Her Element: Carlie Bodiford

Some traditions are inherited. Others are discovered, learned, and eventually passed on. For Carlie Bodiford, hunting was the latter. A first generation hunter from around Santee, South Carolina, Carlie found her love for hunting at 16 when she went on her first duck hunt. What began with a morning in the woods has since grown into a passion for hunting and a mission to make sure the next generation has the knowledge and confidence to find their place there, too.

Carlie had always loved being outside, but hunting introduced her to something different. She fell in love with the quiet of the woods at sunrise and the anticipation of a morning in the blind. She also loved knowing that no two hunts would ever be exactly alike. For her, it was never solely about the harvest. The woods became a place to learn. They taught her to ask questions and become comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Now, she is turning those lessons outward. This year, Carlie has traveled across the country speaking about the importance of educating the next generation of hunters. Her own experience entering the hunting world without generations of knowledge behind her has shaped that mission. Through her videos, classes, conversations, and time in the field, she is helping make that knowledge easier to access. More importantly, she is reminding new hunters that everyone started somewhere.

Carlie hopes that impact lasts far beyond her own time in the field. She hopes “there are women hunting years from now who once wondered whether they belonged there at all.” Her story speaks to one of the most important parts of preserving the traditions we love. It is not simply about participating in them. It is about teaching them, sharing them, and making sure there is another generation ready to carry them forward.

Read our full conversation with Carlie below.

 

1. WHAT DRAWS YOU TO HUNTING?

I have always loved to be outside, but after my first hunt I fell in love with the peace that comes with the sunrise in the woods. I think I continue falling in love with the fact that every morning in the blind or stand is different. I’m always learning something in the woods. It’s never really been solely about the harvest for me.

2. WHAT HAS HUNTING TAUGHT YOU, BOTH WITHIN IT AND FAR BEYOND IT?

That it’s okay to feel uncomfortable, and even more okay to ask questions. Everything feels weird the first time you do it, but once you realize everyone started somewhere, you can shake off the embarrassment and find your passions a lot faster. It’s not a race, just be the best version that you can be today.

3. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU SHARE WITH OTHER WOMEN FINDING THEIR PLACE IN THIS SPACE?

I want everyone, not just ladies, to know there is no such thing as a stupid question, just people who don’t know how to answer it. Safety comes with education. The most dangerous people in the woods are the ones who didn’t ask questions.

4. WHAT IMPACT DO YOU HOPE TO MAKE ON THIS COMMUNITY?

I hope that I can educate and inspire as much of the next generation and first generation hunters as I can. Whether it’s by watching my videos online, an actual class, or just through a story I was a part of, I hope my legacy is women hunting for years who thought they didn’t have a place when they started.

JUST FOR FUN: WHAT DOES YOUR PERFECT DAY IN YOUR ELEMENT LOOK LIKE?

My perfect day would be a sunrise hunt in a wood duck hole, with my husband and our best friends. It would include a wader pocket full of shells, Slim Jims, and a thermos full of hot coffee. No rain, light cloud cover, no beavers or gators. Nobody’s waders would leak, everyone would shoot a limit, then we’d be at Waffle House by 9. Hunt went by so fast I didn’t even get to break into my Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes.