Mums Who Venture — Gaby and Deanna Orszagh
Venture Field Report
Mums Who Venture
Gaby & Deanna Orszagh
Scenic Rim, QLD
This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating the mums who are raising the next generation of hunters, fishers, and adventurers - while also carving out time for themselves and their own passions.
The mums who pack the camping and hunting gear at 4am, carry the extra snacks, sit in the cold, teach patience and grit in the field, navigate the highs and lows, and wouldn’t trade a single moment in the bush for anything.
Welcome to Mums Who Venture - a Mother’s Day series where we sit down with real mums from our community and hear their stories of getting their kids into the outdoors, and making space for their own passion pursuits!
In This Report
Q&A with Gaby
How did you first get your kids into hunting, fishing, or the outdoors?
"My daughter Deanna has been around hunting and the outdoors since before she was born. We were always out hunting together while I was pregnant. We spent a lot of our early time together just being in the bush - I’d carry her in a pouch, or she’d be in the pram at the campsite. As she got older, she naturally started wanting to be more involved. There was no single moment - it was just always part of our life."
What’s the biggest challenge of getting kids involved in the outdoors?
"Patience - both theirs and yours. Kids don’t have the same attention span, and you can’t expect them to sit still in a hide for hours on end. You have to be willing to cut trips short, adjust your plans, and let them set the pace. Some days are about the hunting, and some days are just about being outside together. You have to be okay with that."
Proud Moments
What’s the proudest moment you’ve had watching your kids in the field?
"Watching Deanna get her first pig. She was five years old. She was so calm and focused - she just did everything we’d talked about. I was more nervous than she was. That moment told me she was ready for more, and it’s only grown from there. She’s nearly eight now, and she’s a completely different hunter to what she was even a year ago."
Advice for Other Mums
"Just start. Don’t overthink it. Take them on a walk in the bush. Let them hold the binoculars. Let them sit with you while you glass a ridge. They don’t need to shoot anything or catch anything straight away - they just need to be there. The skills and the love for it come naturally when they’re exposed to it early. And don’t be afraid to do it your way. There’s no rule that says it has to look a certain way."
Persistence & Memories
What’s your favourite memory with your kids in the field?
"Deanna had been learning to roar during the rut. Our first trip out, we struck it lucky - she let out a roar and got a response straight away. She was hooked. The next trip, poachers moved through the area and shut everything down, so she didn’t get the chance."
"The third trip, we set up in a gully at last light. Deanna let out this big roar, and a stag came bellowing back at her. The look on her face - she was absolutely beside herself. My partner was with us and he was speechless. He kept watching the videos over and over. That’s probably my favourite memory - watching her persistence pay off and seeing three generations out there sharing that moment."
The Outdoor Connection
What does the outdoors give your family that nothing else can?
"Time together without distractions. No screens, no schedules, no noise. Just us. Deanna learns things out there that she’d never learn in a classroom - patience, respect for animals, how to read the bush. And honestly, some of our best conversations happen when we’re just sitting in the truck driving to a spot or walking a ridge together. The outdoors gives us that space."
Mother's Day Gift Ideas
Looking for the perfect gift for a mum who’d rather be in the field than at brunch? Check out our range in-store and online at Venture Hunting & Outdoors.
Share the Love
Know a mum who deserves a shoutout this Mother’s Day? Tag her in the comments or send us her story - we’d love to feature more Mums Who Venture.
ps.
and watch those spines on that cat fish!
What a great story. The little girls face is priceless!
Leave a comment