How a Montana group helps women heal through hunting

While better services are emerging to help men who've served in the military cope with their post-service challenges through the outdoors, a new group in Montana is focusing specifically to help women who've served.

Montana Grit Outdoors is assisting not only women with military experience, but veteran first responders, and also those who've lost family through challenges like post-traumatic stress syndrome.

And this weekend, they're organizing a second concert in Philipsburg to help fund the guided hunts that provide those healing experiences.

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"So we take women veterans, women first responders, and women within those communities on all-inclusive guided hunting trips," explains Breane Lindvall of Montana Grit Outdoors. "And women within those communities means Gold Star women, survivors of first responders. We provide all their gear and their guns. If they already have their own, we build on it."

Lindvall says it's about helping women overcome their fears.

"Our program is geared around fear, so putting them in a position where they have to be proactive in their fear, through being uncomfortable. Because that is how people grow. And in the future, we want to provide programs for men and women both who are veterans and first responders and their families. But the hunts are specific for the women." 

The importance of the fundraiser this weekend

This is the second year for the "We Are the Bold" concert, this Saturday, July 22nd at Winninghoff Park in Philipsburg.

"It's our biggest fundraiser," says Lindvall. "Our team is so small, so we try to find big ways to bring in the funding for the guided hunts because you know each hunt. It can range from 15,000 to $30,000 per hunter."

It's a chance to hang out, enjoy the music, and show support for the program, starting at 2 pm.

"We've got Coffey Anderson headlining and he's incredible. He's a great person. We've got Tanner Laws. He's becoming a buddy of ours and we really support Tanner. And we've got Wayne Brothers and the Nightlife Band. He's been around for quite some time and then we've got the Thirsty Buzzards."

Grit is aiming to stage its first hunts for the servicewomen this fall, and is welcoming people to check out the website, and contact the group if you'd like to get involved. You can e-mail the group at montanagritoutdoors@gmail.com.

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