You probably recognize the name, Boddington, and have seen Brittany with her own TV series on Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel, sometimes alongside her dad, Craig. But that was then, and this CEO is now changing the lives of women with every “camp” she puts on in the Hill Country of Texas, known as She Hunts Skills Camps. I’ve known Brittany for years as she quietly goes on the most amazing adventures, but the adventure she’s on now, as a newlywed raising a family, is most exciting one yet. -Michelle Scheuermann, editor, Archery Wire.
1. Brittany, you have quite a background in the hunting industry and most people associate you with your dad, Craig Boddington. But you have your own accolades to tout. I know you didn’t get involved in hunting until you were a bit older. Can you share what was the tipping point for you to get into big game hunting, what was your first hunt and how did that shape who you are today?
Well, I grew up in Los Angeles, which was not exactly hunting friendly. My school friends knew my dad was a writer but when they asked what he wrote about I would simply reply "sports." I think they all thought he wrote about basketball or something until they stepped inside my house and saw the taxidermy. It was only when I graduated high school that my dad offered to take me to Africa as a graduation present that I started research on hunting in Africa. Up to that point, I had refused to even hear about hunting and had not shot a rifle since one ill-fated shot with a gun far too big for me at 7 years old that left me in tears. The more I read about herd management and shooting the non-breeding older males so the younger animals would have enough food to eat, the more I thought perhaps hunting might be something I was interested in doing. I asked my dad to teach me to shoot and he was shocked, to say the least. He was hesitant to book a full blown safari before I had even harvested an animal. We agreed if I could hunt a wild boar in California successfully, then we would book a hunt. We went on that pig hunt, and I took my first animal and have been hunting ever since. In those early days it was just my dad and I out hunting, which was a wonderful time but shortly after that he started filming for Tracks Across Africa and several other shows and our hunts began to be filmed. That changed the dynamic a bit, but I found that I enjoyed the storytelling side of things as well. The TV exposure led to magazines asking for my stories, which I happily shared and those articles led to more television opportunities on my own. This all pushed me to bigger and bigger game in far off places. I was fortunate enough to host outdoor TV for 15 years and enjoyed every minute of it. I retired from TV to start a family and put my efforts into She Hunts Skills Camp.
2. Tell us more about the She Hunts Skills Camps – why did you start the camps? And who is the ideal “camper” to attend?
I started the She Hunts Skills Camps because I've found that women can sometimes be handicapped by chivalry in the hunting world. We often have men in our lives who help set up firearms and help us on hunts. This is wonderful, but at the end of the day it does not set us up for being independent in the outdoors. I started the camps to give ladies the skills they need to be independent in the outdoors. The ideal camper is anyone looking to learn or further their skills in hunting. You do not need to kill anything to come to camp but you can hunt in camp if you wish. We really give a full picture of what you need to know to decide to hunt on your own.
3. What do you wish every woman knew about learning how to shoot a gun or learning how to hunt for the first time?
I think women in general tend to be a bit more recoil and noise sensitive than men. This is of course a generalization, but I find that proper instruction on firearms suited to them as well as proper ear protection can really help put ladies at ease and make for a fun and stress-free learning experience. As for a first hunt, there is no better feeling than taking your first animal or your first of a certain type of animal with the support of a group of like-minded ladies. The sisterhood that forms with our She Hunts alumni is truly indescribable. I am so very fortunate to be able to see the relationships build and last from camp to camp as more and more ladies find true and lasting friendships through shared hunting and learning experiences.
4. What is your next adventure with your husband, Brad? And when do you think Lilly will go on her first hunt with you?
I've managed to find a man that is not only supportive of my passion for educating women in the outdoors, but he is also a fabulous teacher and an archery instructor. We thrive on adventure, so I'd say it’s not so much about our next adventure but rather enjoying the adventure of life that we live. As for Lilly, she went on her first hunt at two months old after our October She Hunts when her dad took a massive elk at Recordbuck Ranch.