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Friday, May 29, 2009

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN PLEASE!





Recently I was visiting a good hunting website on the net, there were deer hunting articles, elk hunting tactics and fishing trivia. Big game success pics and the newest gear highlighted the pages I browsed through. Then it happened, a picture of a beautiful woman with a bow over her shoulder, I clicked on the image and saw something that blew my mind, she was wearing underwear, Yes underwear while on the hunt. Her compound bow didn’t even have sights or a rest, she had no arrows and was wearing the skimpiest clothing I have ever seen on a hunter. Do not get me wrong brothers, I am no prude, I have spent my share of days on lakes and rivers with skimpily clad women and never complained I actually am a huge fan of daisy dukes and cowboy boots on the beach. My wife and I often hit the water and her summer swimwear still stirs the young man in me. But the modern tendency to portray women in the outdoors as sex symbols instead of as fellow hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts is something that gets on my nerves. Men for ages have enjoyed the paintings, photos and publications featuring women in little or no clothing. Why must we see these beauties in something that is obviously not real life, a woman wearing wranglers or a cotton dress will peak my interest far more quickly than one in her undergarments. I know sex sells and the numbers do predict that this will remain a definite in the future of advertising . But come on, lets portray our wild ladies enjoying the wild places with some class and integrity, every woman I have ever known wants to feel beautiful and wanted. But never have I met a lady who wants to be the object of strange men’s fantasy. Lets by all means keep the pretty ladies in those ads and calendars, but lets keep them family friendly and lets portray our outdoor angels as they really are, Women of integrity, good values and strong femininity. I am not attacking any if the sites on the net who feature women, just asking to remain vigilant of our position as gentlemen hunters , husbands sons, fathers and grandfathers . One photo I saw on a site features a real beauty, with her recurve, she was very attractive and the photo was well done. However the add stated that this nineteen or twenty year old daughter of someone, liked her bows bigger and with better, deeper penetration. When did it become ok for the hunting industry to use blatant sexual terminology to sell their product. Playboy and hustler have what those men are after and should be keep to that kind of publication. By all means lets show off our woodland nymphs, lake water lookers and tree stand hotties. But lets keep to the tradition of our outdoor heritage, Fred Bear or Howard Hill would never hunt or fish in their underwear, I admit I have jumped in a high lake while hunting elk wearing mine, but hopefully there are no internet pictures circulating to confirm my story. If there are so be it, they would portray a real hunter, in real wilderness doing what real hunters do, finally taking a bath after five days of stalking elk. I call upon my brothers to ensure our ladies get the recognition they deserve concerning their prowess as hunters , fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts. And I ask the ladies who share our wilderness to keep on keeping on and keep posting those swimsuit pics from the lakes and rivers by real women in the outdoors, but also the bundled up camo shots in mid December with nothing showing but maybe some red fingernails to announce there is a lady hiding in that blind. Sex may sell, but I assure you, most of we wilderness warriors would rather see women portrayed as they really are in the outdoors. Instead of some made up fantasy girl wearing a g string and heels to fish the river, poor thing would be eaten alive by mosquitos and black flies in less time than it takes me to loose an arrow. please comment on this article ladies and gents, I look forward to hearing your responces. Hawk

24 comments:

Cory Glauner said...

I'm with you. I love it when my wife is wearing a fleece sweatshirt. It's my favorite outfit on her. Looks like she's ready to go huntin'.

Have you seen the cover of Sports Afield sometime last winter? It was a woman all decked out in her duck hunting gear... and she was hot. Even in a duck hunting parka.

Unknown said...

Hawk I agree too. I like to look at pretty women as much as the next guy, but I find women in general to be beautiful. I would never buy a hunting product because I saw some scantily clad teen aged girl, that is young enough to be my daughter,holding it in an advertisement. There is a time and a place for those kind of outfits and the mountains or rivers fishing and hunting are not the place. I also agree with Cory. I saw that cover of Sports Afield too and that lady was gorgeous.

Kristine Shreve said...

Bravo! Unrealistic expectations are one of the hardest things for women to deal with at times. We want to be appreciated for who we really are, just as men do, not as fantasy creatures that no real woman could ever possibly be.

Unfortunately, there will always be people who think that sex sells, and there will always be consumers who prove those people right. It's sad, but true.

Becky Schuett said...

Extremely well said! Touches my heart to have a great outdoorsman stand up for what he believes and for women who should not be portrayed with innuendo in publications that have nothing to do with selling sex! Keep the sex where it belongs and out of the family friendly publications! A grateful woman!

Tom Sorenson said...

Where to begin - you've really left nothing else to be said and what else could have been said has been covered by previous comments. It restores confidence in my fellow hunters to read this post. We preach up and down that we want to get two groups more involved in the outdoors: women and kids. Then we throw pictures of scantily clad women and stories filled with innuendos in our hunting/fishing publications and - call me prude, I don't care - I flat out won't want my kid to be exposed to that classless attempt at marketing. It does no good for anybody - not the kids, certainly not the women - and certainly not me. Women are beautiful creatures - many times I'm thankful to be a man and behold the beauty of a woman rather than vice a versa - but women don't have to be sporting a gstring to be beautiful.

SJB Imagery said...

Well said, Hawk!

Mike "Hawk" Huston said...

Thank you all so much for the comments..glad to see some comments concerning the issue.. and hope to shed some light on fellow gentlemen hunters like Tom , Cory, Jeff keep to the good red road brothers and we will eventually shed some light on the dark.. Hawk

Camp Wild Girls.com said...

Hawk, I am truly touched by your words! We as women have been trying so hard to fight this fight and be recognized as huntresses and equals, not bimbos in underwear. Thanks for standing beside us and fighting with us. You are a true Gentleman and Warrior!

claysports said...

Eloquent post, Hawk. The ladies I know who shoot, whether it is on the clays course or in the field, just want success in shooting– like everyone else. Have yet to see a skimpy outfit on any of 'em. But that might be because of the chiggers up here!

Anonymous said...

Nuff Said! Leave the hotties to Easyriders and Hotrod. Now that I think of it Danica looks Mahvelous in her full jumpsuit, much like the camo coverall scenario you speak of.
Ok off to look up those scantily clothed Women of Wall Street...;-)
Great post Hawk
~R

The Hunter's Wife said...

I understand the concept that sex sells but some of these companies and outdoor sites are going a little too far. Especially with the power of the internet and so many more women becoming a part of the outdoors. It is very offensive.

I'm glad to see so many outdoorsmen taking a stand and respecting women not only for their beauty but for who they are out in the field.

And I agree with CampWildGirls - you truly are a gentleman and warrior.

Wendy Worrell said...

Thanks for writing this post! It was nice to read an article coming from a males point of view! I have noticed all these women coming out on Twitter wanting people to follow them just because they are in a bikini holding a huge shed! Now really did they find it, or was it properly placed on there scantily clad body??? I think we all know the answer! Well done Hawk!

Anna Vogler said...

Great write up! I guess girls who show off their "bare-gear" and not the hunting "gear" only get the respect of perveted people. But a girl who shows off her passion with some serious huntin equipment gains the respect of all! Glad to see this is coming from a man and not a female!

Mike "Hawk" Huston said...

Thank you ladies, for your imput.. please tell everyone you kn ow to comment .... i want to hear what the women of the world really think about this issue.. Hawk

Anne Vinnola said...

Great article! I am going to be speaking at the Team Huntress camp in june with you and your lovely wife! I am excited to meet you both!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Hawk: It seems that the advertiser believe people want ads such as you have everywhere else. I don't think they know any other way.
Beautiful photos of Stacey and the 4x4. She sure takes a great photo, lucky guy.

Mom & Dad said...

Son I am so very proud of you and your comments...You have always had a way with words,just like your Dad, but the words you wrote this time were special...As a hunter myself I am very upset with them using sex to sell anything but sporting things are worse..With 4 grandaughters all growing into hunters I would rather they saw women in the right attire for the hunt...That is what they see when their Mom and I go out...and that is what they have to wear, not the skimpy things they can wear everywhere else...hunting is a great privlege a wonderful sport and a great way to provide food for the family.We women need special clothing for hunting just like the men, and it needs to provide enough cover to keep us safe...Of course I don't think many will try to wear the skimpy things here in Montana ...They would get mighty cold...Keep up the wonderful writing you are doing..and know we are very Proud to call you our Son..
Love Mom

Brokenhand says... Good job. When you speak your true beliefs people listen. When you speak the truth people believe. Keep up the good work, and thank you for writing with such integrity. Isn't it funny how a stick bow can find it's way to the heart, without loosing an arrow. Brokenhand a/ho

Mike "Hawk" Huston said...

Thanks Mom , you are so right those girls are being jubjected to this kind of crap and need to realize they are something better... Dad Pilimaya...well spoken wisdom... as usual.. Hawk a/ho

SimplyOutdoors said...

I'm here to tell you that I've never seen my wife look better than on two occasions: once when she was all bundled up to do a mid-season bowhunt, and the next time was when we came back from an ATV ride and she was covered in mud.

Now that was hot! No need for a g-string, or any kind of skin to show.

Another great post.

Unknown said...

Thank you Thank you Thank you! I just found your blog and really appreciate this post. I've seen these particular ads you are talking about. I for one will not buy a bow from this company.

Heather said...

Wow Hawk, what a refreshing post. I don't have time to work up a big comment, but thank you for standing up for outdoors women and telling others that we deserve respect for who we are as women, not as someone's sex symbol. Look at the Foxy Huntress clothing line - feminine yet plenty tasteful clothing for a woman's hunting needs. Thanks for speaking up for us ladies!

cowgirl said...

Well said Mr Huston, you are a true gentleman.

Anonymous said...

Hi Hawk,

First time I have read your articles here. They are great and I believe you are 100% on about how women are portrayed by some of the hunting industry. Keep up the great writings. I find all your articles in PA great reads.

Trade Point.

sarina said...

Hawk, I loved this story. Every word is so true. Good man for speaking up and keeping it real!