Dogless Duck Hunting

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

Welcoming eight new huntresses into the world

It’s always exciting whenever we get to welcome a new hunter or huntress into the world, but this weekend I was thrilled to participate in an event where EIGHT new huntresses were born.

The event was California Waterfowl’s second annual Women’s Hunting Camp, and it was a fantastic deal: For $175, these women completed their hunter education training, got licenses, took shotgun lessons and went on their first hunt.

Having just begun hunting four years ago myself, all those feelings are still fresh in my mind. But getting to watch these women experience it for themselves was such a thrill. They thought I was volunteering, but really I was there to feed off of that energy that I knew would be there – it feels like I got so much more than I gave.

I’ve written about the weekend on my blog, and I’d like to encourage WOMA members to comment there to give these women a hearty welcome into the sorority of huntresses.

Also: My thanks go out to the supporters who made the weekend possible: California Waterfowl, Birds Landing Hunting Preserve and Sporting Clays, Prois Hunting Apparel, the Tackle Box in Chico, Calif., the Bad Ass Girls Club, and lots of volunteers who came out with dogs to assist on the first hunt. Their support meant a lot.

Congratulations, Holly!

Congratulations to The WOMA’s  Holly Heyser for being interviewed by National Public Radio for a story on women hunters.

There are interesting comments posted online. If you have any thoughts re: Holly’s interview, maybe we can make this one of NPR’s most commented-on stories.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113279429

Holly Heyser wins prestigious Artemis Award from California Waterfowl

California Waterfowl presented Holly Heyser with the 2009 Artemis Award at the Sacramento Wild Game Feed on September 3rd.

This award is given annually to a woman within the waterfowling community for inspiring and supporting positive outdoor experiences for women and helping to preserve our outdoor heritage for future generations. Heyser works tirelessly to involve others in the way of life she loves through her blog, articles for various publications, and the food served in her home.

Heyser has proven herself to be a powerful voice for promoting the positive aspects of hunting, such as the health benefits of pursuing and eating wild game, and the contributions hunters make to habitat conservation. She is a tireless advocate for California Waterfowl’s award-winning education and outreach programs through the Women’s Outdoor Connections Committee, which is creating a network for women interested in volunteerism, hunting and conservation. On her blog, NorCal Cazadora, she provides a wealth of information on all things hunting in a thought-provoking and inviting way that draws people out and into the marsh.

“Through all she does, Holly encourages everyone to participate fully in outdoor experiences and think deeply about where we fit in both society and nature”, explained Dr. Robert McLandress, President of California Waterfowl. “She brings a fresh perspective to the world of hunting and helps both hunters and non-hunters see it more clearly.”

Holly Heyser describes herself as a recovering newspaper reporter and editor. She now teaches journalism at her alma mater, Sacramento State University. She went on her first hunt at age 41 and immediately fell in love with the honesty, grace and humility of acquiring food the hard way. In addition to teaching and blogging, Heyser also freelances, writing and taking photographs for publications including California Waterfowl Magazine, the Sacramento Bee, Edible Sacramento, Meatpaper, the Art of Eating, Delta Waterfowl and Turkey Country.

About:

California Waterfowl is an award winning nonprofit, hunter-supported conservation organization with a mission to conserve the state’s waterfowl, wetlands, and hunting heritage. In the last 20 years we’ve restored, protected or enhanced more than 360,000 acres, providing habitat for millions of birds and animals, and introduced more than 250,000 children to the wonders of the great outdoors. Visit us online at www.calwaterfowl.org.

Kudos to Cazadora

It’s not every day you get a pair of duck waders named after your blog name. Kudos to NorCal Cazadora, aka The WOMA member Holly Heyser, who recently field tested and advised Cabela’s on the design of women’s waders. If you received the Waterfowl edition of the catalog recently, you’ll see her on page 209, and you can read about the experience at her blog: http://norcalcazadora.blogspot.com/#0

Holly Heyser – Member of The WOMA

Holly is a full-time college journalism lecturer at California State University, Sacramento, and spends most of her remaining waking hours either hunting, volunteering with hunting groups, writing about hunting or photographing wild game, from field to table.

Holly Heyser has proven herself to be a powerful voice for hunting’s positive benefits and California Waterfowl. She volunteers with the association as a pivotal public relations advisor, is a tireless advocate for our education and outreach programs, and is a key member of California Waterfowl’s Women’s Outdoor Connections Committee. On her blog, NorCal Cazadora, she provides a wealth of information on all things hunting in a thought provoking and inviting way that draws people out and into the marsh. Through all she does Holly encourages everyone to participate fully in outdoor experiences and think deeply about what our way of life is all about.