She was given the name of an integrated medical doctor who prefers to cure naturally. Part of her treatment included diet. "The doctor suggested I start eating meat. She furthered her request by saying she would prefer I eat mainly game animals, as today’s meats have too much pesticides and antibiotics in them, which would only hinder my recovery. I had been a vegan for six years, so the concept of introducing meat into my diet was a soul-searching decision. I came to the conclusion that if, in order to extend my life expectancy, I needed to eat meat, then it was worth a lifestyle change. After all, our ancestors hunted to stay alive and that is how I felt."

Kim’s husband, John, hunted years earlier, but time and events had redirected his interests. So, he was thrilled with the opportunity to get reacquainted with his lost passion and to be a mentor for his wife. During the deer archery season a couple years ago, Kim joined her husband in a tree-stand. "I fell in love with watching morning happen right before my eyes and watching the forest wake-up from its slumber. It just made me feel connected to the cycle of life," Kim said.

Kimberly Pratt poses with her first-ever bow kill, a big boar
taken on a boar hunt in Quebec, Canada
(Photo courtesy Kimberly Pratt)

"When John, finally got his deer with his bow, instead of feeling sad for its death, I was thrilled for John. It was a moment I knew I would never forget. I said a silent prayer for the deer and thanked it for its life as its sacrifice will help sustain another." Since that hunt, Kim has taken up bow hunting and now has her own bow. She’s been well trained in its use, by her husband, and by taking a bowhunter education course. Since then, Kim has taken her very first game animal with her bow, a nice boar.

As her interest in hunting grew, she began searching the web for sites that catered to women hunters. She found only a few sites. "They were confusing to maneuver through and had many sponsors. It was like being in a sporting goods store rather than on a hunting website. I merely wanted to share my new found enthusiasm for hunting, but I couldn’t find a comfortable site in New Hampshire. Other than New Hampshire Fish and Game’s site, there were no alternatives," Kim stated. The idea came to her to build a website where women, who share similar interests in the outdoors, can go to ask questions for viewers to answer. Thus was born the Hook and Bullet Girls website: www.hookandbulletgirls.com.

The website’s mission is to promote the safe and ethical pursuit of fishing and hunting amongst women; to create a friendly and supportive environment in which women can interact, learn and address the issues that effect hunting, fishing, wildlife and their habitat. Further, the website provides a forum for sharing knowledge and skills and to have fun in the process and to enjoy all that the outdoors has to offer.

"Being a woman, hunting and fishing presents a different set of challenges and that’s what I set out to accomplish with my website. It is a place where women can go for those answers. It is a website where they will feel comfortable. Answers will not be paid for by sponsors, but will instead be real answers from other women who have experienced the same set of problems and challenges," Kim commented. 

Along with a question and answer section, the website has a news section that will be kept current with New Hampshire Fish and Game reports and other informative news bits. There is also a members board that is free to join. Here, members will be sorted by towns to make it easier for members to meet their neighbors. There is also a place where members can have photos of their successful hunting and fishing trips uploaded, as well as a recipe page. "What I have built is a site that I wish I could have found when I became interested in hunting. It is a fun and easy-going site, but one that is informative and helpful," Kim said.

Kim’s husband, John, supported her by encouraging the idea of the Hook and Bullet Girls website, helped with the site formation and helped Kim decide what important aspects should be included on the site. "John wanted to be able to write articles that explain complicated issues, such as the draw weight versus the arrow weight in bow hunting, in an easy to read format. He has also been a diligent proof reader," Kim commented.

I have long believed that more women should be involved in the sports of hunting and fishing. In my opinion, www.hookandbulletgirls.com is a website that has been long overdue. I’m sure it will be successful and enjoyed by all. Do pay it a visit and see for yourself.

Bob Harris can be reached via e-mail at: outwriter2@aol.com