Trailblazer: Huldah Neal, America's 1st Woman Conservation Officer

The Michigan Environmental Hall of Fame posthumously honors the first female conservation officer in the U.S.

by posted on August 20, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Huldah Neal Main
Courtesy Travis Area County Library

As a modern NRA Woman, it's easy to forget that it wasn't so long ago that each of us had to forge her own path into the traditionally male-dominated world of guns and the outdoors. Huldah Neal is one such "ordinary trailblazer"—an everyday woman who made every day a step towards the wise conservation of America's resources. She was the first female conservation officer in the United States, and her early success was recently honored posthumously by the Michigan Environmental Hall of Fame as a Legacy award recipient. 

Born in 1855 in Michigan's Grand Traverse County, Neal began life surrounded by some of the greatest beauty in Nature ... and, sadly, poachers. She loved the outdoors and the wildlife that thrived there, but she had little tolerance for the fish and game poaching taking place in her home county. Rather than waiting for the menfolk to handle that for her, she simply went to her local fish and game office and requested an appointment as a conservation officer. By 1897, she had gotten her wish.

One of the very first things Neal did as an officer was take aim at a gang of poachers that had been operating more or less unimpeded. “She is energic and watchful, and already poaching has begun to diminish," read a press account of the time. "The worst gang of law violators have ceased operations,” the Jackson, Michigan, newspaper reported in March 1898. 

Huldah Neal was a trailblazer, literally and figuratively,” said Gary Hagler, Michigan DNR Law Enforcement Division chief. “She was fearless in the way she performed her dangerous duties, and in how she broke free from typical roles that society forced on women at that time. She paved the way for new generations of women who proudly serve as guardians of our natural resources. Huldah Neal left a positive legacy for our state. On behalf of all conservation officers, it’s a privilege to nominate her for induction to the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.”

The ceremony took place Tuesday at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids. “This is an important milestone in history to recognize, not only for our state, but for our country,” said Chief Gary Hagler, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division. “Huldah Neal established a career path for many successful women who uphold her legacy today by protecting natural resources.”

“Neal paved the way for new generations of women who proudly serve as guardians of our natural resources,” said Ron Brown, chair of the Michigan Environmental Hall of Fame. Today, there are 26 female conservation officers who serve at all ranks within the DNR Law Enforcement Division.

 

Latest

Daniel Defense Sponsors Nra World Shooting Championship
Daniel Defense Sponsors Nra World Shooting Championship

Daniel Defense Named Official Stage Sponsor for 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship

Daniel Defense will sponsor the Precision Rifle Series stage, supplying its Delta 5 Pro Rifles.

New Guns 2025: Charter Arms Pathfinder II .22 LR Revolver Series

Offered in three models, the .22 LR revolver is designed for both experienced shooters and beginners, making it an ideal choice for sport shooting, small game hunting and personal protection.

Gun Gear: Splurge or Cheap Out?

For hunting and shooting, what items should you prioritize spending money on to buy the best you can afford and what can you save money on by going cheap?

Risk Mitigation: Are You Worried About the Wrong Things?

Are you spending too much time worrying about things that don’t matter and ignoring the dangers you’re statistically more likely to face?

 

Celebrating 26 Years of Legacy and Leadership: Women On Target at the Oklahoma City Gun Club

The iconic gathering has become a national benchmark for women’s shooting clinics, blending community, education and marksmanship at a scale rarely seen elsewhere.

The Armed Citizen® Reload September 12, 2025

Shots to the legs were enough to stop two separate violent attacks against women.

Women's Interests



Get the best of NRA Women delivered to your inbox.