Is it rude to say "hello mate" to a woman?

The thing with this is I have never in my entire life heard a single female use the word mate towards someone, while I hear guys use it all the time and only to other guys. I have yet to hear it be used towards a woman or even used by women to another woman. When I asked people about this, I usually get the response that women can and might use it, but it’s more common amongst men. Not exactly a clear answer, but from real life experience I just never heard it being used towards or by a woman. I also don’t use it myself being female because not a single female friend or colleague uses it, and I have never used it towards someone before. I only use it as an alternative to the word friend, as in “I’m calling my mates around for food”, but would never say hello mate towards someone. No one ever used it towards me either, including men. I don’t have a particular reason other than that I just never heard it being used amongst women before. It doesn’t seem offensive, maybe just rare to use to a woman.