Way of the Huntress

Do You Hear The Call Of The Huntress?

Way of the Huntress participants during their Hunting Expedition with Murphy

The Way Of The Huntress is a year-long journey of learning and initiation into the craft, science, and mystery of ethical deer hunting. Meeting eight times throughout an entire year, you will experience each piece of the huntress's journey through the seasons. Together with a cohesive group of women and trans folks who are committed to a safe, ethical, thoughtful, and spiritually connected hunt, you will discover what it means to embrace full accountability for the meat you eat. The apprenticeship culminates in early December with a seven-day, fully guided Sacred Hunt on a private organic farm in Northern Virginia. The farm has a plentiful deer population so there is a high chance you will be able to harvest your first deer during this week, and honor the experience with a community of women & trans folks you have studied hunting with all year.

This apprenticeship is led by Murphy Robinson, who heard the call of the huntress during a deep meditation at age 27, after being a vegetarian all her life. She brings a strong sense of her spiritual connection to nature into all her huntress work, and she has taught women from all walks of life about the Sacred Hunt. Murphy brings her own teachers and mentors to this program to teach us what they know, and the gatherings offer plenty of time for marksmanship practice with rifle and bow, scouting for deer sign throughout the seasons, and spending time building our spiritual connection with the land & its creatures.

The next Way Of The Huntress apprenticeship will begin in February 2020.
For more information, please read the Q&A section below.

Lighting a Sacred Fire for our Evening Circle

You must fill out an application to be considered for the Way of the Huntress Apprenticeship, because we want to make sure the program will be a good fit for you. Please fill out this application. After we review your application we will schedule a phone conversation to answer any of your questions and help you make a final decision about enrolling in the program.

Our Deer Spirit Altar on the Hunting Expedition

Huntress Q&A

What is the schedule of this program? We will meet for 8 weekend classes (10am-5pm on Saturday and Sunday) and then gather for a Sacred Hunt in Northern Virginia (seven days including arrival and departure). This is the curriculum:

*February weekend: Setting Our Intentions for this Journey & Calling in the Deer Spirit, Tracking Skills.
*March weekend: Gaining Skill in the Shooting Sports: Archery and Riflery.
*April weekend: Deer Ecology: Yearly Cycles & Spring Deer Sign: Hunting for Shed Antlers
*May weekend: Shamanic connections with the Deer Spirit: Ritual and Relationship
*June, July, and August we do not meet -- go play in the sun!
*September weekend: Mountains, Farmlands, Swamps: Navigating Different Hunting Environments
*October weekend: Attend the Hide Tanning Weekend
*November weekend: Planning your Hunt, Scouting the Pre-Rut, Tree Stand Safety.
*Second week of December: Weeklong Sacred Hunt in Northern Virginia
All weekends will include meditative time in nature, opportunities to track deer in their wild habitat, archery & rifle practice, and heart-sharing circles. Exact topics covered each weekend may shift depending on the group's needs and unseasonable weather.

What is the cost of this Program? The cost is $2,500 for seven weekends and a seven-day guided hunt.
What does this tuition include? The tuition covers seven weekend classes that include hot lunches. The tuition also includes food and tenting space for the December hunt. Tuition does not include travel to Northern Virginia, the cost of your hunting license, or the cost of shipping venison back from Northern Virginia.
Is this apprenticeship only for women? The 2020 Way of the Huntress apprenticeship is for women and trans folks 18 & older only. We welcome anyone who identifies as a woman or a trans person. We may invite male-identified instructors, guides, and cooks in this program at times.
What is the spiritual aspect of this program? Is it religious? We honor the universal sense of a sacred connection to nature that is a common thread throughout all religions. We welcome each woman to share about her own spiritual path in our circle. We have had women who are Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Wiccan, Pagan, and atheist participate in our past Sacred Hunt programs. Whatever spiritual lineage you bring to our circle, our intent is to co-exist in harmony and learn from each other.
How fit do you need to be? Hunting requires us to hike off-trail through rough wooded terrain, so you must be able-bodied enough to do this. You must also have good enough eyesight to aim a rifle or bow accurately. An average fitness level is adequate.
Can I hunt with a bow? The apprenticeship will offer training and practice in shooting a rifle and a recurve bow, but bowhunting is an advanced skill that requires many extra hours of practice. Our seven-day hunt is during rifle season, and most women will choose to hunt with rifle for a quick, clean kill (we can provide a gun for you). If you purchase your own hunting bow, arrows, and broadheads, and put in extra practice time until you can shoot accurately enough to pass our huntress marksmanship test, you may hunt with a bow during our seven-day hunt.
If I already took the Huntress Intensive weekend, will I learn anything new in this program? We will cover more content, in greater depth, than the Huntress Intensive. You will gain a year of community support and reinforcement of your hunting goals, including monthly marksmanship practice and a guided hunt in December. The Huntress Intensive prepares you with some essential hunting skills, but this program actually gets you ready for the hunt and takes you on a guided hunt.
What if I decide I don't want to shoot a deer? All the classes and activities are optional. If you want to come to all the classes, and even come to North Carolina with us, but don't feel ready to shoot a deer, that is fine too! You are the only person who can decide what you are ready for on this journey.
How do I get there? Our weekend trainings will be based in Worcester, Vermont, which is near Montpelier. We can help arrange carpools. Our seven-day hunt is in North Carolina, an hour north of Charlotte. You will need to arrange your own transportation for the hunt, but carpooling is likely to be an option.
Can I pay for this with a VSAC Non-Degree Grant? Yes, Vermont residents with a low income can apply for a VSAC non-degree grant to cover the cost of this program. Please contact us for full application instructions.
Can I pay the tuition on a payment plan? Yes! Your $500 deposit holds your spot in the program and must be paid when you sign up. The remaining tuition can be paid over three months or six months. All tuition must be paid in full by Nov 1st.
How do I get my venison back from Northern Virginia? We recommend a cooler (64 gallons or larger) with dry ice in the trunk of your car. If you are flying, there may be limited room in Murphy's vehicle for transporting frozen venison back to Vermont. Depending on the meat transportation rules in your home state or province, you may be required to bring home only meat that has been removed from the bone (to prevent the potential spread of Chronic Wasting Disease). If you are transporting meat back to Vermont, you cannot import any bones from Virginia.
I have another question! Head on over to the Contact Us form and send your question to Murphy!

Huntress Rifle Practice

Once you've been accepted to the program, you can pay your tuition below:

Honoring JoJo's first buck together