xe2x80x9cDo you remember her name? Shexe2x80x99s been here for a long, long time. She has the magic power, to make it rain or sunshine.
“She got the power to turn off the lights. She got the power over day and the night!
“You best hide when shexe2x80x99s angry, because she can level your town. When she throws a temper tantrum itxe2x80x99s like the sky is falling down.
“She got the power to turn off the lights. She got the power over day and the night.
“Shexe2x80x99s the queen of the forest. Queen of the forest! Queen of the forest.
“She takes care of all of her creatures. She supplies all of their needs. She provides a much better life, to be happy and free.
“Shexe2x80x99s the queen of the forest!xe2x80x9d
Now therexe2x80x99s a killer all American rock-n-roll song, my fellow boogie chillinxe2x80x99!
That little roustabout ditty was first recorded on my Cat Scratch Fever album way back in 1977 and we still perform the uppity rocker to the delight of real music lovers everywhere to this day.
In fact, on our award-winning Spirit of the Wild TV show on Outdoor Channel for more than 30 years, this fun, high-energy song celebrating Ma Nature is the powerhouse theme song for everybodyxe2x80x99s favorite prime segment of the same name featuring my dangerous wife Shemane in all her effervescent queen-of-the-forest outdoor glory.
In my lifetime of gung-ho outdoor hunting, fishing, trapping, shooting, conservation adventure, there is nothing more thrilling to me than witnessing the incredible explosion of increased recruitment of women into our sport.
Ixe2x80x99ve always figured that the more women there are in anything, makes for an improved quality of life every time.
When I first began hunting way back in the early 1950s, you could say that it was clearly a male-dominated activity, if not downright exclusively male controlled.
There are always exceptions and I happen to know for a fact that Lois Nicholls and her female companions just so happened to have joined their husbands on the very first opening day of the very first Michigan archery deerseason on November 1, 1947, at the Allegan State Park. But, it was indeed extremely rare to find a female in the deerwoods back then.
And glory, glory hallelujah, how the times have changed! And changed for the better, thatxe2x80x99s for sure.
I am convinced that Shemanexe2x80x99s and my experience reflects the average system by which millions of women have made the decision to join us in the Spirit of the Wild outback, and become some of the best, most dedicated and happiest hunters out here.
Slowly but surely us men-folk came to the realization that our soulmates, with but a modicum of enticement, would quickly fall in love with our nature-as-healer hunting lifestyle if we would gently push, and just share with them the deep and meaningful fulfillment that we derive from each and every hunt.
The defining power of the motherhood instinct to protect, provide, nourish and care for the child and family unit is, in my estimation, best served and ultimately fulfilled by the hunting urge and accomplishment.
In my experience, the simple mechanical aim-small, miss-small marksmanship discipline of gun handling and archery is instantly mastered by gals. In every instance, a new female shooter gets the hang of it and excels much quicker than guys do.
Women, those intelligent, gentle souls, so it seems, are more pragmatic and pleasantly void of the macho psychological baggage of us wanna-be he-mans, and they pick up on the earthly physics of spirituality that is so beneficial to becoming one with the mystical flight of the arrow or projectile of choice!
Having the privilege and joy of filming Shemane on many bowhunts for various big game around the world for Spirit of the Wild TV, it is immediately apparent every time just how calm and relaxed she remains even in the presence of a desirable beast that would induce a tremor of nerve-rattling excitement in me.
Ixe2x80x99m envious.
I am compelled to restate what I believe to be the glaringly obvious, but necessary nonetheless, few simple truisms to know and adhere to when introducing our favorite gals into the worldxe2x80x99s greatest sport and conservation lifestyle.
Firearms and archery introduction must be approached intelligently, and that means gently, patiently and conscientiously for the average woman.
The ultimate firearm baptism should be with a simple .22-caliber single-shot rifle, always with ear and eye protection, at close range on a simple, easily visible reactive target.
With archery, a very lightweight-draw bow that fits the person perfectly is absolutely mandatory.
If she struggles at all to bring the bow to full draw, you must make certain a graceful, effortlessly drawn bow is the bow to use. They must be guided to learn true archery form or they will never be the archer that they can and should be, and therefore, will not stick with it.
As we plow through the summer months leading up to our beloved fall/winter hunting season, now is the perfect time to dedicate ourselves to the most important role in the hunting world xe2x80x94 recruitment of new sporters, particularly those gals in our lives.
Get them out there, be gentle, be patient, but be diligent in bringing them into our lifestyle. It will cleanse their souls like it cleanses ours, and the relationship with the women in our lives will soar to new heights, I assure you.
We need all the queens of the forests that we can get! Sing it!
Multi-platinum guitar legend TED NUGENT has a new full-length album THE MUSIC MADE ME DO IT, released on Friday, November 9, on Round Hill Records. The album is available now for order everywhere, and the title track xe2x80x9cThe Music Made Me Do Itxe2x80x9d is available to download and stream wherever music is sold.
Ted Nugent xe2x80x93 xe2x80x9cThe Music Made Me Do Itxe2x80x9d (Official Music Video)
With more than 40 million albums sold, rock legend Ted Nugent is equally well known as the nationxe2x80x99s most outspoken proponent of our 1st and 2nd Amendment rights, conducting thousands of pro-gun, pro-freedom, pro-American interviews in major media worldwide. Nugent is a New York Times best-selling author whose works include Ted, White & Blue xe2x80x94The Nugent Manifesto; God, Guns & Rock xe2x80x98nxe2x80x99 Roll and Kill It & Grill It.This year, his award-winning Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild TV show celebrates its 500th episode! For all things Nuge, visit www.tednugent.com