Bowhunting Baby Onboard

Beka Garris Talks About Her Journey as a Mother, Traditional Bowhunter, and Controversial Social Media Celebrity

by Richard Baimbridge

If you’ve spent any time on social media browsing hunting channels, you might have come across Beka Garris. She’s quite a stand-out for two main reasons – first, she hunts pretty much exclusively using a traditional recurve bow. And secondly because she’s often accompanied by one or both of her young daughters, Elsie and Isabella (ages 2 and 6), strapped to Beka’s back as she pursues wild game -- and looking quite thrilled to be along for the ride.

Beka’s been hunting since the age of 10 with her father, Joe Garris, who still works to this day for New Jersey Fish & Wildlife. In fact, if you’re a turkey hunter in the northeast, you probably have him to thank for it as he oversaw the reintroduction of wild turkeys into New Jersey and some of the surrounding areas.  

Beka is a regular contributor to several outdoor magazines and she’s sponsored by 3Rivers Archery. She’s one of the most skilled and dedicated bowhunters you’re ever likely to meet, and she’s also quite the homesteader, growing and selling produce together with her kids and her husband Alex on their farm in southern Ohio.

I spoke to Beka recently to compare notes on being a parent who hunts with small children, the mixed reactions she’s gotten on social media, raising a family on an earth-to-table diet, and even a bit about her passion for bowfishing. Be sure to check her out on Instagram and I’ll also include a link to her ebook on hunting with kids at the end of the article…

Tactical: We first connected on social media when I saw your photos of hunting together with your daughter a few years ago – which was about the same time that I was starting to hunt with my two very young kids. What made you decide to document your lifestyle hunting with your daughter? And what kind of reactions did you get at first? Were you worried about what people would think?

Beka: I started hunting with my daughter when she was about 6 months old due to the fact that my husband worked nights, and I had no one to watch her. I started sharing my journey on social media in hopes of either connecting with parents who had done the same, and to show people that it can be done. I received some negativity as some people perceived it as dangerous, but for the most part people thought it was really cool. I never really cared what others would think so it the negativity didn't bother me and at that point I knew that social media isn't always a friendly space. 

Tactical: How has the process evolved as she gets older? What’s been the most challenging part?

Beka: She was about 6 months old when I took her a long with me during spring turkey season. I didn't get a turkey that season, but I learned a lot about what kept my daughter happy and how I would need to alter my hunts to be successful. She really enjoyed accompanying me and it became an educational process as she grew older and more aware of what was happening. By age 3-4 she fully understood hunting and the process which was really cool. 

The most challenging part is probably trying to time my kids being quiet when I have an animal within shooting range. I've had several missed opportunities because of it, but I don't regret bringing them. 

Tactical: Did you face any push-back from other hunters who maybe saw you as just some kind of influencer trying to get famous on Instagram?

Beka: Yes, I have received quite a bit of negativity from fellow hunters and still do! Many think that it's unnecessary and that i should just be finding a babysitter. Many call kids a hindrance and don't really understand why I continue to make them a big part of my hunts from beginning to end. 

Tactical: Can you talk a little bit about growing up hunting and what made you eventually choose a traditional recurve bow as your main hunting weapon?

Beka: I was the first girl in my family (surrounded by brothers), so I grew up very much a wild child outdoors. My dad started taking me on hunts when I was 7 and I absolutely loved it. I started gun hunting at the age of ten and at age 16 I decided to start bowhunting. I hunted with a compound bow for ten years and around that time I started considering a traditional bow. I felt the need to challenge myself more, and a traditional bow fit the bill. I had no one to teach me so I had to rely heavily on social media to learn. But I fell in love with tradition archery and bowhunting and haven't hunted with a compound since. 

Tactical: I also see you do a lot of bowfishing. What do you enjoy most about that? And what makes it especially challenging as an archer?

Beka: I started bowfishing as something to do in the summer, and I liked that I was essentially hunting fish. There's nothing more fun than wading creeks or walking riverbanks looking for carp and gar. It's also a great way to sharpen your skills, and the refraction of the light on the water makes it a fun challenge.

Tactical: What’s a typical day like for you?

Beka: I currently live in Southern Ohio with my husband Alex and our two little girls. We own roughly ten acres of land and we enjoy homesteading and I have a massive garden. My daughters and I also run a small farm stand and sell flowers and vegetables.

In general we get up fairly early, and spend a good bit of time outdoors. Sometimes I like to venture to public land to hunt or fish, while other times we stay home and work on projects or shoot bows. We tend to stay home a lot which is great since we have land, and we don't generally go out to eat often, either.

Tactical: From my personal experience hunting with my kids, I was surprised how easily they accepted things like seeing an animal killed up close, and even helping with field dressing. It came to them very naturally… Did you have a similar experience?

Beka: Yes, I did! Both of my girls have experienced the hunt in its entirety at a very young age, as well as the butchering and processing of farm animals. I find that most young kids are very accepting and just take it in stride as a fact of life.

Tactical: What’s your philosophy on natural, healthy living and nutrition in general? Do you completely avoid fast food and processed foods?

Beka: We really never eat fast food anymore. We generally eat three meals a day at home which is something we do because it's healthy and is smarter to do on a budget. I am a firm believer in eating healthy foods 99% of the time and letting yourself have unhealthy foods for special occasions etc. I think that balance is important especially when you have kids.

Tactical: Tell me about your relationship with 3Rivers Archery. How did that come about?

Beka: My family bought from 3Rivers for many years, and I ordered quite a few things from them once I switched to traditional archery. They started following me on social media after I made a video on fletching arrows, and they reached out to me at some point asking if I would be interested in working together. It's been a great experience working with them and they're a great company!

Tactical: If someone were to ask you how to get started hunting together with small children, what advice would you give them? And how has hunting together with your daughter changed you and your perspective towards hunting? Would you say it’s made you a better hunter in some ways?

Beka: I would tell them that you should go into it with low expectations and just enjoy the time in the woods. Plan ahead, pack lots of snacks, and make sure your kid is happy. Any tags filled will just be a bonus. Hunting with your kids will truly make you remember how amazing every little thing is and make you look at the world through their eyes. You'll have a better appreciation for the hunt and the process it takes to be successful. It's a lot of work to take them along, but it's worth it. 

Tactical: Have you been working on any projects lately?

Beka: Since becoming a mom I've stopped attending most public events. But I do frequently write articles for outdoor magazines, and I put together an ebook on hunting with kids a year ago. It was a lot of fun to compile my experiences and share what knowledge I have gleaned over the past 6+ years of hunting with my daughters. My book is called "Feral Parenting" and is available here: https://tr.ee/KvxGDKXuiP

Your New Language is Just 3 Weeks Away

Whether you’re planning your next adventure or setting seasonal goals, Babbel makes language learning fun and easy. With Babbel, you can start having real conversations in just 3 weeks. It’s designed by expert linguists and proven to help you learn faster, so you can dive right into a new language without the stress. There are 14 languages to choose from and innovative ways to learn—like lessons, podcasts, games, videos, and the new AI Conversation Partner. Bonus: readers can use this exclusive link to get 55% off.

Claim 55% off

Want to share your favorite hunting movies? Click here to become a part of our community! 

We’re looking for people who love hunting, archery, gear and firearms to write for us! Share your stories, tips, reviews, and advice with our community of subscribers. Contact us today to find out more!