DONNA Smigielski regularly dons a camouflage outfit, packs her rifle in a pink gun bag and heads out for a weekend camping and hunting with her father.

The 29-year-old beautician from Essendon took up the sport after missing out on a hunting trip organised by her father and friends, which was all about initiating their sons into the sport.

“They didn’t invite me, which wasn’t fair,” Donna said. “Dad thought I wouldn’t be interested, but the next time they went out I made sure he invited me.”

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Since that moment seven years ago she and her father have enjoyed many camping trips hunting pigs, goats, rabbits and other vermin, such as foxes and cats, on properties as far afield as Balranald.

They have even tried duck shooting, although Donna prefers hunting other game with her 0.243 calibre rifle.

“It’s not just about going out and shooting, although that’s a bonus” she said.

“It’s more just going out to the country, where there’s no phone service and sitting by the camp fire with people you enjoy being with.”

While Donna enjoys the great outdoors, she is a little more reluctant to open up to her Strathmore beauty therapy clients on her sport.

“Unless I can tell they’re into the outdoor stuff, I don’t mention it,” she said.

“There’s still people who think gun owners are cruel.

“They don’t understand we don’t go out to torture animals. It’s a quick clean death of a happy animal that gives you fresh meat.”