Hooked from Day One: Sehra Evans' DU Journey

Sehra Evans stumbled into hunting by chance in 2020. A hairstylist and lifelong Monterey resident, she had never considered hunting before and knew little about it. But that first trip turned into a life-changing experience.

“I fell in love with it immediately,” Evans recalled. “From the first day I went out in the pond and watched the world wake up, I was hooked.”

It wasn’t just the excitement of the hunt that drew her in. It was the peaceful solitude—the sound of ducks’ wings cutting through the morning air, the soft light rising over the horizon, and the quiet time alone with her thoughts—that captured her.

“I just knew I loved it, and I wanted to do more,” she said.

Determined to learn, Evans dove into her first solo season with enthusiasm. She read every article she could find, studied refuge rules, maps, and flood-up schedules, took shooting lessons, and threw herself into the experience. By her second season, she was at the refuge nearly every hunt day—missing only one—eager to learn from others and improve her skills.

As her confidence grew, so did her desire to help others discover the sport. She began mentoring friends, participating in women’s hunts, and introducing new hunters to the refuge every season.

Her passion for hunting quickly extended into conservation. Evans began attending Ducks Unlimited events in Gilroy, Hollister, and Pebble Beach. After volunteering at the Pebble Beach chapter’s inaugural dinner, she noticed something missing—a DU chapter in Monterey. Inspired to take action, she decided to relaunch it.

“We held a recruitment event that was a huge success. Over 20 people came, and they pretty much all stayed!” she said.

In 2023, Evans and the revived Monterey Chapter hit the ground running, selling out all 250 seats at their inaugural banquet. The following year, they sold 325 tickets and raised over $110,000 for DU.

While fundraising is a key part of the chapter’s mission, Evans says it’s about more than just dollars.

“I think it’s really important that our dinner isn’t just about raising money for ducks,” she said. “It’s about building relationships and bringing the community together.”

Dan Papp, DU’s regional director for the Bay Area, said the Monterey Chapter is now one of the most successful in California, thanks in large part to Evans’ leadership.

“She makes time when she doesn’t have it,” Papp said. “She’s dependable and hardworking when it comes to events. There’s a lot to be said about that. Sehra is a go-getter.”

For Evans, DU has become more than an organization, it’s a part of her identity. Now having held for the Monterey Chapter’s third dinner, she’s more committed than ever.

“I’ve got all these duck tattoos now, and I got a hunting dog,” she said, laughing. “I eat and sleep this stuff. The ducks got me, and then DU got me. They got me good.”

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 19 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. DU is growing its mission through a historic $3 billion Conservation For A Continent capital campaign. Learn more at www.ducks.org. 

Media Contact: 
Molly Jarone 
(916) 903-9199 
mjarone@ducks.org