Archery Hunting Mothers Day Women Who Venture

Mums Who Venture — Kate George

Mother’s Day Series by Venture Hunting & Outdoors

Kate George

QLD (moving to SA shortly)

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!

Kate, Brett and the girls geared up in the field — *Kate, Brett & the girls geared up in the field*

Q&A with Kate

How did you get into hunting and the outdoors lifestyle?

“I grew up in a country town in WA and Mum was always wanting us outside to play (baby of 5) and we rode motorbikes, push bikes, swam in dams and played games outside all the time. It’s a follow on from that. Used to just camp away for nights out when I was younger. Being a farming community you pretty much fended your kids in and went the way. That turned to camping for weekend missions fishing or going to different rivers or bush camps. I got into hunting from my husband. He was shooting a bow in the backyard and I thought I would have a go at the challenges (just sitting and watching isn’t my thing, I’d rather have a go) so I had a run and realised I was ok at it and I really enjoyed it. He gave me a few more goes and it went from there. I was hooked! Something fun to do right away and something I could do with my kids/folks around — I relished a challenge and a new skill to learn. It has certainly given me more than just the archery side of it.”

How do you involve your kids in this way of life?

“We really got into bushwalking with the girls and going to promo in the bush. We lived in suburbs and needed the mental break. Found it was a great reset for all of us. I was also filming our walks and trips as a creative outlet and then as the girls got used to it, the distances and areas we have incorporated them starting to carry their own water, start using the bino’s and looking for sign too. Just as part of being in the bush and respecting the area. They now have such a taste for the bush they will ask when are we going camping or for a bushwalk. It’s also monkey see monkey do and the fact we hold the space for them to join in, they seem keen. Like many people we don’t have family around so the kids have to come with us, at some times it’s Brett and I tag teaming where I’m hunting and he’s with the parenting and other times we all go out together. I’m still learning so we all will listen to what we can from Brett.”

What’s your favourite memory in the field with your family?

“Easter 2025 out at an ABA shoot when we all went out, sinking hot, through head high grass (for the girls), no complaints. They just came with us and sat on the hill joined in glassing and asking the right questions. We got there and of course they needed to go to the toilet, wanted a snack and asked how long before we see something, but they just did so well. There is something about hunting alongside your kids but knowing enough you can teach them too and it being such a simple thing. I don’t think anyone who enjoys the outdoors comes home unhappy. We might be knackered but always happy and usually already looking forward to the next trip. The cherry on top is they asked a few weeks later when we were going again and if they could come back out with us.”

What does a typical outdoor adventure look like for you and your family?

“It can either be a simple daypack trip out the bush for a walk, picnic some morning tea and sit. Or caravan hooked up and off for a few nights. If we can add in hunting it’s a bonus but otherwise just off to explore somewhere new.”

What would you say to a mum who wants to get into this lifestyle but doesn’t know where to start?

“Grab a backpack, a snack and waterbottle, a little first aid kit and start with a simple bushwalk. You don’t need a lot of gear or to go far. Just find a little patch near you and try it on for size.”

What does this lifestyle mean to you as a mum?

“For me, it’s a breather from the everyday and a reset mentally. It just reminds me that we don’t need a lot to be happy. Something about the bush is just so calming. It also allows me to push myself out of my comfort zones to remind me that I am more than just a Mum or a wife and that I never want to stop and settle. It is also a tool to give my girls independence, resilience and to teach them putting yourself in such a rewarding thing, no matter how big or small the challenge may be. I want to teach them to trust their intuition too. I want my girls to have skills that I am only acquiring now and I want them to have space that we go when they need the break from the chaos of today. Between 8–12 girls lose something like 40% of their confidence and that is scary, so I want to give them that back in any way I can and I feel like the bush/farm is a great place to do that. Whether that’s camping, hunting or just being out and about for a walk, learning to respect the bush can give you so much.”