Hunting4Connections Is Kind of Like Tinder for Outdoorsmen and Women (2024)

Hunting

Outdoor Life and chill? A new online dating site aims to connect outdoorsfolk of all interests

Hunting4Connections Is Kind of Like Tinder for Outdoorsmen and Women (1)

By Andrew McKean

Updated on Jul 2, 2021 2:17 PM EDT

Hunting4Connections Is Kind of Like Tinder for Outdoorsmen and Women (2)

There are so many ways to begin the story of a dating site for hunters and anglers: It’s like Tinder, but with real firewood; Where a hook-up isn’t a euphemism; Consider it a fishing expedition where the lucky angler doesn’t throw back their catch; This is one hunting pursuit that (hopefully) doesn’t end in death for one of the participants.

The origin of Hunting4Connections—a relatively new dating site for hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreationists—is actually a lot less frivolous. Its founder, Dana Sacia, wants to use this business to fund a safe house for abused women like her own mother.

If that’s a cold shower for readers, then understand that there’s a lot more to Sacia’s pursuit than her goal. She also aims to create a sense of community and common purpose, using a shared love of the outdoors as the starting point. She says that Hunting4Connections succeeds when relationships leave the digital medium of her website, app, and social media platform and become real-world meet-ups in America’s woods, waters, trails, and backcountry byways.

The kicker is that her platform isn’t only to facilitate romantic relationships, but also to connect folks with more platonic interests in the outdoors. Looking for a 3-D archery course in your new hometown? Or want to know where to go fishing during your vacation? Sacia hopes to help.

In this way, Sacia has always been a matchmaker. The Wisconsinite’s day job is recruiting executives for the financial industry. And, up until now, her side-gig has been administering a popular Facebook page that connects people interested in trading hunts and other outdoor adventures.

But with the creation of a website and members-only community at Hunting4Connections.com, she’s wading into the lucrative and, for some, slightly scintillating world of online dating, with the goal of bringing people together whose common passion is outdoor recreation. Sacia launched Hunting4Connections in late 2019, hoping to build a business around shared interests and passions that go beyond those of the physical variety.

The business is rooted in her website, which attracts several thousand visitors daily and which hosts about 6,000 members who pay a monthly subscription that allows them to communicate with other paying members. Subscriptions cost $19.97 for one month, $39.97 for three months, and $59.97 for six months. A mobile app is in development, and Sacia recently was informed by Facebook that her years-long campaign for advertising approval has been granted, so look for boosted posts on your social media feeds inviting you to connect with folks in your area who share similar interests and demographic profiles.

Hunting4Connections is part of an established trend in online dating and community-building that generates about $3 billion annually. Sites and digital services such as Match.com, Tinder, Bumble, and OKCupid have grown exponentially, especially during the COVID pandemic that discouraged in-person meeting. According to MarketWatch, online dating has become the most popular form of dating for LGBTQ couples, and the second-most popular way to meet partners for straight couples (the first is meeting through mutual friends).

Nearly every mutual interest is served by an online dating service. There are meet-up sites for “lonely, attractive inmates” looking for pen pals, redheads, people with a mutual love of oceans, cats, and sci-fi, the last of whose motto is “Love long and prosper.”

But until now, there hasn’t been a relationship broker devoted to outdoor recreation, says Sacia.

“I would say FarmersOnly.com is the closest thing,” she says. “It started out as a niche, serving to connect just farmers and ag people, but it’s expanded to include a lot more than just farmers, including a lot of outdoor enthusiasts. But they don’t match [users] based on specific outdoor hobbies, which is what separates and defines us.”

Hunting4Connections Is Kind of Like Tinder for Outdoorsmen and Women (3)

The Origin of Online Love for Outdoorsfolk

Sacia points to two formative moments for the origin of Hunting4Connections. The first is a pledge she made to herself as a teenager in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

“I was 19 years old, and said that when I turned 40, I was going to build a domestic abuse safe house to honor my mom’s struggle with domestic violence.”

But Sacia says that when she turned 40, she examined her life.

“I was stuck in a toxic relationship myself, which was very similar to my childhood. I realized I had reached that age when I promised myself I would achieve that tribute to my mom and a way to help women like my mom. But I was stuck. How can you promote a healthy relationship when you’re not in one?”

Sacia is careful to note that not everything about her former marriage was dark.

“My ex introduced me to hunting, and for that I’ll always be grateful,” she says. “I started hunting 13 years ago and my passion for it just consumed me. It was so important to me that it became a big part of my identity. I stated posting everything on Facebook, and I got all these messages in return. Nothing inappropriate, but the gist of many messages was, ‘How do I find a girl like you, who loves to hunt and fish?’ Or, ‘Do you have a sister? Or a mom? Or a cousin or grandma?’ One day this guy literally said to me, ‘I just want to find somebody to share my lifestyle with.’ The lightbulb went off, and I thought, Oh my gosh. I was single, and I knew that when I was ready to date that I would never date someone who didn’t have the same hobbies and passion that I did. There’s a dating site for every niche out there except for people like me. And that’s when I decided that I’d build one.”

Her efforts to build a community around shared interests actually started on Facebook, where Sacia founded a page centered around exchanging hunting and fishing trips. That page, which now has 46,000 members, was the basis for her conclusion that a dating site might have traction.

“When my marriage ended, I wondered how I could continue my education [as a hunter],” says Sacia. “Just because my marriage was ending, I didn’t want my passion for hunting and fishing to end. But I needed to some help. I needed to learn more, and to have people help me learn. I needed a place where it was safe to ask questions and not be judged. I built the group on Facebook for people who love to hunt and fish, and where it’s okay to ask questions and not be judged.”

The group grew quickly, and Sacia repeatedly got invitations for more than just hunting and fishing outings. There was a need among her growing audience for a deeper sort of connection based around shared outdoor interests.

“I wanted to branch out into a dating site, and I wanted to call it Hunting4TrueLove,” she says “But then I realized that not everyone is searching for love. They’re searching for connections and for deeper meaning around shared values and interests. So that’s how the Hunting4Connections came about.”

Hunting4Connections Is Kind of Like Tinder for Outdoorsmen and Women (4)

Dating Not Just for Hunters and Anglers, But Other Outdoor Enthusiasts, Too

While hunting and fishing are at the center of Sacia’s personal orbit, they’re not necessarily the hub of Hunting4Connections, which has sections devoted to the wider reach of outdoor recreation, including hiking, biking, motor sports, and boating.

“It’s a dating and friending site for outdoor enthusiasts,” she says. “Getting outdoors is what lights the belly on fire, whether that’s kayaking, or biking, hiking, camping, watching outdoor sports, hunting, or fishing. The site allows people to connect, find a date, a relationship, a new friend, or an activity partner.”

But ultimately, Hunting4Connections isn’t about learning where a Ducks Unlimited banquet will be held or finding a crappie-fishing partner. It’s truly a dating site, and Sacia says the next months will be telling for its success.

“At the moment, we have about 6,000 subscribers, and add between 20 and 40 per day,” she says, but she doesn’t share demographic details, regional info, or what outdoor activities subscribers list as their favorites. She also has not commented on whether her site is only for straight singles, or if it’s LGBTQ-friendly.

“I can tell you that we’re about 60 percent male and about 40 percent female,” she says, noting that she wants to appeal to more women. “If you have the women, the men will come.”

Sacia says that so far, because both of Facebook’s resistance and because of pandemic social-distancing restrictions, the site has been more or less blind to geography. That will change in the coming months.

Read Next: Hunting Can Ruin Your Marriage. Or Make It Stronger

“In the beginning of our site, we were more focused on facilitating connections between people, whether they were in neighboring towns or 10 states away. But the success of a dating site is creating opportunities for folks to actually meet up, so you can expect us to do more niche marketing, targeting one state and then another, moving along to build participation within states and even within towns and cities.”

Sacia says the proof of the power of her vision is the number of relationships—and even marriage proposals—that have come from connections consummated by the website.

So, what about her ultimate goal, building a safe house for victims of domestic abuse?

“That remains my fundamental goal,” says Sacia. “It will take some time for the site to be profitable enough that I can quit my day job, but then we’ll create a foundation with that as its purpose. When that happens, I’ll know that this was all for something, even if it took longer than I anticipated back when I was 19 years old and living in La Crosse with the whole world in front of me.”

Hunting4Connections Is Kind of Like Tinder for Outdoorsmen and Women (2024)

FAQs

What is the dating site for outdoorsmen? ›

H4C is great for finding your match because it's created for outdoor enthusiasts. We match you based on your interest in outdoor activities. First fun dates are now easier to choose. No need to worry if your hobbies will scare others away.

How do you answer what are you looking for on a dating app? ›

Answer clearly, concisely, and honestly. Your response should reflect what is truly important to you. Possible things to look for in a relationship include emotional maturity, mutual trust and respect, friendship, physical attraction, and clear communication.

How to answer what brings you to Tinder? ›

"I like to stay open-minded. I'm not really looking to settle down right away but I'm also not just looking for hookups, either. I'm just hoping to meet interesting people and see what happens." An answer like this can come across as honest, while also keeping your options open.

Are there more men or women on dating sites? ›

Tinder has the worst with 21.9% women and 78.1% men. While Badoo has 35% women and 65% men. Bumble seems to have the most balanced ratio out of the three at around 43% women and 57% men. toward men outnumbering women on all the top dating apps.

What is the number one online dating site? ›

14 Best Dating Sites To Meet Someone Online For A Real Relationship in 2024
RankSiteBest For
1.eharmonyMeaningful connections
2.MatchLasting relationships
3.ZooskThose who love travel
4.FriendFinderMix of casual and serious
10 more rows
May 31, 2024

What's the hottest dating site? ›

The best dating sites, at a glance
  • Best Dating Site Overall: Match.
  • Best Free Dating App: Bumble.
  • Best Dating App for Casual Dating and Hookups: Tinder.
  • Best Dating App for a Serious Relationship: Hinge.
  • Best Dating App for Marriage: eHarmony.
  • Best Exclusive Dating App: Inner Circle.
  • Best LGBTQ+ Dating App: Lex.
Feb 7, 2024

What to say when a girl asks what are you looking for on Tinder? ›

How do you answer “what are you looking for?” on a dating app? Just be honest and direct: a date, a partner, a friend, some casual fun. If you worry about your words, just simply put it in your bio, then people won't ask. Successfully navigating the murky waters of the dating app can definitely feel like a struggle.

What's a good headline for a dating profile? ›

Best Dating Profile Headlines: How to write a successful title
  • “You'll never believe why I moved to…” ...
  • “Seeking someone to do … with.” ...
  • “Willing to lie about how we met.” ...
  • “I'm sweet, ambitious and thoughtful.” ...
  • “I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good.” ...
  • “Looking for my Netflix & chill.”
Sep 22, 2023

What to say when someone asks what you are looking for? ›

Here are 5 responses you can use if someone asks you outright what you're looking for:
  • “How about you show me who you are…and then I'll tell you if it's what I'm looking for.” *Nudge, nudge, wink wink. ...
  • “I'll let you know what I'm looking for when I see it.”
  • “I can't show my entire hand on the first date.
Mar 14, 2022

What is the best thing to say to get a response on Tinder? ›

How to Get a Girl to Respond on Tinder
  • Reference something in her bio.
  • Comment on her pictures.
  • Ask her an open-ended question.
  • Give her a compliment.
  • Point out something you have in common.
  • Play Would You Rather.
  • Try out a silly icebreaker.
  • Make her laugh with a funny one-liner.

What is the first thing you should say to a Tinder match? ›

The most accessible place to start is simply asking a question or complimenting something about their profile photos or bio. Don't forget to mention things that are unique or similar to your interests and experiences. I've always wanted to meet someone who [activity listed on their profile]. How'd you get into that?

How to answer Tinder prompts? ›

Try to illustrate and give more details about your prompt and answers rather than just stating facts. This will make your profile more engaging, making prospective dates have so much to talk about as they already know you have shared interests.

Which dating app has the highest female to male ratio? ›

The following table shows which applications have the highest percentage of women. Christian Mingle, Coffee Meets Bagel and eHarmony sit atop the list as the only services with a majority of female users.

Which dating site leads to the most marriages? ›

With decades of operation, Match.com stands out for its significant number of successful marriage stories. As a pioneer in the online dating scene, its algorithm has refined the art of pairing individuals who share deep compatibility, moving beyond superficial connections to unearth potential life partners.

Is it harder for guys to date? ›

"How difficult dating is for an individual man depends on a many factors. When people talk about dating being harder for men than women, they're mostly referring to men aged 18-29. This demographic of men have trouble finding partners because there are simply fewer available women in the same age range.

How to find an outdoorsy guy? ›

How to Find Outdoor Friends
  1. Be the friend you want to have - Talk to other hikers and campers. ...
  2. Slide in a few DMs. ...
  3. Find an Online Community. ...
  4. Join a gym. ...
  5. Go to in person events. ...
  6. Take a class or guided trip. ...
  7. Go On A Group Trip or Retreat. ...
  8. Reach out to your extended circle, dig into your past.
May 23, 2022

How do I meet guys outside? ›

7 Places To Meet Guys That Aren't Dating Apps Or Bars
  1. 01 | Say yes to events you're invited to. ...
  2. 02 | Go to a bookstore or join a book club. ...
  3. 03 | Volunteer for something you care about. ...
  4. 04 | Sign up for a class. ...
  5. 05 | Get involved at your church. ...
  6. 06 | Check out a different cafe. ...
  7. 07 | Let your friends set you up.

What is the dating app for adventurers? ›

Boo: Boo is a standout choice for outdoor lovers looking for a comprehensive dating experience. With its unique social universe feature, you can connect with potential matches over shared interests, including specific outdoor activities.

What is the best nature dating site? ›

We believe Natural Friends is the best online dating site for environmentally-sensitive, country-loving, spiritually-aware and health-conscious singles aspiring to tread lightly on the earth.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Last Updated:

Views: 6367

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Birthday: 1993-01-10

Address: Suite 391 6963 Ullrich Shore, Bellefort, WI 01350-7893

Phone: +6806610432415

Job: Dynamic Manufacturing Assistant

Hobby: amateur radio, Taekwondo, Wood carving, Parkour, Skateboarding, Running, Rafting

Introduction: My name is Pres. Lawanda Wiegand, I am a inquisitive, helpful, glamorous, cheerful, open, clever, innocent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.