TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KLIX) – One of Idaho’s own is in the running to become the next Extreme Huntress.

Gem State resident Lindsay Christensen is one of six women competing for the title and currently leads with more than 2,300 votes, almost twice as many as the next leading competitor.

The experience of the competition so far has been incredible,” Lindsay Christensen says of the competition. “I have been able to meet women who share the same passion as I do, as well as idols of mine in the hunting industry.

Extreme Huntress is a competition for serious hunters, demonstrating positive role models for women who like the outdoors.

“The experience of the competition so far has been incredible,” Christensen, of Franklin, told News Radio 1310. “I have been able to meet women who share the same passion as I do, as well as idols of mine in the hunting industry.”

The philosophy of the competition:

With the high number of single-parent moms, and without a dad to take the kids outdoors, children are investing in sports other than hunting; but, “If mom goes hunting,” the organization says, “so will her children, thus preserving our outdoor heritage for future generations.”

Christensen said besides the adventure and social aspects of hunting, it also gives women the ability to provide for themselves, if they needed to.

She’s experienced some things that she wouldn’t have been able to if not for the competition.

“The competition gave me the opportunity to see animals that I probably won't ever see or hunt again,” she said, “and also a chance to try weapons that I have never tried before.”

Lindsay Christensen is shown with a young pronghorn she harvested in August 2013. (Photo courtesy of Lindsay Christensen)
Lindsay Christensen is shown with a young pronghorn she harvested in August 2013. (Photo courtesy of Lindsay Christensen)
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Her favorite go-to weapon is the bow, which she uses in many of her hunts.

Extreme Huntress is a TV show whose eighth season started in July. Viewers can watch the 6- to 9-minute shows that highlight each huntress, and then vote for their favorite on the organization’s website.

Each of the competitors already received skill test and judges' scores, but it's up to the voting public to finalize the winner.

Christensen is the only competitor from Idaho, and one of two women from the U.S. The other is Taylor Reisbeck, of East Helena, Mont., who trails Christensen with more than 1,200 votes. Each of the remaining competitors is from Canada.

The winner of the 2017 Extreme Huntress competition will be announced in January at the Dallas Safari Club’s annual black-tie awards dinner in Texas.

THE NEXT EXTREME HUNTRESS? 
Christensen recently answered several questions for News Radio 1310. Here’s more of what she has to say about hunting, being a role model for women, and the Extreme Huntress competition:

I ... believe that in this day and age it is important for a woman to be able to provide for herself if she needs to," Christensen says. "Hunting gives women the ability to do that.

How long have you been hunting, and what got you started?
LC: I am grateful to have a father who shared his passion for hunting and love for the outdoors with me at a very young age. My dad had me up in the mountains hunting with him before I could even walk. In fact, one day when he took me with him to look for deer, he set me on the ground next to him, and I soon said, "dirt," which was one of my first words.

I developed an immediate love for the outdoors, but my passion for hunting was really ignited when I was able to harvest my first deer at age 12 (with a bow). Since then, I have been all over the United States hunting and even to Mexico. Next spring, I get the privilege of going to Spain to hunt Gredos Ibex with my bow. I am looking forward to that hunt and have already begun training.

Why is this competition so important to you?
LC: This competition is important to me for many reasons. I hope to be able to share my love for hunting and the outdoors and educate people about the benefits of hunting with others all over the world. Winning this competition will give me the ability to do that. I also believe that in this day and age it is important for a woman to be able to provide for herself if she needs to. Hunting gives women the ability to do that.

What happens if you were to win the competition? What is next for you?
LC: I will travel to Dallas in January, where the winner of the competition will be announced at a black-tie dinner at the Dallas Safari Club. We did all of the competing and filming for the competition at the 777 Ranch in Hondo, Texas, this past July, and episodes of the show air each Monday on getzone.com and extremehuntress.com. We each received both a judges' score and a skills score in Texas, and now all that is left is online voting from the public.

As far as what happens if I win, that hasn't really been clearly stated, but I will become an ambassador for women in hunting. I will get the opportunity to travel to some big events and be a spokeswoman for women in the outdoors and hunters in general. There will also be some hunting going on, and I will get the opportunity to mentor/coach the girls who enter the competition next year.

What is your favorite type of hunt? Why?
LC: My favorite type of hunts are self-guided hunts. I work hard all summer in preparation for hunting season. I set trail cameras, do a lot of scouting, explore new areas, and run to get in shape for the upcoming season. It is really a great reward when all of my hard work pays off. As far as my favorite species to hunt, I think elk hunting is my favorite.

What has been the experience for you in the competition? 
LC: The experience of the competition so far has been incredible. I have been able to meet women who share the same passion as I do, as well as idols of mine in the hunting industry. Because of this competition, I have developed lifelong friendships with some of the other girls. We are already planning a future hunting trip together. It is cool that even though we are competitors we can still be supportive of each other and proud of each others successes.

The competition gave me the opportunity to see animals that I probably won't ever see or hunt again and also a chance to try weapons that I have never tried before. I have always loved to travel, but this competition really sparked my interest in learning about hunting and conservation efforts in other countries.

Lindsay Christensen poses for a photo with her competitors on Extreme Huntress. (Photo courtesy of Lindsay Christensen)
Idaho resident Lindsay Christensen, center, is shown in a photo with her competitors of Extreme Huntress. (Photo courtesy of Lindsay Christensen)
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How to Vote
1. Go to www.extremehuntress.com
2. Click 2016 Voting
3. Scroll down, select Lindsay Christensen, and press vote
4. Enter your email address and press vote (autofill doesn't work)
5. Go to your email and confirm your vote (confirmation email comes from Poll Daddy; votes must be confirmed in order to count)

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