It’s an exciting day and one that you’ve been preparing for a long time. The first day of hunting season is one that many people look forward to, especially those heading out into the field for their first attempt at bringing home game. Silence and perfect vision is of utmost importance, as is staying upwind of the deer and out of sight, and you’ve taken the pains to find a likely spot where you’ll be hidden and quiet while you wait for the deer to pass by.

Off to the left, you hear something and you turn your head. Swish! Wait a minute. What was that? You turn your head the other way and hear the faint noise again. Hey…that wasn’t supposed to happen! How could you overlook something so obvious?

Hunting has long been known as a man’s world, full of ego and prowess. But the sport of hunting is increasingly becoming an area that women are working their way into. However, those who teach women are often men, and instruction about the little considerations is geared towards what men know. Since most men have short hair, talk about how to keep hair off your face and out of your vision is lacking.

So what do you do with your hair when game hunting to ensure it doesn’t lessen your chances of bringing home a fine, fat deer? There are a few options available. Most women find that tucking their hair up under a baseball cap works fine. If your hair is thin enough and of medium length, you can get away with wearing a hat to keep your hair from making noise or getting in the way of your vision.

Longer-haired women also try to tie their hair back in a ponytail or braid. The only drawback to a ponytail is that it can get snagged on briars, branches, and twigs. It can also make noise if it slides across the back of your jacket. If you want, you can tuck your ponytail inside the back of your jacket or shirt. Long, thick, curly hair is probably the worst combination for hunting. If you can, pull your curls into a tight ponytail and twist the ponytail up under your baseball cap. You can worry about combing out the tangles later.

A French braid is an excellent way of tying back hair so that loose strands don’t work themselves free to obstruct vision. There are many websites that will teach you how to braid your own hair in this way, but the problem is, most women have difficulty creating a French braid for themselves. A solution to this is tying your long hair back into a ponytail and wrapping elastics at one-inch intervals down the length. Hairnets and leather sheaths that encase the length of your hair are another good choice. If you’re truly frustrated with trying to keep your hair out of the way and silent, you can always resort to cutting it short, but before you do, try out some creative ways that will let you bag the deer and stay pretty.

The nature-friendly hunter’s motto is: Leave the woods the same as when you came. Well, minus an animal or two of course. If you are going to be camping overnight, try to disturb as little of the environment as possible. Don’t clear brush unnecessarily. Try to envision your trip as an overnight stay at someone’s home. You are a guest in the habitat of many animals and some you aren’t even aware of.

Always bury your campfire to ensure that it will not reignite and cause a full-blown blaze in the wilderness. Check your fire several times before leaving the area. Forest fires can be devastating to natural areas for years afterwards. If left to spread out of control, a forest fire not only endangers the lives of animals but the lives of citizens and firefighters as well.

Bodily functions are an unavoidable part of life. When relieving yourself, bury your fluids and excrement with dirt to prevent disturbing territorial boundaries of animals.

If you pack it in, pack it out. Do not leave trash lying on the ground. Return your campsite as close to its original condition as possible before leaving. Double check your gear before hiking out so that you don’t unintentionally leave anything behind. Pack your food in airtight containers to avoid attracting any hungry neighbors.

If you are installing a tree stand, choose a mature, healthy tree. Smaller trees may be permanently damaged by the combined weight of your gear and your body. Consider tying back stray branches instead of cutting them. Choosing a mature tree will provide you with more choices in large branches to fasten your safety cord to as well.

A few safety tips

Be aware of your surroundings. Watch for bad weather and leave tree stands at the first signs of high winds to avoid injuring yourself and the tree. Keep your eyes and ears open for flash floods. Dress appropriately for the predicted weather in your area. Dressing in layers is helpful. Don’t forget your safety orange clothing to alert other hunters in our area of your presence.

Be on the lookout for stow-aways in your bedding or gear like snakes, scorpions, or spiders. Shake out all bedding and clothing, including your boots, before putting them on or packing them away for the day. You wouldn’t want to pack an unwanted visitor and bring him home with you.

Bears, badgers, or other aggressive animals may be encountered when hunting. Keep your eyes open and attempt to avoid any confrontations with any animal that you are not stalking. Keep in mind that this is the animal’s home and you are the guest. Try to back quietly away from an animal without disturbing it. If an animal attacks you, cover your head with your arms and roll into a tight ball to protect your head and torso from injury.

Teach your children to respect nature and the environment when hunting together. The best way to teach is by modeling respectful behavior while showing your children the basics of successful hunting. This ensures that the joys of hunting can continue for generations to come.