Women's Outdoors

California -- The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has named Livermore resident Lorrie Ambrosino as the 2013 Hunter Education Instructor (HEI) of the Year.

For more than 16 years, Ambrosino has taught the principles of conservation, ethics and firearms safety to hundreds of students, enabling them to obtain hunting licenses in California.

“California is especially fortunate to have Lorrie in the hunter education program, as she exemplifies our mission: ‘Passing on the Tradition Through Education’,” said Capt. Roy Griffith, CDFW Hunter Education Program Manager. “She has not only educated hundreds of students, but has also mentored future hunter education instructors.”

In addition to the hundreds of hours of instructing for CDFW, Ambrosino also serves as the vice-president of the Livermore-Pleasanton Rod & Gun Club and operates the club’s hunter education program.

“I try to impress upon our students how important good wildlife management and conservation are to Cal

In this guest post, Trudy Balcom shares the story of Leslie Soderquist’s bison hunt.

When I first met Leslie Soderquist in 2002, she was participating in the Olympic Torch Relay for the Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Tim and I cheered Leslie and others runners in the Torch Relay parade as it passed through Idaho Falls while on a visit there with sister-in-law Penny. I admire anyone who has the gumption to be a runner. Never has been my thing.Now, as another Winter Games draws near, I have had the opportunity to get to know Leslie better. And what a pleasure it has been. We first met up with her a few weeks ago when she skied up to Penny’s cabin at The Ranch, with her dog Will.

Most women make to-do lists to help them stay organized:

• Pick up milk
• Take kids to dentist
• Work out at the gym

When fall rolls around, Leslie’s  to-do list looks something like this:

• Buy ammo
• Sight-in rifle
• Sharpen skinning knife

Leslie Soderquist is a wife and mother of three grown sons, a career woman, an athlete, an accomplished outdoorswoman and an avid hunter.

Spring has sprung (in some areas of the country, at least) and this week at The WON, LaserMax and Ruger have teamed up to bring you a fantastic prize package, just in time for you to head to the outdoor pistol range.

LaserMax is giving away 1 of its green CenterFire pistol lasers that fits 2 of the most popular concealed carry guns — the Ruger LC9 or LC380, and Ruger is gifting the same lucky winner 1 snazzy Ruger women’s pink tshirt, 1 Ruger branded hat and 1 Ruger branded coffee mug!

Firearm not included in the giveaway.

LaserMax® green CenterFire™ pistol laser

Custom-designed for Ruger LC9 and LC380

This highly visible and compact green laser sighting system attaches to your pistol frame in minutes, instantly improving shooting accuracy and speed of follow-up shots.

Dear Writing Huntress,

I’ve been hunting for 2 years now and I really love it. However, I only hunt with guys, because none of my girlfriends hunt.. I feel like I have issues and things I’d like to talk about in terms of being a woman hunter, but I only have guys to talk to. Don’t get me wrong, I’m learning a lot from my boyfriend, dad and their friends, but it’d be nice to see how a fellow female hunts. Did you have the same issues when you started hunting? What’s the best way to connect with other huntresses?

Sincerely,

Seeking Support in Spokane

Burris Optics sponsors Ask Writing Huntress

Dear Seeking Support,

I, like you, spent the beginning of my hunting life surrounded by men. Even though I learned a lot, I still found it difficult to grow as a huntress without a little female guidance. For years, I didn’t know any other women who hu

NSSF’s 2014 Industry Summit will feature an hour-long dialog with two pro-Second Amendment journalists — Katie Pavlich of Townhall.com and a Fox News contributor, and Emily Miller of The Washington Times. Because a better informed firearms industry is a more effective one, the program will help familiarize participants with Katie and Emily’s work, so that we can help them gain readers and viewers in the battle for public opinion even as we learn from them how to more effectively overcome the arguments of anti-gun activists. That two young women are such successful journalists, while both are active in the shooting sports, helps dispel the media myth that defending gun ownership is the domain of middle-aged and older men. NSSF Public Affairs Director Mike Bazinet will facilitate the discussion.

Visit NSSF for more details.

Each March marks an inaugural athletic event. No, I’m not referring to baseball’s spring training, or basketball’s March Madness. On my calendar, March 1 marks the first day of my personal spring preparation; 2 months of competitive shooting and training culminate with the Bianchi Cup in mid-May. The Bianchi Cup, the NRA’s National Championship, brings together top professional, amateur and military shooters for the most difficult week of shooting many of us will face during the year. The challenge of the physical endurance is only equal to the mental fatigue that competitors face.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Clair

To train for the Bianchi, my family and friends claim that I “go dark on March 1.” This has been true in previous years, but 2014 has been a very different year for me.

Many members  of the shooting world are aware that last year I did

Mia Anstine shares important questions to ask an outfitter when taking your little guy or gal on a guided turkey hunt.

Mia & the Little Gal is sponsored by Girls With Guns Clothing

Turkey hunting in the spring is one of the most exciting times to introduce your little guy or gal to the sport. It’s always exciting to chase down the keen birds, and also, to call them in. To increase the odds of bagging a bird for your youngster, you may want to book a guided hunt with an outfitter who offers turkey hunting.

With any guided hunt, you need to ask specific questions before you go. This becomes even more important when you are bringing a youth hunter along. You want to make sure your child experiences quality time and wants to hunt again.

It is best to get your questions answered in person, or at least over the phone, by the outfitter. This will allow you to get a good feel for the outfitter, destination and methods of the hunt.

S

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Teri Cindric Wins the Battle on the Bayou

March 15, 2014,  West Monroe, LA – The first stop of the Lady Bass Anglers Association Tour is now in the history books and Tennessee Angler Teri Cindric claims the victory with a two day total of 16.46 lbs that she managed to catch by remaining focused and rolling with the changes on the Ouachita River in West Monroe, LA. With day two beginning with more stable conditions, a sustained water level and an approaching full moon bringing the bass shallow as they complete the pre-spawn cycle. The hard work and determination these ladies have put forth on the waters of the Ouachita River and its oxbows and bayous have paid off either with a check or an education in fishing a river system in unstable conditions.  Teri proved she had what it takes to break the rivers code and dial into what the Ouachita bass were looking for. With an impressive weigh in yesterday she had a chance to win the event. Cindric had this to say about today’s win, “I had a pretty tough practice, I finally figured out what

Bodie recommends 7 fishing essentials for a great day on the water.

Fishing season is upon us. Here in the Pacific Northwest, salmon and steelhead seasons are in full swing, and it won’t be long before I’m casting a line for trout, bass and even bluegill. In pursuing each species of game fish, all I need are the basics in order to enjoy a day on the water — a rod, reel, fishing line and lure. There are many other essentials, however, that I find necessary to help turn any good day into a great day.

Michelle Bodenheimer with a beautiful salmon she caught on the Willamette River in Portland, Ore. Photo courtesy of Todd Bodenheimer

1. YETI Tundra Cooler

When I am out on the river, it is important to keep my bait cool, and my beverages even cooler. I know with confidence that the YETI Tundra Cooler is up for the task at hand. At first, The cooler’s

AUSTIN, Texas — Julianna Crowder, president of A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League, announced that Flashbang Holsters will be a platinum sponsor of the 2nd Annual A Girl & A Gun Training Conference, Presented by Smith & Wesson. In addition to sponsoring the conference, Flashbang President Lisa Looper will be one of the keynote speakers during the three day event.

Flashbang Holsters joins Brownells, Comp-Tac Victory Gear, Freedom Munitions, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, XS Sight Systems and presenting sponsor Smith & Wesson, among others, in bringing A Girl & A Gun members this year’s conference.

“We are thrilled to have Flashbang Holsters sponsoring this year’s Welcome Banquet at our national training conference. We’re also very excited to have Lisa Looper herself, the designer of the Flashbang holster for women, as our keynote speaker at the banquet. Lisa understands A Girl & A Gun’s mission

Realtree’s Strut Report, as recently posted at its website, allows turkey hunters and outfitters nationwide to report on recent hunting conditions in their locales. Our Babbs in the Woods just loaded her report regarding a hunt in Texas.

This Rio sported a 10-inch beard, 1-1/4-inch spurs and had blood on his feet from fighting. Photo courtesy of Cristie Gates, Benelli USA

You can help out fellow hunters with your observations, and the process takes about 5 minutes. Also, you get your name in the header — at Realtree — the nation’s foremost camo pattern maker. Visit the Strut Report.

Millisecond Molly: Competition shooter Molly Smith describes why women must be fearless in the shooting sports.

A single word has fascinated me since my freshman year of high school. I hear it, and before long I’m often on a mental-get-away as I reorganize the volatility of the word. It’s not complicated. In fact, it’s very simple. At first inspection, anyway. Yet, it comes up again and again, and every time it seems to develop a new meaning.

Fearless.

Back in 2011, when as an enlightened 14-year old, I wrote about fearlessness as I saw it related to competitive shooting. I rediscovered the article and once I got past the minor embarrassment of my writing-style, I came to a new awareness of the word.

Yes, it still does mean to “lack fear,” but deeper than that, it’s a person’s actions. And yes, it’s still very much alive in the shooting industry.

Take a step back to the 1800s. Phoebe Anne Moses starred on the stage in a “man’s world” and embarked on a journey seen then as “barbaric for a woman.” Phoebe Anne Moses is better known as Annie Oakley. She progressed in her passions through fearlessness that did not correspond to the cultural norms of society in the day. A feminist, a strong woman, and even today an inspiration, I believe she is the root of fearless