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Gerry, Get Your Gun : My Life as a Hunting Guide and Other Adventures
Gerry, Get Your Gun packs the wallop of a 30-30 rifle.
Born in 1922, in Northern Alberta, Gerry Bracewell spent much of her early life on the family farm. But Gerry’s dream was to live in the mountains of BC, and when she left home at sixteen she had little understanding of the adventures that awaited her. She worked for a short time in Vancouver as a governess, but Gerry’s wild spirit drove her to accept a job on a ranch deep in BC’s Chilcotin backcountry. There she met her lifelong friend and mentor KB Moore. Through sheer perseverance she became his lead hand and soon discovered that ranching in the Chilcotin was a harsh way of life. Determined to succeed, she learned to ride even the toughest of horses and fight off bears, cougars, wolves and coyotes to keep the cattle herd safe. Recognizing Gerry’s passion for the outdoors and her natural tracking and guiding ability, KB brought Gerry into his family and trained her to become BC’s first licensed female hunting guide. Known as a fiery, adventurous woman, Gerry became a legend in her field, forging a path for herself and breaking established gender norms. Gerry, Get Your Gun is the story of the unyielding pioneer world of BC’s Interior through the experiences of one of the toughest women you will ever meet.
Born in 1922, in Northern Alberta, Gerry Bracewell spent much of her early life on the family farm. But Gerry’s dream was to live in the mountains of BC, and when she left home at sixteen she had little understanding of the adventures that awaited her. She worked for a short time in Vancouver as a governess, but Gerry’s wild spirit drove her to accept a job on a ranch deep in BC’s Chilcotin backcountry. There she met her lifelong friend and mentor KB Moore. Through sheer perseverance she became his lead hand and soon discovered that ranching in the Chilcotin was a harsh way of life. Determined to succeed, she learned to ride even the toughest of horses and fight off bears, cougars, wolves and coyotes to keep the cattle herd safe. Recognizing Gerry’s passion for the outdoors and her natural tracking and guiding ability, KB brought Gerry into his family and trained her to become BC’s first licensed female hunting guide. Known as a fiery, adventurous woman, Gerry became a legend in her field, forging a path for herself and breaking established gender norms. Gerry, Get Your Gun is the story of the unyielding pioneer world of BC’s Interior through the experiences of one of the toughest women you will ever meet.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 14, 2023
Great read, got to experience the Lodge last summer as we had a family gathering there. Alex who now runs the place was an excellent host with many interesting stories. This is truly one of the most beautiful places I've been to on my 50 years on earth
April 12, 2022
What a wonderful adventure! Our families knew each other many years ago…and this fills me in on the rest of the story!!! Gerry is a true trailblazer!!! So happy to find this book!!! So many great memories!!
June 21, 2025
A wonderful glimpse of the Chilcotin and an extraordinary life well lived.
November 8, 2018
Really enjoyed this book. Incredible insight into the determination and true pioneer spirit of Gerry Bracewell. You feel as though you are sharing a cup of coffee with Gerry and listening to her tell her story - easy to forget you are actually reading a book. The pictures included gives the reader a glimpse of just how rugged BC was and can possibly still be. I am putting this book on my Christmas shopping list this year.
February 19, 2016
This is yet another interesting life story within the Cariboo Chilcotin area where I now live - about a woman pioneer (yes, she most definitely qualifies as such!) who followed her dreams. While she acknowledges that it was a hard life she lived, through the lines you can read with certainty that she enjoyed every minute of it!
Gerry Bracewell tells her story with wit and humour, no doubt the way she tackled her every day living. Her story is captivating, interesting and intriguing - a real eye-opener as to what life was like and also that not everybody is cut out to do what she did. Having raised and cared for cattle year after year after year only to see them slowly starve to death due to simple carelessness must have been especially hard - and yet she mastered it all and now enjoys her well-earned retirement at 90+.
Thank You, Gerry, for sharing your life story!
Gerry Bracewell tells her story with wit and humour, no doubt the way she tackled her every day living. Her story is captivating, interesting and intriguing - a real eye-opener as to what life was like and also that not everybody is cut out to do what she did. Having raised and cared for cattle year after year after year only to see them slowly starve to death due to simple carelessness must have been especially hard - and yet she mastered it all and now enjoys her well-earned retirement at 90+.
Thank You, Gerry, for sharing your life story!
December 28, 2015
Amazing woman, had the opportunity to stay with Gerry and Alf at their home and to meet their incredible family. I feel truly blessed to have been able to go with Gerry up her mountains on horseback.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews