Halloween

Halloween is another huge holiday where consumers spend way too much on prefabricated costumes. According to National Retail Federation, 2.8 billion was estimated to be spent in 2014 on costumes. So there is definitely a lot of consumer behavior marketers are analyzing. I could talk about the trends with Disney costumes for children, risk-ehh costumes for adults or the classic witch, zombie, vampire and cat costumes but that would be getting to deep into the Halloween spirit which for some reason I didn't have much of.

I did do the traditional pumpkin carving and corn maze Halloween things but this year, unlike most years, I didn't dress up. It could be that my life has been way too busy or simply that I didn't have extra money to put into it. Anyways, I did pretend to be something for Halloween though.

A huntress 

 



Yes, I will admit I said pretend.

As much as I hate to admit it, like any other women that try to live down the stereotypes that women don't hunt, I am not much of a hunter.

I have been out hunting quite a bit though. More for the thrill of the hike and the beauty in the places my boyfriend or male friend takes me. I haven't ever shot anything and I really don't want to until I feel like Annie Oakley with a gun.

I believe I faked my boyfriend out when we first started dating that I was really into hunting. I did own some camo, (I bought in high school because I thought it was cool and would go with my country girl look) but I was a poser for the most part

But I am definitely not the only one out there. Case and point: 

Cameo is more like a fashion statement now.

You can get it in the most ridiculous colors that would make you stand out more than blend in.

 

That is a rant that I will save for another day.

 

So I went out on Halloween dressed in my Camo and orange at 6a.m. and hiked through the dark following my boyfriend trying to hush my breath while hiking a 2000ft elevation gain.

 

The hiking was not the concern of this trip. Hiking in a bear infested and possibly mountain lion infested woods carrying a .44 revolver I hadn't shot before was my main concern.

I have shot other hand guns before but not this one. How was I suppose to wipe out a gun I wasn't that comfortable with at a seconds notice and shoot a charging wild animal?

 

I am from Michigan, we like tree stands or hunting blinds not hiking up sides of grizzly bear and cougar mountains. I was a bit out of my element. With all that aside, when day broke it was worth all the hiking and worry because of the beautiful scenery I was able to see.

 

I will go out and "pretend" to be hunter more this season and will possibly shoot my first and last deer just to see if hunting is really for me.