So, I open my rural mailbox and there it is … another Cabela’s specialty catalog. This one is for Christmas and features men’s chamois shirts. Enough. I’ve had enough. I cannot take the onslaught of Cabela’s catalogs. After 30+ years, I’m tired. I have a lot of stuff. If I want something, I’ll check Cabela’s […]

Julie Golob, who recently claimed United States Practical Shooting Association’s national titles in Ladies Revolver and Production divisions, enjoyed a two-day turnaround before she packed up again to head to Greece, where she will shoot  for Team USA at the IPSC World Shoot XVI. We asked Julie to play a little game for The WON, […]

I am constantly amazed by how quickly I forgive and forget. With few exceptions, I think human beings want to live harmoniously. Unfortunately, given the economy and political unrest, relationships are not often harmonious and the city of  Rockford, Ill., is no different. We have our challenges and at times, it feels like we have […]

Last winter I hunted the late muzzleloader season in Iowa where I experienced snow and wind chill factors in the minus teens. The boots that I wore on that hunt were only 600 gram Thinsulate Ultra. Fortunately I did not have any problem with my feet getting cold because I was able to hunt each […]

Outdoor weddings are becoming more and more popular these days, as are themed weddings. One of my husband’s cousins had a medieval wedding complete with handmade costumes for everyone that was spectacular. More and more people are reflecting their interests in their ceremonies rather than just sticking to tradition. In the hunting world, camouflage weddings […]

As we celebrate 40 years of National Hunting and Fishing Day, on the fourth Saturday of September, I have to internalize what it means to me. You see, hunting and fishing (and shooting) — and writing about these things — changed my life. I used to be a travel and music industry writer. Before that, […]

The last time I tried something new was about a year ago when I decided to learn archery. It was something I discussed with my husband for a while. We love to hunt and I thought bow hunting would give me an advantage over the other hunters who surround us. One thing I have learned […]

One thing I love to mention about shooting, when people ask about the sport, is when there are women shooters there is an immediate bond. And as great as it is to be part of this “sisterhood,” there also is something more — the legacy this sisterhood upholds that dates back to the first gun […]

I take the Little Gal on any adventure and try to teach her anything and everything possible. This year, our end-of-summer-vacation was a first for both of us. We headed south of Houston for some saltwater fishing. We excitedly took a back-seat Jeep ride in the dark down to the beach. We were outfitted with […]

The Google Alert caught my eye. It pointed me to the  Wichita Falls TimesRecordNews and an online post by its editor, Deanna Watson, introducing new outdoor writer Nancy Howell. Nancy’s story of how she came to be an outdoor writer is poignant. Her husband, Mark Howell, had been writing for the newspaper, until his unexpected […]

If a woman wants to learn to shoot, there’s a very good chance she will be taught by a guy. That’s just the way it is in the real world. There are very few women instructors out there, but the good news is that more and more women are entering the field of instructing. Last […]

When the opportunity to appear on Season 3 of the History Channel’s Top Shot fell in my lap, I had many reservations. I didn’t feel as if I had won the lottery, like many people might think. I spent many, many hours contemplating that decision. I completed a mental checklist of the potential outcomes stemming […]

“Hi, Barb. I’m Margie.” I looked up from a table of Prois camo things last summer in Bozeman, Montana, into the crystal blue eyes of Margie Nelson. You see, she reads The WON and made the trip over to Bozeman from Livingston to meet Kirstie Pike (Prois’s CEO) and me, and to talk about women […]

Who knew that I would feel more stress and anxiety watching the first episode of Season 3 of the History Channel’s Top Shot, than I did participating in it? Even though I know the outcome of the competition, I had no idea how the producers would edit the footage to make a show. One week […]

The Little Gal has enjoyed raising livestock for the past few years. She is in 4-H and has done quite well with her pigs over the years. From the start she has always wanted to raise lambs. In the past she has borrowed and paid Mom and Dad back. This year, she bought her animals with her own money, […]

“I’d like to thank my sponsors, my talented teammates, the Academy of Excellence . . .” OK, so I didn’t actually win an Academy of Excellence award at this year’s Shooting Industry Masters, but FMG Publications certainly made everyone feel as if they won. In fact, we all went home with mini versions of the […]

Natalie Foster, of Girls Guide to Guns, highlighted this little piece of news recently, about Kate Middleton’s female bodyguard. Upon reading the article, I discovered that Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi hired a legion of 40 female bodyguards, called the Amazonian Guard. Wow. To say that I was amazed is an understatement. So, I started thinking […]

Everyone is different and your learning style really dictates how you learn.  I am a kinesthetic learner and I generally learn best by doing.  Based on my experiences, I know that the best option for me to learn to work on my own firearms is to take a traditional class, at least to start off. […]

One title I never thought I would hold within my department is that of armorer. I don’t consider myself to be mechanically inclined. I am confident that with proper instruction, oversight and explanation I would quickly catch on. What I may lack in mechanical inclination I more than make up for in determination and enthusiasm. […]

I met Tisma Juette three years ago, when she worked for Bass Pro Shops in the Chicago area and coordinated women’s outdoor events. What a go-getter she was. Later, we hooked up at a National Wild Turkey Federation convention in Nashville. On that day, we started early in the morning at an IHOP, hit the […]

Welcome to the first in our series of Fabulous Fashion Friday (FFF). We are gearing this department toward women that desire to make a statement about their love for the outdoors, without wearing their hunting clothes in public. To kick off the first FFF, we are going to visit Doeville and its lineup of apparel […]

Now that both my daughters are scuba divers, they have started campaigning for me, The Mom, to get certified as well. They’ve seen sharks and stingrays, turtles and corals, big fish and little fish. “There’s nothing like it,” they say. “You’ll love it,” they say. I won’t love it. Oh, I don’t mind the suit, […]

This week, an email update with the subject line “Can Ticks Affect Deer Development?” popped into my inbox from Quality Deer Management Association, one of my favorite wildlife conservation organizations. Living in the land of tickdom here in the Ozarks of Missouri, combined with billions and billions of chiggers, I have often wondered if deer are […]

Are you ready for another “Where is the Guru Huntress” contest? The WON and Hunter Hills Journals are sponsoring the next contest during the holiday weekend with another really great prize.

At least every couple of years I head overseas to take part in an international shooting competition. If you think that flying with firearms within the United States is nerve-racking, the thought of going abroad might be downright terrifying. In all honesty (knock on wood) I have never had an issue with traveling with my […]

In Sara Ahrens’ experience as a police officer, she believes that a failure to secure firearms is the most significant blunder gun owners can make. In her blog, OffBeat, she discusses the importance of locking up your guns.

The WON welcomes Traci Schauf to its ranks of outdoor bloggers. Traci, now known in our circle as “The Happy Camper,” once wrote the popular blog “In My Sights.” She will take us on soft adventure trips, encouraging us to stop and smell the bison along the way. In this installment, Traci reminds us to leave Mother Nature and her kids alone.

Spending the extra money for a fly rod that you can get repaired or replaced will save you money in the long run – rather than buying cheap products again and again. Katherine Browne gives tips on taking care of your fly rods and making sure you purchase fly rods with warranties.

Triple Aught Design’s (TAD) Valkyrie Hoodie LT will be a favorite for many women. This hoodie is functional, durable and feminine … three words that can rarely be used in the same sentence. Sara Ahrens reviews this hoodie made for outdoor women!

The WON welcomes Marti Davis to its lineup of women bloggers. In this, her debut post, she sets the stage for her next blogpost, which focuses on construction of her very own huntin’ hut. Meanwhile, learn the history of the hut and what it means to Marti.

In her debut blogpost here, Mia Anstine writes about raising her daughter to be a huntress and to love the outdoors. She describes a turkey hunt where she and her husband brought in several toms, but not the right one for the Little Gal!