Meet Christine Tillman Our Member Highlight of the Month

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My name is Christine Tillman. I was born and raised in Oklahoma before eventually settling in Wisconsin, where I have lived for the past 25 years. I am a dialysis nurse educator, happily married to a wonderful hunter, with three children, ages 26, 20, and 10. As a family, we all share a love for the outdoors and now hunting.

I have not been hunting for very long. My introduction to hunting began by accompanying my husband on deer and pheasant hunts with his family (aka- all men). While I wasn't interested in hunting myself at first, I found a way to be involved through photography. Capturing these hunting adventures allowed me to spend quality time with him while creating lasting memories featuring him, our dog, and his family. Over the years, my husband encouraged me to give hunting a try, but I was intimidated by firearms and unsure where to begin. I was scared to be vulnerable to my husband who made hunting and guns look so easy.

While attending a pheasants forever pheasant hunt for photography I met a field rep who helped me find a firearm that felt comfortable and manageable. I quickly fell in love with it (because it didn't make my shoulder hurt), and decided to purchase one of my own. Not long after, I received my own hunting dog as a Mother's Day gift. Even then, I still couldn't quite "pull the trigger" on becoming a hunter. I honestly didn't know where to start even though my husband offered many times to teach me.

Everything changed when I had the opportunity to take a hunter safety education course designed specifically for women. It was exactly what I needed. Not only did I learn firearm safety and hunting fundamentals, but I also met an incredible group of supportive women who shared my interest in the outdoors. That weekend gave me the confidence and encouragement I needed to take the next step.

A short time later, my husband and I traveled to New Zealand. I had no intention of hunting on that trip, but an opportunity presented itself that I simply couldn't pass up: a fallow buck. Harvesting that animal became my first big game hunting experience, and I was immediately hooked.

More recently, our family traveled to South Africa on a hunting adventure together. During that trip, I harvested an impala, and my daughter harvested her first big game animal, a warthog. It was an unforgettable experience and created memories that our family will cherish forever. We are already planning our next adventure.

As my passion for hunting has grown, I have also taken up archery. I purchased a bow and quickly discovered that it presents an entirely new set of challenges. While I have not yet hunted with it, I thoroughly enjoy target shooting in my spare time. My interest in archery has also inspired my daughter, who now participates in target shooting through her local 4-H program.

Today, I continue to expand my skills by learning how to process wild game and exploring new types of hunting that I never imagined I would experience. Looking back, I am grateful that I took the leap and embraced this incredible lifestyle.

Joining WHSA last year has been another amazing part of this journey. As mothers, we often spend so much time caring for others that we forget to invest in ourselves. Through WHSA, I have been introduced to women's sporting events, outdoor activities, and opportunities to connect with like-minded women that I may never have experienced otherwise. The friendships, support, and opportunities have been invaluable no matter what experience you have or dont have.

In fact, my husband now jokes that I hunt more than he does and is a little jealous of all the opportunities and adventures that have come my way through this incredible group of women. I fully encourage you to give it a try if this interests you, you may never know what you could be missing out on.

Thank you to all of you that have taken part in my journey- you know who you are and I love you for that and also to my loving husband for encouraging and supporting me and mostly understanding that sometimes you just need other women around.