A GIRL HAVING FUN WITH HER GUN

    According to the National Rifle Association, hunting is gaining popularity among women. A recent study found that women make up 10 to 15 percent of all hunters. While the number of young female hunters remains unclear, some local teenagers, like 16-year-old Airiana Buer, are embracing the sport.
    Airiana, a sophomore at Britton-Hecla and the daughter of Meranda Buer and Lucas Buer, began hunting at a young age. Her journey started when her mom’s boyfriend, Jason Holman, took her and her siblings to a shooting range to practice with a .22. “I enjoyed that, so I decided I would like to harvest a deer,” Airiana said. She bagged her first deer with a mentor tag at age 10.
    Now, Airiana participates in both East River and West River hunts. She enjoys rifle season for deer and antelope as well as archery season for whitetail. Her hunting companions often include her mom, Jason, and her siblings, Brooklyn and Brody.
    One of her favorite hunting memories is from a particularly cold and snowy day when she and her mom harvested their biggest bucks minutes apart. “It was freezing cold and windy,” Airiana recalled. “Me and my mom were sitting together and harvested our biggest bucks to date.”
    While Airiana loves hunting, she admits it comes with challenges. “The hardest parts are sitting in the freezing cold, waking up early, and dedicating time only to come home empty-handed,” she said. “But it’s worth it to relax and spend quality time with family doing something fun.”
    Down the road, Airiana hopes to bag a larger buck with either a rifle or a bow. She also dreams of heading west to hunt mule deer and antelope, with her ultimate goal being to harvest an elk.
    To young women interested in trying hunting, Airiana offers encouragement. “Put your time in. Step out of your comfort zone and try something new,” she said. “It can be a challenge, but it’s also a very rewarding sport.”