Oregon Public Broadcasting

Most of the recent talk about hunting in the Northwest has focused on wolves. But hunters are now out stalking everything from birds to bears.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates 12.5 million Americans still hunt. That number has fallen in the last 10 years. But at the same time, there's a countertrend: more women are breaking into this male-dominated sport.

The Idaho Fish and Game Department caters to them by holding women-only "new hunter" workshops. Inland Northwest Correspondent Doug Nadvornick went to one to meet the women who are taking up arms.

About two dozen women are standing in a semi-circle in the woods, right next to the Coeur d'Alene Rifle and Pistol Club. A few are young, but many are old enough to be grandmothers.

Wildlife biologist Colleen Trese (center) begins cutting a young moose carcass while other participants at a women's hunting clinic in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho either help or watch.

On the ground are two animal carcasses. Idaho Fish and Game Conservation Officer Julie McKarley kneels next to a dead deer to show the women how to remove the innards.

Julie McKarley: "So I cut through the abdominal wall. I have my finger in here. Take your two fingers, or have your finger right behind it, and just cut through. This animal was hit and it's bloating up, so it's not going to be as pretty."

Several women stand back, but some creep in for a closer look. Most have never hunted. But they're here to learn -- about shooting, navigating in the woods and how to prepare what they've killed for the trip home.

Julie McKarley: "Does anyone want to practice gutting and skinning here?"

Woman's voice: "I do."

Julie McKarley: "Ok. I do have gloves. Depending on the size of your hands, I've got small and medium."

Colleen Trese and Jean Spencer are among those who step forward.

Spencer says she came to this workshop to prepare for the fall elk hunt.

Jean Spencer: "My first time.    I've never done it before. This is going to be my first year."

Doug Nadvornick: "What made you do it this year?"

Jean Spencer: "My husband. He's been doing it. My mom's done it for years and we want to go out with him and bond more, so I'm going to do it."

Trese, on the other hand, is a veteran hunter, but not for large animals.

Colleen Trese: "I've hunted waterfowl and upland birds and squirrels and rabbits."

Doug Nadvornick: "So how long have you hunted?"

Colleen Trese: "Oh, probably 12 years is all."

Doug Nadvornick: "So why did you get into it?"

Colleen Trese: "Because of my career, being a wildlife biologist. My family doesn't hunt, but I've hunted with people that I've worked for. That's kind of how I've been learning."

Shooting instructor Jeanine Elias believes women make good hunters because they're generally more patient than men.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, nine-percent of all hunters in the U.S. are women. That number is growing.

Julie McKarley "I love hunting. I love being out in the woods. I love camping."

Some, like instructor Julie McKarley, were introduced to hunting early in life.

In fact, when she talks about hunting, it's often in the context of family -- like last season, when she hunted elk with her mom and dad.

Julie McKarley: "I got mine. My mom got hers and my dad got his, all in one day. And it made for this great family outing. My mom has lots of pictures of it and she says that's one of her best memories of going out on this elk hunt and camping out with us and having a great time."

That kind of enthusiasm can be infectious in workshops like this one.

McKarley says some of her former students have come back with their own stories.

Julie McKarley: "A lot of them are excited. They've been out for the first time. They can't wait to show us their first kill."

Hunting and shooting instructor Jeanine Elias says she's seeing more women in her classes too.

She thinks women make good hunters because they're more patient then men and their expectations are lower.

Women at a hunting clinic in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho prepare to start target practice at the shooting range.

Jeanine Elias: "They don't have this idea of 'I got to have this perfect rack on my wall.' When I go hunting, I'm not looking for the perfect rack on a deer. I'm looking for meat."

In the shooting range, Elias and her husband Larry are training the women to hunt with bows and arrows and rifles.

Jeanine Elias: "Go ahead and get your earplugs."

Larry Elias: "Ready on the firing line? Aim! Safety off! Fire at will!"

Hunting remains controversial.

The battle over wolf management continues in the courts.

But at a time when fewer men are hunting, more women are training to take their place.