Hunting With Heart: 6 Weeks To Confident & Connected Deer Hunting
In six weeks this course will walk you through the core skills and principles of ethical & spiritually-grounded hunting. Answer the call of the hunt with confidence and connection.
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Hunt with Connection
You can approach hunting in a way that is rooted in connection, reciprocity, and respect, not in domination. Your hunt can be integrated into your spiritual practice (whatever that may be) or be the start of a new road to spiritual connection.
This is the hunting course I wish I'd had when I began hunting as a 28-year-old lifelong vegetarian. I'll translate all the hunting jargon and speak with deep respect for our prey at all times.
Hunt with Confidence
The course walks you thorugh everything you need to know to keep your hunt legal, safe, ethical, and comfortable.
I'll demystify hunting equipment and show you the most affordable options. I'll explain the real differences between bowhunting and firearms hunting, and help you make a plan to meet your hunting goals.
Hunt in Good Company
This hunting skills journey is designed for hunters of marginalized genders: women, non-binary people, trans folks, queer hunters, etc. You are not alone, and our private community forum allows you to connect with other hunters like you.
I'm a queer transmasculine hunter who was assigned female at birth, so I'm very familiar with navigating the hunting world from a variety of identities. Let me invite you into hunting without all the gendered gatekeeping: you won't get talked-down-to here!
"You hold a beautiful container with a calm and steadfast attitude that made me feel safe, respected, and heard. The curriculum filled all of the gaps that left me more confused than before taking the state Hunter’s Ed class."
~Gavin, Hunting Student
"Taking this class helped open my eyes to all that is involved with hunting – its not just finding a deer and shooting. It is so much more and this was an incredible place and way to start my own hunting journey."
~Diane, Hunting Student
"You created a holistic container for diving deeply into the question, ‘Am I called to hunt?’ The gravity of the choice to hunt, and the possibility of me actually hunting, have both come into sharper focus. Thank you Murphy!"
~Lauren, Hunting Student
Hunting With Heart: 6 Weeks to Confident & Connected Deer Hunting
This six-week course will teach you all the skills you need to know to hunt whitetailed deer with technical confidence and spiritual connection. You'll get two lessons per week on hunting skills, each containing a series of short, digestible videos explaining everything step-by-step.
My hunting classes usually cost $300-$1500. This course distills everything I teach into twelve digestible lessons, and costs only $95. You'll have access whenever you want and you can take it from anywhere in the world. Plus there is a BIPOC Reparations Scholarship available (details on checkout page).
Here's what you'll learn in the course:
Week One
Setting Intentions:
Why are you called to the hunt?
The Huntress Archetype: Artemis, Skadhi, and Elen
Hunting for marginalized genders
How to get the most out of this course
Make your Hunt Legal (in North America):
Hunter’s Safety, Bowhunter Safety, and Crossbow Safety classes
Buying your license
Access to hunting land
Week Two
Hunting With Firearms:
Rifle vs. Shotgun: which is better for your hunt?
A note on muzzleloaders
How to pick a gun
How to pick ammunition
Budget hunting gear: hunt for $500 or less (PDF)
Sights & Scopes for your gun
Shooting your rifle step-by-step
How to store & transport your gun safely
How to clean your gun
Sighting in your gun
Marksmanship practice with a gun
Bowhunting:
So you want to bowhunt: important things to consider
Intro to traditional hunting bows
Intro to compound hunting bows
Intro to crossbows
All about arrows (& where to order them)
Arrow points: Field tips, broadheads, small game heads
Setting up a home archery range
Basic archery form
Marksmanship practice with a bow or crossbow
Week Three
Dressing for the Hunt:
Always wear blaze orange
The Importance of Warm Toes!
Dressing in Layers
Camo or no camo?
Your hunting daypack:
Picking a backpack
Essential safety gear
What to sit on
Communication: mobile phone vs. satellite communicator
Map & Compass versus GPS
Packing your “I just shot a deer!” kit
Food for your pack
Week Four
Finding Deer:
Habitat & food sources
Hunting the Rut
Stands, stalking, and tracking
Types of tree stands
Trim your shooting lanes
Deer calls
Understanding antler & point restrictions
Ethics spotlight: a doe with fawns
Emotional & Spiritual Preparation:
The power of community
What is a Sacred Hunt?
The Huntress Prayer
Building an altar for your hunt
Making an offering to the land
Grounding your energy
Spiritual allies
Week Five
Making your harvest:
What is a safe shot?
Target identification steps
Common rifle mistakes
Following a blood trail
Tagging your deer
Songs & Offerings to honor your deer
Tasteful photographs: ideas for portraying the respect and wonder of the hunt
Bringing home the venison:
Dragging your deer out of the woods: how to make it easier!
Gutting your deer
Reporting your deer
Hanging your deer
Knives & sharpeners for processing meat
How to sharpen your knife
Skinning your deer
Quartering your deer
Cutting, Grinding, and storing your meat
Making Jerky
Mounts & hides
Week Six
Emotional and Spiritual Integration:
Saying grace
Sharing your hunting story
Emotional highs & lows
When hunts don’t go well
Journey to meet the spirit of your deer
Giving back & living well
Where to find more support:
Finding a Mentor
In-Person hunting skills classes
Guided Hunts
Recommended Reading
I want to take the course!