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I view invitations to hunt and golf being a similar activity, but women in those environs face no barriers to entry. I do not know how this necessarily, if at all, changes the networking dynamics at play.
A relative of mine by marriage works for a bank. He has a banker in his office who doesn't show up to work on Fridays, and upon inquiring why, was informed that this particular banker takes potential clients fishing in his boat instead of going to the office on Fridays, and routinely signs on million dollar accounts by doing so. One has to imagine there are few women on these trips, even for the small business owner world(which realistically most million dollar bank accounts belong to).
All male environs seem conducive to serious business.
As for hunting, hunting trips might be elite display or largess towards poorer male comrades(such as employees or less successful relatives) as often as they are an opportunity for networking among social equals. Exotic game ranches aside, the usual pattern is for one or a very small number of economically successful men(who are already close enough not to need networking amongst themselves) to buy a lease which relatives, longtime friends, employees, etc can use as well. I've not heard of business deals being cut on the deer lease in the same way as on a golf course.
You do it at the bar at the lodge after.
If an actual hunter type businessman invites you on an outing, that's a pretty huge deal. It's also a test. If you can't shut the fuck up for a while, if you get bored and can't focus, if you're cranky in the cold / rain.
Golf Business is much more a direct extension of the boardroom but outside and with beer. Hunting is more.
... Unless they're not actually a hunter and just want to blast away. In which case, you'll be back before lunch.
In the hunting examples I'm thinking about the guy who got shot by dick cheney but still found it worthwhile to go to those retreats after the incident.
I mean ... the game is the game.
You catch a hot one posted up on the corner, you can say "fuck it" and bounce. Or you can step the fuck up and get back in the mix. You do you, playboy. Game gonna stay the game.
--- Dick Cheney (probably)
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I'd be surprised if equal numbers of men and women like hunting and golf. "We have to do this boring and maybe gross thing to network" is still a barrier, if a porous one.
I alluded to it in a previous comment, but I have seen high tea luncheons and to a lesser extent charity committees function the same for Chinese wives who wield their husbands fortunes. There are a large number of management corporations in London and Vancouver where blocks of flats are owned by these wifely consortiums who often rely on a relative staying there to act as the property manager/agent. These also are tens of millions of dollar size deals arrived at over shit conversations men would gnaw their leg off to avoid.
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