Meet Gabriela Zaldumbide

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriela Zaldumbide.

Hi Gabriela, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started hunting and fishing four and a half years ago. While studying wildlife ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I enrolled in a course called Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow. Part of the course was earning a hunter safety certification. I completed hunter education through that course and signed up for a Learn to Hunt turkey event taking place the weekend after I got my certification. That following Sunday, I shot my first turkey, and I was absolutely hooked on hunting.

Soon after, I moved to Gunnison, Colorado to attend Western Colorado University’s Master in Environmental Management program. I took the opportunity to learn about hunting in Colorado, too. My hunting buddy and I hunted elk, deer, rabbits, squirrels, turkeys, pronghorn, black bear, and more during my time in the MEM program. I took up fishing around the same time and quickly fell in love with ice and fly fishing. Today, I’m passionate about sharing my knowledge with other outdoorswomen looking to explore the outdoors.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Learning how to hunt and fish hasn’t exactly been easy. I’ve struggled with many things a new hunter often experiences: failing to fill a hunting tag, having someone else shoot the animal I was hunting, getting stabbed by fishing hooks, running into mountain lions, and having negative experiences with other hunters who just can’t believe a woman is out there hunting by herself. However, I don’t let these things phase me. I enjoy spending time outdoors too much to just stop when times get hard.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I currently have a slew of professional positions I hold to afford life in Colorado. I’m the executive assistant for Hunters of Color, a nonprofit that fights for racial equity in the hunting space. I’m the managing editor for Project Upland, an upland bird hunting online and print publication. I started a firearms education business with my partner called Carbon Limb Training where we teach U.S. Concealed Carry Association-certified classes. Lastly, I’m a hunting and fishing guide with Uncharted Outdoorswomen, the only women-owned and operated outfitter in the U.S.

I love guiding with Uncharted. I had been volunteering with several conservation organizations teaching Learn to Hunt-type events when Erin Crider, its founder, reached out to me. She offered me an opportunity to share my knowledge and get paid for it; how could I say no?

Today, I focus mostly on big and small game hunting clinics and archery instruction. I also host ice fishing events when Blue Mesa freezes over each winter. It’s truly incredible to have a job where I can do the things I love outdoors and be able to share my passion with other women.

Pricing:

• Concealed Carry Training $150
• Firearm skills development $50 per hour
• Hunt planning $50 per hour
• Cowboy for a Day Trail Riding $550
• Fishing $50 per hour

Contact Info:

• Website: https://unchartedoutdoorswomen.com/shop/33
• Instagram: @gabriela.zaldumbide

Image Credits
Feature image: Christopher Dowell All other images: Gabriela Zaldumbide