Written By: Josh Webb
It is amazing to look back on the outdoor industry over the last twenty years and think of all the amazing things that carved their way into our hunting and fishing lifestyle. There have been areas of growth that created hunting pressure where it didn’t exist fifteen years ago. There have been declines in the numbers of hunters in certain geographical areas as well as spikes in animal populations due to conservation and hunting dollars. However, amongst all the rises and falls in the outdoor industry, there is one that sticks out the most to me. You simply cannot look at a catalog or turn on the television without seeing the presence of a female hunter. Ask any clothing company what trends they have seen in recent years, and they will immediately point out the ever-increasing need for women-specific hunting clothing. Firearm and archery companies have also noticed the trend and are now catering products specifically for the needs of a woman hunter. As luck, would have it, I was able to sit down with one of the greatest female hunters and conservationists the South has ever produced.
Mollie Van Devender was raised in the Simpson County community of Mendenhall and believe it or not she did not grow up hunting. Mollie spent most of her youth listening to the tales told by hunters in the area about how sparse the deer were. “I remember the Simpson County News had a picture of a deer track on the front page of the paper,” Mollie says. “That was big news back then.”
Years later Mollie would get her chance to see what the hype was after she and her husband Billy joined Tara Wildlife. Mollie noticed that each time they went camping they had excellent deer hunting opportunities staring her in the face and she couldn’t resist any longer. She decided that she would go one evening with her husband and well, the rest is history. After a few practice runs, Mollie had the opportunity to harvest her first deer at age 32, and she never looked back. Her love for the outdoors grew stronger with each season that passed. Mollie also became very passionate about soaking up every second in the outdoors and the passion in her voice when she speaks about it immediately grabs your attention. “I just think it is amazing. How could somebody not believe in God and Jesus Christ.”
From the time she harvested her first deer, Mollie’s heart was set on spending time in the outdoors, especially with her family. The Van Devender’s knew how important hunting and the atmosphere around camp was to them and they began to bring their kids along every chance they got. “It was such a wholesome environment to bring them up in, within the realm of people who love the outdoors and God’s great creation.” Van Devender also speaks clearly on the importance of taking the lessons learned in the outdoors and applying them to everyday life. She states “the sense of discipline and constant competition with yourself make you a better person.”
Taking those lessons into account, Mollie focuses her efforts on introducing her friends to hunting each year as she holds a women’s only hunt. This gives Mollie a chance to surround herself with like-minded females who love the outdoors and together they can share a mutual bond for hunting and conservation.
It should be mentioned that one cannot sit and talk to Mollie without hearing her state the importance of land and habitat management. She is adamant in letting everyone know that there is no excuse for not making an effort to maximize their property. “Whether you have ten acres or ten thousand acres, make the most of it. Don’t dwell on not having this or that. Look at it from every angle and decide what is best.”
Mollie Van Devender is the living example of a true southern belle. She is a strong woman with a love for her kids and grand kids that radiates as bright as her smile. Mollie is driven, well-traveled and in some ways intimidating when talking about the number of animals she has pursued. She is a woman who many look up to because she is fierce in her pursuit of game and unwavering in her support of conservation. Even as the spotlight shines on her, she carries herself with a poise that is truly hard to find.
Mollie Van Devender is a awesome ambassador for the sport of hunting.
