Communications Team Delivers NSSF Messages to Outdoor Writer Groups

National Shooting Sports Foundation

NEWTOWN, Conn --(Ammoland.com)- When it comes down to getting word to the outdoor media about important issues of concern to NSSF, there’s nothing like delivering it in person.

That’s exactly what NSSF does as an important facet of its communications strategy, by sponsoring meals and shooting days at annual national, regional and state outdoor communicator association gatherings and addressing the assembled crowds at those events.

This year the list of conferences visited or soon to be addressed includes those held by the Outdoor Writers Association of America, the Professional Outdoor Media Association, the Gun Bloggers Rendezvous, Southeastern Outdoor Press Association, the Northwest Outdoor Writers Association, the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers and both the Pennsylvania and New York Outdoor Writers Associations.

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 6,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

ShootLikeAGirl.com

ELKMONT, AL --(Ammoland.com)- Shoot Like A Girl is proud to announce that we will be hosting our “I Shoot For The Girls” Fe-Mail-in tournament during the months of July, August, and September and to October 15, 2011, a sanctioned event by the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF)!

This tournament not only provides participants with an opportunity to compete on an International Level in a fun mail in tournament, 100% of the profit will go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Last year, we raised $4,680 for NBCF, and this year our goal is $10,000!

“We learned a lot last year, like to expand the event, we asked NBCF to extend our event and they granted it! Now, we can accommodate more shops, leagues, clubs and ranges that want to participate”, says Karen Butler, President of Shoot Like A Girl

Contestants will shoot from 18 meters (Vegas Style). The target consists of three breast cancer ribbons, the white in the center of the ribbon’s loop is worth 10 points, and anywhere on the pink is 5 points; this includes a very small breast cancer ribbon in the I Shoot For the Girls logo.

There will be 10 rounds, for a total max score of 400 points. Each arrow should be shot at a different ribbon. Double scoring and certification by a range officer is required. Shoot Like A Girl had many Families shoot last year, that they will offer more youth categories this year: Women?s Division, Men?s Division, Young Adult (15-17), Youth Division (12-14), and Cub (11 and under). Shoot Like A Girl is working with their Corporate Sponsors for the final list of prizes for the overall winners; and BowTech has already donated a Heartbreaker Bow for the overall Women?s Division Winner.

Archery Ranges and Shops should email karen.butler@shootlikeagirl.com for specific details on hosting an event. Ranges and Shops who provide free range time for archers to shoot in the I Shoot For The Girls tournament will receive a certificate, certificates for their top 3 of each division and free link from Shoot Like A Girl’s web page at www.shootlikeagirl.com from the time the commitment is made, through the month of December 2011.

The cost is $20 per shooter. Special targets and official score cards will be mailed to ranges and/or individuals.

Individuals who wish to participate independently from a range or shop can register at www.shootlikeagirl.com’s web store. Shoot Like A Girl will also offer a commemorative T-shirt for sale, with $1 per shirt, being donated back to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Shoot Like A Girl (SLG², Inc) is a company dedicated to empowering women to participate in shooting sports with confidence. We do that in two ways – through service and sales. With the help of our corporate sponsors, Hunter Safety System, Prois, Limbsaver, Mathews Inc, Bohning, Haley Vines Outdoor Collection, Gerbing’s Heated Clothing, Game Plan Gear, Hoyt, BowTech, Target Communications, and ASA; we travel around the country to provide women a once in a lifetime opportunity to try multiple bows in draw weights and lengths that fit them.

We also provide an educational service on their web site, www.shootlikeagirl.com, with information about shooting sports. Our sales (also a service) is that we offer products that enhance women?s abilities to participate in shooting sports, with a huge focus on one stop shopping for hunting clothing specifically designed to fit women.

All of these services and shopping opportunities help us reach our goal of empowering women to participate in shooting sports with confidence!

Outdoor Writers of Ohio Presents Award to FHFH

FHFH.org

COLUMBUS, OH --(Ammoland.com)- Ohio Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry was presented the Bruce Dawson Memorial Award by the Out-door Writers of Ohio at their 72nd Annual Awards Banquet held at Mohican State Park in Ohio on May 14, 2011.

In the photo above, the $500.00 Bruce Dawson Award for Ohio FHFH is being presented by Jim Morris of the Outdoor Writers of Ohio to Dennis Derflinger, Coordinator for Wayne County, Ohio FHFH.

The Bruce Dawson Memorial Award was created after the death of Mr. Bruce Dawson, a past president of O.W.O., and honors Ohio groups with a plaque and cash that is presented at the O.W.O. spring convention.

Consideration for the award is given to applicants from any non-profit organization involved with habitat, teaching kids about the outdoors (including shooting sports), promoting outdoor and boating safety, helping animals and those working with divisions of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

About:
Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) is an outreach ministry of the people of God called upon to feed venison to the hungry among us nationwide. Visit FHFH.org

Professional Outdoor Media Association

JOHNSTOWN, PA --(Ammoland.com)- The Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA, www.professionaloutdoormedia.org) is offering 15 college students the opportunity to explore outdoor industry communications careers and rub elbows with top industry communicators and business professionals during POMA’s four-day annual business conference in Ogden Utah, Aug. 10-13, 2011.

Imagine the value of spending time with and learning from the editor of Field & Stream, the host of the Sportsman Channel’s most popular television show, the most successful freelance outdoor content providers in the nation, veteran columnists/bloggers and award-winning photographers/videographers.

The dream can become reality.

“I attended the POMA conference last year and it changed my life,” said DePauw University student Mitch Strobl. “I made incredible contacts, have been offered internships and jobs, have been invited on trips as a videographer and so much more. The POMA conference is an amazing opportunity and investment in the future. I’m attending again this year.”

Registered college students attend the POMA<35 program, developed specifically for them, enjoy dozens of educational sessions, interact with industry professionals, test outdoor equipment from the industry’s leading manufacturers during a day-long interactive event and much more.

POMA pays the $230 guest registration fee for the first 15 students who register. Registration entitles students to attend all conference functions including meals. Students also are welcome to book rooms at the Marriott Ogden at the POMA discount rate (at their own expense) or may make other arrangements.

To register, simply fill out the online registration form and pay a $50 refundable deposit (credit/debit card, check) to hold a spot. Deposits are refunded at the conference.

Visit the POMA website for complete details on the conference (http://tinyurl.com/3v6c3pa), or contact POMA Executive Director Laurie Lee Dovey at lldovey@professionaloutdoormedia.org, 814-525-6989.

Peter Suciu - Gun Writer

USA --(Ammoland.com)- To say that Peter Suciu has a passion for history is an understatement.

He has been a collector of militaria, specializing in military headgear of the 19th and 20th century since his great uncle and decorated World War II veteran Louis Suciu bought Peter his first helmet back in 1981.

Now 30 years later, Peter has written countless articles on military helmets, firearms and military history, and is the co-author of two books about military helmets, Military Sun Helmets of the World and The Wolseley Helmet in Pictures: From Omdurman to El Alamein.

As a result of his passion for military history he has dragged his wife, and fellow writer, Enid Burns to countless military museums, castles, fortresses and other obscure historical sites around the world. In this time he’s seen some of the finest collections of firearms, including those in London, Paris, Rome, Venice, Cairo and Tokyo.

As a professional freelance writer and journalist with nearly 20 years experience, Peter’s work has appeared in nearly 100 media outlets including Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, Forbes, CNBC.com, CNN.com and MSNBC.com. He is a former Web editor and producer for FoxNews.com, where he helped manage the websites for The O’Reilly Factor and FoxNews Sunday. He has appeared on TV several dozen times appearing on CBS Morning News, Business Week TV, MSNBC, CNN, Headline News, German TV 1, TV Tokyo and the BBC World News.

On the subject of military history he has been a regular contributor to Armchair General magazine, Military Heritage, Military Trader and Military Vehicles for more than a decade.

Peter remains a crusader for Second Amendment rights, and is the executive editor of the Website FirearmsTruth.com, which was launched in early 2009 to expose, track and report on media bias against guns. The site has garnered the attention of the firearms community, and Peter has spoken on the subject of firearms laws, ownership and Second Amendment rights in several public forums.

Military Sun Helmets of the World

With the help of FirearmsTruth’s managing editor John Kullman, Peter co-authored the book America’s Road to Fascism: From the Progressives to the Era of Hope and Change, which was published in the fall of 2010. This book chronicles the rise of socialism and fascism in the United States over the past 125 years and looks at growing concerns that include the devaluation of the American dollar, the loss of freedoms and, of course, issues over the Second Amendment rights.

Peter Suciu is a member of the National Rifle Association, The Company of Military Historians and The Ohio Valley Military Society. He regularly attends large events including the annual SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show) and the National Gun Day show in Louisville. He has covered these events for the media, recently reporting on national firearms sales for CNBC.com.

As a collector Peter’s tastes for firearms are those of a historic nature, and he’s written extensively about the British Martini Henry Rifle , the gun that was the peacekeeper for the Empire for Which The Sun Never Set, and for Russian and Soviet era firearms from the Mosin Nagent to the AK-47 and everything in between. In the summer months Peter can be found at the range firing off 7.62x54mmR.

Peter also covers trends in fitness, and in 2010 helped launch KineticShift.com, a website devoted to the convergence of fitness and technology. He is also a contributor to BikeRadar.com, and puts in many miles on his road bike before heading to the range.

Peter Suciu Biography:

• America’s Road to Fascism: From the Progressives to the Era of Hope and Change (with John Kullman)
• Careers in the Video Game Industry (with Dave Gerardi)
• Military Sun Helmets of the World (with Stuart Bates)
• The Wolseley Helmet in Pictures: From Omdurman to El Alamein (with Stuart Bates)

Websites:

• FirearmsTruth – www.firearmstruth.com
• Military Sun Helmets – www.militarysunhelmets.com
• FascistAmerica – www.fascist-america.com
• KineticShift – www.kineticshift.com

Peter Suciu: As a professional freelance writer and journalist with nearly 20 years experience, Peter’s work has appeared in nearly 100 media outlets

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About AmmoLand’s Outdoor Writer Biography Series:
AmmoLand Shooting Sports News is doing all it can to support writers specializing in shooting sports, hunting and conservation. Our innovative publishing of active, working, writers biographies on our vast syndication network is one of our ways to give back and get writers noticed amongst all the chatter of blogs and social media. Today when everyone “thinks” they are a writer these folks “walk the talk” and are the cream of the crop!

If you are business and in need of support materials, a magazine in need freelance authors or a website or blog looking for fresh content then the writer above or the others found here may be just the hard working person you need to know. Contact one today and tell them Ammoland sent you.

Are you a writer with a background writing on the topics of Firearms, Hunting, Gun Rights or Conservation you can see your Biography here. Use our Contact Page, introduce yourself and ask for our Outdoor Writer Biography Series Writing Guide Lines to get you started.

Once, he got paid real, actual money to go duck hunting and that experience planted a seed that would eventually sprout into a loco weed that would prove harder to kill than Kudzu.

Hi, I am Roy Hill and I am a Writer...

USA- -(Ammoland.com)- Roy Hill learned to shoot at the age of eight when he got a Daisy BB gun for Christmas, only it wasn’t a Red Ryder, and certainly didn’t have a compass in the stock.

He never once shot it out with Black Bart or his gang of outlaws. Miraculously, he still has both his eyes, although he does need glasses now.

That Christmas BB gun eventually led him to compete in the 4-H BB-gun program, and while “B” does rhyme with both “T” and “P,” it led to neither trouble nor pool, and he never got anywhere near River City. Instead, the BB-gun competition led him to shoot a.22 Anschutz rifle for the Upper Arkansas River Valley 4-H Shooting Sports team, and he won a pair of state championships during high school. When he wasn’t shooting a lot, Roy both played high school football and marched in the high school band, and eventually ended up a tuba player for the University of Arkansas Marching Razorbacks. But he didn’t let that turn of events hold him back for long.

Because he still loved to shoot guns, he finagled a way to join the University of Arkansas Pershing Rifles air rifle team as a non-ROTC member. Despite the band and the rifle team, and a lot of other things he’d rather not talk about, he somehow managed to earn two degrees in English, first a BA cum laude, and then a Masters Degree in English and American Literature.

Roy Was Plagued By The Unseemly Habit Of Writing
All this time, Roy was plagued by the unseemly habit of writing, which he first picked up in grade school when he was asked to produce copy for what passed as the Waldron Elementary school newspaper. His equally suspect habit of reading stuff seemed only to feed his habit of writing stuff, and the confluence of the two is probably what led him down that dark road to perdition known as “majoring in English.”

After his time in the college marching band ended, Roy wanted another way to get into Razorback football games for free, so he decided to masquerade as a sports writer for the Arkansas Traveler, the student newspaper at the university. While his plan worked at first, he discovered, too late, that Dr. Hunter S. Thompson was most certainly correct when he observed that journalism is a “habit worse than heroin.” Before long, Roy found himself far gone into the gonzo world of hacking sports copy for whatever newspaper would pay him even the smallest pittance.

It got so bad that he found himself attending junior high football games where he wasn’t related to any of the players, and then, worst of all, loitering around the sports desk at odd hours on nights and weekends.

Eventually, the cruel world of dank press boxes littered with old paper cups smelling of spat-out sunflower seeds sucked him in entirely, and he fell in as a full-time sports writer with the Benton County Daily Record in Bentonville, Arkansas. Oh, there were still the bright and happy times now and then. But mostly it was a never-ending grind of high school football and basketball, beef jerky and box scores, deadlines and the dreaded inverted-pyramid lead. On his really dark days, it was 140-mile round trips to write ten column inches about junior high girls’ volleyball, or chilly afternoons at early season baseball games that seemed to last for eons.

On other days it got really weird, freaky stuff, like a feature on a local dentist who doubled as a semi-pro water skier, or the ex-pro wrestler turned high school strength coach.

There was the humiliating day when he masterfully interviewed an NBA power forward at a basketball camp, only to discover when he returned to the newsroom that his tape recorder’s pause button had been on the whole time.

One Day He Went To Far
But one day, he pushed it too far. One day, he actually somehow conned his editor into paying him to go duck hunting in Kansas, with the excuse that he’d write a nice 16-column-inch piece about it, and take lots of pictures. And he pulled it off. He got paid real, actual money–got paid–to go duck hunting. Sure, he wrote the piece, and brought back the pictures to go with it. But that experience planted a seed that would eventually sprout into a loco weed that would prove harder to kill than Kudzu.

Before that weed could emerge, Roy would first have to spend two winters in Wyoming, where he figured to make more money teaching college students how to write than he made writing for the paper. So he moved far to the north and west. But not even hightailing it to Wyoming fixed his writing habit. There he wrote sports stories about strange new things like indoor rodeo and high school wrestling. But always, the time he got paid to go duck hunting haunted him out of the depths of his memory.

As he taught writing and wrote, he managed to accumulate many guns, and much ammo. A pair of Wyoming blizzard seasons convinced him to move back south, and he landed another English teaching job at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. But he just couldn’t kick his writing habit. He once again covered high school football games on the sly, and tried to excuse it as “staying current,” to help him better advise his new college’s student newspaper. When the football game stories proved to be not enough, he branched out into feature stories for the local daily, and even worked his way up to several book reviews for the statewide Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

Possum Pistol Academy

In a desperate attempt to reduce his reliance on writing (which was now funding his rapidly-growing ammo habit) Roy dove deeper into his teaching and his guns. He started his own firearms training business, www.possumpistol.com, and convinced his boss at the college to let him start and coach a club air rifle team, a lot like the one Roy had competed on during his college days.

For a while, it all seemed to work. But then Roy got offers to write for a new internet publication www.thecitywire.com. That led to another part-time gig with the Ozarks Farm and Neighbor, where Roy found himself writing feature stories about cattle ranching and farming.

And the recollection of getting paid to hunt ducks and write about it all those years ago rose out of his foggy, ink-soaked mind, like a springing teal on the first day of the season.

That memory and his new writing gigs pushed Roy closer and closer to the edge, like a well-tuned 1911 trigger about to trip its sear. He decided to get paid to do more stuff he liked by using the same old excuse that he’d write about it. He drank homemade beer, and wrote about it. He hung out with people who did cool things and wrote about them. He even spent a week at Orange Beach, Alabama, during an oil spill and wrote about that.

His fevered imagination pushed him to find more and more ways to combine things he liked with his low, base habit of journalism, and inevitably, it pointed him back to the guns. Ever since he had hit that first BB-gun bullseye on that fateful Christmas morning all those years ago, it had always been about the guns. So he shot guns and wrote about it. He watched other people shoot guns, and wrote about that. He sought out more publications  where he could write more about shooting more guns. He even made strange videos of himself as he shot the guns that he wrote about.

Worst of all, he discovered Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA), an organization that promised to help him write more about shooting more guns and that might even, some day, allow him to once again get paid to go duck hunting.  Of course with the same tired old excuse that he would write something about it afterwards.

Professional Outdoor Media Association

Roy has come to grips with his situation. He realizes who and what he is, and is willing to come to final acceptance and make peace with himself. He just hopes other people out there will recognize his peculiar circumstance, and provide him chances to fish, hunt and shoot guns, or even watch other people fish, hunt and shoot guns, and then write about it–that is, so long as he gets paid.

Remember, he’s not only addicted to writing, he’s got an expensive ammo habit to fund. And he remembers well the words of another good doctor, Dr. Samuel Johnson, who said “No man but a blockhead writes, except for money.” Roy’s got to find something useful to do with those English degrees, you know?

Editor Note: Roy Hill needs help, mostly professional, but if you’d like to become one of Roy’s writing enablers, email him at rhill@mynewroads.com.

~~~~

About AmmoLand’s Outdoor Writer Biography Series:
AmmoLand Shooting Sports News is doing all it can to support writers specializing in shooting sports, hunting and conservation. Our innovative publishing of active, working, writers biographies on our vast syndication network is one of our ways to give back and get writers noticed amongst all the chatter of blogs and social media. Today when everyone “thinks” they are a writer these folks “walk the talk” and are the cream of the crop!

If you are business and in need of support materials, a magazine in need freelance authors or a website or blog looking for fresh content then the writer above or the others found here may be just the hard working person you need to know. Contact one today and tell them Ammoland sent you.

Are you a writer with a background writing on the topics of Firearms, Hunting, Gun Rights or Conservation you can see your Biography here. Use our Contact Page, introduce yourself and ask for our Outdoor Writer Biography Series Writing Guide Lines to get you started.

Laurie Lee Dovey - This veteran journalists loves her job and life and isn't afraid to laugh at her self.

Johnstown, Pa. --(Ammoland.com)- Muck sucked at her legs, rear-end and waist. The brown goo was within an inch of topping her chest waders.

Arms splayed and one hand cemented by the muck to the handle of an equally entrenched 20- pound case full of camera gear, Laurie Lee Dovey was helpless, stuck.

The outdoor paparazzi enjoyed Dovey’s angst. Cameras clicking, flashes firing. Surely she was thinking, “Where might these images be shown, or worse, published?”

Yes, Dovey calls those photographers her friends. They’re fellow outdoor communicators. They relish catching each other in strange situations as they travel the swamps, mountains, forests and plains capturing the joys of the traditional outdoor sports – fishing, hunting, shooting and trapping – in words and images.

Dovey admits she doesn’t remember the stories she crafted that day. But says she cherishes the memory and her misfortune.

The life of an outdoor communicator is certainly fun, but when others in camp are napping mid-day or enjoying a campfire in the evening, those telling the story are working. In the instance described here, Dovey and two other questionably sane outdoor journalists negotiated a snake and mosquito infested Southern swamp to shoot white-tailed deer hunting photography, while the rest of the gang in camp enjoyed lunch, a power nap and an afternoon in the woods.

“I also cherish the memories of food poisoning, the result of a roadside hot dog stand; snake bite on the behind courtesy of a ‘Bama cottonmouth; falling head first while rushing to a downed turkey – caught on video and broadcast to the world; and so much more,” Dovey admits.

“This is real life in the outdoors. These are the stories I tell.”

This is yet another wild-and-wooly Dovey adventure, this time in Mexico. Ask her to tell you the story some time.

Dovey has worked as a freelance writer and photographer for a quarter century. The pages of magazines have been homes to more than 1,600 articles she’s gathered afield while hunting, fishing and shooting with consummate sportsmen and women, who allow her to share their expertise with others.

She has also served the outdoor industry as a magazine editor, newspaper columnist, television/video show host, scriptwriter, consultant and mentor.

“I’ve been blessed to write and photograph for scores of magazines and meet the most engaging, crazy and knowledgeable hunters, anglers, shooters and trappers along the way,” Dovey adds. “You see, I am by no means the outdoor expert. I’m simply the person who tells the story.”

Dovey continues to write for numerous magazines including her 10-year-plus stint as the corporate profiles columnist for the NRA’s America’s 1st Freedom magazine. But, times they are a changin’ and so she.

Today, Dovey’s world involves:

• Providing editorial content for websites like Suite101.com .
• Developing editorial and marketing content for outdoor companies/organizations like Brownell’s, National Shooting Sports
• Foundation, Remington Outdoor Foundation .
• Shooting video snippets.
• Serving as the executive director of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) .
• Mentoring up-and-coming outdoor communicators like Lisa Metheny, Kevin Reese, Darren Warner and Mitch Strobl .
• Providing keynote addresses, usually focused on her bizarre adventures.
• Teaching communications.
• Consulting with companies regarding media relations.
• Developing webinars and much more.

Professional Outdoor Media Association

Laurie Lee Dovey, in the 21st century, is a multi-media content provider, media specialist and “Jill of All Trades”. So, if you’re looking for a writer, photographer, editor, content creator, speaker or teacher, give Laurie Lee a shout, mailto: lld@lldovey.com.

She’ll get the job done.

~~~~

About AmmoLand’s Outdoor Writer Biography Series:
AmmoLand Shooting Sports News is doing all it can to support writers specializing in shooting sports, hunting and conservation. Our innovative publishing of active, working, writers biographies on our vast syndication network is one of our ways to give back and get writers noticed amongst all the chatter of blogs and social media. Today when everyone “thinks” they are a writer these folks “walk the talk” and are the cream of the crop!

If you are business and in need of support materials, a magazine in need freelance authors or a website or blog looking for fresh content then the writer above or the others found here may be just the hard working person you need to know. Contact one today and tell them Ammoland sent you.

Are you a writer with a background writing on the topics of Firearms, Hunting, Gun Rights or Conservation you can see your Biography here. Use our Contact Page, introduce yourself and ask for our Outdoor Writer Biography Series Writing Guide Lines to get you started.

Steve Felgenhauer

St. Louis, Missouri --(Ammoland.com)- Steve Felgenhauer is an up and coming freelance writer that focuses on writing about all things firearms – from product reviews to hunting and everything in between.

He has been in the firearms industry, wearing many different hats, for more than 20 years.

Felgenhauer was born in farm country in central eastern Ohio. By age three, he was following along behind his father, who was an avid hunter, angler and trapper. By the time he started elementary school, his outdoors education expanded to tagging along squirrel hunting and learning woodsmanship (which in modern times seems to be a lost art) long before firearms played much of a role in his life.

At the tender age of 10 firearms were introduced in the form of a hand- me-down BB gun. Felgenhauer never looked back. Firearms consumed him, while other kids were reading comics and playing baseball, he immersed himself in rifle ballistics and the outdoor writing greats like Jack O’Connor, Bob Milek and Peter Hathaway Capstick to name just a few. It didn’t take long before he was shooting .22s, centerfire rifles were the natural progression. By age 12, he was reloading his own shells mostly out of necessity to keep the local groundhog population thinned out.

Felgenhauer enjoyed shooting …period. If shooting was involved Felgenhauer was into it.

Upon graduating high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as an infantryman and was immersed in even, more firearms – in the form of M16s, M249 Squad Automatic Weapons, M240 Machine-guns and even the M2 .50 caliber machine guns. This did nothing, but fuel his love for firearms.

With no plans to reenlist and his future at a crossroads – and in need of a career where he could follow his passion – he noticed an ad for a gunsmithing school. Upon discharge he enrolled in the program at Piedmont Community College utilizing the GI Bill.

Gunsmithing school opened his eyes to machine shop practices, firearm refinishing and gun repair, not to mention new shooting disciplines. This overall, well-rounded, dose of gunsmithing included custom rifle work which became his new self-proclaimed weakness.

Felgenhauer soon began using his newly acquired gun smith skills to offset the expenses the GI Bill didn’t cover. Some 20 years later, he’s still gunsmithing as a profession.

With encouragement from a teacher at a local college, he began writing and soon found a group of like-minded writers. The passion of his first loves – firearms, hunting and the great outdoors – combined with writing where they fused together to set Felgenhauer down his current career path.

Steve enjoyed shooting …period. If shooting was involved Felgenhauer was into it.

Felgenhauer’s first article was published in a trade publication and soon afterward he secured a weekly writing gig in a small rural newspaper in Missouri. Felgenhauer worked under a tough, but fair editor who demanded the truth and non-biased writing. In return, Felgenhauer received $15 per week. The grind of consistently putting out copy, meeting deadlines and the dreaded rewriting of loose copy gave him an education in writing that could not be purchased at any price . It was soon after this that Felgenhauer made the jump to magazines articles.

Since then he has written hundreds of articles to include those featured in Gun Digest, AR Guns & Hunting,  Bass Pro Shops OutdoorSite Library and an array of regional articles.

Felgenhauer writes about his passion, but has to intentionally watch his writing to keep his technical tangents in check. Much of Felgenhauer’s writing is firearm related though he does manage several fishing articles each year.

Recently Felgenhauer updated and created new curriculum for a well known gunsmithing school to include a chapter on AR rifles. In support of this new curriculum he created, filmed and edited videos on the subject of gunsmithing AR15′s for the program.

Felgenhauer remains true to his upbringing by not selling out and refuses to write untruths or give products a good review if their performance is less than stellar.

His recommendation to get a good product review“…make a good product and be there for the customers… not because of them.“

Felgenhauer lives in St. Louis, Missouri with his wife and two children. To have Steve write for you contact him by email at: sfoutdoors@live.com

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About AmmoLand’s Outdoor Writer Biography Series:
AmmoLand Shooting Sports News is doing all it can to support writers specializing in shooting sports, hunting and conservation. Our innovative publishing of active, working, writers biographies on our vast syndication network is one of our ways to give back and get writers noticed amongst all the chatter of blogs and social media. Today when everyone “thinks” they are a writer these folks “walk the talk” and are the cream of the crop!

If you are business and in need of support materials, a magazine in need freelance authors or a website or blog looking for fresh content then the writer above or the others found here may be just the hard working person you need to know. Contact one today and tell them Ammoland sent you.

Are you a writer with a background writing on the topics of Firearms, Hunting, Gun Rights or Conservation you can see your Biography here. Use our Contact Page, introduce yourself and ask for our Outdoor Writer Biography Series Writing Guide Lines to get you started.

Chad Waligura

El Campo, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- Chad Alan Waligura was born March 19, 1969, in Bryan, Tx.

The son of Judy Dore’ Waligura of Crowley, Louisiana, and Randy Waligura of Garwood, Texas, Waligura had a happy childhood growing up on the Texas gulf coast.

At an early age, he was introduced to hunting & fishing by his father and grandfather, Ben Waligura. Chad fell in love with the outdoors at age 12 when his dad took him duck hunting for the first time. From that day on, he knew it had be part of his life forever.

On July 7, 1986, at age 17, Chad Waligura suffered a paralyzing injury after diving into a swimming pool and fracturing his cervical vertebrae at the C-7 level. Hunting was the one thing Waligura knew he couldn’t give up. After three months of rehab at TIRR (The Institute for Rehabilitation & Research) in Houston, Chad was back in the woods with dad, learning how to hunt again. Not long after, TIRR began calling Waligura back to visit with patients who had questions about hunting and fishing since he was the only former patient they knew who was into that “sort of thing”. Soon, Chad was presenting his adaptive equipment to groups of staff and patients as a member of the TIRR Peers mentor program.

Waligura graduated from El Campo High School in 1988. In 1993, he graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife & Fisheries Science, and in 2002, he earned a Master of Education (M.Ed.) from the University of Houston, Victoria, in Guidance & Counseling.

In 1996, Waligura founded a website called Follow Me Outdoors as an information source about disabled hunting & fishing. It was around this time that Chad became interested in writing. Anytime he had a successful hunt, or found someone else in the disabled hunting world who did, Waligura would write about it for his website. He naturally began freelancing for mainstream hunting magazines. To date, Chad Waligura has been published in Buckmasters’ Rack Magazine, King’s Hunting Illustrated, Eastman’s Hunting Journal, Horizontal Bowhunter Magazine, UFFDA Magazine, Turkey & Turkey Hunting, and the African Hunting Gazette. Waligura was the cover story for Sports-N-Spokes magazine published by the Paralyzed Veterans of America in March, 2010.

At age 17, Chad Waligura suffered a paralyzing injury after diving into a swimming pool and fracturing his cervical vertebrae. Hunting was the one thing Waligura knew he couldn’t give up..

During that same time period, Waligura began organizing group hunts for challenged hunters in Texas as well as finding suitable hunts for disabled hunters across the country. It was for this work that Chad Waligura was named Buckmasters’ 2003 Challenged Hunter of the Year and chosen by Safari Club International as their Pathfinder Award winner in 2010.

In 2011, Waligura launched and became editor of an online magazine called Disabled Hunter Magazine. It’s the first of its kind that’s by, for, and all about challenged sportsmen. The pulse of DHM will be bringing to the reader the most inspiring stories of people who have overcome long odds in order to get back into the outdoors. There will be product reviews of the equipment (adaptive & commercial) that we find most beneficial to that journey, and DHM will cover all areas of interest, from disabled hunting to outdoor recreation to travel.

“As my involvement in the disabled hunting world grew, I started coming across so many stories of heartbreak and inspiration that I knew I had create a place where they could be told. Disabled Hunter Magazine is that place. It’s the only magazine for challenged outdoorsmen anywhere. And we’re not just going to tell amazing stories either. We’re going to show people that they can get out there on their own. I believe that will capture the interest of all readers.” – Chad W.

Waligura plans to keep freelance writing for outdoor magazines whenever he can. His primary goals are to be the most accomplish disabled hunter in the world and to reach as many hunters in need as he can through his stories.

About AmmoLand’s Outdoor Writer Biography Series:
AmmoLand Shooting Sports News is doing all it can to support writers specializing in shooting sports, hunting and conservation. Our innovative publishing of active, working, writers biographies on our vast syndication network is one of our ways to give back and get writers noticed amongst all the chatter of blogs and social media. Today when everyone “thinks” they are a writer these folks “walk the talk” and are the cream of the crop!

If you are business and in need of support materials, a magazine in need freelance authors or a website or blog looking for fresh content then the writer above or the others found here may be just the hard working person you need to know. Contact one today and tell them Ammoland sent you.

Are you a writer with a background writing on the topics of Firearms, Hunting, Gun Rights or Conservation you can see your Biography here. Use our Contact Page, introduce yourself and ask for our Outdoor Writer Biography Series Writing Guide Lines to get you started.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Outdoor Life’s Andrew Mckean Receives Ian Mcmurchy Award

Nikon Hunting

Melville, NY --(Ammoland.com)- Andrew McKean, Hunting Editor for Outdoor Life magazine, has been honored with the 2010 Ian McMurchy Award.

This award is given annually to one outdoor communicator who best follows in McMurchy’s footsteps of educating readers and helping them discover more enjoyment and success in their sport during the past year.

“The Ian McMurchy award is very, very special to all of us in the Nikon family and as such we take great care in picking the recipient each year,” said Jon LaCorte, senior product marketing manager Nikon Sport Optics. “We believe Ian would be proud that Andrew McKean of Outdoor Life has been selected for this year’s award.”

Ian McMurchy was a huge force in educating and entertaining shooters and hunters around the world while teaching them how to enjoy their passion even more. Andrew McKean carries that tradition forward through his print and online work. Nikon is thrilled to present him with this year’s Ian McMurchy award.

“I’m flattered to have my name associated with that of Ian McMurchy. Ian was a hero to me: a talented writer, a remarkable rifleman, a working biologist and a lifelong educator, teaching people about wild places and the animals that live there,” said McKean. “I’m happy that Nikon is keeping Ian’s memory alive with this award, and I’m proud to join what I expect will be a long roster of worthy recipients.”

Unfortunately for his family, friends and countless readers, Ian passed away in December of 2008. Known as much for his shooting skill as his hunting ability, he loved every minute spent in the outdoors. Having introduced hundreds of people to shooting more accurately and hunting more successfully, Ian will be long remembered.

Nikon Inc. is the U.S. distributor of Nikon sports and recreational optics, world-renowned Nikon 35mm cameras, digital cameras, speedlights and accessories, Nikkor lenses and electronic imaging products.

For more information on Nikon’s full line of Riflescopes, Binoculars, Spotting Scopes, Fieldscopes and Laser Rangefinders, please contact: Nikon Sport Optics, 1300 Walt Whitman Rd., Melville, NY 11747-3064, or call 1-800-645-6687. www.nikonhunting.com.

Author of the new book 'Well Seasoned In The Adirondacks' Dan Ladd

ADKHunter.com

FORT ANN, NY --(Ammoland.com)- Author and outdoor journalist Dan Ladd of West Fort Ann in the southeastern Adirondacks has recently released a new book entitled, Well Seasoned in the Adirondacks – People, Places and Pastimes of Northern New York.

The book is a collection of articles and essays that have appeared in The Chronicle, a weekly newspaper in Glens Falls, New York for which the author pens a weekly outdoor column.

There is also one article that appeared in Outdoors Magazine. The book is dotted with a collection of Ladd?s photos which are also featured on the book?s cover.

“Many of my friends in the writing industry, especially those at The Chronicle have suggested I do a book like this,” said Ladd. “In fact, I would encourage any outdoor writer who is regularly published, or has been, to share their experiences and adventures with their readers.”

Well Seasoned In The Adirondacks

Well Seasoned in the Adirondacks is organized by the seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. Each section features material pertaining to that season. For Winter there is a story on vintage snowmobile restoration as well as others on ice fishing, small game hunting, skiing and snowshoeing. The Spring and Summer chapters feature everything from fishing, camping and hiking to paddling, including one story about a historic Adirondack canoe trip.

The Autumn section is dedicated primarily to hunting and features several of the author’s relatives who had an influence on his hunting interest.

Among the hunting stories is a two-part feature Ladd wrote for The Chronicle in 2007 about a friend of his who was shot while hunting.

“This was one of the hardest and most important articles I ever wrote,” said the author. “To sit across the table from this man who I have known for many years and hear him talk about being near death and dealing with the hardships of recovery really hit home. Fortunately it doesn?t have a tragic ending. Still, I feel it is a story that ever hunter should read or hear before they load their gun.”

Well Seasoned in the Adirondacks comes on the heals of a second edition printing of the author?s first effort, Deer Hunting in the Adirondacks, which was first released in 2008 and updated in August of 2010. Both books are available through the author?s Web site, www.ADKHunter.com, where a mail order form can be downloaded.

Well Seasoned in the Adirondacks has a retail price of $17 and will soon be available at many local and retail outlets throughout the Adirondack region and beyond.

About:
Author Dan Ladd is a freelance outdoor journalist from West Fort Ann, N.Y. who currently pens regular columns for The Chronicle in Glens Falls, The Press-Republican in Plattsburgh, Outdoors Magazine and FishNY.com. He has contributed in the past to other publications including New York Outdoor News. Dan is also the web author of the popular deer hunting site, www.ADKHunter.com. A multi-generation Adirondacker, Dan is a graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh and is the Northern Region Vice President of the New York State Outdoor Writers Association (NYSOWA).

2010 Pinnacle Awards From left to right: Tim Anderson, Steve Pennaz, Dennis Dunn, Kendal Hemphill, Bill Konway, John Jefferson. Not pictured is Mike Marsh.

Professional Outdoor Media Association

JOHNSTOWN, PA – -(Ammoland.com)- The Professional Outdoor Media Association’s (POMA) 2010 Pinnacle Award honorees were announced by Tim Anderson, Director of Public Relations and Pro Staff for Mossy Oak. Anderson presented the awards at POMA’s 5th Annual Business Conference in LaPorte, Ind., Aug. 13, 2010. Mossy Oak is the presenting partner of the Pinnacle Awards Program.

The awards honor journalists for exceptional achievement in traditional outdoor sports-focused communications, including writing, photography/illustration/art, broadcasting and content focused on wildlife conservation.

“The Outdoor Media has always held a special place in the hearts of Toxey Haas, Mr. Fox Haas, Cuz (Ronnie) Strickland, Bill Sugg and all of the folks who were involved in the beginning of Mossy Oak,” Anderson said during the awards presentation. “Your craft was critical to the early success of the brand and it continues today, 25 years later.”

The 2010 POMA Pinnacle Award Honorees

• Book: Dennis Dunn – “Barebow! An Archer’s Fair-Chase Taking of North America’s Big Game”
• Broadcast: Steve Pennaz – “Prehistoric Giant Florida Sawfish” – North American Fisherman
• Conservation: Mike Marsh – “Bearing Responsibility” – Wildlife in North Carolina
• Magazine Article: John Jefferson – “Firing Line” – Outdoor Life
• Newspaper/Web Article: Kendal Hemphill – “Trivial Intelligence” – Mason County News
• Photography/Art/Illustration: Bill Konway – “Whack!! Broken Jaw” – Field and Stream Online and “Traditional Hunter” – straightcreekoutfitters.com

“The words, stories, tips, insights, images and opinions that the outdoor media pass along to outdoor consumers, regardless of the format, plays a vital part in the success of all outdoor companies,” Anderson added. “That is why Mossy Oak is proud to have the opportunity to recognize these outstanding outdoor communicators.

“The word Pinnacle congers up visions of being at the top of your game … at the top of the mountain … or on top of the world … it’s fitting that we recognize the POMA media members who are truly the best of the best, and at the top of their profession, with the POMA Pinnacle Award.”

Mossy Oak’s partnership with POMA and appreciation of the traditional outdoor sports media are exemplars, according to POMA Chairman Bill Miller. Mossy Oak joined forces with POMA to promote excellence in communications at all levels and encourage members of the media to set the bar high – knowing the importance to the industry of a professional and committed media corps.

“Mossy Oak more than understands POMA’s motto, ‘Together, we can do great things,’” Miller said. “The company lives the motto. Through its support of POMA’s Pinnacle Awards, Mossy Oak encourages communicators to strive to be the best they can be, which positively affects our industry and our sports. So, together we are doing great things.”

POMA media members are encouraged to enter works into the annual Pinnacle Awards competition. The deadline for entries is mid-February. Complete details and entry forms are available on the POMA website, www.professionaloutdoormedia.org

POMA Mission
The Professional Outdoor Media Association is a group of individual communicators and Corporate Partners who believe in, defend, support and promote the heritage of hunting, fishing, shooting and traditional outdoor sports through writing, photography and other means. By doing so, members hope to educate the general public about these sports and encourage more participation in them. The organization serves the membership by helping members grow professionally, improve their skills, better their working environments and enhance their businesses. www.professionaloutdoormedia.org

About Mossy Oak
Haas Outdoors Inc. is headquartered in West Point, Miss., was established in 1986 and is home of Mossy Oak. Mossy Oak specializes in developing and marketing modern camouflage designs for hunters and outdoorsmen. Mossy Oak patterns can be found on a multitude of products worldwide. Haas Outdoors Inc. is the outdoor industry leader in modern camouflage design, international licensing and marketing. Haas Outdoors Inc. markets its services and products under widely recognized brands including: Mossy Oak, BioLogic, Mossy Oak Productions, MOOSE Media, Nativ Nurseries, and Mossy Oak Properties. www.mossyaok.com

This image was shot for a hunting outfitter and for my friend Brandon Butler, who is a traditional archery aficionado. Shot during mid day with a high sun, we used several small, off-camera flashes and a reflector to light it. A wide angle lens gives it the up-close feel. - Bill Konway

Professional Outdoor Media Association

POMA - -(Ammoland.com)- The Professional Outdoor Media Association has awarded Bill Konway with the 2010 Pinnacle Award for two of his photographic images.

The prestigious award was presented on August 13, 2010 during the POMA annual conference in LaPorte, Indiana.

The Pinnacle Award honors journalists annually for exceptional journalistic achievement in traditional outdoor sports-focused magazine writing, newspaper/Web writing, photography/illustration, broadcasting and conservation journalism.

“I feel very honored and humbled to be given such a prestigous award by my peers at POMA,” Konway said.

“Being a member of POMA and knowing the depth of talent that exists in the organization makes this Pinnacle Award mean even more on both a personal and professional level.”

Bill Konway

Konway worked for more than 20 years as a photojournalist at a daily Chicago newspaper until leaving a little more than three years ago to pursue a full-time career in the outdoor industry as a photographer.

His primary work in the outdoor industry includes clients like Realtree, BowTech Archery, Rivers West, Prois and Dogtra.

He also does portrait work for several singers in the music industry such as Mark Wills, Daniel Doss, Johnny Cooper, No Justice and Tyler Farr, as well as hunting personalities like Chris Brackett, Pat Reeves, Nicole Jones and Jon and Gina Brunson.

About:
Professional Outdoor Media Association – Mission: The Professional Outdoor Media Association is a group of individual communicators and Corporate Partners who believe in, defend, support and promote the heritage of hunting, fishing, shooting, trapping and traditional outdoor sports through writing, photography and other means. By doing so, members hope to educate the general public about these sports and encourage more participation in them. The organization serves the membership by helping members grow professionally, improve their skills, better their working environments and enhance their businesses. Visit: www.professionaloutdoormedia.org

Deer Hunting In The Adirondacks

ADKHunter.com

FORT ANN, NY --(Ammoland.com)- Author and outdoor journalist Dan Ladd of West Fort Ann in the southeastern Adirondacks has released an updated version of his book, Deer Hunting in the Adirondacks – A Guide to Deer Hunting in New York?s 6-Million-Acre Adirondack Park.

Ladd first released the self-published guidebook in early 2008 and for the book?s second printing decided that some updates were in order.

“The biggest thing was a few additions to the Adirondack Forest Preserve and the inventory of state lands is the meat and potatoes of this book,” says Ladd. “I knew going into this project that I would have to update it in future printings, but I didn?t think it would happen so soon.”

Key additions include tracts of land along the Moose River near Old Forge and the Chazy Highlands Wild Forest in the extreme northern section of the Adirondack Park. Additional material has been added on the subjects of getting deer out of the backcountry, cooking venison and also some information geared towards beginning hunters.

Additional photos are also included and the book has expanded from 168 pages to 192.

The new edition of Deer Hunting in the Adirondacks has a retail price of $20 and will soon be available at many local and retail outlets throughout the Adirondack region and beyond. More information is available at Ladd?s Web site, www.ADKHunter.com, where a mail order form can be downloaded. The book will also be distributed by North Country Books.

Dan Ladd with an Adirondack Buck

About the Author
Dan Ladd is a freelance outdoor journalist from West Fort Ann, N.Y. who currently pens regular columns for The Chronicle in Glens Falls, The Press-Republican in Plattsburgh, Outdoors Magazine and FishNY.com. He has contributed in the past to other publications including New York Outdoor News.

Dan is also the web author of the popular deer hunting site, www.ADKHunter.com. A multi-generation Adirondacker, Dan is a graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh and is on the Board of Directors of the New York State Outdoor Writers Association.

Dan is currently putting together his second book which will be a collection of his newspaper columns that is expected to be released in November of 2010

Gun Talk Radio

MANDEVILLE, LA - -(AmmoLand.com)- Michael McIntosh died last weekend.

Michael wrote for Shooting Sportsman, Sporting Classics, Double Gun Journal, and other magazines.

He wrote more than two dozen books. A beautiful writer, Michael loved double guns and wingshooting with the same passion he showed for life with. He was 66. I first met Michael almost 40 years ago in Missouri.

I was still a student at Mizzou, and he was barely older. We fished for trout. Through the years Michael became a giant in the world of wingshooting and especially the minutia of double guns.

His books are simply wonderful. Just this past week I’ve been reading (for the fourth or fifth time) Shotguns and Shooting, a delightful, simple, and easy to read treatment. McIntosh’s writing was influenced by that of John Madson, who may be the finest writer of outdoor tales we’ve ever had. John didn’t do it with flourishes or tangled syntax, but with the simple, declarative sentence. It was in reading Madson’s work that I learned the strength of verbs and the weakness of adjectives.

Michael Michael wrote for Shooting Sportsman, Sporting Classics, Double Gun Journal, and other magazines.

Michael excelled at spare verbiage. Just a few words. Always the right ones. Both Madson and McIntosh were gentlemen. Michael was…complex…and flawed. Why is it that great writers so often are? He was an incomparable companion on a trout stream, hunting lodge, or the line on a driven shoot. He was a master teacher.

Only a few words for the student — the right words.

If you enjoy shooting, or guns, or fine writing, may I suggest that you get a copy of one of Michael’s books. After learning of his death, I opened Shotguns and Shooting, and spent some time with my friend. Fortunately, you can too.

Just pull one of his books from the shelf, and there he is. What a wonderful gift.

About:
Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk Radio is in its 15th year of national syndication, Gun Talk Radio airs live on Sundays from 2PM-5PM Eastern, and runs on 96 stations, plus SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio. All Gun Talk shows can be downloaded as podcasts through Apple iTunes or at www.guntalk.libsyn.com. More information is available at www.guntalk.com.

ShootLikeAGirl.com

ELKMONT, AL --(Ammoland.com)- To all the Shoot Like A Girl supporters. This has been a great year for us, and we are nearing the 1000 mark in the number of women we have introduced to archery, with close to 40% of those ladies having never shot a bow before!

We are just hitting hunting show season, and we traditionally will be able to reach even more women before the year ends!

I was a featured writer in the Jul/Aug issue of Hunting Fitness Magazine, with an article on getting ready for hunting!

Visit www.huntingfitnessmag.com to preview this new and innovative online hunting magazine!

For more information, please feel free to contact me, and please visit our web site www.shootlikeagirl.com, and please support our corporate sponsors who enable us to empower women to participate in shooting sports with confidence!

Sincerely,

Karen

Shoot Like A Girl (SLG², Inc) is a company dedicated to empowering women to participate in shooting sports with confidence. We do that in two ways – through service and sales. With the help of our corporate sponsors, Hunter Safety System, SHE Outdoor Apparel, Limbsaver, Mathews Inc, Elite Archery, Game Plan Gear, Easton, and ASA; plus our twelve bow manufacturers partners; we travel around the country to provide women a once in a lifetime opportunity to try multiple bows in draw weights and lengths that fit them. We also provide an educational service on their web site, www.shootlikeagirl.com, with information about shooting sports, and a women friendly forum. Our sales (also a service) is that we offer products that enhance women’s abilities to participate in shooting sports, with a huge focus on one stop shopping for hunting clothing specifically designed to fit women. The clothes are offered at competitive pricing, and allow women to side by side compare products. All of these services and shopping opportunities help us reach our goal of empowering women to participate in shooting sports with confidence!

AmmoLand Gun News

Victoria, MN --(Ammoland.com)- In The Guide Shoots First, author William D. Baker recounts his experiences hunting upland birds and waterfowl across the Midwest.

With a unique voice ranging from humorous to contemplative, Baker takes us on a journey that not only provides an absorbing narrative of his hunting experiences – his lively interpretations of the human condition demonstrate there is grace and grunge in every one of us.

The Guide Shoots First - A New Memoir by William D. Baker

The Guide Shoots First invites the reader along on Baker’s travels across a broad swath of memories from running an unofficial hunting camp in a 19th century hotel, to avoiding polar bears along the shores of Hudson Bay.

Each chapter in this engaging memoir is filled with stories of the interesting characters with whom Baker shared his exploits, as well as vivid descriptions of the environment in which each tale occurred.

Those already in love with the sport of bird hunting will be greatly entertained by Baker’s reminiscences, Any reader will be enthralled by the author’s unique portrayal of the powerful pull of nature – one that draws all outdoorsmen and women to the land time and time again.

“For over sixty years I’ve been a bird hunter, upland and migratory. I’ve chased geese from Hudson Bay to Chihuahua, and ducks from the potholes of Saskatchewan to the shallow, saline marshes of Culiacan, Mexico.

Annual expeditions to the Dakotas after pheasants and periodic ramblings in west Texas after the elusive quail have been a constant in my life. While I’ve ranged north to south for thirty-five hundred miles, my east-west wanderings have been restricted to the five hundred miles between the 95th to 105th meridians west-a true Midwesterner.” – Excerpt from The Guide Shoots First.

The Guide Shoots First is an absorbing memoir of a retired insurance executive’s experiences hunting waterfowl and upland birds amidst the beauty of the North American prairie. More than a beautifully descriptive narrative, The Guide Shoots First captures the essence of the connection between humans and nature. A collective of engaging true stories spiced up with a dash of philosophy,

Get your copy online at: www.theguideshootsfirst.com

About the Author
Bill Baker is a retired insurance broker living in Argyle, Texas and Victoria, Minnesota. He started hunting as a boy growing up in South Dakota and after high school served in the U.S. Air Force. Baker graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1952. The Guide Shoots First is his second book.

Olympic biathletes Lanny and Tracy Barnes recently joined the Women’s Outdoor Media Association. Through their blog at their website, www.twinbiathletes.com, the sisters take us on their journey as they train for their next Olympics in Russia 2014. The women will contribute their tips on training, their road trip stories and adventures, along with insights along the way to our readers. We welcome them and look forward to reading about their lifestyles. ~ Editors WOMA

Twin Olympic Biathletes Lanny And Tracy Barnes

Women

Conyers, Ga --(Ammoland.com)- My sister, Lanny Barnes, and I began shooting and hunting at a very young age.

We started out with little bows and suction-cup arrows and then graduated to a small compound bow. We would set up cans and bottles and practice for hours. Later we started shooting a pellet gun and our dad would give us a quarter for every time we hit a bull’s-eye.

When Dad started running out of quarters, he signed us up at the local shooting club where we learned .22-position shooting and competed in New Mexico and Colorado State prone competitions. At one of the competitions, we met a guy by the name of Tim Conrad who was working with the biathlon team with their shooting. He saw us juggling a soccer ball and running around between bouts of shooting and suggested we might try the sport of biathlon, seeing as though we were a bit too hyperactive for prone shooting.

Biathlon sounded like our kind sport – with a combination of fasted paced, head-to head shooting and aggressive, heart-pounding skiing. The only thing we needed to learn was how to cross country ski. We grew up downhill skiing, but the only thing we knew of going uphill on skis was to get on the chair lift and ride it to the top. So we signed up for Nordic skiing and after a year, we were hooked. As far as we know, we are literately the only biathletes who came into the sport with a shooting background and then learned how to ski. Most biathletes are skiers first who learn to shoot.

Now, 11 years later we have competed in two Olympics and hold countless national titles. This past winter, Lanny had the best Olympic finish by an American woman in 16 years. Our goal now is to compete in the Olympics in four years and to make history competing in them. The average age of an Olympic medalist in the sport of biathlon in the past two years is 32; we will be 31 when we compete again. We believe we can make history by becoming the first women to medal at an Olympics in biathlon for the U.S.

Having just come off an Olympics in Vancouver this year, we get asked by many people how we will prepare for the next Olympics. First of all, the Olympics will be held in Sochi, Russia, in 2014.

Does it seem like a long four years away? More like a short span to get in the best shape of our lives so that we are shooting and skiing with the best in the world.

What does that take? Lots and lots of training and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Training for the Olympics is an everyday, lifetime commitment. We didn’t just start training for the 2014 Olympics this spring; we started years ago when we began to compete for biathlon on a competitive level. Every year an athlete trains for an endurance sport, she builds a base that makes her stronger. It’s like putting money in the bank for later and the Barnes’ twins hope to make a huge withdrawal in 2014.

We attribute our family, along with friends, sponsors and fans to our success. You may follow us on our journey not only here at this column, Road to Russia, but also at our website: www.twinbiathletes.com .

About:
WOMA is a new forum geared for people who work or volunteer to communicate with (and about) women in the outdoor fields of shooting sports and/or hunting and fishing traditions. The difference is that the focus of The WOMA is on what women are doing, and what is being done for them, in the outdoor areas of shooting sports, archery, hunting and fishing. Visit: www.TheWOMA.com

Lisa Metheny Joins Shotgun Life With New Column

Shotgun Life

Pikesville, MD --(AmmoLand.com)- Award-winning writer and photographer, Lisa Metheny, has joined Shotgun Life with a new column called “Lisa Metheney’s Women Afield.”

In her premier column, Lisa shares the experience of hunting pheasants at an NRA Women on Target gathering during a video shoot by the Sportsman’s Channel.

Lisa has become an advocate for promoting traditional outdoor recreation to families all across the United States.

Award-winning writer and photographer, Lisa Metheny

She is also an avid and accomplished hunter with many big game species to her credit. Lisa’s new column continues Shotgun Life’s leadership in addressing the needs and concerns of women in the shotgun sports.

With a female readership of 37%, Shotgun Life serves one of the most under-served and fastest growing segments in the industry.

Lisa has over 250 articles published; conducts seminars on a woman’s participation in the outdoors, archery and hunting topics and holds several instructor certifications. She regularly teaches hunters education and archery classes and has become an advocate for promoting traditional outdoor recreation to families all across the United States.

She is also an avid and accomplished hunter with many big game species to her credit and is a member of POMA, SEOPA, NRA, RMEF, NWTF and DU.

About:
Shotgun Life is the first online magazine dedicated to the best in wing and clays shooting. Current advertisers include Krieghoff, Blaser, Zoli, Ithaca Gun Co., Kick-EEZ and others.

Shotgun Life has redefined the upscale shotgun market by combining compelling editorial with extensive viral marketing campaigns for advertisers. You can read Shotgun Life at www.shotgunlife.com

American Knife & Tool Institute

Rochester, MN --(Ammoland.com)- One of the founding members of the American Knife & Tool Institute (www.AKTI.org) will speak at the Outdoor Writers Association of America’s annual conference in Minnesota.C.J. Buck, who is a current member of the AKTI Board of Regents and the CEO of Buck Knives, will talk about the non-profit organization’s efforts “to clarify state and federal knife law.”

C.J. Buck, the CEO of Buck Knives, will be among the featured speakers at the Outdoor Writers Association of America’s annual conference June 10-13 at the Kahler Grand Hotel in Rochester, MN. The association’s membership includes outdoor writers, editors, authors, broadcasters, producers, photographers and artists.

Buck, one of the founders of the American Knife & Tool Institute (www.AKTI.org) and a member of its Board of Regents, will talk about “AKTI and our efforts to clarify state and federal knife law.” He is scheduled to speak Thursday, June 10, 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.

C.J. Buck of Buck Knives

A fourth-generation knife-maker, Buck’s great-grandfather Hoyt planted the seed for the family business more than a century ago. He described Hoyt as “a guy with an anvil, forge and a grinder” who eventually moved to San Diego and taught his oldest son, Al, the art of knife-making. That legacy was passed onto to Buck’s father, Chuck.

In the 1950s the company grew steadily, but it was the introduction of the Model 110 Folding Hunter in 1964 with its innovative “lockblade” mechanism that put the company on the map. It became popular with hunters, ranchers, farmers and the military. Model 110 is still “extremely popular and a huge seller,” Buck said.

With success came responsibility, so Buck, along with Les de Asis of Benchmade Knife Company, met with industry leaders and others at a number of knife-related events in 1997 to discuss forming a national advocacy and education organization embracing every segment of the knife industry. American Knife & Tool Institute, Inc., was formed the following year.

According to its Executive Director, Jan, Billeb, AKTI’s goal are to:

• Educate the public, legislators and law enforcement about knives.
• Promote reasonable, responsible and consistent knife legislation.
• Inform with accurate industry, historical and technical information.

“A knife is a valuable tool — and ought not to be used as a weapon,” AKTI Board member Buck said, adding that a simply worded law that said that would be more effective than the sometimes vague and complex laws that can infringe on individual rights.

AKTI has been able to help achieve that clarity in a number of states, including Texas, California, Florida and Arkansas, Buck said, adding that his goal as a speaker to the Outdoor Writers Association of America will be to enlist their help in getting the word out to sportsmen regarding this issue as well as explain “what AKTI is, what we do, and what we plan to do next.”

ABOUT AKTI:
The American Knife and Tool Institute is a non-profit organization (501(c)6) representing the combined efforts of manufacturers, distributors, retailers, custom knife artisans, journalists, and concerned citizens united to educate, promote, and inform the American public about various types of knives and folding multi-tools. It was formed after discussion among industry leaders about the need for a unifying organization to represent the knife-using and knife-making community. For more information, call (307) 587-8296 or visit www.AKTI.org.

Professional Outdoor Media Association

Indianapolis, IN --(AmmoLand.com)- Archery, bowhunting and communications legend Jim Dougherty was the inaugural recipient of the POMA/ATA Archery & Bowhunting Communicator Award in 2008.

The second recipient of this prestigious award will be honored at the ATA Show next week.

Who will it be? Join POMA and ATA to find out.

ATA BOOTH : JAN. 15, 2010 – 11 A.M.

The award pays tribute to communicators who embody everything that made Fred Bear so special.

Bowhunting Legend Fred Bear

Award honorees are journalists who, like Fred:

• defend the heritage and future of archery and bowhunting at work, at home and through his/her lifestyle,
• have the words “archery” and “bowhunting” tattooed across his/her heart,
• bring honesty and integrity to the editorial game,
• possess communications skills other journalists envy,
• are teachers – people who foster the next generation of communicators and
• are professionals in every way.

Honorees are presented with the signature Fred Bear Borsalino hat, bronzed complete with turkey feather and Pearly Everlasting wildflower adorning the hatband.

POMA Mission
The Professional Outdoor Media Association is a group of individual communicators and Corporate Partners who believe in, defend, support and promote the heritage of hunting, fishing, shooting and traditional outdoor sports through writing, photography and other means. By doing so, members hope to educate the general public about these sports and encourage more participation in them. The organization serves the membership by helping members grow professionally, improve their skills, better their working environments and enhance their businesses. Visit: www.professionaloutdoormedia.org

Media Day At The Range

Centreville, VA –-(AmmoLand.com)- With the support of Bass Pro Shops and many manufacturers and organizations, the industry will be holding the 5th annual Media Day at the Range on Monday, January 18, 2010 being held at the Boulder City Pistol & Rifle Range in Boulder City, Nevada from 9 am to 4:00 pm.

We have some exciting news concerning Media Day 2010 that you surely do not want to miss. By registering and attending Media Day at the Range you will also have an opportunity to win a Blaser Rifle outfitted with a Zeiss Victory Scope valued at more than $4,000.

Here is all you will need to do to win:

• Visit the Blaser and Zeiss exhibits to experience shooting the Blaser rifle and using the Zeiss Victory scope.
• Purchase a raffle ticket to enter – one chance $4 or three chances for $10. All proceeds going to Safari Club AWLS Youth Program. There is no limit to the number of tickets you can purchase.
• Drawing at 3:00 pm at the Blaser exhibit. You must be present to win.

With nearly 60 manufacturers registered, the range is nearly sold out. The day will consist of visiting with a wide range of manufacturers both from the shooting and non-shooting community and you will also have an opportunity to interview company representatives about their new product line-up. Transportation will be provided both to and from the range.

This event will give you the opportunity to handle and shoot new products being introduced at SHOT Show from many of the industry’s leading manufacturers. This year the event will be benefiting the Safari Club AWLS Youth Program.

So if you have not already registered, please do so today at www.media-day.com. Please be sure you pass this information on to all individuals from your publication or broadcast property who may want to attend, we don’t want anyone to miss this event. On behalf of all the attending manufacturers we look forward to seeing you at the range.

Media Day is open to members of the media only and registered exhibitors. For additional information, contact Cory Cannon with Triple Curl at ccannon@triplecurl.com or Cathy Williams with CMG Marketing and Events at cathy@cmgmarketingandevents.com.

New York State Outdoor Writers Association

Lake Placid, NY—-(AmmoLand.com)- Chris Kenyon of Wolcott, NY was presented with the Pass It On Award at the New York State Outdoor Writers’ Association annual conference in Lake Placid on October 3, 2009.

This award is jointly presented by NYSOWA and Bass Pro Shops in honor of the writer selected annually as doing the most to pass on a love and understanding of our outdoor heritage. The writer is chosen from among NYSOWA’s membership and honored at the fall conference. Bass Pro Shops makes a significant contribution to the NYSOWA Scholarship Fund in that individual’s name.

As a regular columnist with the “Finger Lakes Times,” and “Lake Ontario Outdoors”, and freelance writer with other publications, as well as Recreational Promotional Coordinator for Wayne County Tourism, Chris Kenyon has plenty of opportunity to impact countless readers with his knowledge and enthusiasm for the outdoors. But it is his work with youth that sets him apart from most of his colleagues.

Two of the biggest ways that he impacts youngsters are as coordinator of the Grandslam Youth Derby and the Camp Smile fishing event. Wayne County Grandslam Challenge Youth Derby gives kids an opportunity to win neat prizes for a variety of fish species throughout the summer. About 100 youngsters annually are involved with this event. He also organizes a special Camp Smile fishing outing each summer on Lake Ontario involving 20 charter boats and blind or visually impaired children ages 5 – 18. For many of the kids it is their first time ever in a boat.

Chris Kenyon also takes time to work with the Montezuma Audobon Center on programs involving kids, including their Youth Pheasant Hunt. He is a constant presence at sportsmen’s events, shows, and anything involving the outdoors. Kenyon is a tireless advocate for enjoying the outdoors, preserving the environment, and sharing knowledge and skills, according to NYSOWA spokesman, William Hilts, Jr.

About:
The New York State Outdoor Writers Association is a professional organization of communicators dedicated to increasing the public awareness, understanding and appreciation of our outdoor heritage in the use and enjoyment of natural resources. Its primary purpose is to improve knowledge and skill among its members in the art of communication.

For more information on NYSOWA, visit http://www.nysowa.org.

New York State Outdoor Writers Association

Lake Placid, NY—-(AmmoLand.com)- William R. Hilts of Sanborn was named recipient of the New York State Outdoor Writers Association M. Paul Keesler New York Outdoor Citizen Award at the communicator association’s awards banquet on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Lake Placid, N.Y., during its annual conference.

The award was created in the name of one of NYSOWA’s most beloved and active members, M. Paul Keesler, the deceased co-founder of “New York Sportsman” magazine. Keesler, through his writing and publishing efforts, spent nearly five decades promoting and conserving the outdoor wonders and recreational opportunities within New York State.

The award recognizes an individual or organization that effectively has raised the public’s awareness of outdoor recreational opportunities and conservation issues in the state.

Nominations could be made by the public, as well as by NYSOWA members. Hilts, better known as Bill Sr., to distinguish him from his son, Bill Jr., who is also active in outdoor communications and conservation affairs, has been a member of the writing fraternity for nearly 50 years. His career has encompassed radio, television, newspaper, magazine, electronic communications and lectures.

In addition, he has served on numerous boards and councils in the communications and outdoor fields. Hilts helped organize the NYSOWA and has served as president of that group, as well as that of the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA). OWAA recognized his extraordinary contributions earlier this year with the presentation of its prestigious Ham Brown Award.

That is one of dozens of honors he has received for his service to the state, the nation, outdoors enthusiasts and our natural resources.

“William R. Hilts is most deserving of this honor based on a lifetime dedicated to raising the level of awareness for outdoor recreational opportunities and conservation issues in New York,” wrote Glenn Sapir, a NYSOWA member, in his nomination of Hilts for this award.

About:
The New York State Outdoor Writers Association is a professional organization of communicators dedicated to increasing the public awareness, understanding and appreciation of our outdoor heritage in the use and enjoyment of natural resources. Its primary purpose is to improve knowledge and skill among its members in the art of communication.

For more information on NYSOWA, visit http://www.nysowa.org.

J Wayne Fears, left, and Mark Scheifley examine a prototype of the Fears Survival Knife.

ProToolIndustries.net

Pottstown, Pennsylvania --(AmmoLand.com)- Pro Tool Industries, Inc., a family owned company and maker of the iconic Woodman’s Pal ® line of land clearing tools, has announced the formation of an exclusive branding agreement with well known author and master outdoorsman, J. Wayne Fears. Fears will write an extensive line of pocket reference guide booklets plus design survival knives, related tools, products and accessories.

This announcement is the pinnacle of a series of new initiatives from Pro Tool Industries for 2009, including a brand new ballistics line, a new utility knife and saw line, two collaborations with custom knife makers and an accessories collection.

Company Vice President and General Manager, Mark G. Scheifley says, “Our outdoor, sporting and country retailers and customers have been asking us to offer more products of the same quality, utility and value as our very popular Woodman’s Pal axe/machete tool line (since 1941) which has grown exponentially over recent years.

We were looking to continue our growth and broaden our lines in 2009. One of the areas of great interest from our market research was reference guides, particularly small, pocketsize field references. So, early this year, Pro Tool made a decision to pursue this innovative product line. Our parameters were simple. We demanded this line adhere to our very highest standards of thorough, useful, quality information and composition; and it had to be user friendly.…in other words, truly top notch, with all the hallmark standards our Woodman’s Pal line is known for. We knew we had to look for and bring on the very best, most talented author who would not only possess the expertise as a writer, but real world experience in the subject areas we designed for our pocket reference guide booklets.

This author , we believed, would have to be a fellow outdoorsman…the ultimate, down-to-earth sportsman (just like our customers) who could bring to our loyal retailers and their customers the kind of “how to” information they could use in the field, on a hunt, in the countryside, at camp, in any situation, day in and day out.

After researching and interviewing many options, we finally met the man whom our family believes is the “gold standard”: J. Wayne Fears. We immediately flew to Huntsville, Alabama to get things rolling in the spring of this year. After visiting with Fears at his headquarters outside Huntsville, we were convinced that the scope of our plan would be enhanced not only by including a very broad, wide-ranging how-to pocket reference guide series, but also related knives, products, and accessories designed by and used in the field by Fears on his many expeditions, in situations and conditions…some good…some not so good! Survival tools prove their worth when things get bad.

Our family is both proud and extremely pleased to have Fears on our creative team as a unique powerhouse of knowledge and ideas built on over 40 years of real-life, field experience. We look forward to many years of productive, exciting offerings that will benefit our customers and their dealers.”

J. Wayne Fears has been an outdoor writer for more than four decades. His work has appeared in most of the leading outdoor magazines with over 4800 articles and 22 books published. In 2005 he retired from the Progressive Farmer magazine, the nation’s largest and oldest magazine for farmers and ranchers, after serving 11 years as the magazines wildlife management editor.

During the 1970’s and 80’s Fears was the wildlife manager for Gulf States Paper Corporation and served as the business manager for their Forest Recreation Division. His work in exploration, wildlife management and writing has taken him around the world and he has been elected a member of the prestigious Explorer Club and awarded the University of Georgia’s Distinguished Alumni Award. He has received numerous awards for his writing and conservation work.

Fears stated at the branding agreement signing at the Huntsville, Alabama airport, “Pro Tool has offered me a great opportunity to publish valuable no-nonsense information on a wide range of outdoor subjects that will be available to thousands of outdoor enthusiasts at a fair price. Quality products such as the survival knife I designed will be a part of this branding program. It is a win-win for outdoor enthusiasts, Pro Tool and I as a professional outdoorsman.”

About:
Pro Tool Industries is a family owned and operated business located in Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia. Tucked among rolling hills and farmland, Pottstown is home to Pro Tool Industries. The area is known for its quiet peaceful lifestyle, and is fortunate to have a skilled workforce and a heritage of manufacturing excellence.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Annapolis, Md –-(AmmoLand.com)- The Board of Public Works (BPW) today approved two special projects: the naming of the Choptank Fishing Pier in honor of Bill Burton, and the naming of the Maryland portion of the Great Eastern Trail and Overlook at Green Ridge State Forest in honor of Francis Zumbrun.

“This is a well-deserved recognition for two iconic figures in Maryland’s outdoor history,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “Their extraordinary service to chronicling and championing our State’s natural resources will forever be commemorated in these projects, inspiring families to get outside and enjoy all the unique outdoor recreation opportunities Maryland has to offer.”

Today, the Board of Public Works approved the naming of the Choptank River Fishing Pier in Dorchester County in honor of Bill Burton, a reporter, writer and fisherman who has for more than 50 years chronicled outdoor opportunities for Maryland citizens. The Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park offers a perfect tribute to Bill’s life and work – the pier is a destination fishing sport for anglers, and a popular access point for many working families of Maryland – and he was instrumental in preserving the Choptank River Bridge for a fishing pier when the new bridge was constructed.

Bill’s commitment to the promotion, sustainability and prosperity of fishing and hunting in Maryland is unquestioned by those that know him, especially during the past two years as he has continued to write professionally while fighting cancer. Despite many physical setbacks, he continues to fish and write about fishing, hunting and the great outdoors. In April, Burton was inducted into the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association Hall of Fame. The year’s Maryland Fishing Challenge also celebrates Bill’s life and career.

The Board of Public Works also today approved the naming the Maryland portion of the Great Eastern Trail and Overlook at Green Ridge State Forest in honor of Francis Zumbrun, a forester for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) since September 20, 1978. Currently the forest manager at Green Ridge State Forest, Zumbrun is set to retire in August after 31 years of service to DNR. The new name for this area of the trail will be the Francis O. Zumbrun Scenic Overlook.

During his career Francis Zumbrun has been a tireless promoter of scientific forest management, using Green Ridge State Forest to demonstrate ecologically sensitive management techniques. He is also aware of the value of forest recreation for citizens and how it provides the opportunity to learn important lessons about their outdoor world. He has gone above and beyond his assigned forest management duties to get the Great Eastern Trail, a trail that will one day be comparable to the Appalachian Trail, to be routed through Green Ridge State Forest. The trail now crosses the forest from the Potomac River to the Pennsylvania State Line.

Francis recently received the Presidential Field Forester Award from the Society of American Foresters which is given to individuals in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the practice of forestry.

“It is great to see these men recognized today for their unparalleled, often unsung work for our State,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “On behalf of all those who love and steward our breathtaking natural resources, thank you for sharing your unique insight with citizens and instilling in them an appreciation for Maryland’s vast forests and treasured Chesapeake Bay.”

The three-member Board of Public Works, chaired by Governor O’Malley, is comprised of Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot. The BPW is authorized by the General Assembly to approve major construction and consultant contracts, equipment purchases, property transactions and other procurement actions.

About:
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 461,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland’s forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland’s effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state’s number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.DNR.Maryland.gov.

Professional Outdoor Media Association

Johnstown, PA - -(TheShootingWire.com)- Over $100,000 in hunting and fishing adventures, firearms, outdoor gear, advertising packages and public relations services packages are up for grabs in the Professional Outdoor Media Association’s (POMA) Annual Live Auction hosted by GunBroker.com. The auction runs through the month of July, ending at 10:47 p.m. July 31.

“From an African Safari, to AR and muzzleloading rifles, to a Derringer-style handgun, to optics, to advertising and public relations packages every outdoor company needs, to a handmade camo quilt, POMA’s annual live auction has something for everyone,” explained Bill Miller, POMA’s incoming president and auction chairman. “The generosity of POMA’s Corporate Partners and friends who donate to the auction every year is simply amazing.”

The partnership with GunBroker.com allows POMA to reach folks internationally and offer them opportunities to bid on items they might not have otherwise.

GunBroker.com is the largest person-to-person online auction site for hunters, shooters, firearms collectors and other traditional outdoor sports enthusiasts. Bidding on auction items is simple; and watching auctions, bids or favorite items a snap with the My Auctions option. To bid review the list of auction items and bid, visit http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/SellerAuctions.asp?User=1402052.

The funds raised through the live auction go toward programs that support POMA’s mission of member and public education and promotion of the heritage of hunting, fishing, shooting and other traditional outdoor sports.

For more information, visit www.professionaloutdoormedia.org or www.gunbroker.com.

About:
POMA Mission… The Professional Outdoor Media Association is a group of individual communicators and Corporate Partners who believe in, defend, support and promote the heritage of hunting, fishing, shooting and traditional outdoor sports through writing, photography and other means. By doing so, members hope to educate the general public about these sports and encourage more participation in them. The organization serves the membership by helping members grow professionally, improve their skills, better their working environments and enhance their businesses.

An outdoor writer gets some help from Smith & Wesson's Paul Pluff during shooting day at the Outdoor Writers Association of America's annual conference in Grand Rapids, Mich. NSSF sponsored an informative lunch for writers at the range.

National Shooting Sports Foundation

Grand Rapids, MI - -(AmmoLand.com)- Ammunition And Modern Sporting Rifles Key Topics . . . More than 100 members of the Outdoor Writers Association of America attended Shooting Day at the West Walker Sportsman’s Club near Grand Rapids, MI., where they tested the latest firearm models offered by Smith & Wesson, Browning and Winchester, among others, and afterward listened to a presentation made by NSSF’s Glenn Sapir and Bill Brassard on important issues related to ammunition and modern sporting rifles.

With hunting season on the horizon, NSSF asked for the outdoor media’s help in informing hunters that eating game taken with traditional ammunition that contains lead components does not pose a health risk and that calls to ban traditional ammunition are nothing more than scare tactics pushed by anti-hunting groups.

NSSF also encouraged the media to stop referring to semi-automatic AR-15-platform rifles as “assault weapons,” pointing out that true assault weapons are fully automatic–machine guns that have been severely restricted since 1934.

NSSF asks the media to use the term “modern sporting rifle” to describe these popular, widely owned firearms that are used for hunting, target shooting and personal defense and which have taken their place in the long line of civilian sporting rifles that have evolved from military versions.

Read more about traditional ammunition, the assault weapons issue and the importance of outdoor media.

About:
NSSF, founded in 1961, is the trade association for the firearms, ammunition and recreational shooting sports industry. It promotes the safe ownership and responsible use of products its members make and sell. For more information, visit www.nssf.org

Outdoormediaresources.com

ANNISTON, AL – -(AmmoLand.com)- Outdoor Media Resources has launched a new website designed as a source of information for outdoor writers, editors, and other industry professionals to help with their work, improve their business practices, and learn about social media. The site, outdoormediaresources.com, was recently launched and will be updated regularly with blog posts, client news, and other useful resources of interest to the outdoor press.

Sherry G. Kerr, owner of public relations and marketing firm Outdoor Media Resources, says the site was developed with the goal of helping members of the outdoor media do their jobs. “Sometimes that means providing client information, but often it means advising them on improving their business practices, interacting better with manufacturers, promoting themselves and their talents, and learning some completely new skills.”

With more and more press outlets closing, publishing fewer issues, or reducing staffs, the competition is greater than ever for markets to publish writers’ work. “Improving their skills and industry relationships is one way to gain an edge over other competent writers,” says Kerr. “For over 20 years, I’ve had an ongoing conversation with writers on these subjects, so this site is an easy way to make that conversation more accessible.”

One area the site will focus on is social media. “If you aren’t already using such social media platforms as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, you’re late,” according to Kerr. “Want to network with other professionals from whom you can learn and possibly get job leads? Go online. Want to find outdoors enthusiasts who are not reading your magazines or buying premium TV channels? Go online. There’s an active and growing number of hunters, shooters, anglers, and other outdoors people using the internet, and the outdoors industry has been slow to address them. Some of the posts on outdoormediaresources.com will show you where to go online and what to do when you get there.”

Among the website’s features are:

• Trajectories: Where we are, where we’re going, and how we’ll get there, a new blog authored by Sherry Kerr. This will be a regular source of information and tips aimed at the outdoor press, including an upcoming two-week series on using the social networking platform Twitter;
• News Releases from clients of Outdoor Media Resources;
• Media Bytes, a collection of short tips, industry announcements, and recommendations;
• Video Player, playing video from clients or other industry organizations;
• Events Calendar, a resource listing industry trade shows, writer organization conferences, and other important dates, with clickable links for more information about events;

Twitter Feed, Sherry Kerr’s five most recent “tweets” on Twitter, where her username is @SherryinAL;

Social Media Badges, links to Sherry Kerr’s pages on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook;

Resources, pages with links to client and key industry websites, writer organizations, and other categories to come;

Outdoor Media Resources Information, pages with information about services, company background, and how to contact OMR.

“One thing we tried to go overboard on was making it easy for the press to contact us,” says Kerr. “On every page you’ll find brightly-colored email links, as well as textual contact information.”

The new site is the result of months of development and searching for just the right designer to help Kerr create it. When she met Cory Glauner of Web Dog Services and saw his outdoors-themed websites, she knew she had found the right designer. “Cory got it instantly when I told him the elements and tone I wanted,” said Kerr. “While I couldn’t visualize or create it, he could.”

Kerr invites the press to use the site and come back often for new information, as the site will evolve and will be updated regularly. Better yet, she says, subscribe to updates via email or RSS feed. “We also encourage the media to give us input – ask us to add a feature, to cover a topic, or to give us a news tip. Leave comments on the site and the blog posts. If a magazine has new features, new staff, a newsletter, or anything else you’d like the outdoor media and industry to know, please contact us,” she says.

About:
Outdoor Media Resources is a public relations and marketing communications firm specializing in the shooting sports and outdoors industry for over 20 years. It is headquartered in Anniston, Alabama. For more information, contact Sherry Kerr at 256-831-7877 or SherryOMR@cs.com. Visit our website at http://outdoormediaresources.com.

Professional Outdoor Media Association

Missouri – -(AmmoLand.com)- The Busch Family Mansion at St. Louis was announced as the site of the Professional Outdoor Media Association’s (POMA) 2009 Business Conference Kickoff Event, July 29, 2009. Attendees will enjoy an evening lawn party at the mansion and touring the spectacular private home. POMA’s conference is schedule for July 29 – August 1, 2009 (www.professionaloutdoormedia.org).

“POMA thanks Adolphus Busch IV for allowing POMA to kick off our conference at his family’s home,” said Chris Chaffin, POMA president. “Touring the home and learning more about the Great Rivers Habitat Alliance (www.grha.net), which Mr. Busch chairs, will certainly be conference highlights.”

“There is no doubt that POMA’s business conference is more important than ever for folks looking to spend wisely,” added Pete Brownell, president of Brownells. “Any time you can connect with several hundred industry professional in one location, you’ve got to do it. Add in the chance to tour the Busch mansion and it’s really a no-brainer.”

The private ancestral home of the Busch family is part of the 281-acre Grant’s Farm (www.grantsfarm.com), which takes its name from the 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant. Today, Grant’s Farm, operated by Anheuser-Busch, Inc., is open to the public and is home to more than 1,000 animals representing more than 100 different species from six continents.

Grant’s Farm has been a St. Louis tradition for over five decades and is preserved as a living symbol of the Busch family’s love for animals and Anheuser-Busch’s commitment to wildlife conservation and preservation. Admission is free and reservations are not required.

“During these tough economic times, conference attendees can make the most of their travel and public relations dollars,” said POMA Executive Director, Laurie Lee Dovey. “In addition to visiting the Busch Mansion, POMA Business Conference attendees have access to a wide range of hard-hitting, business-building seminars, a firearms testing event, equipment showcase and tackle testing event, and opportunities to network with hundreds of outdoor journalists, industry representatives and peers. That’s a lot of bang for the buck.”

The honorees of POMA’s 2nd Annual Pinnacle Awards, presented by Mossy Oak will also be announced at the event. The Pinnacle Awards honor excellence in communications that are focused on the traditional outdoor sports and wildlife conservation.

All outdoor journalists and industry professionals are invited to attend the conference. Visit www.professionaloutdoormedia.org for complete details and to register. The host facility is the Marriott St. Louis West.

Harold Swiggert

San Antonio, TX – -(AmmoLand.com)- Harold “Hal” Swiggett, age 87, passed away from the loving arms of his family to the loving arms of his Lord on Monday, March 2, 2009.

He was born to Otho Benjamin & Mildred Swiggett in Moline, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his son, Vernon Lee Swiggett. He is survived by his beloved wife, Wilma C. Swiggett; sons, Dr. Gerald Eugene Swiggett (Ida); daughter in law, Linda Swiggett; grandchildren, Donna, Darryl, Leah, Katherine, Stuart; great grandchildren, Nathan, Leanne, Jordan, Ryan, Zachary, Meredith, D.J., Haille, Cameron.

Mr. Hal Swiggett was a gun writer for over fifty years; African big game hunter with over 25 hunts with a handgun only, a 30-year contributor to Gun Digest, Field Editor of the “North American Hunter” and Senior Editor of Harris Publications.

Hal was included in the “Top Ten” Outstanding American Handgunner Award for 10 years and was awarded the first place bronze sculptor for the 10th time. He served on the committee that built the NRA National Firearms Museum. Hal was also an ordained minister giving comfort to hospital patients daily.

SERVICES
The family will be having Private Services, in lieu of flowers the family requests yard plants.

HARRISBURG, PA – -(AmmoLand.com)- Scott Weidensaul of Schuylkill County, PA, a successful writer and avid conservationist, has received the 2008 Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show Achievement Award for Conservation.

Weidensaul is the author of more than two dozen books on natural history, including the Pulitzer Prize-nominated “Living on the Wind,” about bird migration.

Weidensaul is a trustee of the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Audubon Pennsylvania, as well as being an active field researcher. Each fall, he oversees a crew of more than 100 volunteers banding migrant saw-whet owls in central Pennsylvania.

One of fewer than 200 hummingbird banders in North America, Weidensaul has traveled throughout the Western Hemisphere researching his books.

A 1976 graduate of North Schuylkill High School, Weidensaul began his professional writing career as an outdoors writer and general assignment reporter for the Pottsville Republican.

“Scott has been an extraordinary volunteer and driving force for the Ned Smith Center for Nature since the very beginning” said Jerry Regan, the Center’s Executive Director.

Weidensaul was a founding member of the Ned Smith Center for Nature, and has served on the Board of Directors since the Center’s inception in 1993.

About:
The Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show Outdoor Achievement Award for Conservation is presented annually to an individual or organization in recognition of their demonstrated commitment to protecting and improving our outdoor resources and animal habitats.

American Deer & Wildlife Alliance

AUSTIN, Texas -(AmmoLand.com)- The American Deer & Wildlife Alliance (ADWA) announces a new partnership with Hunting and Fishing USA, an online magazine featuring a multitude of writers, editors and resources for sportsmen around the nation. Hunting and Fishing USA reaches a growing audience of nearly 20,000 readers and will work within ADWA to increase its national exposure.

Founded in 2006 by Lillian Zade and Elton Mellum of Fort Collins, Colo., the Hunting and Fishing USA.com creates action and fun for online readers by bringing stories, information, specials and opportunities to sportsmen and women of all ages who love to hunt, fish, or just enjoy the outdoors. For more info, visit www.huntingandfishingusa.com.

“We’re proud to join the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance,” says Mellum. “ADWA uses comprehensive public relations efforts to build awareness for its members’ products and services, and we look forward to broadcasting our efforts through the Alliance.”

“The recognition and support of outdoor writers is essential for us to generate enthusiasm for outdoor sports and to help promote the businesses that work with wildlife everyday,” says ADWA Director of Operations Annie Jones. “We look forward to working with the Hunting and Fishing USA.com and its network of outdoor writers, editors and photographers to grow the industry.”

ADWA combines the benefits of marketing and education to inspire credibility among consumers and unity within the deer and wildlife industry. ADWA partners with companies and non-profit organizations within the industry to promote products, services, membership benefits and overall growth of the industry through education and aggressive public relations. In addition, ADWA supports numerous outdoor educational opportunities for children and is broadcasting public conservation messages to more than 30 million households via the Keith Warren’s Hunting & Outdoor Adventures program airing on the Outdoor Channel.

To learn more about ADWA and the benefits of membership benefits, visit www.deerwildlifealliance.org.

About:
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to the growth of the deer and wildlife industry, and to help educate consumers and the youth on the conservation issues that affect deer and wildlife as well as the industry. For more information on the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance, call 877.331.8607 or visit www.deerwildlifealliance.org .

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