Devon Roell, mother of 6, prefers the woods to the grocery store when feeding her family

In this day and age when drive-thru windows are all too often the preferred method of fetching food for our families, it's inspiring to know that there are some who manage to put fresh meat on the table the old fashioned way.

When you consider this muzzle-loading, rifle-carrying hunter is a young mother of six, we think you'll be just as impressed as we were after meeting her.

Dream Sporting Trips

Thank you so much, Devon, for taking time to talk to us today. We can only imagine how busy you are! Tell us, how did you get interested in hunting? 

Devon Roell

I come from a long line of hunters on my father’s side. I do believe all of the men hunt and maybe a couple of women. Through the years I have learned hunting techniques from cousins who would always be alongside me. My father, uncles, and friends have shared story after story of their hunting adventures. Hunting was something I was raised around and I never knew any different. When I married my husband, he became more interested and active in hunting, and has shared his hunting experiences with me as well.

Animals are amazing, and you will be surprised over what they will unexpectedly do! The learning never ends. 

Dream Sporting Trips

Where do you primarily hunt?

Devon Roell 

We have ten acres that join with my parents’ thirty, so that is where I primarily hunt. As a mom of six and some that are too young to leave alone at this time, walking through a trail from my backyard has to suffice as the main hunting spot for now. I have a stationary ground box stand that my husband built for me, and I also use tree stands that can be moved.

Dream Sporting Trips

What is your favorite game to hunt? 

Devon Roell

I love to hunt for hogs and deer. Currently, I am only able to hunt deer for the most part. I start out with a muzzleloader as soon as black powder season starts, and then use my favorite rifle for the rest of the season when rifles are legal to use.

Dream Sporting Trips

Is there a particularly exciting hunting adventure you'd care to share with our readers?

Devon Roell

I will never forget it! My husband, the kids, and I went to a friend’s land so that my husband could cut some trails for duck hunting. I decided to take my rifle and walk some trails thinking I probably wouldn't see much due to all the noise we created coming in.

Less than a half of a mile before a rounded a corner, I spotted an unrecognizable animal. When I looked in my scope I still couldn’t see his head because he was bent over, but in a few seconds he looked up and stared right at me. It was a Florida Panther!

He was beautiful with his sandy colored coat, but had me literally shaking with fear, probably because I was so caught off guard!

I kept my scope on him, not sure what to do. He took one step toward me, hesitated, then ran off into the woods. I will never forget that day. I was simply looking for some hogs and stumbled across a big cat!

Dream Sporting Trips

That is certainly something you wouldn't forget! Before you go, is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers? 

Devon Roell

I have a passion for hunting. When hunting season rolls around, I am out there as much as possible. The feeling of bringing fresh meat to the table is amazing. I love teaching the children about good hunting ethics/laws. That is so important to us! We are animal lovers as well, so teaching them about the proper time and place to hunt, and then watching their understanding unfold has been rewarding for me to see. Seeing the smile on my 12-year-old’s face after he killed his first deer may have been worth it alone. Oh, the pride he felt!

I don’t have a lot of free time these days to hunt, but I treasure the time I do get!

Back row left to right: Avonlea, Marcus Jacob, Jeff
Front row left to right: Justin, and Micah and Camden 
Children's ages are 21, 19, 14, 11, 7, and 1

Above: 11-year-old Micah leading me into the woods

 Above: Devon Roell

Recipe for Venison Stew: 

Devon shares a recipe for venison stew from the Mickler's cookbook: "Our huge family decided to gather our recipes and make a cookbook back in '92. It is old-school and sounds super country. It's very similar to how I cook it unless I'm feeling I need to add some different herbs and... I don't use the salt pork!"

Editor's Note

• In recent years, American women are spending more time in tree stands and deer blinds—and putting fresh meat on the table. Although men are overwhelmingly the majority of U.S. hunters, the number of women actively hunting is on the rise. 
• "Hunting offers an alternative to the grocery store that lets women provide truly free-range and organic meat for their families while also helping create a more sustainable food system," says Lily Raff McCaulou, author of Call of the Mild: Learning to Hunt My Own Dinner" target="_blank">Call of the Mild: Learning to Hunt My Own Dinner. 
• Wild game, "the ultimate free-range meat," is widely considered an ethical and sustainable choice.