Próis prostaffer Barbara Baird is anticipating an outstanding upcoming pheasant hunt with professional handgun shooters Kay Miculek and Sheila Brey in Iowa at the Brownells’ Big Springs Shooting Complex. To prepare for the hunt, Barbara has been shooting trap. When not in the bird fields for pheasants or doves this fall, she can be found checking game cameras, setting tree stands, drawing her bow or sighting in her rifle for October, when she’ll start to chase whitetails.

 Her publication, Women’s Outdoor News (www.womensoutdoornews.com), ranks as one of the top referring websites to Próis Hunting Apparel and keeps her busy communicating about the many outdoor opportunities for women. The WON will turn one on November 4, and Barbara is delighted at the positive responses, from not only the burgeoning readership, but also from outdoor writers and photographers who contribute to its pages.

Another project, The Women’s Outdoor Media Association (www.thewoma.com), requires constant nurturing, as this newly launched outdoor communicators’ organization continues to promote news about and for women in the outdoors.

Finally, renovations to the Baird Ranch, the family homestead, require learning how to rent a 40-yard dumpster and constant back-and-forths with architects to build a business site that will someday host weekends where women shooters may gather and learn defensive shooting tactics while enjoying the company of other women. Barbara is currently training to become a bona fide concealed-carry instructor in Missouri, with emphasis on training women in groups.

                                                                                                Prois Team Members:
                                                                                                Anne Vinnola, Kirstie Pike & Barbara Baird

OK, who out there has heard of the Campbells Outdoor Challenge?  I am certain many of you have, but I recently was introduced to this contest at this year’s Archery Trade Association tradeshow when I met Heather Huntley.  If you have NOT heard of the Campbells Outdoor Challenge, brace yourself.  It  is a contetst that started five years ago.  The Campbell Outdoor Challenge provides a competitive sporting event format for professional hunter and cameramen teams to match their skills in filming hunts.

The Campbell Outdoor Challenge consists of a professional video circuit of fifteen cameramen teams with the ultimate champion determined by the team accumulating the most video points throughout the events that form the circuit.  The challenges are specific competition events on the Campbell Outdoor Circuits which consist of a series of team hunting and filming the Challenge competitions.  All hunts are for free-ranging animals hunted under fair-chase conditions.  The challenges are then conducted in various states for specified species.  The team’s compete for top score- scoring is a combination of hunting points and cameraman points.  Whew…

As mentioned, we met the Huntley’s- the crew from Huntley Outdoors Team Real Deal- at the ATA show.  We were impressed with their passion for the hunt and their excitement about passing on their love of the outdoors to their children.  They are engaging and enthusiastic.  All this coupled with a dynamic contest as seen on Vs. - a perfect match for Prois!  We are pleased to announce our sponsorship for Heather’s gear in their quest to win the Campbell’s Outdoor Challenge. 

Having completed the first 3 legs of the challenge which include South Carolina hog hunting, Indiana turkey hunting and Kentucky bowfishing- the couple are soon to embark on the fourth leg of the contest.  They are currently in Buffalo, South Dakota pursuing antelope and filming their quest.  Keep your fingers crossed and we will keep you posted!

For more information about Huntley Outdoors Team Real Deal, log on to http://campbelloutdoorchallenge.com/publish/posts/92/huntley-outdoors-team-real-deal.html. 

Kirstie Pike
CEO Prois Hunting Apparel

I am constantly on the watch for gear and services that are considered ‘female-friendly’.  When recently asked what, exactly, makes something ‘female-friendly’ I had to laugh at myself.  Well, it isn’t as simple of an explanation as it would seem.  I believe the term ‘female-friendly’ may conjur up all sorts of images like 10,000 count Egyptian cotton sheets or Cristal champagne.  Nope. It’s neither of those.  When one ratchets down what exactly makes a female-friendly outfit, it simply comes down to 3 things;  comfort, safety and experienced guides.  That’s it.  No fluff, no puff.   I recently had the great experience of hunting black bear with Itcha Mountain Outfitters in the remote reaches of British Columbia with fellow pro-staffer, Linda Powell.  As soon as we hit camp, I was certain this operation would meet my ‘female-friendly’ expectations.

Itcha Mountain Outfitters, owned and operated by Stuart and Sabrina Fraser, is located in a still-remote part of British Columbia, 100 miles west of Quesnel. The Itcha Mountains rise up from the interior plateau. Throughout this vast alpine-like area, roam Huge Canadian Moose, Trophy Class Mountain Caribou, Mule Deer, Grizzly Bear, Lynx, Wolf and British Columbia’s Largest Black Bears.Rainbow trout abound in many lakes and streams and we are home to one of the worlds top flyfishing rivers “The Blackwater”. The camp offered comfortable quarters, yet still retained the feel of ‘camp’.  Ok, I have to say it…the availability of a shower is a huge plus for me…and those around me.  The cook cabin offered a warm and comfortable place for all in camp to come together.  There was never a shortage of fresh coffee (and anyone who knows me can attest that this is a priority!) and homemade food.  I am impressed with how the Frasers can create an atmosphere that feels both rugged and comfortable.  The camp stretches past the cook cabin to a pristine lake bordered by cabins.  The scene is beautiful. 

Safety first.  We have heard this since kindergarden.  I heartily applaud any and all outfitters who take the time to discuss gun safety prior to any shooting.  On day 1, we sighted in our rifles, had gun safety discussions and discussed our hunting strategies for the upcoming days.  I felt immediately comfortable in the situation.  I believe, as any female hunter who travels alone without a husband or male companion can attest, that jumping into an unknown and extremely remote region with total strangers for several days just goes against the grain of all we are taught. Like most women, it is hard not to play scenes from “Wrong Turn” through your head as you are driving deep into the BC ‘bush’ into the hands of people you have yet to meet in person.  (I am happy to announce that neither Linda nor I found ourselves chopped up into tiny bits by chainsaw wielding crazies.)  The Frasers understand this concept and go to great lengths to explain necessary details, encourage questions and test the comfort levels of the clientele.  They helped me feel at ease, which I personally believe is the greatest compliment one can give to an outfit that caters to women.  Well…not really ‘caters’, but you know what I mean…

Hunting bear IS what we came for, and the Frasers definitely deliver the goods.  We were alternately guided by Stuart and Sabrina.  I was first amazed at their depth of the knowledge of the area.  Their understanding of the geography, animals, animal habits and hunting techniques made the hunt interesting and exciting.  There was no shortage of bears, and the Frasers knew where to find them.  We spotted 64 bears in the 5 days we spent in the field…yes, we actually counted!  I had not yet had the experience of hunting with a female guide, and I was thrilled to hunt with Sabrina.  I have to admit, there was more than once that Linda, Sabrina and I cackled like hens…and it was typically at Tom Opre’s  (Tahoe Films) expense.  That said, Linda and I were both able to harvest great BC Black bears.  Ohh…and the stories we CAN’T tell…

I highly recommend that any female hunter consider Itcha Mountain Outfitters for their British Columbia expeditions.  Ample game, great guides and comfortable quarters make it perfect choice for women who want the remote experience.  Do me a favor- log onto www.itchamtn.com and see all this outfit has to offer.  For more questions, do not hesitate to call the Frasers as they are more than happy to help!