| WomenBowhunters | WomenHunters |

What can be more thrilling than to be out in the cool morning air, sitting in a blind, waiting for that one shot or standing at a stake, judging the yardage, making sure that you go through your normal routine and taking that perfect shot to hit that "X".

I have had my chance to do both, an opportunity that I'm glad I didn't pass up.

As I was growing up, I had the pleasure of being introduced to hunting by my daddy Gene. I can still close my eyes and see my Daddy coming back from one of the "guys" hunting trip with so many deer, that I thought the whole deer population was brought back with them. I wanted to be right there by his side through it all, carefully handling his gun, the dressing of the animal. But most kids wouldn't want to be around when that all started, but he let me stand there and be a part of it all. The smell of deer grilling out on the open fire, our families getting together, with fellowship, laugher and all of us kids running around everywhere. Those were the days.

Back in '94, I was introduced into the world of Archery. Little did I know at that time that my life was going to take a 360-degree change. For one reason, when the words "bow and arrow", "yardage, "release" and "score" were brought into a conversation all at the same time, that scared me to death. I had no ideal that people actually went out and competed against each other and I sure didn't know what a 3-D target was all about. So you can say "I didn't know squat" but I never back down from a challenge.

That summer we drove around the states of Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma making a few shoots. I was in awe each and every time we unpacked our bows. The people that you meet, the witnessing of a slap on the back and a big hug from an old friend, the fun, the laughter, the challenges that each individual shoot puts in front of you, is amazing. All I could think about was I'm in TROUBLE now, I''m hooked, I am so hooked" and I have been shooting 3-D ever since.

3-D has treated me well over the past few years. I'm not a pro at it by any means, but I have fun each and every time that I go out. I have reached some of the goals that I had set for myself, but if I can go out there, do the best that I could do for "Myself" then I have reached my goals. I have come in 2nd at the I.B.O. Texas State, 1st in New Mexico State and Top Female shooter in the Tri-City of Texas. But even if I hadn't place in any of those shoots, that would have been fine" I shot, I had fun, I gained more experience, I might have made friend or made some one smile during the day and that is what it is all about with me.

Not only when I started 3-D that year, I also decided that hunting was going to be put back on my agenda. Gun hunting was good, but sitting in that ground blind, looking out and seeing a deer or turkey coming so close that you could have reached out and stroked each and every hair or feather on their bodies. Feeling your heart pound so rapidly, your breath taken away in awe. Seeing the whole situation of hunting from a different point of view. All I could think of was "what more can a person say to this but THANK YOU LORD". But thanks to my friend Johnny Kennedy, I have gotten to go on two "hunts of "my lifetime". A Muledeer hunt in New Mexico and black bear hunting in Canada.

I can't say that archery is for everyone, nor will everyone like it, and that's ok. But for those of us that has had the opportunity to at least try, I THANK GOD.

I would also like to thank my Dad for the beginning, to Johnny for opening up the doors for many changes. For nominating me and believing in me. My Thanks also go to NIKON, Glen T and Arrow Dynamics, Feliciana Archery, Classic Scopes and Doinker. With these guys behind you, how can you go wrong whether it's hunting or competing?

Joni