Stomping ground(s)

In a letter recently I used the term " old stomping grounds" to refer to a female friend's general area of residence when she was coming of age. Later I wondered if this was correct. If "stomping ground(s)" is akin to an area where bucks, for example, strut their stuff and paw the ground during rutting season, perhaps I'm on shaky ground using "stomping ground(s)" as a female's growing-up place.