Some places become part of you long before you realize it. You learn their seasons. You memorize their patterns. You feel responsible for what happens there. And then, sometimes, you step into that same landscape with a new purpose and discover a deeper connection than you thought possible.
For Coryna Hebert, a Ducks Unlimited biologist who works regularly on Utah’s Great Salt Lake, that moment came during her first duck hunt. She had spent years studying these wetlands, tracking birds, and helping protect one of the most important ecosystems in the West. But standing in the marsh as a waterfowler shifted something fundamental.
From the blind, the lake demanded her full attention. The birds were no longer distant observations. They were part of an unfolding moment that required patience, restraint, and presence.
Coryna already knew the resource. What made the difference was mentorship. Shaundi Campbell, an experienced waterfowler and senior marketing manager at Browning, offered guidance rooted in respect and encouragement. “For Coryna to be out here and shoot her first bird today all on her own was a highlight of my day,” Shaundi says. “When you’re able to pass on knowledge and really teach people our way of life, that’s where it’s at.”
When Coryna harvested her first duck, the moment carried weight beyond the shot, and her gratitude deepened her understanding of conservation itself. “We work so much with hunters who are most passionate about conserving this ecosystem,” Coryna explains. “I kind of get it a little bit more why people love doing this and why they love conserving and restoring this resource for their kids.”
In the end, the Great Salt Lake did not change. Coryna’s relationship to it did. What was once familiar became personal in a new way, rooted not just in protection, but in participation.
This Ascend episode is a reminder that growth doesn’t always require new places. Sometimes it asks us to step into the places we already love and experience them differently. With the right mentorship and the courage to try, even the most familiar ground can reveal something deeper.
Watch the Ascend episode to see Coryna’s first duck hunt and consider what might change when you step into the outdoors in a new way.
Learn more at ducks.org/ascend.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
