Women’s Outdoor News launches newly designed website

ROLLA, Mo. – The Women’s Outdoor News (The WON) launches a new look at its website on June 3, losing the former print newspaper WordPress template and choosing a simpler, more visual design. The e-zine, which features 13 women bloggers, focuses on “news, reviews and stories” about women in the outdoors. It offers updates by email or RSS Feeds.

Publisher Barbara Baird said, “When we launched The WON three years ago, readers still connected with the newspaper, newswire look. We want to reach a younger generation and this ‘look’ is fresh.” The site will continue to offer honest reviews of gear for women in its Gear Court department, where sometimes items get sentenced to the death penalty. Said Baird, “We never play for pay. If an item does not pass the Gear Court test, and even if it’s an item from our advertiser, we will still fail it and make suggestions as how to improve it for women’s use.” Also, the site will run the popular “Shoot to Thrill” department, which features outdoor photographers’ tips, including newly added Yamil Sued, Smith & Wesson’s photographer, to the established lineup of photographers that include Tim Flanigan, Stacey Huston, Gary Figgins, Bill Konway and Gretchen Steele.

In the blogging lineup, joining former bloggers Baird, Tammy Ballew, Paige Eissinger, Nancy Jo Adams, Traci Schauf, The Fly Girl and Katherine Browne, are several new voices – Julie Golob, Sara Ahrens, Molly Smith, Marti Davis, Mia Anstine and Linda Milcun.

Visitors to The WON are invited to comment and also to connect with its Facebook Fan Page, where behind-the-blog scenes will be featured, as well as news from the site. Readers also may get updates from The WON through Twitter.

Visit the new WON at www.womensoutdoornews.com.

 

River Country Outdoors Adds Award Winning Outdoor Photographer and WOMA Member Gretchen Mueller Steele to Staff

Pinckneyville, IL  May 17, 2011:  River Country Outdoors, published by E
and R Media is pleased to announce the addition of award winning outdoor
photographer and writer Gretchen Mueller Steele to its line up of outstanding
outdoor writers. River Country Outdoors is a print publication that serves the Southern
Illinois, Southeast Missouri, Southwest Indiana and Northwest Kentucky area and
markets. Steele will also be part of the content development and advertising
teams.

“Gretchen is one the most well connected people in the
outdoor industry in our service area. We have been lucky to publish her
photographs and articles previously as a freelancer. We are most pleased that
she has accepted a position with our team.” Said Jeff Egbert, publisher.

Steele will be working with Production Manager Shea
Campanella to increase the variety of topics covered as well to introduce new
outdoor writers and photographers to River Country Outdoors. In addition to her
work with production, writing and editing, Steele can be contacted for
information regarding advertising as well.

For information concerning submissions to River Country
Outdoors, Sponsorship Opportunities, and Advertising , please contact Gretchen
Steele  by e mail steelephoto@gmail.com or by phone at
618-201-4180.

From Gretchen:

As part of my position I will be working in both advertising sales and content
development, so I will be looking to the many talented writers and photographers
at WOMA for help with our expanding coverage of women in the outdoors. Any
industry members who would be interested in advertising or sponsoring a  writer
and monthly column are also welcome to contact me for any details they may need.

As always, I look to WOMA for the brightest and best in the outdoor
industry.

-Gretchen

Ono’s and Orvis Partner on Exclusive Top Focal™ Angler Sunglasses

MOBILE, Ala. – February 8, 2011 – Ono’s Trading Company® announced an exclusive agreement with Orvis to produce sunglasses with Top Focal™ magnifiers at the top of the lens so anglers get knot-tying assistance looking up but still can look down without visual distraction when wading slippery streams and fast currents.

Ono’s spokesman Chris Nelson said positioning the bifocals at the top of the lens was the brainchild of Orvis CEO Dave Perkins. “He came to us with the concept and we were pleased to collaborate with him on the design of sunglasses that will give wade anglers definite advantages,” Nelson said. “Golfers will benefit, too. They can look up to check a scorecard but they can still look down without visual distraction when swinging at the ball.”

Nelson said Ono’s will produce two popular Orvis Top Focal™ models – Breton and Curlew – each with memory-flex frames, ophthalmic-quality CR-39 amber lenses, and top of the lens magnification with 2.00 and 2.50 powers. He said the amber lenses transmit a brighter field and more color contrast which helps anglers look through the surface of the water to more accurately make out structure and depth. Polarized lenses provide 100 percent eye protection from UVA and UVB rays. Breton and Curlew are unisex frame designs for faces with medium to large features.

Perkins said the new Orvis Top Focal™ sunglasses will be sold only through Orvis retail stores, e-commerce, and catalogs.” Top Focals™ are totally out of the way of your normal vision, especially when looking down, as the magnifying lens is above the sightline of the brim of your hat,” Perkins said. “When tying a knot you simply look through the top of the sunglasses or lower the glasses onto the bridge of your nose.”

He said he had never liked the “goofy” look of flip-up and flip-down reading glasses. “Anglers wearing bifocals at the bottom of the lens needed to constantly remove them to navigate when looking down to step in the stream or wade in fast current as they impaired near distance vision.

“Top Focals™ give you the best magnification in sunglasses without impairing your vision when looking down or having magnifiers hanging off your neck or off your hat brim, which my daughter thinks is totally un-cool. These are the only glasses I will fish with. You can sign me ‘Over 45′.”

About Ono’s Trading Company

Ono’s Trading Company markets stylish sunglasses that eliminate the need to switch glasses to read or perform other close-up vision tasks in the outdoors. Sunglasses employ polarized lenses with a unique reader magnification enhancement system. They are sold through stores, catalogs and web sites. Contact Chris Nelson, Sales Manager, 1606B Industrial Park Circle, Mobile, AL 36693-5648. Phone 1-866-865-4695. Fax 1-251-338-0414. Email Nelson at chris at onostradingcompany.com. On the Internet, visit and www.facebook.com/onoseyewear.  The Orvis website address is http://www.orvis.com.

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Models, features and benefits, Orvis-by-Ono’s Polarized Top Focal™ Sunglasses

Top Focal™ Breton™ by Orvis: Tortoise Memory-Flex frame. Amber CR-39 lens. Mag powers 2.00 and 2.50

Top Focal™ Curlew™ by Orvis: Black Memory-Flex frame. Amber CR-39 lens. Mag powers 2.00 and 2.50

Prois Hunting Apparel adds ‘Woman of the Week’ to website

Prois Hunting Apparel for women recently launched a new website design and added, to its lineup of extra features, a “Woman of the Week” category. Katherine Browne, Pro Staff Coordinator for Prois and member of the Women’s Outdoor Media Association, kicked off the series with Annie Oakley. We like how Prois looks back at history to see not only how far we have come, but also, how much we already knew! Kudos to Prois for not only highlighting real modern women who really hunt, but who also honor our fore”mothers” in the fields and woods and shooting ranges. Go here to see Prois’ new website.

Gretchen Steele … Queen of the Carp

Meet outdoor photographer and freelance writer Gretchen Steele, of Illinois, our “fish babe” for March 2011. Gretchen is a carp-crazed angler, desiring to rid the world of this pesky vermin of the water. Writes Gretchen, “It’s hard to get a traditional ‘trophy fish’ image with the carp, given their size, and the fact that they have the most horrific, thick slime covering.”

She continues, “Lest anyone think we were ‘over fishing’ … the carp are such an invasive and destructive species that the more you can haul out, the better. … The up side is that they are great food source, and one day (like the one shown) can keep you in fish for a year. When it’s smoked or pressure canned in some herbs and oil … it’s yummy stuff. They also make great fertilizer and often, when we have quite literally tons of the darn things, we will donate tubs full to wildlife rehabbers who are able to use them as food for the wildlife.”

This spring, you might see Gretchen fly fishing for carp. She says, “That ought to be a riot … Let’s see, I’ve harvested carp with any all variety of lines and poles and set ups, nets, pitchforks, gigs, sling shot, bow and arrow, and by hand. Now it doesn’t get much more versatile than that!”

Follow Gretchen’s many adventures outdoors at her blog here. Check out her photos here.

 

 

Elk Country unwind

The weekends are meant to be a time for de-stressing and relaxation. We have learned how to do this through years of training.

Every so often Al and I pack crazily to drive to Elk Country in the White Mountains of Arizona to accomplish this mission. This past weekend was one of those times. Al has taught me not to take myself or life’s complications too seriously.

I am still able to get a little work done—one of my conditions for buying our cabin was that I have high-speed Internet. Waking early is one of my habits . . . so I get up about two hours earlier than Al. I do my Wii Fit exercising, then hop on the computer to do a little catching up!

Then the fun begins. We decide together how to have fun. When the lakes are not frozen—as they are now—fishing is #1 on our list. In the winter, however, we have to be more creative in our activities. So here we are in the winter, ATVing and elk watching. We love unwinding in the high country—Elk Country!

See more photos on Facebook here and here.

Marsha

Dogless Duck Hunting

Hi. My name is Holly. I hunt ducks without a dog. Read more

The Package Deal — journalistic etiquette demands paying the photographer

One of our WOMA members recently got in touch with me and told me a little story. It seems that this person went on a fishing trip with a well-known freelance writer in the outdoor industry. I’ll call the WOMA member Betty and I’ll call the writer Mona. From all accounts, it was a marvelous day on the water. When Mona caught a big bass, Betty took photos of her with it.

Read more

Where Marsha and Deb Meet Sheriff Paul Babeu

Here’s Marsha Petrie Sue (on left) with Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu and Deb Ferns at an NRA Women’s Leadership Forum luncheon held in Tucson, Ariz., in late January. The NRA recently awarded Babeu, President of the Arizona Sheriff’s Association, the title “National Sheriff of the Year,” based on votes from his peers from the United States. According to Marsha, “Paul gave an outstanding speech on the critical problems facing Arizona borders.” Deb remarked, ”Sheriff Babeu didn’t pull any political punches and gave this audience devastating numbers and instances where the Federal government continues to turn its back on the problems facing Arizona with its illegal aliens.”

Members of The Women’s Outdoor Media Association: Do you have a snapshot of a recent event or road trip you want to share with us? Send to kathy at thewoma.com. And, do not forget to send a photo, too.

Following the Flyway … According to ‘Duck Junkie’ Gretchen Steele

When most of my hunting friends begin their early October “Buck Fever” phase, I’m  getting ready for life on the flyway highway. I know that soon the birds will start to appear and soon I’ll be chasing north and south, following the gaggles of geese, flocks of ducks, and piles of pelicans.

I’m a duck junkie and I will readily admit it. My normally busy schedule goes into full tilt boogie mode  when I hear the honking and cackling and quacking that tells me the birds are their way.

My husband sighs a lot. He mutters things like – “Reckon you’ll be home by March?” and “Don’t forget to change your oil. How many miles did you put on this week?”

My hunting partner gently reminds me, “Baby doll, you need a nap; your’re dragging your foot and your face is getting crooked!”

I live on endless cups of bad coffee and crummy convenience store food, gobbled down as I roll from one batch of migrators to the next. I cruise up and down the Mississippi flyway, in the snow and darkness so that I can have my boots on the ground long before daylight.  Most days start at 3 a.m. and  rarely are  finished by 10.

I feel that it will be July before I am actually warm and dry at the same time. I’ve forgone cologne, because there’s none that can quite mask the smell of gunpowder, wet dogs and dead ducks. Mud, cornstalks, paw prints and bloody feathers litter  hatch back — empty cigarette packs, candy car wrappers, coffee cups, chapsticks, and tubes of hand lotion litter the passenger side floor.  Soon I’ll have to scoop shovel out all the flotsam and jetsam that settles in my vehicle during waterfowl season.

I break ice on frozen lakes and rivers, lie in snowy fields for hours on end. I wade icy water that’s waist deep and slug through heavy wet mud negotiating a soft cornfield.

Those first honkers I heard back in October were calling me  –  to three solid months of being cold, wet, tired and hungry. My body screams back at me on a daily basis;  my neurologist and immunologist fret and still I go on — chasing birds, racing the flyway highway.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well,  here’s a chapter or two – some images from this years season so far.  There’s still a while to go.  We’re band hunters … we’ll see you when the birds go home.

http://youtu.be/lIrxAiAM7RI

To see Gretchen’s photography, click here.

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