Joy of Hunting

Joy of Hunting operates a working hunt property and instruction facility in Shepherd, Montana, founded by Anne Kania—a former opera singer who became a serious hunter and coach. The operation sits on 340 acres of prime Yellowstone River habitat that hosts pheasant colonies, mule deer, whitetails, and seasonal waterfowl.

Anne offers shotgun lessons for beginners and experienced shooters, with a focus on making hunting accessible to women. She's an NSCA Certified Level 1 Instructor and emphasizes practical skills that get you to the "joy part" faster.

Shotgun Lessons: - 2-hour introduction to shotgunning at their Shepherd facility: $70 (one person), $100 (two people). Includes safety, gun fit check, loaner gun option, eye/ear protection, non-toxic shells, clay targets. - 90-minute lesson at Billings sporting clays range: $40 per person; 5-lesson package $175 - 2-person shared lesson (2 hours): $30 per person; 5-lesson package $130 per person

Guided Hunts & Combined Training: - Half-day "Clays to Birds" practice drills with walk-up safety: $150 per person (minimum 2 people). Includes targets and ammo. - Full-day combo: Morning clay-to-bird drills + afternoon pheasant hunt (3-bird limit): $390 per hunter (minimum 2 people). Lunch included. - Half-day duck blind drills with calling and decoying strategies: $175 per person (2-person minimum) - Add morning or evening duck/goose hunt: $100 per hunter (2-person minimum) - Accommodation with dinner and breakfast: $150 per person

Their property allows hunting opportunities for seven months of the year:

They boost bird production year-round and release pheasants September 1st. By mid-October, released birds behave like wild birds. Summer programs let beginners explore whether hunting is right for them.

Anne Kania came to hunting late (age 50) and struggled with the moral weight of killing animals—until hunting resolved her decades-long guilt about eating meat. Over 11 years, she's become deeply embedded in the hunting community and now coaches women hunters with fresh perspective on the learning curve. She partners with Elizabeth Lanier (founder of G.R.I.T.S. and NSCA Level III instructor) on special women's wingshooting events.

Andrea Mahorney is a lifelong hunter who took hunter safety twice as a kid and killed her first elk at age 13 with her father's knife during a hunt on her family property. Her story emphasizes respect for the animal and gratitude for the meat.

If you have them: your own gun, shooting vest with shoulder padding, spare choke tubes, gun manual, ear plugs, safety glasses.

For hunting: waterproof walking boots, calf-length rubber boots for wetlands (September-October), layered clothing, camo or neutral colors (grey, dark green, brown) for duck hunting, gloves, scarf, warm hat. They supply orange hats when required and loan gear if needed.

Located in Shepherd, Montana (near Billings), Joy of Hunting sits on stewarded land that keeps birds and wildlife year-round. Anne emphasizes the connection to land, sustainable food sourcing, and shooting skill as respect for the birds. She believes hunters should be "conscientious, capable and humane"—and that means taking lessons before you hunt.

"I remember all too clearly how complicated it felt when I first started, how many times I nearly gave up out of sheer frustration. So my goal is to teach you practical skills that will get you to the JOY part quicker!"