Finding Friendship and a Renewed Love of the Outdoors at an Oklahoma Dove Hunt
By: Ashley Holm
There’s something special about women gathering outdoors, maybe it’s the laughter that carries a little farther, or the instant bond that happens when you throw camo, coffee, and a common goal into the mix. The 2025 Artemis Sportswomen Oklahoma Dove Hunt in Alva, Oklahoma, was exactly that — a weekend filled with good food, good company, and a few muddy adventures along the way.
Coordinated by Alyssa Bowen, in partnership with Melissa Robles from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the event brought eight women together to hunt doves on Oklahoma’s beautiful public land.
Friday Night: Mud, Clays, and Pizza
We kicked off Friday evening at the local range, where the plan was to break some clays and the ice. The moment we pulled up, though, the driveway looked like a scene from a bad off-road commercial; it appeared to have about four feet of deep mud, ruts, and regret. Now, I baby my Ram 1500 Rebel (Silly, I know… it’s literally made for this stuff), so I wasn’t entirely confident about sending her through that muck. Luckily, we made it through, and the rest of the night was easy. We laughed, swapped stories, and shot clays under the fading Oklahoma sun. Later, we found ourselves downtown, indulging in what we all agreed was the best pizza we’ve ever had. Small-town charm, cold drinks, and new friendships, you couldn’t ask for a better start.
Saturday Morning: Sunrise and Soundtracks of the Wild
Saturday morning, we met at the public lands parking lot just before sunrise. The air was cool, the sky stretched in pink and gold, and the field ahead was absolutely gorgeous, with ponds, tall grasses, and that unmistakable smell of fresh, wild air.
As we spread out, the geese started talking. And if you know me, you know that’s my language. Being a hardcore waterfowl hunter and an ambitious photographer, I can’t resist a good goose chorus. While the ladies waited patiently for the doves to fly, I couldn’t help myself, I wandered about a half mile over into a flooded field cut with perfectly mowed walking paths.
That’s when the show started. Ducks were everywhere — bombing left, bombing right, lifting by the dozens out of the grass. I had my camera in hand, but for once, I put it down. I just stood there. The sound of wings cutting through the air, the splash of water, the smell of flooded timber… it was pure therapy.
Then, to my right, a flock of geese lifted off the opposite field, loud, heavy, and beautiful. The kind of moment that reminds you why we do this in the first place.
Late Morning Laughs and Lessons
Back with the group, the doves were slow — but not completely absent. The ladies were set up perfectly: tucked behind brush, mojos spinning, eyes on the sky, fingers one click away from success.
We waited. And waited. And… waited.
Eventually, we started shifting around, laughing, and re-grouping along a cut path where the breeze carried the smell of fresh grass and gunpowder that never got used. By about 9:30, the birds had won this round, and we decided to call it.
That’s when the real magic happened — pictures. Seven beautiful souls, tired from the sun but glowing with that post-hunt joy. Behind the camera, I saw it all: the laughter, the connection, the kind souls, and the sense of sisterhood that happens only when women step into the wild together.
The True Measure of a Hunt
Sometimes, we get caught up in the idea that success in hunting equals a full limit or a heavy strap. But mornings like this remind you otherwise.
On that stretch of Oklahoma public land, we didn’t just chase doves, we found something better: peace, friendship, and a renewed love for the outdoors. We saw ducks, geese, songbirds, and hawks gliding overhead. No distractions. No judgment. No competition. Just women who share a love for the same thing — nature.
Public land has a way of humbling and inspiring you at the same time. It asks for patience, offers surprises, and rewards you with memories that don’t need feathers to count.
And for me? I’ll take that muddy driveway, slow doves, and laughter-filled morning any day. Because sometimes, the best hunts aren’t about the shots fired… they’re about the hearts filled.
Ashley Holm is a photographer who loves to hunt, fish, and explore the great outdoors every chance she gets. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @DirtyRedOutdoors
