The WOMA at Media Day at the Range

To start the week, several members of The WOMA attended NSSF Media Day at the Range. This range day allowed WOMA members to test new products, preview the latest gadgets, and create several webisodes, which will be released throughout the year.

In the firearms industry, our member tested several products and discovered interesting facts about several of them. One of the products was a 45 caliber 1911 from Double Star. This company is owned and operated by Teresa Starnes. Several of our members tested the Double Star 1911 and found it quite suitable for smaller handed women, especially for a 45 caliber. The kick wasn’t too bad and the grips were moderately sized. A few members commented that this would make a great addition to their firearms collection.

Another hot item was the AR-12 shotgun. This shotgun is available in 12 gauge, and is magazine fed. It is used mainly in the military and law enforcement arena, but there are rumors of it being a good candidate for 3-gunners. A couple of WOMA members tested

this product, and I for one found it quite enjoyable. It was a nice fit for me, right out of the box. This has been a problem in the past for me when dealing with shotguns due to my short arm length. However, since it is on an AR platform, there is a reduced length of pull. I was a concerned about the magazine and jams that may occur, but no problems were noted. The weight wasn’t bad, although a little awkward because of the magazine and weight of the rounds. Overall, I wouldn’t take it hunting and I probably wouldn’t use it for 3-gun. However, as someone in law enforcement, this would be a great addition to your arsenal.

Throughout the day, The WOMA continually asked the question, “What are you doing to promote women in outdoor sports?” Several companies said they were making products specifically with women in mind. 5.11 Tactical has a women’s clothing line, Champion has several products geared towards women including pink eye protection and hearing protection, and most of us know about Smith and Wesson’s adjustable backstraps on their pistols. It was also amazing to see so many women industry experts. Almost every booth we stopped at had women pro-staffer who answered all our questions and showed us they weren’t just a beautiful girl with a gun. They were knowledgeable, friendly, and extremely professional. If these are the up-and-comers in the outdoor sports industry, women have a lot to look forward to.

The day ended with several members trying their hands at the Gatlin gun. While a great source of firepower, it was confirmed they were not available in pink or purple colors. There are also not very portable, which is another downside. However, if you have a castle to defend, this would be a perfect addition.

In closing, it was encouraging to see so many women at NSSF Media Day at the Range. Women were in almost every booth from the 22 caliber rifle to the 5.11 Tactical booth with door breaching capabilities. Women were running the booths and giving excellent interviews to media representatives. A large number of women were also part of the media. Women were toting video cameras, taking pictures, and testing products with such confidence it was refreshing to see. Women appear to have a very bright future in the outdoor sports industry, both in the commercial side and in the competitive side as well.

Aim Small, Miss Small

The weather is starting to turn colder here in North Dakota. We had our first freeze warning last week, and I have dug out the fall coat. With the changing of weather seasons, we also change handgun competition seasons. We move from outdoor competitions to indoor competitions. We say goodbye to the Texas Star, steel plate racks, and poppers. Unlike previous years, this year I am sad to see this items stored for the winter. For the first time, I am actually hitting steel consistently. I can clear a Texas Star with five shots instead of two magazines and poppers fall on the first try. Although watch the video below and see what happens when a popper isn’t staked down or calibrated correctly.

With the ability to hit steel targets a negative consequence has occurred. I have lost the ability to hit cardboard targets. It appears I can hit a 6” round target on a Texas Star, but can’t hit 20”x34” IPSC  target.  After suffering this debilitating setback all summer, I came to the realization “Aim Small, Miss Small.”

In the movie, The Patriot, Mel Gibson’s character utters these words to his son, played by Heath Ledger. “Aim Small, Miss Small,” what exactly does this mean? For me, it means I can constantly hit a steel plate, and constantly miss a cardboard target. But the question is why?

When shooting at a 6” steel target, one has to focus on a small object and really pay attention to shot placement or else you’ll miss. Concentration on the front sight and accurate target acquisition are the keys. However, when shooting at a cardboard target, you have a greater area to hit, so oftentimes one loses the ability to focus on a small portion and instead takes the object in as a whole. I mean, how can someone NOT hit a 20”x34” target?  Easy, “Aim Small, Miss Small.” Aim Large, Miss Large.

In order to consistently hit the target, one needs to aim at something small, for instance, the ‘A’ in the middle of the ‘A’ zone. If you aim for something so ridiculously small and miss, you’ll probably hit somewhere in the ‘A’ zone. On the other hand, if you simply aim at the target and miss, you run a greater chance of missing the entire target. “Aim Small, Miss Small.”

So, it only took me six months to figure out what I was doing wrong. Six months of frustration and finishing last in almost every competition. But this mistake will make me a better shooter. I know where the problem lies and how to fix it. I just need to incorporate “Aim Small, Miss Small” into practice and my pre-stage routine.

The moral of the summer, if a 20”x34” cardboard target attacks me, I know I need to aim at the ‘A’ in the center ‘A’ zone and not just assume I’m going to hit it.

Problems with Steel

Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) – Part 1

Did you ever go to summer camp as a little kid? Do you remember the feeling of excitement and anticipation of being away from home, meeting new people, and trying exciting things? Well, all those feelings came rushing back to me this past weekend as I prepared to head off to my own summer camp, Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW).

For those of you not familiar with BOW, it’s a workshop designed primarily for women to assist them in gaining self-confidence and self-esteem with outdoors skills. The Annual BOW Workshop in North Dakota covers such topics as hunting and fishing, shooting, navigation, dutch oven cooking, plants and animals, and survival techniques. The classes generally stay the same year after year, but with so many options, one can return indefinitely and continue to learn new outdoor pursuits. As an example, my first two years I focused on hunting and shooting skills taking classes like shotgunning, rifle, archery, tracking and trapping, and big game cleaning.  Having never had any experience in most of these areas, it was a great opportunity to try new things in a safe and friendly environment. I could ask all the ‘dumb’ questions “I think my bow is broken. It doesn’t work.” It helps to have a left-handed bow, if shooting left handed. “Why am I going in circles?” Don’t follow your own trail on a GPS unit. “What do you mean Game and Fish won’t clean my deer for me?” I still think this should be part of their jobs.

This year I decided to try my hand at water based activities: canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and intro to waterfowl. I probably should have had these classes BEFORE our town flooded, but hindsight is 20/20. So early Friday morning, I packed my little car with the necessities like life jacket, swimming suit, sleeping bag, mosquito spray, and SMORES!!! I was also equipped with enough firepower to possibly take over the world. I take my own weapons, even if I’m not registered for the class, so other women get a chance to see that bows and firearms come in other colors besides black.

To begin with, we were forecast three beautiful days of weather. The temperatures were to be in the 80s, with a variable breeze, and little to no humidity. Halfway on my journey, I encountered the Mother of all thunderstorms and had to pull over a couple of times because I could no longer see the road. One important note: It only takes 6 inches of fast moving water to sweep a car off the road, so do not drive through water running over the road.

I arrived at camp to partly sunny conditions but the atmosphere was electric. Ladies were hugging and laughing. Everyone was talking at once and trying to catch up on the events of the past year. Most of these women only meet each other once a year, but there is an undercurrent of family. We are Outdoors Women, and that makes us family.

We had a brief lunch and then a short preview of events, and then it was time to begin the weekend activities. My first class was kayaking, and I was excited. I had never been in a kayak and the only ones I had ever seen were the crazy people kayaking in white water rapids.

Making a fashion statement has always been my forte, so I proudly sported my black and white Hawaiian board short with my pink Babes with Bullets t-shirt. To complete the outfit, I had my BRIGHT pink aqua socks (yes, aqua socks), blue life jacket, and alien-eyes sunglasses. I figured if I was going to capsize, I at least wanted to be easy to spot in the water.

As we proceeded to the lake, the skies opened up and a deluge started. Hard, driving rain with very coldand gusty winds pelted us as we arrived at our meeting place. We discussed not kayaking, and one of the ladies said, “I’m not sure I was to go kayaking in the rain. I’m going to get all wet.” I hated to inform her; she stood a pretty good chance of getting wet without the rain.

So kayaking, what can I say? First, I’d like to say thank you to the lady from the lake who graciously allows BOW to use five of her own personal kayaks for the weekend. She is so passionate about other women trying and liking outdoor activities that she had lent her own kayaks for the last ten plus years. So, whoever you are, thank you.

 

 

First, kayaking is a lot harder starting out than it looks. For those of us with no coordination, putting one leg in, attempting to sit down, and then swing the other leg is in nearly impossible. Thankfully it was still pouring, so it didn’t matter if I fell unladylike into the bottom.  Once inside the kayak, the process is relatively simple. You paddle one side and then the other in a leisurely fashion. Left, right, left, right. Or in my case, left, left, left. I think I spent more time going in circles, but I did become best friends with Little Goldie Goldfish, who followed me around.

There were some vicious waves out on the lake while kayaking. It took a lot of upper body strength to paddle back to the landing pad since we were paddling against the wind. I would not recommend attempting big lakes with high waves unless you have a lot of upper body strength and a lot of time.

We spent approximately three hours kayaking around the lake. I saw several different varieties of birds, different species of fish, and even a

beaver. As for the blinding rain, and the fact I had to stick my hands in the lake water (which was considerably warmer) to warm them up, I would do this again. It was a great time and I really did learn a lot. After arriving back at camp and taking a quick shower to warm up, I stepped outside to see the sun shining. Figures.

Some important information I received about kayaking.

• One size doesn’t not fit all. The size and shape of the kayak is determined by the user’s height/weight, where the kayak will be used and how it will be stored. Be sure to know this information if you plan on buying your own kayak. Selection of the paddle is also important and based on the aforementioned items.
• Wear your life jacket. Most states require a life jacket to be worn while kayaking, some people decide not to. Make sure it fits properly and have it secured correctly.
• Stay centered and low to the water. This helps with your center of balance. And makes the kayak harder to roll.
• Sit straight up and use the foot rests if the kayak has them, or knees slightly bent and spread so they are resting against the sides of the kayak. This gives you more control and makes paddling easier.
• Lastly, know your limits. Start out slow and don’t push yourself. Practice technique and enjoy the scenery and wildlife.

My first class of day two was Intro to Waterfowl. I have been to several BOW Women’s Only Waterfowl Hunts, but it’s always helpful to have another course. I always learn new and interesting techniques and enjoy sharing my enthusiasm with other women.

I have decided I have been attending BOW too long since most of the instructors know me by name and offer a better bio about me than I give about myself. It was this was with the waterfowl class, but I guess that’s the nice thing about having smaller class sizes.

We spent the first part of the morning learning about decoys, setting up for the hunt, and calling. It was amazing. We each received our own duck calls and began quacking like crazy. Okay, so many not exactly quacking, but there was definite noise being emitted for the call. The most incredible thing was we had some ducks starting to return our squawking. What a rush!

I got to practice lying in a coffin blind and ‘popping’ up with a shotgun. It is a completely unnatural feeling to shoot from a half seated/half prone position. Definitely something you would need to practice again and again before actually practicing in the field.

Lastly, we learned about dressing for the hunt. Here in North Dakota, it is especially important to prepare for cold weather and prevent hypothermia. This is one area where quality of clothing is critical. Also, women should buy hunting gear specifically made for women. Wearing men’s clothing will allow wind to seep into the gaps and make for a miserable hunt. Remember to dress in layers and tuck everything in. One other important fact I learned was don’t wear boots in your waders. This is in direct conflict with what the salesman told me. It’s information like this that women need to know. I would have look completely ridiculous going out hunting with my hunting boots INSIDE my waders. Always get a second opinion.

Overall, this was one of the best classes by far. The instructors were informative and completely understanding with answering questions. They didn’t make fun of me when I tried to put the waders over my boots, but instead got mad at the salesman for deceiving me. They laughed with us when we all attempted our calling methods, and generally made us feel relaxed and excited to learn.

Some useful information I learned during Intro to Waterfowl:

• Face your decoys into the wind. Birds land into the wind, so if your decoys are facing the wrong direction, the birds will know something is wrong.
• Place decoys in a ‘V’ shape with the narrow part of the ‘V’ towards you. Leave a space in the middle for the birds to land. Also, you can mix and match geese and duck decoys.
• Put the farthest decoy at a specific distance. This will allow you to know how far out the birds are when they are coming in.
• It doesn’t matter how you call, as long as you are making some type of noise (no squawking or shrieks). Birds love to hear other birds and will generally respond to anything.
• Dress warm and in clothing specific to females. This is especially true if you are hunting in the northern plains.

Overall, the first two classes were a blast. Aside from the deluge on the first afternoon, the rest of the weekend was sunny and warm. I learned so much and am eager to try my newfound skills.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where I learned to fish and canoe. Lots of action and tipping the canoe as well.