Tales from the Roar: Sharleen Benefield's Award-Winning Sika

During the roar, there’s nothing better than seeing more women hunters out there chasing stags. So when we spotted Sharleen Benefield on the cover of NZ Outdoor magazine, geared up in Hunters Element women’s hunting clothing, we reached out to learn more about her roar story.

How Sharleen Started Hunting

I’m Sharleen — a 52-year-old mum of two awesome adult kids, living in Te Miro, Cambridge. I only started hunting recently, and my “why” is a story for another time… but in 2024 I signed up for the NZDA Hunts Course through the Waikato branch. My original goal was simple: build confidence and self-reliance in the bush while tramping alongside my partner (now husband), Luke. What I didn’t expect was to completely fall in love with it. 

The challenge of marksmanship. 

The intrigue of animal behaviour and tracking. 

The empowerment that comes from harvesting, gutting, processing and gifting wild venison to family and friends. 

There’s something deeply satisfying about providing real food from wild places. Even more special? My 21-year-old daughter seeing me step into something new and realising it’s never too late to learn a skill — and that women can absolutely do epic things in the outdoors. 

An Unforgettable Hunting Weekend

Last year was my first roar carrying a rifle. Luke and I had an early-season weekend that will be hard to beat. With our ageing dogs we based ourselves in Turangi and did local day trips. In thick bush after an intense, aggressive roar encounter, I shot an 11-point Sika hybrid stag. The following day, Luke bagged a massive 8-point Sika hybrid — only points off being classified as a true Sika — impressive in both size and symmetry. 

That stag earned me Best Stag Shot by a Woman at the NZDA Waikato annual prizegiving. It was also honoured in a way I’ll never forget — displayed with a stunning floral arrangement above the altar when Luke and I were married under a stand of tawa at Rimu Heights, Maungatautari on 31 January. Hunting has become woven into our story in more ways than one. 

Plans for the Upcoming Roar

This coming roar feels bittersweet. We’ve recently lost our loyal old dogs — our adventure companions. But it also means we can return to bigger missions and base ourselves deep in the bush again. We love the whole process: building an epic base camp (I’m CEO of ambience — fairy lights included), settling into the rhythm of the bush, and embracing the grind. 

Six months ago we adopted a Vizsla/GSP cross, and I’m now putting him through Paul Michaels’ Paumiko Big Game Indicating Dog Course. I’m excited for the challenge and to see what we can build together as a team. 

For us, it’s never just about the trophy. It’s about quality time. Nature. Skill-building. The challenge of securing wild-harvested protein. The dopamine hit of pushing your body to do hard things. It’s what keeps me strong. It’s what keeps me young. 

Advice for New Women Hunters

If you’re a woman curious about hunting — or simply wanting to feel more capable in the outdoors — look up your local NZDA branch and sign up for the Hunts Course. It changed everything for me.

Sharleen wears our Heat Beater Stag Cap, Core Singlet, Core Top, and Core Leggings.