Newsroom, November 09, 2025: During Minnesota's 2025 deer firearms opener, women and youth are increasingly claiming space in the male-dominated pursuit, seeking family connections and outdoor thrills amid cold snaps and quiet waits.
Colleen Foehrenbacher, 40, from Lanesboro, mentored 11-year-old June Feichtinger, who bagged her first deer with a 20-gauge shotgun, while Breckan Nelson, 12, from Lakeville, aimed for bigger bucks in a ground blind with her father. Koral Knaak, 26, from Alexandria, hunted with her grandfather, Tom Rieke, cherishing campfire tales, and Hannah Holsten, 29, from Stillwater, cherished time with her dad, Mark, a former DNR commissioner.
These stories highlight a shift: 14% of hunters are women, and a third of new participants are female, driven by workshops and mentorship. Challenges like 20s temperatures and elusive deer test resolve, but joys of venison meals and stories endure.
