Amanda Lynn Mayhew is one of today’s most popular faces in the outdoor industry. Amanda Lynn is one tough outdoorswoman and is a product of Manitouwadge, a small town in northern Ontario. She now resides in southern Ontario and is the founder of the Women’s Hunting Association and host of the TV show, “Just Hunt.” Amanda Lynn also is the official ambassador and host of the Great Outdoors Stage for the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show. In addition, she was recognized as the Hunting Ambassador of the Year at the Code of Arms Golden Bullet Awards at Taccom 2019. This young woman has more than proven her worth as an athlete, gun advocate, inspirational speaker, angler, hunter, and power sports enthusiast whose mission it is to preserve our hunting and fishing heritage.

We posed four questions to Amanda Lynn:

Why are you so enthusiastic about hunting?

“My enthusiasm for hunting comes from being born and raised into it, and from learning that hunting was the way we depended on filling our freezers. The stories and memories that I and my family have revolve mostly around hunting, fishing, and the outdoor experience. It feels good to harvest my own meat, to know where it comes from, and to make memories with my family and friends in the great outdoors. When you spend time in a tree stand, scouting, or even standing on a hunt, you feel yourself embraced at that moment—the moment that takes your breath away, where you find yourself so focused on the situation that you ‘forget to breathe.’ In a world of questionable politics, ‘flexible’ values, and rampant sickness, hunting breeds empowerment and positive inspiration.”

Why are wildlife and habitat conservation important?

“It is vital to maintain a healthy balance, so the habitats can be preserved to ensure that future generations of both wildlife and humans can enjoy them.”

What do you think is the key to getting more women involved in hunting?

“Inspiration, mentorship with experience, and knowledge in a hands-on environment. I’ve been working with women since 2011, educating them about firearms, archery, and hunting. Word of mouth helps to share those experiences and demonstrates that it doesn’t have to be an intimidating process to embrace the outdoors and progress forward with independence. By the use of hands-on mentoring, I enable women and children to learn by using the various techniques that are impacting women around the world. I give them a place to share, learn, and participate with support in a non-judging environment. And I make it fun and safe.”

“I designed several outreach programs—’Take Me Hunting,’ ‘Take Me Fishing,’ and ‘Take Me Off-Roading’—to give women an opportunity to get out there and learn hands-on. There are absolutely no stupid questions in life, and I enjoy seeing the smiles and watching the passion arise from the women who participate and then make plans to move forward with their own adventures. And I am always willing to lend an ear when they have questions.”

What is your most memorable hunting experience?

“I have a lot of these—photo albums full—but one particular favorite from 2004 is when my son and I were on a bird hunt, and we were being followed by several male hunters who didn’t know the area very well. When I harvested a bird, I took the breasts out with my hands, and then I put the bird back together on a log. My son and I then watched as the hunters came down the road and attempted to harvest the same bird. To their surprise, when they tried to clean it, they realized it had already been done. They looked at me as I giggled and walked away. They stopped following us at that point.”

“Another memorable experience was when I called out my first bull moose. Alone in northern Ontario and in an area where I knew there was a bull, I hung out on the edge of a slash and made a few calls. To my surprise, I had an answer. I had thought at first that someone was just messing with me, but the ‘conversation’ went on for about two hours. Finally, he stepped out of the treeline at the edge of the slash, and it was magical. He saw me, I saw him, and we just ‘talked’ to each other until the sun went down. I didn’t have a tag to harvest this adult moose, but the experience was definitely one for the books.”

“Experiences like these help me to connect with the outdoors, educate myself, and carry on the heritage of hunting and education for the next generation.”

~ By Kent Huffman
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Kent Huffman is the Editor-in-Chief for Wildlife Enthusiast Magazine. Kent is an avid fisherman, hunter, and wildlife conservationist. He also serves his clients as a fractional Chief Marketing Officer, specializing in building successful brands, creating unique customer experiences, constructing proprietary “marketing machines,” and driving profitable growth. Kent has won numerous awards and honors from Forbes, Adweek, CEO World Magazine, Brand Quarterly Magazine, Social Media Marketing Magazine, the CMO Club, TCU’s Neeley School of Business, and the World Marketing Congress for his accomplishments as a marketer.