How can hunter education help create more safe hunters?

Findings from a 2011/2012 hunter education study conducted by Responsive Management suggest that fine-tuning current hunter education programs could bolster numbers of licensed hunters.

“To capitalize on peak interest, state natural resource agencies should provide information on mentored hunting opportunities as well as maps of public hunting lands during hunter education courses or immediately following them,” said Mark Duda, executive director of Responsive Management. “Agencies that consolidate post-course information such as season dates, hunting regulations, special hunt opportunities and other information could make it easier for graduates to take that next step.”

The purpose of the study was to assess the best ways of encouraging hunter education graduates to become regular hunters and license buyers. The study included focus groups and pre- and post-hunter education course telephone surveys of students in Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky.

The study revealed that between 85 percent and 94 percent of hunter education students across the three states said they were very likely to obtain a hunting license after their course. However, post-course results indicated between 53 percent and 70 percent of hunter education students who had never hunted or possessed a license before bought a license after the course.

As a way to boost the percentage of students who buy a hunting license, Duda suggested that state agencies responsible for hunter education explore ways to immediately get a hunting license into the hands of course graduates. Doing that would mean hunter education graduates would face one less barrier to active hunting participation.

“One way of accomplishing that would be to include the fee of an annual hunting license in the overall price of course registration, thereby guaranteeing that students leave the course fully licensed to hunt in their state,” Duda said.

Other suggestions to increase the number of hunter education graduates who purchase hunting licenses is offering optional follow-up courses. Seminars or distance-learning options could be an additional source of revenue for agencies as well as provide new hunters with more information on topics such as scouting, hunting strategies or field dressing game.

Providing more classroom courses was mentioned by study participants as another improvement. Notable percentages of survey respondents in Georgia (12 percent) and Kentucky (34 percent) said courses were overcrowded or not easy to find close to where they live.

Argentina – Cordoba’s best dove hunting!

The WOMA members, Elizabeth Lanier, Anne Draper and Marsha Petrie Sue enjoy an amazing trip to Cordoba, Argentina for a little wing shooting. The dove were more than plentiful, the loaders kept us all in action and the surroundings breathtaking.  Los Chanares is THE place to experience dove hunting in Argentina.  The lodge, people, accommodations, food, grounds and so much more were beyond our expectations.  And you only travel 5 to 10 minutes (not an hour or two) from the lodge to begin shooting.

Thanks to Elizabeth and her group of  G.R.I.T.S. (Girls Really in to Shooting) for coordinating everything. If you are interested in joining us next year, just let me know!  Marsha@TheWOMA.com

For more pictures, please visit Marsha Petrie Sue’s facebook link.

 

A Tribute to Women in Hunting, Conservation

March is officially Women’s History Month. Congress designated the tribute to generations of women whose contributions proved invaluable to American society. Education. Arts. Business. Technology. Medicine. Alongside these areas, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation also is commemorating women’s role in conservation.

“Most Americans appreciate wildlife and wild places, but most also are unaware that these public resources thrive because of hunters—and, more than ever, because of hunters who happen to be women,” said RMEF President and CEO David Allen.

Today, conservation funding from women collectively, and conservation leadership from women individually, are undervalued but extremely significant.

Allen explained, “The number of women in hunting, sport shooting and gun ownership is up; therefore, the number of women who are contributing to conservation also is up.”

Statistics suggest that women now contribute up to $117 million per year to wildlife and habitat programs by way of their hunting license fees, special taxes on new firearms, ammunition, bows and arrows, and voluntary donations to organizations like RMEF.

Women hunters also are responsible for up to $5.9 billion per year in economic output.

Those figures are calculated as 9 percent of the respective totals generated by all hunters combined, since females make up about 9 percent of all hunters.

Females also compose roughly 9 percent of elk hunters specifically—as well as about 9 percent of all RMEF members. That percentage jumps a couple points in demographic studies of the most avid attendees at RMEF fundraising events. It jumps again at the volunteer ranks. An estimated 33 percent of RMEF volunteers are women.

Aside from their contributions as hunters, sport shooters, gun owners, consumers, donors and volunteers, women are vital to conservation today as professionals working in the field. About 40 percent of the RMEF staff is women. RMEF’s largest conservation partner, the U.S. Forest Service, has a workforce of wildlife biologists that is that 43 percent female. Women work as game wardens, researchers, land managers, agency directors and every other role that helps make conservation go.

Allen said, “If conservation had a number to represent its ‘Gross Domestic Product,’ meaning the total of all goods and services associated with conservation in 2012, I think we’d all be surprised at how much of that total is influenced by women.”

Examples of women whose influence has reached deep into elk country:

· Gail Kimbell, chief of the U.S. Forest Service, 2007-2009. Kimbell presided over conservation work on 193 million acres of public lands. Most elk and elk hunting in the U.S. occur on these lands.

· Dr. Christine Thomas, RMEF past-director and founder of Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, the nation’s premier program to introduce women to sporting lifestyles.

· Cheryl Haralson, RMEF past-director. Known as the “Arkansas Elk Lady,” she hunted and bagged Arkansas’ state-record bull and continues to champion elk and elk habitat in her home state and across the country.

· Haralson, Kay Clark, Debbie Lewis, Annie Lewis, Penney Oncken and Tammie Lynne Smith are among the recipients of RMEF’s highest honor, the Wallace Fennell Pate Wildlife Conservation Award. Alongside their husbands and families, each has given special gifts of money, time and talent to benefit elk and other wildlife.

· Four of the ten Elk Country Awards presented by RMEF and the U.S. Forest Service for exemplary habitat stewardship have honored women: Jodie Canfield of the Helena National Forest, Jane Ingebretson of the Flathead National Forest, Kathleen Johnson of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and Melanie Woolever of the agency’s regional office in Denver.

· RMEF Team Elk members Tiffany Lakosky and Kristy Titus, TV personalities who inspire countless girls and women to get involved with hunting and conservation.

Allen said, “Women are contributing in various ways to the RMEF mission. They’re a major part of why hunting is conservation today—and their growing involvement positions our entire community to better meet our challenges in the future.”
Tidbits:

· RMEF now exceeds $500,000 in sponsorships of Becoming an Outdoors-Woman and other programs to introduce women to hunting, sport shooting and conservation.

· According to CBS News, the national total for female gun owners has doubled over the last decade, increasing to nearly 5 million women since 2001.

· The most authoritative source of hunter data, the National Survey of Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, shows flat recent trends in numbers of women hunters. But the survey did track a remarkable spike—in fact, a doubling—of females afield between 1985 and 1990.

· Data from the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA), an organization for retailers, shows that female participation in hunting rose 36 percent between 2001 and 2010, to a total of 2.4 million women hunters.

· NSGA data also shows that female participation in sport shooting rose 46 percent during 2001-2010, to a total of 4.8 million.

· The National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade association for the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry, reports that 61 percent of its member companies noted an increase in female customers between 2009 and 2010.
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that has protected or enhanced habitat on over 6 million acres—an area larger than Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain and Great Smoky Mountains national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Better Than A Hoodie: LL Bean does it again

I have many standard sweatshirt hoodies and none of them were keeping me warm or meet my needs. So I finally found one that does!

Whether early morning gym trips, taking that brisk morning walk, hiking in the cool air of the mountains or shooting sporting clays on a breezy day, this multi purpose sweatshirt is a real find. One of my favorite features is the elastic band on the hoodie to hold it close to my head, covering my ears and still allowing me to wear a ball cap. Also, there are pockets within pockets with a little Velcro closure to secure keys, credit cards, etc. that provided extra convenience. And there is more:

• extra body length maximizing body warmth

• sleeves long enough to cover my hands when needed

• easy care, washable merino wool with soft fleece on the inside

Now about the fine merino wool – typically I can’t stand any kind of wool against my skin and have been known to break out in a very interesting rash.  Not with this knitted wool. Plus it is as comfortable and ‘non itchy’ as a soft cotton. And did I mention it doesn’t retain odor?

I ordered the black and now will order that same hooded sweatshirt in the olive green.  It is perfect for cool air travel or for being out in the field. Excellent value and a real find. Click here to see what I’m talking about. Get it for yourself, or better yet, buy it for a gift!

Bid on a Hunt, Win a Family!

The strangest thing happened while I was at the NRA auction last May; I bid on a hunt and won a whole new family!  I’d never been to one of the big NRA convention dinners/auctions before, but my gal pal Marsha Petrie Sue, President of the Women’s Outdoor Media Association (the WOMA) and very active in the NRA, convinced me to buy an event ticket. I met up with other WOMA members there, like Anne Draper from Bear Mountain Ranch and Chris Quam of Hi Viz Shooting Systems. We had a ton of fun along with dinner, drinks and the auction.

The auction item I won was a pheasant hunt in north Texas offered by the Frantz family, scheduled for early December. As soon as I paid for the item I called my husband, who was left back in Tucson working away and taking care of our four legged children. The news made him a very happy guy, as he hadn’t had the opportunity to bird hunt in many years. In June, I contacted our hunting hostess, Stephanie Frantz.  Between her cheerful updates plus contact by her husband, Trey, we spent the summer and fall touching base on a variety of hunt details. Just for starters, the Frantz’s put us up at our own private B&B, the “Bella Grace”, near their ranch outside of Dalhart, TX.  Since the hunt was for four people for the weekend, we invited along the head instructor of our Babes with Bullets camps, Kay Miculek and her daughter, Lena, who both happen to be WOMA members as well.

Here’s where I admit that out of the group I was definitely the novice bird hunter; actually, novice hunter period. It was a case of “practice what you preach” since I’m constantly telling women to try something outside their comfort zone.  My learning curve to becoming a bird hunter couldn’t have been made any easier since Trey had everything organized in the field. He recruited his family members and friends to come along on the opening pheasant weekend hunt and be “walkers” and “blockers.”

FYI – I opted to be a “walker” when I found out that group gets to talk! Trey delivered a safety briefing at the front of the hunt, and I’m happy to report that everyone, including Trey’s 9 year old son Max and 8 year old nephew Zane, did a great job on maintaining a safe shooting line. (Here’s where I put a big THANK YOU too for Trey’s brother-in-law, Mike, who helped out with the hunt and even loaned me his shotgun when mine quit running.)

To insure that it would be a good hunt, the Frantz’s went one step further and added extra “raised” pheasants to the few wild pheasant that are still around in Texas. If you haven’t been in a coma for the last year you probably know that Texas has suffered through a devastating drought. For any game bird, the lack of water equals lack of crops and lack of crops equals lack of bird habitat.  Where this area of Texas once supported a thriving game bird population, now there are few wild birds and they are very hard to find! Wanting to go that extra step for our NRA hunt, Trey planted dozens of birds in the ½ section we were hunting. If you are thinking this made hunting easy, then you aren’t familiar with how well pheasants blend right into an abandoned cornfield.  I didn’t realize that pheasants were runners instead of flyers, especially pen raised birds. Now I know why it’s so important to have a good pointer; another bird hunting lesson learned.

We walked and walked, and it wasn’t long before I figured out the best bet was to stick near Daisy, the Frantz’s young yellow Labrador Retriever, as she was flushing up birds regularly.  On the first day we had close to a 30 mph wind and as the walkers and/or Daisy would flush the bird, it took a fast shotgun to grab the bird before it sailed off into the distance. By the end of the first day of hunting, I had a whole new appreciation for how much work it can be to bird hunt, along with that exhilaration of the bird coming up and making a good shot. I also came to appreciate John Frantz, Trey’s Dad, who trailed behind our group at a distance in his SUV. His job was to help out with transporting hunters from one end of a field down to another end.  What a blessing John turned out to be, especially after a long cold walk, where I found my muscles very unwilling to work anymore. That’s when I decided that John and his SUV were my new best hunting aids!

I also had an appreciation for Stephanie and her family providing us with great dinners on Friday and again on Saturday evening.  A blessing was said before each meal, a big “AMEN” uttered by all present, and then the conversation and fun flowed throughout the Frantz house. The evening activities even included making of S’Mores in the Frantz fireplace, which we taped, as I’m trying to convince Hershey’s Chocolate to become a sponsor of our women’s shooting camps. After all, you never know till you ask – right?

On Sunday, the last morning of the hunt, the temperatures were pretty cold but we tried one last pass at the fields; noting that the hawks had been fairly active over the night in finding several of the pheasants as dinner. We only shot a few more birds and then decided it was time to call it a morning. While the other hunters went off to try their luck at prairie dogs, I stayed behind and did a little handgun training with Stephanie and Max at the small steel handgun range that Trey had setup at the back of the ranch. Seems the Frantz family, at least Trey and Max so far, have been getting involved in some action pistol shooting, like IDPA, which stands for International Defensive Pistol Association. Small world since the IDPA Executive Director, Joyce Wilson, just became a WOMA member last month!

I was happy to see that Stephanie was already comfortable in safely handling my M&P .9mm Pro Series semi-auto. She had a good grip, good stance and good sight picture. I was equally impressed on how well Max handled the .9mm semi-auto, though I’m pretty sure he’s been practicing quite a bit considering how much reloading Trey tells me he’s been doing. At nine years old Max already has the makings of a serious competitor, and I suspect we’ll be seeing both Trey and Max at a variety of action shooting programs in the future.  Plus, I am so excited that Stephanie is registering to attend a Babes with Bullets camp this spring!

If you are wondering what the moral of the story is, I’m not sure there is one. I recognize that the Frantz family offering the hunt to the NRA and that my being at the NRA event to win the hunt, along with having the opportunity to spend time in the field with my husband, were a series of God’s blessings. Like I said in the beginning, I bid on a hunt and I won a family, it doesn’t get any better than that.

 

Photo Credit: Gary Ferns

Ducks Unlimited at Bay Flats Lodge Offers Unlimited Fun!

Last year, I had the opportunity to attend the Ducks Unlimited “Women in Outdoor Media” event in Arkansas. The accommodations were nice and the food was good, though unfortunately, the birds weren’t flying. Still, I returned from that trip in awe of all that Ducks Unlimited (DU) does for conservation; for waterfowl habitat in general. I never considered I’d be offered that opportunity again, but then earlier this summer I was contacted by Mike Checkett of DU with an invite to return to their event coming up in November 2011. He also suggested that I recommend a few more members of the Women’s Outdoor Media Association to attend with me.

The big question right off the bat was “Who to invite?” It finally came down to deciding which members would place stories in established magazines or newspapers, which members would get the most radio or tv interviews done for DU? Just doing an article for the WOMA, like I am now, is nice but the real “meat & potatoes” is getting other forms of media involved in creating more opportunities for DU. The dilemma was that many WOMA members wanted to go and there just weren’t enough slots to accommodate everyone.

After discussion this summer with the WOMA board, it was decided that media trips, such as this one with DU, could easily be abused if someone attended and then didn’t do the follow up work expected, or if someone participated and didn’t realize they needed to make room next year for other WOMA members to attend. With that in mind, I relinquished my spot for the DU event this year and turned it over to another WOMA member on the wait list.

Well, let’s just say God must have really wanted me to go duck hunting, as my connection with Outdoor Channel came into play and I went on their slot. I took along my camera supervisor, our “Saint” Marilyn, who is now busy editing a couple of webisodes for Ducks Unlimited that should be out by late December (I’ll post in the WOMA when/where those are ready for viewing.) FYI – Marilyn also did a quick video piece for our camp host location which is already playing at their website at www.BayFlatsLodge.com .

So now that I’ve bored you with the “how I got to DU camp”, let me give you a little bit of background on a fast 48 hours spent at camp. On arriving Monday afternoon we were greeted by our host extraordinaire, Captain Chris Martin. To say that Chris lives and breathes duck hunting and fishing is an understatement. He has his hand in everything from the lodge website and social media, to training the hunting dogs. His wife Deb is the strength behind the throne, as she oversees maintenance of their beautiful lodge and works shoulder to shoulder with the kitchen staff to make sure everything is done right. This is no impersonal hotel, it feels more like a large B&B that is warm, friendly and of course the scenery is breathtaking in the Barrier Islands.

Just in case you are like me and don’t know much about the Barrier Islands (I could barely find Sea Drift, TX, on a map to get us there) check out one of many links talking about this unique coastal area at www.TexasWetlands.org/Barrier.htm . I was so taken with this area that for Christmas this year, I’ve purchased a three day “Blast and Cast” event for our family with duck hunting in the morning and fishing in the afternoon.

Getting back to the DU event the first evening (Monday), we had the opportunity to meet & greet the other women in our media group along with the two DU gals joining us for the event. I very much enjoyed getting to know Alicia Wiseman, a biologist for DU in Louisiana, and Emily Tyner, a DU Communications Manager located in Washington DC. The work that both of these women do for DU is invaluable, and just as importantly, I am impressed that DU is a leader in conservation groups that hire women!

The next morning (Tuesday) came with a wakeup call at 3:30 am to go duck hunting; pulling out of the docks by 4:30 am to head out in groups of three assigned to each boat, where our captain guided us through the Barrier Islands. We lay claim to one of the many blinds established along the waterways, or maybe the more appropriate term is “flyways”, and setup for business. This is where I have to delve into a sideline story about chest waders. Why didn’t anyone ever tell me that chest waders will give you diaper rash if you don’t wear the right things underneath them? So I’m here to share with the rest of you that normal “wick away” long underwear is the wrong choice for under chest waders with temps in the Barrier Islands of 74 degrees. Just so you know, it’s hard to shoot ducks with a shotgun with one hand while the other hand is down inside your chest waders keeping them off your body! I survived; I even shot a couple of ducks, one Redhead and one Pintail. Then mid-morning, we headed back to the lodge, where I happily discarded my chest waders and got comfy in my yoga clothes just in time for lunch.

Now I’d already eaten a big breakfast, after being reassured that the boat ride to a duck blind was not going to be the high rolling seas I experienced recently on a Carnival Cruise. I’m not sure why I felt I needed to eat a big lunch as well, but count me in as the Bay Flats Lodge chef dished up a wonderful Red Snapper entrée. Now that I think about it, dinner the night before was outstanding as well and who could say no to Tiramisu for dessert? (Did I mention that the food at Bay Flats Lodge is awesome?)

After lunch, we had time for a couple of quick interviews and we were off to go fishing for the afternoon. I was on the only boat that afternoon that didn’t “strike it lucky”, but all the other gals had multiple fish stories with fish in tow as backup. To say I was envious was an understatement, but bless her heart, one of the gals in our group, Lisa Metheny, gave us some of her fish to take home. After admiring everyone’s catch, we arrived back to the lodge just in time for… yep, DINNER! Small wafers of duck breast served in raspberry sauce and this time Crème Brulee for dessert. (At this point in time I was really wondering if my chest waders were going to fit me by the next morning.) The rest of the evening was informative and fun, as first Emily gave us a brief synopsis of why membership in DU is so important; after all, in Washington DC the voters of large conservation groups get heard first!

Here is where I share with you that I became a DU member right after my first trip last year and I just renewed my membership again; though this year I “upped” the contribution amount. The work that DU does for waterfowl habitat isn’t just about more duck hunting, it’s about CLEAN water and salvaging the wetlands which have a direct impact on everyone, not just duck hunters. My dad was an active duck hunter, living his whole life on Lake Huron. I’ll be honest that I never quite understood it as the Great Lakes in the late fall and early winter are cold, windy and wet.

With thoughts of my dad and how excited he would be to see me duck hunting, we headed out on the last morning (Wednesday) to go duck hunting. We woke up again at 3:30 am to see Stephanie from the Bay Flats Lodge staff smiling at us yet again while she served breakfast. Then, we were back in the boats by 4:30 am, arriving into the blind by 5:30 am and that’s when I had my duck hunting epiphany. Insert drum roll here…I sit in a blind in the Barrier Islands with a good guide (thank you Jason), with a retriever (our sweet Sadie) and along with a couple of new gal pals (Alicia Wiseman and Judy Rhodes.) It’s windy, the ducks are flying, we’re shooting, we’re having fun, the dog is happy retrieving and for a little window of time all is right and good in our part of the world. Understanding how blessed we are to be born women in America where we can own guns and go hunting hit me with full force. Understanding how blessed we are that Ducks Unlimited continues to work diligently on conservation efforts to benefit the ducks, benefit duck hunters and to benefit humans with fresh water. (Do I hear a big AMEN?)

We headed back mid-morning with many ducks in tow, which by the way is what I’m serving for Thanksgiving this year. It was a fast packing job for Marilyn and me as we were heading to another event back in Austin. We only had a few moments to hug our new friends, plus thank our hosts at both DU and at Bay Flats Lodge. How it happened that one of the most moving trips of my life took place in 48 hours I’m not sure, but I’m heading back to Bay Flats Lodge to try it again in the hope to recreate the magic for my family. Now if someone could just figure out how to help me eliminate diaper rash with these chest waders, life would be close to perfect for my next duck hunting trip!

If you are looking for the perfect Christmas gift, consider a Ducks Unlimited membership for your family members and especially the younger kids in your clan, as DU has a special program just for them. Visit www.Ducks.org for more information. Till my next DU adventure this is Duck Hunting Deb signing off…

Elk Hunting With My Husband for the First Time

I’m walking through the dense pines thinking to myself. The pine needles are crunching underneath my feet. This momentarily takes me away from my wandering thoughts and back to my present situation. It’s October and it’s second rifle season. It’s dry and it’s loud walking. A little frustration builds up in my gut. I look up to see my husband several feet ahead of me. He’s sneaking through the trees as quietly as he can. His large 6 foot frame is tip toeing around dead leaves and over fallen logs. It’s kind of a funny sight and I giggle quietly, but then respectfully smile at his efforts.

This is Gary’s (my husbands) first elk hunt. He’s hunted with our family before, but never has he been the one to carry the rifle. After moving back to Colorado last year, he’s now a resident and doesn’t have to get out a loan to get a license. I’m excited and nervous for this hunt. I was so giddy the night before that I didn’t sleep a wink. I never sleep before the opening day of elk hunting, but this was different. It’s always different when you are taking someone hunting for the first time. I have to admit that I love doing it. I love taking someone on their first hunt and seeing the excitement in their face as they get their first animal. There’s nothing else like it in the world. It’s very rewarding.

I again look at my husband and smile. If it were by his effort alone, he’d already have an elk. But a lot of what hunting is all about is being in the right place at the right time. My thoughts are interrupted by a loud crack. My teeth grit together and I look up to my husband who is looking back at me. “Sorry,” I mouth. I’ve just stepped on a stick and broken it, making a loud noise that seems to echo through the woods. My husband just smiles at me, turns and continues down the ridge. He doesn’t care. He’s just loving being out in the woods with me. And I should be a little more relaxed about it like he is, but being a bowhunter as well, I pride myself in being sneaky. And these conditions today are anything but sneaky.

It’s late season elk hunting and it’s hot. Which means the elk are held up from the weather and from being pushed around for 2 and a half seasons already. They’ve been pushed into that deep dark timber, where it’s likely that no one will find them. Which is what we are attempting to do… find them. We are on a hillside where if you are just standing up straight facing the hill, you can reach out and touch it. It’s steep.

Normally during gun season, we let people push the elk to us, but it’s been a slow season. There have been very few shots, and people seem to be sticking to the roads. Which is why we are covering ground. The elk are out there, we just have to find them. We move along a ridge, crest the top, and drop down into another thick set of pines. There’s elk bed and sign everywhere, but no elk. We move along, keeping the wind in our face, sneaking as best we can. The day moves along and the sun with it. We have covered so many miles today that our feet are dragging. My husband has dutifully carried his dad’s very heavy 7mm all day in his arms, not putting it on his shoulder once, waiting for that one opportunity.

We did manage to see a huge bear walking across an avalanche chute. It’s big frame meandered across the rocks, searching for any bit of food to fatten it up for the winter hibernation. The sun starts to set and we drag ourselves back to the car. I kick the tire knowing that the end of season is ticking down.

My husband has to work tomorrow, which makes the season even shorter. I think there should be some law against making someone work during elk season. With all the national holidays and religious holidays out there, there should definitely be one for hunting season. Am I not right in saying that for most hunters, hunting season is a religion?

Two days later the storm that I was begging for hit the high country. Snow was dumping out of the sky. I almost licked my lips in anticipation. This would get the elk moving and there was one thing I loved about hunting in a storm, and that was fresh tracks! There was no hiding from us this time.

We wound our way up in the mountains and onto the back roads. Our pickup truck struggled to stay on the wet muck that had become the road. It was sloppy mud, but the snow was collecting everywhere else. Everything was white. I was hoping my husband would get an early Christmas present today.

We stepped out of the car, bundled up, grabbed our gear and headed out into the woods. We walked up and over a few ridges and saw some promising sign, but nothing too fresh. This time our steps were muffled by the new fallen snow. It was quiet everywhere. Almost that eerie quiet you get when the snow is falling so softly it’s like putting a sleeping baby to bed. You are aware of every small sound, a breaking branch over 200 yards away that carries over the frozen ground.

We crest the top of a ridge, drop down through some thick trees and come out into a small clearing. This clearing has rewarded us with a view of the opposing hillside. There’s snow everywhere on the trees and makes everything white, well, almost everything. My husband is glassing the hillside and sees some movement in the trees. After a closer look a small 5×5 moves out into the open. The shot looks to be about 350 yards. My husband is a great shot so I see no problem with him taking such a long one. He steadies his rifle on a branch, settles the cross hairs on the shoulders and squeezes off the shot.

There’s almost a delay from when the bullet leaves the barrel until the sound of a solid hit, but we watch as the elk buckles and falls to the ground. I’m ecstatic! I throw my arms up and start doing the Rocky victory dance. I’m pumping my arms in the air, moving around like a complete idiot as I celebrate.

Meanwhile I look over at my husband who is just standing there smiling. Is that it? I think. No, surge of adrenaline? No, fist pumping? No throwing your shirt over your head and running in circles? Where’s that excitement you see from hunters on TV that make them almost fall out of their tree stand they are shaking so bad? Nope, he’s a calm one. He just smiled and gave me a huge hug and a high five. We then made our way over to his very first elk. A huge grin spread across his face. Carrying his dad’s rifle that helped him get his first elk. His dad would for sure have been proud!

The excitement of the successful hunt was building. We called my mom and dad and told them the news. My dad immediately decided to come up to the mountains to join us and hear the story. My mom was on the fence. She had an important appointment early the next morning and was debating on whether to go because of what would be such a late return from the mountains. My dad then said, in a very animated voice, “you have to come… this is what we do!” He was referring to hunting.

For as long as I can remember hunting has been a family event, something we all participate in, even in our own ways. That was all it took, my mom quickly changed her clothes and they were headed to the mountains. My mom and dad then met us on the side of the road up the canyon from where our truck was. They were our ride back as we had done a long loop and packing out was easier if we just cut down to the road. They stepped out of the car into the cold air and handshakes were exchanged and pats on the back. It never matters how many times a hunting story is told, it gets better every time. The smile on my husbands face was priceless. That to me was worth every bit of work it took to get that elk.

The next day it became even more of a family event when my aunt and uncle from Florida came along for the pack out. It was a true family affair. It was great for them to be able to see what went into getting those really tasty elk steaks that they love so much. It was a great experience for everyone. Lanny, my dad, Gary, and I all had on packs to get out the remaining meat. Gary’s bull didn’t have a huge rack by any means, but it was a good sized animal and had a ton of meat for the coming year.

We made the trek up to the meadow. As we got closer I spotted the camp robbers. Those birds don’t miss a thing and are always the first on the scene when an elk goes down. We crested a hill and I hear my aunt, “Oh my word… Oh my word!” “What is that?” she questions. “Is that the elk?” I look over to see the huge gut pile sitting out in the field. “Not exactly,” I say. “That’s the gut pile. The elk is over there.” I say and point to a thick patch of trees where the quarters are hung. She’d never imagined something so huge coming out of an animal like that. It was neat for her to be able to see the elk.

To this day I am still fascinated by elk, and get excited to cut one up. My mom was a high school biology teacher, so her love for science rubbed off on me. There is nothing more exciting than an anatomy lesson when cutting on an elk. It’s absolutely fascinating. It certainly gives you an appreciation for what your body does.

We then finish cutting all the meat off the bones, fill the packs and start heading back down the hill. This was probably the most exciting part of the trip, but not in a good way. With all the recent snow and mud, it made for one crazy rodeo. Almost everyone spent some time sliding down on their behind. It was comical watching everyone weave trying to find some sort of traction. Everyone made it down the hill safe and sound. Then covered in mud and blood, we headed to the local pizza place where the atmosphere is as colorful as our grimy clothes. We celebrated Gary’s successful hunt with 3 large pizzas, a few games of pool and a beer.

It was so great to see everyone’s excitement for Gary. I know that this will be a hunt he will never forget. It didn’t take long for him, but he’s now got the bug. He’s already talking about which seasons he wants to hunt next year and of course, the size of the bull he’s going to shoot.

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.

“They Support Us”

For the past 2011 Spring Turkey Season I was very fortunate to be on assignment for Game & Fish Magazine and on set for the production for the new season of Benelli on Assignment beginning July 1 on Outdoor Channel.  Although I am excited about every opportunity for a spring turkey hunt, this event will be one of my favorites and will always give me that warm and fuzzy feeling. Joe Coogan (Benelli Brand Marketing Manager and Host of BOA) and Cristie Gates, (Benelli Media & Exhibit Mgr) worked hard to bring several women from across the nation together for a hunt on the beautiful privately owned Sarco Creek Ranch, Goliad Texas. I don’t use that word lightly, the ranch was gorgeous and the people were just as beautiful. Milton Greeson was our gracious host, and John Welder was his right hand man and were very successful at making all the girls feel like a Princess!

I was pumped about being able to shoot the new semi automatic, Stoeger M3500 with the new Federal Premium Mag-Shok #7. I believe that all our guns were new on the market, and to us, which is sometimes a little intimidating, but with no delay, we were off to the gun range.  Ergo with expert instruction from Joe and Cristie, we patterned our guns and gained confidence! As with all hunts, the times between the hunts are where lots of memories are made. Bunking with the girls, talking til the wee hours of the morning, and then RISING in the wee hours of the morning, we all kept up the pace and it was somewhat exhilarating to be exhausted!

Joe, our gracious host for the show, had scheduled and organized for months to ensure the timely execution of the production and the turkey! It all worked out great, (although not always on cue, the turkey‘s did not realize they were the “stars“ of the show). The patience and perseverance of the girls, the guides, Joe, and the camera crew are all to be commended, and proved that with the right camo clothing and gear, you can hide up to 6 people from several turkey only a short 25-30 yards away!

I could go on about the hunt, and you can be sure I will another time, but I would really like to take this opportunity to praise the sponsors. It is very promising to see the industry support and encourage women to hunt. With Benelli taking the initiative, there were several companies that stood with them to make this hunt possible, and that is what truly gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling.

As Glen Beck might say, “They support us”, so I say, lets support them.   Please check out their websites and please remember them when you, or someone you love needs gear for the field:

www.BenelliUSA.com for the guns, the hunt, and the new found friends. Only the best for us! Thanx Joe & Cristie for all of your efforts. A job extremely well done!

www.HuntersSpecialties.com for supplying turkey gear for the hunt, with various calls, seats, vests, you name it they sent it.

www.FederalPremium.com for all the ammunition and also for Jason Nash who called in my Tom & Melissa Juneske who gets the “Roommate of the Year” award!

www.SHESafari.com for all the great camo clothing! We were Invisible and Cute! (As I always say, “Camo can be Classy”TM )

www.BurrisOptics.com for the awesome FastFire scopes attached to our shotguns! It is an amazingly helpful tool when aiming at that turkey’s small head down that big barrel!

www.HazelCreekTaxidermyInc.com for the realistic decoys that brought them in close, and also the expert calling lesson!

www.RealTree.com and http://www.underarmour.com for providing camo for the men and guides who led us to victory! (I will have to add, they were also Invisible and cute!)

“Thanx for the Memories……”

The WOMA welcomes Terry Scoville

I have been involved in the shooting sports from a very young age. I was introduced to bird hunting by my father when I was around 9 or 10 years old. With his guidance and experience that he imparted to me I have continued to share my love of the outdoors and hunting with others.

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