I had the opportuntiy at SHOT to hang out at the press release for the Extreme Huntress Contest where Tiffany Brewer was announced as the new 2011/2012 Extreme Huntress winner at the Aimpont booth.  I asked Tom Opre, founder of Tahoe Films and Tiffany Brewer to work with us on an interview to tell us a little about thier history in the Outdoors.  Tom Opre followed in his fathers footsteps getting into film making and photography and Tiffany Brewer got into the outdoors as a matter of survival.

Here we let them tell you a little more about their passions for the outdoors.

Tom Opre

How did you get started in the outdoors? Grew up in the outdoor industry?

My father, Tom E. Opre, was an outdoor columnist for Field and Stream and Outdoor Life for 30 years. My father made outdoor films back in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s with famous outdoor cinematographer Glen Lau. As a kid I would sneak into my fathers office and throw reels of 16mm film on a projector. It inspired me to be a filmmaker. Out of college, I worked for Mr. Lau learning from one of the best in our business.

How did you come up with the concept for Eye of the Hunter?

Unfortunately, outdoor TV shows are a dime a dozen. No real creative filmmaking or story making. My career has been centered on producing high-end, powerful film productions including national TV commercials, product films and documentaries. These projects have aired on major TV networks and cable channels. Clients include: Chevrolet, Ford Motorsports, Polaris, Bombardier Sea Doo, Mathews, Federal Cartridge, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Otis Technology, Warn, etc..

The  idea behind Eye of the Hunter™ was to produce a high level production and appeal to the largest audience possible. It is  about hard-core outdoor adventure, taking the viewer on a journey through the wild. It’s not about the kill, but about the experience. Filmed in a cinematographic fashion, the show weaves intense action with human interest.

What led you to create The Extreme Huntress contest?

Obviously, our outdoor heritage is important to me.  Most of us had a father, uncle, grandfather or other male figure who exposed us to the outdoors. With divorce rates at 50% and the last Census showing 41% of all children in the U.S. are born out of wedlock, we need to give woman positive role models in order to expand hunting opportunities for the next generation of outdoorsman. With the potential loss of male figures in children’s lives I feel feel pretty confident if mom goes hunting her children will go hunting.

Another side bar, which came about due to the contest, was the intense scrutiny we now get from the anti hunting community. Anti’s love to invoke stereotypical definations of hunters — beer bellied, booze swilling, sign shooting men who don’t care about animals or the outdoors. Unfortunately, our contest showcases normal, every day woman (nurses, dental techs, business owners, etc.) who are attractive, intelligent, mothers and wives who love to kill animals. The anti’s hate us! We’ve had folks attack our website trying to overload our servers to put us out of commission. It tells me we are doing something right.

What makes Tiffany Brewer an Extreme Huntress in your opinion?

Being the Extreme Huntress is not about scaling cliffs or crossing deserts to hunt. Tiffany is like so many other woman who love the outdoors. She is passionate and devoted to the pursuit. She understands how hunting is instrumental in our human make up. She is dedicated to the hunt.

Tiffany Brewer

How did you get started in the outdoors?

My love for the outdoors has been with me for a lifetime. My earliest memories of the outdoors were spent with my brother Tosh. We spent every last minute lost in the deep, uncharted terrains of nature learning from her and how she works. Our biggest discovery is that nature is an open book with timeless chapters in which you never reach the summit.

Tell us about your favorite hunt?

The first time I hunted alone was my favorite time because of the lesson I learned there.  I was nine years old and spent half the day begging my brother Tosh to let me go hunting by myself. I wanted to prove to Tosh that even though I was a girl,  I could be a great hunter like him. After an hour of stern instruction from Tosh, who was a wise old eleven, I found myself sitting alone in a bottom of a swampy wood in central Louisiana. I chose a patch of willows to sit in for cover, and I watched a ridge in front of me.  As I sat, I checked the safety on that 20 gauge shotgun for the tenth time and waited. Nothing. I went over all of Tosh's instructions in my head as I sat, and still, nothing. The still and quiet of the woods began to envelop me and I remembered I was alone, and I was afraid. A creeping fear began to rise from my stomach as I thought,  " What if some hogs come? "  I began to panic because I knew I couldn't shoot more than one hog at a time sitting and I couldn't reload in time before they were upon me . I began to think that I was in over my head, and then I began to pray. " God, please protect me from any hogs, snakes or wild animals that may take my life! And God, please send me a deer, so I don't have to go back to Tosh empty- handed!" I wanted Tosh to be proud of me. A peace began to settle in my little frame, and I understood for the first time in my life, that despite my earlier demands to go alone, I still was not alone!  At that moment, a little whitetail spike began to make his way down the ridge at a trot.  Immediately, Tosh's words were loud in my ear, " Aim high and in front if he is running". The gun roared, the deer fell, and  I stood there staring at the event in front of me like it was a clip from a movie. Tears filled my eyes as I stood there because I realized that I could be a great hunter like Tosh, but more importantly, I would never go alone.
 
What makes you in your opinion the most Extreme Huntress?
 
In many ways, we are all an Extreme Huntress. But for me, it was Extreme Events that I overcame in my life that just so happened to be both in the wild and involved hunting as a necessity that made me Extreme!!
 
So we hear that your going to Africa for Cape Buffalo Are you excited, Nervous?
 
I have a healthy excitement and anticipation about hunting Cape Buffalo and Africa, as both present their own challenges and danger.  The cape buffalo is said to be the most dangerous animal in Africa and hunting them is nothing like sitting in a deer stand waiting for passive deer to come to the feeder.  The cape buffalo is not only aggressive, it is very unpredictable. Adding to the excitement, I will need to constantly practice with a larger caliber rifle,  R8 Blaser .375, which I am taking with me. I will be practicing various shots and targets; short and long range, but speed and accuracy in getting off the shot is my priority...God Bless my Shoulder!!
 
 
What would you tell other women who are thinking about getting into Hunting?

Hunting has nothing to do with ones gender. If you have an eye, then you can aim.  If you have a hand,  then you can hold a weapon!

Hunting has more to do with that part in us that chooses to walk where are mothers and fathers walked in a time where hunting was an absolute necessity. Hunting is apart of every human that walks the planet, but that ancient instinct lay asleep in some and awake in others.

 
What conservation organizations do you support and why?

I  support any movement that has a goal of using our natural resources in the most responsible way to benefit humankind and nature. We kill to eat, feed others, and to protect ourselves and our livelihood.  We  base everything we take from nature on necessity. We attempt to save it before it is endangered. We use common sense. We realize that there are an wide range of  views on conservation and we know the truth is found somewhere in the middle.

Go check out this great yearly contest!!!!

http://tahoefilms.com/contests/extreme-huntress-contest/