Kristie Swenstad Started Hunting at 12 to Support Her Family
- Kristie Swenstad started hunting at age 12 with her father's encouragement.
- She now advocates for the understanding of wild bird hunting in Minnesota.
- The experience of hunting emphasizes the challenge and joy of sourcing food.
On November 7, 2024, Kristie Swenstad recalls her first hunting experience at the age of 12. She was woken by her father while they were in a deer blind on a chilly fall morning. This initial experience sparked a lifelong passion for hunting, especially for wild birds. Now 36, Swenstad aims to share the appreciation and excitement of hunting for one's food with a broader audience, emphasizing its challenge and the joy of cooking. The lean wild turkeys she hunts in Minnesota contrast sharply with the traditional, larger Thanksgiving turkeys most people are familiar with. While these wild birds provide a different culinary experience, she encourages others to explore the rewarding journey of hunting as both a sport and a source of sustenance.