respect the animals I intend to take. I hope by example I can encourage more women to become involved in the sport of hunting and the outdoors.”

Ms. McDonald wasn’t available for comment prior to press time, as she was representing her association at a meeting in Reno, Nevada. Her husband (and business partner), Jake McDonald, said he’s proud of both what his wife has done, and what she stands for. “She’s hunted all over the world, but she’s really more concerned about keeping the hunting tradition going. She’s grounded in preserving our wildlife.”
McDonald is in select company, as the finalists’ essays tell many fascinating stories.

A couple of the women are cancer survivors who were not about to let a little illness get in the way of their passion for hunting—or their sense of humor. Renee Zahniser wrote, “I won’t lie…It’s not easy taking down an 18 pound gobbler when you’ve got a drain in your chest…although my friends believe it is easier for me to aim my 12-gauge with one less breast.” She describes how she went on a turkey hunt just three weeks after cancer surgery, suffering side effects of chemotherapy. She has since added open-heart surgery to her list of medical issues, but says, “I have found a hidden reservoir of strength in myself and a renewed love and appreciation for the hunt…”

Sheila Link writes of sixty-plus years of hunting and a love of shooting going back to 1934 when she started shooting tin cans with a .22 rifle. In 1971 she went on a sheep hunt in British Columbia that was filmed for an episode of the old ABC TV series, American Sportsman. She continues, “Elk hunting with my friend Ida is a do-it-yourself affair. We trailer horses into camp, build a corral, and hunt from ‘can till can’t’ every day, alternating horse chores and kitchen duties. We field dress our game and pack out the meat in canvas panniers.” Not too shabby for an 86-year old!

Voting for the Extreme Huntress award began in November and continues through January 1, 2010. To read all the essays in their entirety—and trust me, it’s well worth it—and to cast a vote for your favorite candidate, go to www.tahoefilms.com/poll.php.