You Don't Have to Know Everything to Start Upland Hunting

Upland Hunting for Beginners: You Don’t Have to Know Everything to Start.

A beginner’s guide to upland hunting, building confidence, and finding your community.

Smiles, bird dogs, and shared adventures at HerUpland’s 2025 Arizona Quail Camp, where participants and mentors come together to build confidence, develop skills, and form lasting friendships in the field.

There is the shotgun. The gear. The dogs. The language. Chokes, loads, flushers, pointers, steadiness, birdy, swing-through. If you did not grow up in a hunting family, it can feel like everyone else already knows the rules and you somehow missed the class where they explained them.

The truth is, most of us learned by asking questions, making mistakes, borrowing gear, following more experienced hunters and slowly figuring out what worked for us.

That is exactly where HerUpland comes in.

HerUpland is a nonprofit organization focused on creating educational opportunities for women and girls in upland hunting, bird dog training, conservation and mentorship. Through wingshooting clinics, dog training camps, hunt camps, educational programs and scholarships, the organization helps women build the skills and confidence they need to become more comfortable and independent in the field.

But one of the most important things HerUpland offers is something much harder to buy: community.

Sometimes all a new hunter really needs is someone willing to say, “Come with me. I’ll show you.”

Start Simple

One of the first things new hunters tend to do is assume they need to buy everything before they can start.

You do not need the most expensive shotgun, the newest upland vest or a closet full of technical hunting clothes.

You need a safe firearm that fits you reasonably well, appropriate ammunition, comfortable boots, eye and ear protection, blaze orange where required and clothing suitable for the weather and terrain. That is enough to begin.

If you are new to shotguns, spend some time on a clay range before going hunting, preferably with a professional instructor, so you can learn to safely load, unload, mount, carry and operate your shotgun without the pressure of a flushing bird. That makes the first hunt much less overwhelming.

HerUpland wingshooting clinics give women the chance to learn those skills in an environment where questions are expected.

You do not need to know the difference between improved cylinder and modified before you show up. That is why you are there.

Buy the Boots Before the Gadgets

If there is one piece of gear I would tell a new upland hunter not to overlook, it is boots.

You are going to walk, and depending on where you hunt, that may mean grasslands, rocky hills, briars, mud, cactus, cattails or mountain terrain.

Whatever you choose, break your boots in before hunting in them. That sounds obvious until you are three miles from the truck realizing your brand-new boots have declared war on your feet.

A basic vest is useful for carrying shells, water and hopefully a few birds. A small first aid kit, snacks, water, a phone or GPS and a leash if you are hunting around dogs, are also good additions. The rest can come later.

One of the best pieces of advice I can give a beginner is to hunt before spending a fortune trying to predict everything you might need. Experience will tell you very quickly what belongs in your vest.

You Do Not Need a Dog

Bird dogs are a huge part of upland hunting, but you do not need to own one before you start.

In fact, hunting over experienced dogs is one of the best ways to learn.

Watch the dog handler. Watch how the dog works. Pay attention to what happens when a pointing dog locks up or when a flushing dog starts working cover differently.

If you eventually decide you want your own hunting dog, those experiences will help you understand what you actually want from that partnership.

For women who already have dogs, HerUpland dog training programs can help bridge the gap between owning a bird dog and truly understanding how to work with one.

Participants can learn handling, obedience, bird work, retrieving, steadiness, field skills and other training concepts depending on the event and the experience level of the dog.

More importantly, women learn how to read the dog standing in front of them.

That is where the bond really begins to grow.

You stop simply asking, “Why isn’t my dog doing this?” and start asking, “What is my dog telling me?”

That change makes you a better trainer, a better handler and eventually a better hunting partner.

Find Someone Who Knows More Than You

Mentorship can change everything for a new hunter.

Find someone whose hunting style you respect and spend time with them.

Ask questions.

Go train dogs.

Help scout.

Watch how they prepare for a hunt.

Offer to help clean birds afterward.

You will learn things during those ordinary moments that rarely make it into books or videos.

HerUpland places a strong emphasis on mentorship because many women simply do not have a built-in hunting network.

Sometimes you need someone you trust enough to ask the questions that feel embarrassingly basic.

Where should I walk?

When do I load my shotgun?

What happens when the dog goes on point?

What is my shooting zone?

What if I miss? You will miss. Everyone does, sometimes impressively, and nobody is keeping score.

Your First Hunt Might Feel Chaotic

The first time you walk into the field, it can feel like there are twenty things happening at once.

You are watching your footing.

You are thinking about muzzle control.

You are keeping track of the hunters beside you.

Dogs are moving through cover.

Someone says the dog is getting birdy.

Then suddenly a bird erupts from the grass and every single thing you learned at the range disappears from your brain.

That is normal. Comfort comes from repetition.

Before the hunt begins, understand where you should walk and where your safe shooting zone is. Know where the dog handlers and other hunters are.

And never take a shot you do not feel good about.

There will be another bird.

Learning when not to shoot is every bit as important as learning how to shoot.

Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me

Your first hunt does not have to end with a bird in your vest to be successful.

Missing does not make you a bad hunter.

You will get dirty.

You will probably underestimate how far you walked.

A hunting dog can make you look like a genius one minute and completely humble you the next.

Someone will eventually tell you there is only one correct way to train a dog, choose a shotgun or hunt a bird. There probably is not.

And “just over that hill” is almost never just over that hill.

Most importantly, you will eventually realize that the best days are not always the days when you shoot the most birds.

The dogs matter.

The people matter.

The country matters.

The stories you bring home matter.

That is why so many of us keep going back.

Come to an Event, Even if You Come Alone

One of the easiest ways to become involved with HerUpland is to attend an event.

HerUpland hosts wingshooting clinics, dog training opportunities, hunt camps and other educational programs around the country. Events are designed for different experience levels, including women who are completely new to upland hunting.

You don't need to know anyone or bring a friend to attend. In fact, many women arrive on their own and leave with new friendships, meaningful connections, and plans for their next adventure together.

One of the best parts of these events is watching women arrive as strangers and leave with phone numbers, new training partners and plans for future hunts.

HerUpland also offers scholarship opportunities to help reduce some of the financial barriers associated with attending hunting and dog training events.

You can find current events, registration information and scholarship opportunities at herupland.org. You can also follow HerUpland on Facebook and Instagram to see upcoming programs, educational content, hunting stories, bird dog training and ways to become involved.

If you are already an experienced hunter, you can still be part of the mission through volunteering and mentorship.

Individuals can support HerUpland through donations, and businesses can become partners to help fund scholarships, educational programming and opportunities for women and girls.

Information about donating, volunteering, partnerships and upcoming events can all be found at herupland.org.

You Belong Here

You do not have to grow up hunting to become an upland hunter, and you certainly do not need the perfect gear or the perfect dog before you begin. You just have to start.

Ask the question.

Take the lesson.

Go to the clinic.

Accept the invitation.

Attend the event even if you do not know anyone there.

Eventually, you will stop feeling like the new woman trying to figure everything out.

You will simply be hunting.

And one day, someone else will look at you and ask a question because she thinks you know what you are doing.

When that happens, remember what it felt like to be the beginner.

Then turn around and say, “Come with me. I’ll show you.”