New Turkey Hunter +ONE®️ Starter Pack Promo

  Hunters are some of the most passionate conservationists and stewards of the land, deeply connected to the natural world and committed to preserving it for future generations. The holiday season is the perfect time for hunters to extend their values of stewardship and responsibility beyond the woods and fields by giving back to their communities meaningfully. Whether through time, resources or a helping hand, hunters can showcase their positive impact, embodying the spirit of generosity and the values behind initiatives like NSSF’s #GunOwnersCare. Here are a few ways to give back this holiday season.

Donate Wild Game to Those in Need

One of the most direct ways hunters can make a difference is by donating harvested game to food banks and programs that provide meals for families in need. Organizations like Hunters for the Hungry and Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry make it easy to donate processed venison and other game, ensuring that your efforts in the field help feed those who might otherwise go without. If there’s no formal donation program in your area, consider reaching out to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, local food banks or community organizations to explore ways your harvest can help others.

Support Conservation Programs

Hunters are at the forefront of conservation, with their contributions funding wildlife management, habitat restoration and public land access. This holiday, consider supporting conservation organizations that align with your values. Groups focused on preserving wild spaces, protecting wildlife or mentoring new hunters can amplify the positive impact of your giving. Beyond the field, hunters can lend their time to causes that support their communities. From helping at a local food bank to assisting with youth outdoor programs, your time and skills can make a lasting impact.

Mentor a New Hunter

Sharing your knowledge and passion for hunting is one of the most rewarding ways to give back. Consider mentoring a new hunter—especially someone who might not otherwise have access to the outdoors. Learn more about getting started mentoring through NSSF's +ONE^® resources.

Support Firearm Safety

A cornerstone of responsible firearm ownership is ensuring safety at all times and one way to give back this holiday season is by supporting Project ChildSafe^®. This initiative provides free firearm safety kits, including gun locks, and promotes secure storage to help prevent accidents and unauthorized access. By donating to or raising awareness for Project ChildSafe, hunters can play a vital role in fostering safer homes and communities while demonstrating their commitment to responsible firearm ownership. Learn more and get involved at projectchildsafe.org.

Celebrate the Spirit of #GunOwnersCare

As hunters, you’re already contributing to conservation through license fees, equipment purchases and excise taxes that fund wildlife management. Take the extra step this holiday season to show how much hunters care. Share your stories of giving back using #GunOwnersCare to inspire others in the hunting community to follow your lead. NSSF celebrates the generosity and impact of hunters across the country. Together, let’s showcase how hunters care not just for wildlife and wild places but for our neighbors and communities, too.

Hunt Like a Girl and Beretta USA: Champions of the +ONE Movement.

 

By Daphane Cassidy, NSSF Content Manager

There are moments in life that stay with you, not because of grand spectacle, but because of stillness, presence and a kind of quiet reverence that settles deep in your bones. For me, one of those moments didn't come during the shot or the celebration, but in the still blue hour before it all began, standing in a sunken pond blind, surrounded by reeds and mist, with a shotgun in hand and half a dozen women breathing deeply beside me.

Sharing our experience of the Hunt Like A Girl +ONE Waterfowl Hunt: Sponsored by Beretta. (Videography by: Sara Liberte)

Hunt Like A Girl +ONE^® Waterfowl Hunt

There's something uniquely powerful about watching someone experience their first hunt. As a long-time advocate of the shooting sports and a proud representative of NSSF's +ONE Movement, I've mentored many newcomers over the years but every hunt feels new again when you're guiding someone who's never stepped afield before. That's exactly what happened during the Hunt Like A Girl +ONE Waterfowl Hunt, held in partnership with Shoot Like a Girl, Beretta USA and NSSF, at Rocky Creek Retrievers in El Campo, Texas.

From the moment we arrived, the energy was electric, an eager blend of nervous anticipation and pure excitement. This wasn't just another event. It was a culmination of passion, mentorship and legacy-building. Four women, ranging from seasoned professionals to industry newcomers, had each invited a guest who had never duck hunted before. Some of these first-timers had never held a firearm. Some had been around hunting their whole lives, but just never had the opportunity to go. One of our newbies was here at the request of her sister, two were brought by colleagues and one was a friend chosen by our passionate +ONE contest winner. While coming from different backgrounds and comfort levels, what united them all was an openness to try something new and the courage to step outside their comfort zones.

The whole +ONE group together in the duck blind. (Photography by: Alexis Greene)

As part of NSSF's +ONE Movement, the goal was simple but transformational: bring someone new afield. The idea that if every hunter took just one person with them, we could change the trajectory of America's hunting heritage. And on this trip, we didn't just talk about it, we lived it.

The +ONE Vision in Action

The +ONE Movement is built on a simple truth: When we invite others to hunt or shoot for the first time, we pass down something deeper than skill; we pass down a way of life. It's not just a campaign, it's a cultural shift. And this hunt was a living, breathing embodiment of that vision.

(Photography by: Alexis Greene)

For me, mentoring is more than just a responsibility; it's a gift. You get to share in the adrenaline of a first shot, the quiet reverence of a morning sunrise over decoys and the genuine pride that comes from helping someone do something they never imagined themselves capable of. You see, the moment fear dissolves into confidence, when a woman who was hesitant to pick up a shotgun now smiles after folding her first bird over open water. You see self-doubt replaced with laughter and stories, shared around the fire or while walking through the field.

I had the honor of mentoring a few of the first-time hunters, guiding them through safety basics, shotgun handling and what to expect in a duck blind. Their nerves were real and completely understandable. But what never fails to inspire me is how fast that anxiety turns to exhilaration with the right encouragement and support.

The magic wasn't in instruction alone; it was in companionship. We laughed, learned, whispered advice and encouragement across the decoys. I watched one guest who was hesitant to even pick up her shotgun on day one light up when she successfully harvested a bird on day two. Another guest cried, not out of sorrow, but from the emotional weight of doing something she never thought she could do. She was joyful, overwhelmed, respectful of the life taken and empowered all at once. And honestly? So were we.

As mentors, we got to witness the +ONE movement from both sides: as seasoned hunters and as students once more, reminded of the awe and responsibility that comes with every shot.

 

The Morning Grounding: Becoming Present in the Blind

Each day began with what I can only describe as a grounding ritual, from the guidance of Karen Butler, Shoot Like a Girl founder, I was encouraged to create this moment for our hunters and step strongly into my role as a "Hunt Like a Girl" Mentor. Before any shots were fired, before any birds came into sight, we paused. We sat in that sunken blind, dew still clinging to the grass around us, fog curling low over the water and the horizon just starting to burn with the blush of sunrise.

Mornings from the duck blind. (Photography by: Alexis Greene)

We took a breath together.

We felt the wind on our faces and the earth beneath our boots. We noticed the weight of our shotguns in our hands. We listened to the reeds rustling, to the wings above, to each other. And we reminded ourselves to be here. Fully present. We were not just having an experience but creating this peaceful memory in nature, which we could always return to in our minds. It wasn't just about what happened, but how deeply we felt it.

I watched women with no prior hunting experience close their eyes and take it in. Later, several people came to me and said they felt goosebumps during that moment, as if something within them had shifted. They were completely present.

As a mentor, it was powerful beyond words. We weren't just preparing for a hunt; we were stepping into a moment that could anchor us for years to come.

Processing the Harvest: Turning Experience into Ownership

For many, the idea of cleaning and processing a harvested duck is intimidating. But that, too, is where empowerment lives, in the doing. Duck hunting, especially for first-timers, offers a uniquely approachable transition into game processing. With a small knife, a clear technique and a little guidance, anyone can go from uncertainty to capability in a single afternoon.

Learning the full process from hunt to harvest. (Photography by: Alexis Greene)

I watched it happen over and over. Women who hesitated at first now worked with focused hands and growing confidence, processing their ducks with care and purpose. You could see it on their faces: I did this. Not just the shot, but the follow-through. They were now providers in the most primitive sense.

That evening, we ate what we had harvested. It wasn't just dinner, it was a culmination. A celebration. The connection from blind to table made it real in a way no words or photos could. One participant turned to me and said, "I didn't know I could feel this way, so full, so proud, so connected."

The Power of Partnership

It's important to say that this hunt wouldn't have been possible without the deep collaboration between Beretta USA, Hunt Like A Girl and NSSF. Beretta didn't just provide equipment; they brought legacy. Their 500-year tradition in firearms was woven into everything we touched, from the smooth action of their 20-gauge shotguns to the warmth and functionality of the women's tactical and hunting gear. The women didn't just use Beretta gear; we lived in it.

And Hunt Like A Girl, what a force. Their team of women brought experience, mentorship and soul to every corner of the field. Their approach to safety, empowerment and connection reshaped how many of our first-time hunters viewed themselves, not just as students, but as emerging participants in something powerful.

Bringing Women In: Changing the Invitation

For generations, women were often excluded from hunts. Fathers and brothers hunted, but the girls stayed home. That's changing and Hunt Like A Girl is at the front of that shift.

One participant told me she'd always been curious about hunting, but no one had ever invited her. Another said, "My dad hunted my whole life, but he never thought to bring me."

That's what +ONE is here to fix. We don't need to talk people into loving the outdoors. We need to invite them in.

Your Invitation

If you've ever wondered whether inviting someone afield makes a difference, let me assure you - it does, because I've seen it. I've seen it in the eyes of women who once said, "I could never do that," and now say, "When can I go again?"

So, I'll leave you with this: Take the pledge. Invite someone. Be the +ONE that changes everything.

 

Want to experience this hunt from a Newbie's Perspective? Check out this article:

Into the Blind with a +ONE: A Newbie's First Duck Hunt

More photos from this +ONE Experience

If waterfowl hunting is on your bucket list—or if you’re ready to experience it like never before—this is the giveaway you don’t want to miss. North American Outdoorsman, in partnership with NSSF — The Firearm Industry Trade Association, is giving one lucky hunter and a guest the opportunity to experience a fully guided, world-class Saskatchewan waterfowl hunt from October 1–4, 2025 with Aurora Skies Outfitting. The total prize value is $4,990 USD, plus bonus hunting gear from top industry sponsors.   Located in one of the most productive flyways on the continent, Aurora Skies Outfitting delivers unforgettable waterfowl action, comfortable lodging and exceptional hospitality. Whether you’re a seasoned wingshooter or someone looking to take their first trip north, this is the perfect opportunity to chase ducks and geese in a setting known for its sky-darkening flocks and scenic prairie landscapes.

Don't miss your chance to win! This contest ends July 30th, 2025.

See Official Rules Here.