WOMA Members Lanny and Tracy Barnes to be featured at OTIS Booth!

 

Road to Russia: End of Year Summary

The snow is melting and another awesome biathlon season is behind us! We wanted to wrap things up by first thanking you for all your help and support that allowed us to make history once again this winter and bring home some international medals!! We were really happy with how our season went and couldn’t have done it without your help and support! We like to think of you as part of our team and family and we hope you will continue to join us as we push, in just two years, for that first ever Gold Medal for the US in Biathlon.

We made important steps in our training this year to get closer to that medal in the 2014 Olympics by increasing our ski speed and bringing our shooting again to a whole new level. We joined forces this year with Advanced Technology International (ATI) and not only did their support, but their stocks allowed us to find new and inventive ways of challenging our shooting.  As two of the best in the world at shooting, with a heart rate of 180 beats per minute, we have to be creative in reaching new heights for biathlon. One thing we discovered that has help us tremendously is 3-gun or multi-gun events. Similar to mini biathlon, you are shooting while on the fly with rifles, pistols and shotguns. The rifle shooting has been the most beneficial and the best transfer. We’ve been using .223′s provided by Bushmaster for not only competing, but an important training tool for biathlon. We saw instant improvements in our biathlon shooting and were also hooked into this exciting event. We plan to continue our 3-gun training to not only bring our level of shooting up, but to challenge ourselves in yet another endeavor.

As two of the best biathlon shooters in the world, we can’t take all the credit. Our entire careers as biathletes, shooters, and hunters, we’ve been relying on Otis Technology to keep our firearms not only functioning properly, but throwing some of the tightest groups we’ve seen in our barrels in -30 degree temperatures.  Another addition and help to the tight groups is the Teludyne Tech Straight Jacket that wraps around our barrels and makes them more rigid, thus allowing for a straighter bullet trajectory and tighter groups.  These two, along with an awesome dad that coaches us in our shooting, and the opportunity to set up a private range on our fitness coach, Rick Crawford’s land, has given us the edge we need to stay ahead of the game.

Now since biathlon isn’t all about the shooting, we’ve also been working really hard on our skiing, as that is where we are still a small step behind the Europeans, but we are quickly gaining.  We’ve seen a steady improvement every year and were skiing even with the Europeans in several races this year.  By next year we plan to be consistently matching their ski speed as well as having faster split times than them in World Championships with a timed peak.  This means another push in training and at a higher intensity.  We’ve got a great plan set with our coach, Rick Crawford, and have already started our training for next year.

We were able to make huge gains in our skiing and training this year thanks to several things. First, the Enell… this sports bra has allowed us to train in comfort day after day, hour after hour.  When you are pushing yourself to the limit, it helps to have a few things that are comfortable.  Second, We were lucky enough to get our hands on some phenomenal new skis by Atomic. Their new skis not only rock this world, but they have added a riser under the binding to help the skier push off of a flat foot and get in a better forward position.  This makes a huge difference when you think of how many thousands of times you push off of that ski over a 15km loop.  Third, SportLegs… We’ve wanted to keep this our secret for a long time because it works so well, but it’s hard not to share something that has helped our training and racing.  SportLegs eliminates the lactic acid burn and allows us to train long and harder at a lower heart rate.  It’s one of those things you have to try it to believe it.  Fourth, not done yet, when it comes to recovery, one really important tool is ICH (no it’s not German):  Ice, Compression, and Heat all aid in recovery if utilized at the right time.  You’ve heard of ice baths and hot baths, well 110% brings that idea to any place in the world.  Right after a race or workout we can put on 110% compression shorts, tights, arm bands and add alternate ice and heat packs into built in pockets to stimulate blood flow and speed recovery.  Simple, but it works.

A few other really important weapons in our arsenal are Sealskinz waterproof socks and gloves and Smith Optics.  You may ask, why are socks, gloves and sunglasses so important…well because if you’ve ever been in -30 degree weather and can’t feel your fingers or toes and tried to do anything let alone compete in a World Cup, then you can appreciate something that will not only allow you to keep your fingers and toes at the end of the day, but helps you to make precision movements.  Also imagine driving through a snow storm or a heavy rain storm without a windshield in your car or your windshield fogged up… it’s scary.  That’s how we felt before we found Smith Optics. Now we can not only see, but we have the confidence to attack the course in conditions where our competitors are left squinting through the flakes. Smith Optics also has optics in their Elite division that are safety rated and will protect your eyes from just about any accident on the shooting range.

Now to how all of this added up to our results and performances this season:  Lanny reached the podium twice while Tracy made it into the coveted top 10 3 times this season battling more than 100 competitors from all over the world to earn those placings.  Tracy finished the 2011 year with an 8th place in Ridnaun, Italy in the 15km Individual in the International Biathlon Cup.  From there she went into 7th place in the Individual in the IBU Cup in Forni Avoltri, Italy and placed 10th in the Sprint Race in Camore, Alberta Canada.  Lanny had both of her podium finishes on North American soil in Canada. She finished 4th place in the Sprint race and grabbed the silver medal and 2nd place in the Individual. She was beat out for the gold in the final seconds of the race by a Russian who had a later start. All of these results point to the potential for more podium finishes next year and a Gold in the Olympics!!!

So, as the snow leaves we will start running, rollerskiing, biking, and shooting and training even harder for all of you and the hopes of bringing home the gold.  All of you inspire us to push harder and train longer. We are so fortunate to have you as a part of our team and we hope that in 680 days (just under two years) you’ll join us in celebrating not only a fairytale victory in biathlon, but your success.  What you do everyday helps to carry us through the pain and sweat and make this journey worth every minute of it. Thanks again for everything and for helping us to a fantastic season.

-Tracy & Lanny

Editors Note:  Tracy & Lanny Barnes are part of the US Olympic Biathlon team. Their WOMA blog, “Road to Russia” gives wonderful insight into what these talented athletes are going through to take a medal in February 2014 at the Winter Olympics held in Russia. It will be their 3^rd Olympics, along with recently winning the Biathon World Team Challenge Shoot Out to add to their successful biathlon careers. We encourage all the members of the WOMA, along with companies you may know, to help these twin sisters with donations and sponsorships. For more information, or to make a donation, visit their website at www.twinbiathletes.com.

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.

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.

HEARTBEAT of the WOMA for December 2011

There have been several new members joining the WOMA over these last few months, and to each of you I say “HOWDY!”

I’m hoping to meet our new members along with member alum at the upcoming SHOT Show, held in Las Vegas starting Monday, January 16^th (kicks off with Media Day at the Range). Then, Tuesday, January 17^th through Friday, January 20^th, we’ll be at the Sands Expo Center in booth L344.  The WOMA booth is right outside of the NSSF Press Room in the big hallway, and we are looking forward to a lot of traffic throughout the tradeshow. Help is needed to keep it staffed all four days so if you are willing to volunteer some hours please contact the WOMA Vice-President, Melita Ellington (Melita@theWOMA.com).

Here are some extra notes about SHOT Show :

• If you are attending SHOT Show and are planning to utilize the WOMA for a media badge pertaining to the Media Range Day, your online information needs to be submitted to NSSF by December 15^th at www.shotshow.org/en/Media/Registration.

• Media Range Day is completed by Monday at 4:00 pm, so starting at 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the WOMA booth at the Sands Expo/Venetian 3^rd Floor Lobby, we are hosting a light reception for our members. (Since we are in the general lobby area and not the firearms exhibit halls, it is open until 9:00 pm.) Please RSVP to me at Deb@theWOMA.com if you plan to attend that event.

• This year the WOMA booth will have racks to hold member flyers or brochures, even small/thin catalogs. Members must email Melita@theWOMA.com to reserve one of the racks shelves and provide her with a sample of what you intend to drop off at the booth. If you are planning to ship your flyers, please send them to Deb Ferns at 7850 N. Silverbell, Suite 114-315, Tucson, AZ  85743.

• The number of industry sponsors joining the WOMA is growing!  OTIS Technology and ATI are already Platinum Sponsors, and just this week we welcomed Bay Flats Lodge as a Platinum Sponsor and Crossbreed Holsters as a Gold Sponsor. Our SHOT Show booth will host banner/boards for our sponsors, so if you know of any additional industry sponsors potentials please contact our sponsorship coordinator, Mia@theWOMA.com

I’m not sure what happened to 2011…it went by in a flash, except for when I followed this dump truck for what seemed forever across New Mexico on my way to a pheasant hunt in Texas.  It finally dawned on me that God sent me a message in the way of a slow moving truck; let go of old baggage and start the new year knowing how blessed I’ve been in 2011 and how much I’m looking forward to 2012.  I hope that each of you has a blessed holiday season as well!

Deb Ferns
Chair

Tracy and Lanny Are Heading to Sweden!

Here’s an update on Tracy and Lanny’s races in Utah and their upcoming schedule:

After the trials races in Vermont in August and Utah in October, Tracy and I secured the top two spots at the trials and secured a spot on the World Cup/ Europa Cup team heading to Sweden in a few weeks. We have a training camp in Ostersund, Sweden and then we’ll compete in World Cups and Europa Cup races in Scandinavia and Central Europe before Christmas.

This winter we will travel to Sweden, Italy, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Finland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Russia. We’ve made a lot of great progress in our ski speed and shooting and can’t wait to use it against the rest of the world in the races coming up. Once we leave for Europe, we won’t be back in the States until the end of March.

World Championships are in Ruhpolding, Germany this year and we hope to be representing the US there at the races in March. They are expected to have record crowds at the races with close to 50,000 spectators at every event. We will fill you in on the how the races go and our schedule of races as soon as we get to Sweden. You can watch our races live on www.biathlonworld.com and we’ll keep our results, pictures, and adventures on www.twinbiathletes.com and blog on http://thewoma.com/category/the-road-to-russia/.

Currently we are some of the only biathletes in the World getting on snow training as most of Europe and Scandinavia are too warm for snow. I guess it pays to breath a little harder and live at altitude! We hope this will be an advantage for us when the first races roll around in a few weeks!

Editors Note:  Tracy & Lanny Barnes are part of the US Olympic Biathlon team. Their WOMA blog, “Road to Russia” gives wonderful insight into what these talented athletes are going through to take a medal in February 2014 at the Winter Olympics held in Russia. It will be their 3^rd Olympics and we encourage all the members of the WOMA, along with companies you may know, to help these twin sisters with donations and sponsorships. For more information, or to make a donation, visit their website at www.twinbiathletes.com.

Double Column for Illinois Outdoor News

If you’re reading this, you’re reading more of a culmination than a column. I’m a procrastinator by nature, so it was a true oddity when I turned in my column a week and a half early, only to find out that for this particular issue, I was asked to write specifically about the goings on in deer behavior in my area of Northern Illinois. Honestly, I was kind of bummed that I wouldn’t be able to reveal my recent deer hunting calamities to the good readers of Illinois Outdoor News.  Luckily, I have an editor that hid his annoyance well in an attempt to humor my request of a double column.

Don’t ask me why I make intentional choices to make a public reverie of my deer hunting mishaps. It goes against all human nature, and if I think about it too hard, I come to the conclusion that it’s actually a bit weird. It’s certainly not to make a joke out of female hunters everywhere. I guess it’s all about shedding light on the fact that we are human, and despite our fervent attempts not to, we all make mistakes. I mean, think about it. Wouldn’t the hunting world be a lot better place if it contained fewer delusions of grandeur?

One thing, however, the hunting world can’t seem to get enough of is deer reports, and lots of them! It’s a great way for deer hunters to rely on each other’s eyes and ears, in order to pull off a successful season. As of yet, in the 2011 deer season there isn’t a whole lot of excitement to report. But, the small, sometimes almost unnoticeable changes occurring are enough of tangible prelude to tide us over for what is yet to come.

I would be grateful to readers who wouldn’t mind emailing me reports of deer behavior that you’re noticing in your general hunting area. Just type “IODN DEER REPORT” in the subject line, and be sure and tell me what county you’re from. Email your info to: antleraddict2@yahoo.com. Thank you in advance!
Here is my attempt at a double column…

Time frame: Oct 14 – Oct 22, 2011.
Reality Check

Oct 17 – I awoke this morning at 3 AM bright, bushy-tailed, and probably just as annoying as a little squirrel to a writing inspiration that was directly fueled by sheer humiliation. Not wanting to waste the moment I launched out of bed, and scurried to my computer, only to find that it wasn’t where I left it. An immediate search of my 11 year old daughter’s room that could cause someone with OCD to have a breakdown led me to my lifeline.

I’ve always done something different than most who write about their hunting adventures; I’ve always been brutally honest about my screw-ups and mishaps in order to stress the point that it doesn’t matter if we’re new to its lifestyle, or have been hunting our entire lives; there are always lessons to be learned.

Recalling 3 days earlier, Oct 14

Leave it to deer hunting to bring me to my knees with humility as it reminds me of the obvious once again; I’m not perfect. This past weekend was not just a lesson, it was an all out bonk on the head – literally.

By noon on Friday, Oct. 14, I was dying. Okay, so maybe that’s a bit dramatic. I was longing to be in one of my favorite treestands, but I was supposed to pick my kids up from school, so my chances weren’t looking good.

Yes, kids, Mom has officially lost it

Throwing caution to the changing wind that was bringing in cooler temps, I called my 17 year old daughter’s school, had her paged, and got everything straightened out. Not happy about rearranging her plans, but not being above accepting a bribe of free gas money, she agreed to help me out, but not before dishing out, “Geez Mom! Really?”

What was I thinking?

Never, since I began deer hunting have I attempted to sneak into the woods in the middle of the day, and trust me when I say that I will never do it again.
It was 12:47 when I wheeled into my entrance of choice, parked, and retrieved my gear. Performing a personally biased stealth-like stalk, I made my way to the stand that made the most sense according to the wind. On the way, I was ecstatic to find the need to tiptoe around 4 giant scrapes. Three quarters into my walk, the sense of “feeling lucky” disappeared without a hint of consideration.

Busted!

Two deer stood looking at me as I crested a hill while two remained bedded in the field behind my stand. Instinctively, I dropped into the muddy bean field where I laid for two hours. A walnut falling on my head was probably God’s way of reminding me that I should have been more patient.

It was my backside that made the decision to get up. Not seeing anything, I figured they had moved, so I trudged on toward the stand, stopping about every 10 feet to peer into the woods to be sure they weren’t bedded just inside. Not surprisingly, they saw me first, and all I saw was a flash of white tails. I should have gone home, but went to my stand instead. Needless to say, my deer hunt was over long before it started. Sometimes, it’s really hard to feel like you’re at the top of the food chain!

Here we go again…

Always a glutton for punishment, I went back out Saturday afternoon, but this time at a more normal time of day to be heading out for an evening hunt. My hunt went perfectly. I even had a little black capped chickadee land on the cam of my bow as it lay across my lap. The 186 squirrels were annoying as ever, and I saw a couple doe’s that never came within bow range. I’m one of those annoying people who don’t measure the success of a hunt by the kill. As long as I’ve seen deer, I’m happy.

With shooting light over, I made my way back to my car; popped open the hatch, grabbed, and opened my bow case. What was the first thing I saw? Sure as the squirrels playing tricks on my ears, there hung my release, dangling from the Velcro straps. Again, this was another first because I always attach it to my wrist as soon as my bow is out of the case and the quiver is on. But, worse was the harsh fact of not realizing in the three hours I sat in the stand, that I’d not only forgotten a necessary piece of equipment, but remained totally unaware of my brain malfunction! We all know the saying. Sticks and stones will break my bones, etc…. Well, if there was ever an assembly of words that stung like rattling horns on cold fingers, “stupid is, as stupid does,” kicked so hard that it bruised my already fragile, and battered ego. I may have been receiving lessons in patience and thoughtfulness, but was lucky enough to be spared the consequences that would have occurred if a bruiser had come within bow range.

Time to re-boot

This next week, I’m staying out of the woods. Not because I’ve been defeated, but to establish that lessons we learn tend to create the exact opposite effect. It’s a trait of human nature that doesn’t happen in the realm of hypothetical ifs. It’s a matter of when our arrogance gets the best of that we are outsmarted by creatures with fur and four legs. And, truth be told, I got what I deserved.
So, after a little reading of hunting material, and a lot of reassessing my goals for my 2011 archery season, come next weekend, I plan to be in the woods, and back on top of the food chain!
***For the next few days, I hunted strictly for information. I spoke with fellow hunters and made some extra passes via car around our hunting areas***

Part 2

When this issue of Illinois Outdoor News is being slipped into mailboxes, deer hunters everywhere will already be tangled up in dreams of big bruiser bucks as the mocking fire of anticipation is finally extinguished, and “Sweet November” winds blow into the prairie state. The 2011 pre-rut will have all but consumed the minds of us diehard bow hunters, myself included. Truth be told, this should be an easy column to write, but since honesty is supposed to be the best policy I’ll readily admit that I’m having a ridiculously hard time concentrating. A perfect northwest wind blowing the tassels on the corn still standing in the field behind my house keeps distracting my train of thought, as I zone out to a different place, my favorite place; the deer woods.  As a bow hunter in Northern Illinois, the only thing better than waking up on a mid-October morning to the sound of a combine whirring through the fields, is to fall asleep listening to the same hum with the glare of combine lights searing through the window.

Friday, Oct 21 – Probably one of the best tools for hunters to utilize is the men and women who harvest the crops around their hunting grounds that deer up until this point have been using as choice bedding areas for obvious reasons. In fact, about an hour ago, I crammed on my rubber boots, and painfully finagled my way through picked corn stalks in attempt to get some info from the guy in the big, green tractor.

His observations mirrored the other hunter’s that I’ve spoken with – not a whole lot going on. Yet. Of course, when it comes to hunting, there’s always more to it than meets the human eye, because despite the predictions, and the extensive knowledge we’ve gained in recent years, we’re still dealing with one of the largest and uncontrolled forces; nature.

Keep in mind that you’ll be reading this approximately a week and a half after I’ve turned it in for publication, so as I said earlier, deer activity will more than likely have changed dramatically.
It’s been a good year as weather is concerned, so farmers have wasted little time getting their crops picked, which has the deer switching it up a little. A few hunters I’ve talked to have seen bucks still in small bachelor groups. We’re noticing a few rubs here and there, but mostly scrapes, which are probably being made while we’re sawing logs.  The scrapes on the edge of a bean field that I tiptoed around last week were scraped bare on the ground, but the licking branches above them remained intact and unscathed, so I’ll be watching for that to change shortly.

Younger bucks, 3 ½ years and under are being seen crossing the now bare fields during late morning hours, but from my personal perspective, and the accounts of fellow hunters, the monster bucks remain elusive, and guarded.

As far as the female gender of the whitetail population, all focus should really be on them. Research says that bucks at this moment are quite literally ready and waiting, and probably have been for a while. A select group of does will come into estrus early, just as a select few, typically the younger, will come in late. If conception doesn’t occur in a doe’s first breeding cycle, the doe will come into estrus again 28 days later. Sometimes, if a doe comes into estrus early, she’ll join a larger group to help ward off the inevitable for as long as she can.

At this point, the does are still calm, and appear to still be with their fawns, but do seem to be herding into bigger groups now. For the antlered giants, the elite members of the buck hierarchy, it’s a waiting game for the moment of truth to arrive; a moment that makes the possibility of ending up on a wall worth the risk. So, while they wait, so will we.

USA Shooting Women Capture More Medals in Pan American Games!

The Women’s Trap athletes packed a one-two punch for the podium. Kayle Browning (Wooster, Ark.) led the way into the final with 68 targets for a new Pan American record. Teammate Miranda Wilder (Diana, Texas) was three targets behind in the second position with 65 targets.

With only four shooters remaining, the flash targets began acting up and breaking. “I knew what target I was going to get – the hard right off of four that I missed the first time around – I just concentrated on breaking the bird,” said Wilder as she recalls waiting for her turn after the interruption.

Wilder buckled down and shot 21 targets in the final for the gold medal for 87 total targets and a new Pan American total record. Browning fired 17 targets in the final for 85 total targets and the bronze medal and gained valuable international experience: “I learned that I can’t rush through shooting, I have to take my time just like every other match.” The silver medalist was Lindsay Boddez of Canada with 65 match targets and 21 targets in the final for 86 total targets.

The Women Behind Ducks Unlimited

By WOMA Member, Andrea “Andi” Cooper of Ducks Unlimited…

I took a photo of a friend of mine, Alicia Wiseman, who is a Regional Biologist with Ducks Unlimited for the last 2 years. She administers the Louisiana Waterfowl Project, which is a partnership program with state and federal agencies. Part of her job is to provide field assistance to private landowners in south Louisiana. Alicia is also helping Ducks Unlimited establish a working relationship within the rice industry of Louisiana.

Alicia received her bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science in 2006 from Mississippi State University. She also received her Master of Science degree in Wildlife Science (2009; Mississippi State University). Her thesis work, studying waterfowl foods in managed grain sorghum fields, helped her specialize in waterfowl and working wetlands management. Her professional goal is to help farmers and landowners be successful on the land while simultaneously benefiting wildlife. This is right in line with the Ducks Unlimited mission and as Alicia said, “makes working for such a great organization just plain fun.” There are a number of professional women who work for Ducks Unlimited and I hope to highlight others down the road.

Gonna Get My Duck On, Texas Style!

By: Keri Butt ~ Illinois Outdoor News Blog

As hard as it is to remove my ever spinning thoughts off of deer season and the upcoming 2011 rut, which is supposed to be a sizzling nine days for deer hunters everywhere, I have to remember that this year I’ll be missing the last few days of the pre-rut. Fortunately, and yet strangely, I’m thrilled at the prospect.

Typically, should someone or something come between me and my treestands between October 15^th and December 1^st, it’s likely that they’re not going to do so without encountering problems.  Heck, even my poor kids know the rule; “Unless you’re bleeding or barfing, don’t call mommy when she’s in the deer woods.”  But, this year my leave of absence is a good thing. Well, maybe not for the ducks flying across the gulf in Texas!

Thanks to an awesome group of ladies from the W.O.M.A, (Women’s Outdoor Media Association) which is an organization I’m a member of, and a generous sponsorship from Ducks Unlimited, I will be headed down to Bay Flats Lodge in Seadrift, Texas on November 7^th to meet up with a select group of other women in the outdoor media including my friend, and fellow Outdoor News writer, Kristen Monroe.

Since duck season in Illinois coincides with deer season, which is my sole purpose for waking up each morning, along with the fact that Northern Illinois isn’t exactly waterfowl central, I’m headed to the Lone Star state as a duck hunting rookie. For some peculiar reason I have an image in my head of huge duck flocks flying overhead pointing their wings at me as they chortle some sort of odd quack-like laugh.

That’s why I’m asking for advice from those who are confident waterfowl hunters. Back in March, I went down to Missouri on a snow goose hunt, but that hunt encompassed a completely different set of circumstances than I’ll be met with in Texas.

So, perhaps asking for advice isn’t exactly what I meant. I think pleading would be more like it. I encourage any and all readers to send some good advice this duck hunting rookie’s way as it would be much appreciated.

I’ll be sure and post the hopefully exciting details of our hunt when I get back. Of course it may be a bit delayed.  See, I’ll get home around midnight on November 9^th, and the inferno we deer/big game hunters call the rut, is expected to ignite hot and heavy on November 10^th.   I guess sometimes you can have your back straps and eat them too!

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