Brownells named ammo sponsor for Klays for Kids team challenge

Brownells has donated and shipped 43 cases of shotshells to the 9th Annual Klays for Kids Sporting Clays Team Challenge, scheduled for September 24, 2010, at the Coyote Valley Sporting Clays range near Morgan Hill, California. The Klays shoot is hosted by the NFL Alumni Northern California Chapter (NFL Alumni-NCC).

“The Klays for Kids Sporting Clays Team Challenge is a great way to promote youth shooting sports in a safe, competitive setting. We’re glad we could help the NFL Alumni by donating ammunition for the event,” said Brownells President Pete Brownell.

Gary Weaver, chairperson for the Klays event and a member of the NFL Alumni-NCC’s executive committee said, “We appreciate Brownells’ donation, and we’re happy to have them as ammunition sponsor for the event.”

At the Klays event, shooters compete in teams of five, which include a celebrity captain. The tournament consist of sporting clays targets presented in a casual tournament format.

Proceeds from the tournament will benefit Bay Area kids’ charities, said Weaver, who is a former linebacker for the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers.

“Brownells’ ammo sponsorship covers one of our big costs,” he said, “which it allows us to donate more money to the charities. It’s a generous contribution that will help a lot of kids.”

For more information on the event, log on to www.nflalumninoca.org or call (650) 366-3659.

At Brownells Everything is Guaranteed period! …Forever, 100%, with no restocking fees. Founded in 1939, they supply more than 30,000 firearms parts, accessories and gunsmithing tools to armorers, gunsmiths, and shooters worldwide. Brownells provides free tech help and there’s no minimum order size or small order fees. To order, or for more information, call 800-741-0015 or visit brownells.com and mention code PGI

Traci Schauf: Real life spills better than TV thrills

The culmination of a weekend of fishing and canoeing was my daughter in the ER getting seven stitches in her hip, the result of taking a tumble on the slick rocks.  Yes, there will be a scar, but it won’t be visible unless she wears a string bikini, which will never happen as long as she lives under my roof. Or turns 30, whichever come first.

An angry relative asked me how I “could put my daughter at risk like that,” risk meaning possible injury and potential infection from the river water. My indignant reply was that I would rather risk stitches than have her become a couch potato and suffer from obesity.  Drastic comparison perhaps, but I really think that a sedentary lifestyle is just as dangerous as the risk of falls, or cuts, or bee stings, or any other potential problem we might encounter in the outdoors.  The camaraderie we build as a family does not happen in front of the television (which is one reason we don’t have one). Video games do not teach resourcefulness like backpacking does. Facebook will never replace campgrounds as my social network of choice.

Am I keeping my very active daughter as still as possible till the stitches heal?  You bet.  Will I take her out again?  Of course.  That scar might be a reminder to be more careful on the rocks, but it’s also a reminder of a great trip our family experienced, and the stories we’ll share from it.  I’ll defend that risk any day.

Traci Schauf is a college instructor, freelance writer, amateur photographer, and obsessed outdoorswoman who divides her residency between Oklahoma and Kansas.  With her family, she canoes, kayaks, bikes, hikes, backpacks and fishes.  She hosts her own daily blogs about her family and outdoor life at http://momonvacation.blogspot.com and healthy living and fitness at http://community.wholeliving.com/profiles/blog/list?user=3q9603u0ypadw.  She has been published in Country Woman, Family Fun, and Contempo magazines. Traci’s philosophy is “there is an outdoor activity for everyone, and everyone should be outdoors.”

Twelve iPhone apps for exploring outdoors

We like the iPhone here at the WON, and not just because one of our kids works at Apple! We use a track app, and a weather app, and are always on the lookout for yet another app to add to the collection. Check out this article that describes 12 apps for the outdoors.http://mashable.com/2010/09/04/iphone-apps-outdoors/

HerCamoShop.com Labor Day Sale!

Summer is over and now is the time to shop for hunting season. In honor of labor day and all of the hard-working folks out there, HerCamoShop.com is giving you 10% off of any purchase of $50.00 or more thru Monday, September 6. Just  enter the code 910 at checkout to receive your discount.

Happy Labor Day!

View from the Marina: Barb Hansen says it’s time for a ‘Nau-tea-cal Party’

“Tis the political season in America. Politicians are running around with grease guns promising to lubricate every squeaky wheel. But have you noticed, they never offer to lubricate the squeaks coming from the recreational boating community. And why is that exactly?

Maybe it’s because we boaters don’t squeak. We’re self-reliant types. You know the drill. I can still hear my parents: Take personal responsibility. Don’t buy what you can’t afford. Save for the future. All that.

So, I’ve been thinking, maybe we should start squeaking.

We need an organization. Call it, what?

How about The Nau-tea-cal Party?

It would be based on boating principals. All members would be expected to remain self-reliant and not spend more than they have. It would also be based on the principal that so long as our elected officials are throwing our money around then they should splurge on us, too.

Compared to what other squeaky wheels demand, we boaters won’t ask for much.

For starters, how about a little positive recognition? I propose a National Boating Holiday. This would be a summer holiday. All employees, not just government workers, should get a paid day off to go boating. Wait. Make that a two-day national holiday.

Instead of spending billions to bail out the auto industry, our politicians could declare that they will not let any boating company fail. Because, where does it say that bailing out an auto company is better than saving a U.S. boat company?

Washington doesn’t realize it but the country suffers from a huge postal delivery problem. As it stands now the USPS does not deliver to people who live on their boats. If the USPS can deliver bulk mail advertising to a citizen who lives 200 miles from nowhere it can surely deliver to a boat moored out there in the harbor.

If politicians can spend billions of dollars to pay farmers not to grow something or to reward them when it doesn’t rain, let’s squeak until they give some of that lubricant to marine stores and waterfront restaurants to subsidize some of our favorite things.

Of course, we need to do something for the children. If high schools can teach Drivers Ed, then by golly let’s squeak for Boaters Ed. We could have a Department of Boating with such programs as No Boater Left Behind.

There is so much to do for the children, not just nationally but at the state and local levels. In St. Louis they’re offering parents $900 to enroll their children at one public school. Why not offer parents another $900 to enroll their children in a course about why boaters make better citizens?

Oh, and let’s demand a Boaters Tax Free Week. All boats, boating gear, boat and fishing charters, accessories, boating clothes and boat shoes would be sales tax free. I just love those cute boat shoes in all the bright colors. But I digress.

Commentator Glenn Beck recently put on a rally on the Mall in Washington called, “Restoring Honor.” Well, there are no citizens more honorable than boaters.

Okay, then, let’s organize our own citizens rally called, “Restoring Fiscal Sanity” and invite mariners from around the world to gather in Fort Myers, Florida in a show of solidarity.

We’ll dump tea in the harbor, pour rum in our cups and sing R E S P E C T by Aretha Franklin.

Hey, we could make it into a robo-call that rings in the home of every politician when he or she is eating dinner.

Barb Hansen manages Southwest Florida Yachts, yacht charters, and Florida Sailing & Cruising School, a liveaboard yacht school. Contact her at info@swfyachts.com, phone 1-800-262-7939 or visit http://www.swfyachts.com/

Girl-powered travel rules in Canada

A floatplane ride to Victoria? Fly fishing on the Miramichi River? Sailing into fjords near Baffin Island? According to an article in Muchmor Canada, by Michele Sponagle, women are seeking adventure trips with their female friends. The article lists several options for those looking for a place to vacation outdoors, and it also includes videos.http://www.muchmormagazine.com/2010/08/banish-the-boys-girl-powered-travel-rules-the-country/

Magnolia Defense Enterprises launches new website

CONYERS, GA – Certified NRA instructor Melita Ellington, founder of Magnolia Defense Enterprises, LLC, launched the company’s new website recently and sets her sights on developing additional class locations in the metro-Atlanta area.

“In today’s cyber-marketplace, it’s the way we search for information when we need it.  It was an obvious step for my company as we try to provide firearms training services for women,” remarked Ellington.

Ellington founded Magnolia Defense in 2009 after seeing a need for more women’s firearms training programs in metro-Atlanta.  She is NRA-certified to teach basic pistol, Refuse To Be a Victim™ personal safety, and will soon receive certification to teach the NRA shotgun course, as well.  While class sizes are kept small to maintain a level of safety, Ellington believes that as a woman, she has much to offer other women who want to learn firearm safety and basic skills. Her husband, Brian, also an NRA-certified instructor, assists at each class.

“For a woman, picking up a handgun for the first time can be a very daunting experience.  I’ve been there, so I know.  I want women to know that there’s someone to help them overcome whatever obstacles may stand between them and learning to use a firearm,” said Ellington.  “I believe that knowledge is power, and personally, I’d much rather take a course to learn something than have to learn it in an emergency situation.  That’s one of the reasons I’m teaching.”

For further information on taking a ladies’ NRA First Steps class, or Magnolia Defense Enterprises, contact Ms. Ellington at magnoliadefense@gmail.com or  go to www.magnoliadefense.com.

Melita also contributes gear reviews at The WON’s Gear Court.

Stahl Cross Realtree camo cross keychains and necklaces

Pay homage to both your sport and your faith with Realtree® camouflage custom steel cross jewelry. The Stahl Cross jewelry, available in Realtree™ AP and Realtree™ APC Pink, not only makes perfect gifts for the outdoorsmen and women in your life, but they’re a great addition to your own cross collection as well. This custom steel cross jewelry is decorated with Durafuse™ and GDEC™and uses patent-pending fusion on weighted solid steel to stand up to the abuse of everyday wear and use. These Realtree camouflaged crosses are available as durable necklaces with genuine adjustable leather cords as well as key chains, and they cost less than $20.

With “Life Defining Themes™” of faith and hope, Stahl Crosses seek to provide individuality and reflect the beliefs that are unique and important to the individual.

Although similar, each created product from Stahl Cross is as unique as a snowflake. Stahl Cross seeks to provide hunters and outdoorsmen with their own individual design of the most recognizable symbol in the world. In addition to the Hunters Crosses, Freedom Crosses, Soldiers Crosses and Semper Fidelis Crosses are also available.

Keychain Features:

Original Product

Weighted Solid Steel

Fusion Process

Cross size: 2″L x 1″W

Made in USA

Necklace Features:

Original Product

Weighted Solid Steel

Fusion Process

Cross size: 2″L x 1″W

Adjustable Genuine Leather

Made in USA

For more information or to purchase a product, check out www.realtree.com/store, www.stahlcross.com or www.highmaintenancecamo.net.

Media contact: stephanie@mallorycommunicationsinc.com.

‘Danner in the Details’ newsletter enables Danner community to share stories

PORTLAND, Ore. Danner, a leading designer of premium work and outdoor recreational footwear, announced today it has recently launched Danner in the Details, an email newsletter for its loyal customer base.

Danner, with 76 years of master craftsmanship in footwear innovation and design, created Danner in the Details as a monthly “content-based” newsletter, where consumers can read and share stories, learn about unique offerings such as Danner’s recrafting service, and see highlighted examples of other craft-products, most recently craft beers.

Each Danner in the Details edition will also inform readers about a new-featured dealer, where consumers can try on Danner products and enjoy the benefits of what crafting higher standards truly means.

“Our goal with Danner in the Details is to give our customers a voice in how our products work for them in all aspects of their lives,” said Bryan Finke, Director of Marketing for LaCrosse Footwear, Inc., parent company of Danner. “Providing the opportunity to share stories, learn about new products and services, and celebrate craftsmanship on a personal level is a simple way for us to stay connected to our loyalists, and them to us.”

To sign up for the Danner in the Details e-mail newsletter, visit www.danner.com

About Danner, Inc.

Danner designs and manufactures a complete line of innovative, functional and performance footwear for experts in the work and outdoor markets. With a commitment to craftsmanship, Danner continues to build on the Company’s 76-year heritage of making premium-quality hiking, hunting, occupational, uniform and rugged casual footwear for men and women. Located in Portland, Ore., Danner is a wholly owned subsidiary of LaCrosse Footwear, Inc. For more information, please visit www.danner.com.

17634 NE Airport Way • Portland, OR 97230 • 800.345.0430

Jessie Abbate clear leader in Steel Challenge poll results released by Women of USPSA

Fans of the shooting sports are predicting Max Michel and Jessie Abbate will return to the winner’s circle at this year’s Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships according to poll results released by the Women of USPSA.

The Women of USPSA, in cooperation with the SCSA,  launched a Steel Challenge poll earlier this month asking fans of the shooting sports to predict this year’s Steel Challenge winners in 16 categories.

“The Women of USPSA’s first shooting sports poll was a big success with shooters from around the country weighing in on who they think will win the 2010 Steel Challenge,” said Julie Golob, Women of USPSA co-founder and a Steel Challenge competitor shooting for Team Smith & Wesson.

“We want to thank all those who took the time to vote in our poll. Their enthusiastic input has helped us spotlight the tremendous talents of the country’s top speed shooters and generated a good deal of buzz about who may or may not win.”

The following are the final results for the top shooters in each of the 16 categories:

Open Division
Max Michel 24.7%
Jerry Miculek 17.3%
Dave Sevigny 17.3%
K.C Eusebio 13.2%

Women’s Open Division
Jessie Abbate 61.2%
Sarah Irish 15.7%

Limited Division
Dave Sevigny 30.6%
Rob Leatham 21.9%
J.J. Racaza 17.4%

Women’s Limited Division
Julie Golob 52.8%
Jessie Abbate 41.6%

Steel Master
Dave Sevigny 44.2%
B.J. Norris 21.0%
Todd Jarrett 17.6%

Women’s Steel Master
Jessie Abbate 74.4%
Randi Roger 14.3%

Production Division
Rob Leatham 51.1%
Julie Golob 29.9%

Women’s Production Division
Julie Golob 71.7%
Randi Rogers 21.7%

Iron Sight Revolver Division
John Bagakis 27.5%
David Olhasso 21.2%
Elliot Aysen 13.8%
Tony Phan 12.7%

Open Revolver Division
Jerry Miculek 86.0%
Todd Crow 5.0%

Women’s Revolver Division
Annette Aysen 59.1%
Molly Smith 20.7%
Rachel Crow 18.7%

Iron Sight Rimfire Pistol Div.
Julie Golob 38.8%
Phil Strader 31.6%
John Bagakis 13.6%

Open Sight Rimfire Pistol Div.
Jerry Miculek 26.2%
Dave Sevigny 22.7%
B.J. Norris 15.6%
Jessie Abbate 14.2%

Senior Division
Frank D’Amato 21.4%
John Maxwell 19.5%
Mike Gallion 13.6%

Junior Division
Sarah Irish 33.7%
Janae Sarabia 10.1%
Cody Tucker 9.5%

Women’s Junior Division
Sarah Irish 33.5%
Molly Smith 16.7%
Janae Sarabia 10.3%

The 2010 Steel Challenge kicks off Thursday morning, August 19 with the rimfire events and concludes Saturday, August 21 with the Open division competition.

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