Megan Antley comes from a family where hunting is a constant subject at the family’s reunions. Her father owns a hunting club and has been hunting since she was a little girl.
“My grandfather was a hunter and my dad still enjoys it,” Antley said. “I have always looked up to both of them, especially as a small girl, so anything they enjoyed I wanted to do. One of my favorite things about deer season is when Mom and Grandma cook fried deer meat for the family and the guys in the hunting club. It is the best feast of the year. Nothing beats fried dear steak, mashed potatoes and scratch homemade gravy.”
However, since her childhood Antley never had shot a deer. This past summer she and her younger sister went through a hunter’s education program. She became eager to get outdoors and hunt on her own.
Antley’s boyfriend, Keaton Harper, is also a hunter. In the opening day of the season, they decided to go hunting together.
“We had only been sitting in the stand for about 20 minutes when we spotted what looked like two does coming toward us,” Antley said. “I thought one was a buck by the way it was holding itself, so I told Keaton and then proceeded to gently raise my gun. I got it up and then it walked into the woods before I got a shot. However, about one minute later he stepped out of the woods again. I proceeded to ask Keaton if I could shoot, to which, in the loudest whisper ever, he said, ‘Well yeah!’ I took in a deep breath and as soon as the crosshairs were still, I pulled the gun tight and fired the trigger.”
With Antley still shaking and holding her gun, Harper jumped out of his seat and started to shake her in excitement.
“I was still in shock and he was celebrating,” Antley said. “I was so excited, but I still couldn’t believe what had happened. We waited for a few minutes to make sure he was dead and then we finally got to go see it up close. It was an eight point and a really nice size one at that. It was an experience I will never forget.”
Harper also was really excited when his girlfriend killed her first deer.
“When Megan killed her deer I was so pumped,” Harper said. “I was ecstatic that I could be there with her when she harvested her first buck. That was definitely my favorite hunt. She did a great job of being patient and waiting to take a shot that would not harm the deer, but would keep it from suffering.”
Antley and Harper love to hunt. They enjoy the sensation of being outside in nature. Hunting is a constant topic in their relationship.
“I love sitting out in God’s creation and watching it all transpire before me,” Harper said. “I love to hear the birds singing their songs as the sun rises over the trees. I love to watch the wildlife roam through the woods interacting with one another, and I love to think about how beautiful a place that our great God has given us.”
Antley says that all girls should experience hunting at least once.
“I think it is a great way for any country girl to spend time with her boyfriend,” Antley said. “Even those girls that aren’t, I think it would be a fun experience, even if all you did was watch the deer. They are such a beautiful part of God’s creation and they are so graceful.”
Antley does not believe in a prejudice against women hunting. She believes the majority of guys think that is cool when they meet a girl that likes to hunt.
“If it is something they both have in common, it makes for fun times and great conversation,” Antley said. “Women’s interest in hunting has just recently gotten higher, so it is still new to some and some are still getting used to the idea. But for the most part, I think that most guys don’t mind it.”
