The Outdoor Scene

Misty Waggener of Priest River, Idaho, leads a double life. From 9 am to 5 pm she’s all business as a training manager at the community bank. During her free time, she’s hard at work racking up elk calling titles, with five women’s division victories to her credit so far. Her latest win came last weekend when she captured the women’s division of the 2010 RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championship. The competition was held during Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s 26th Annual Elk Camp, March 4-7.

While still a teen, she whupped all the boys in the youth division of the World Elk Calling Championship – three times – before moving into the women’s division in 1998.

Barks, whistles, grunts and squeals are in her blood. Her dad, Rockie Jacobsen, is a three-time RMEF World Champion elk caller while her brother Corey is also a competition caller, with several top five finishes under his belt.

Misty said she got her start 17 years ago when her dad was inventing his patented Tone Top Mouth Call Diaphragm. He asked her to give the call a test run, and quickly realized she had inherited the family bugling gene. Misty credits her success to her dad’s call. It’s the only kind she uses whether she’s knocking the judges’ socks off on stage or she’s knocking ‘em dead in the woods.

While Misty enjoys calling on stage, elk hunting is her true passion. She said she actually feels more pressure calling when she’s afield. She started off hunting with a rifle under her dad’s tutelage; however, today Misty prefers the challenge and adrenalin rush of bowhunting. When she gets time off from work, Misty and her husband Casey head to the wilderness to get their fix of screaming bulls.

A lot of Misty’s practice time occurs in the field, hearing the real deal. However, she also trains by listening to bulls on video. She admitted she doesn’t practice as much as she should, however, between riding her horses and shooting her bow, there’s not a lot of time left. Fortunately her hobbies mesh nicely. The trail riding gets her to the woods and the archery practice and calling competitions keep her hunting skills sharp.

Thanks to the $1,500 Misty received as top female caller this year, she said there might be a new horse trailer in her future. She also plans to enjoy all the other swag she won including a Remington .243, Cabela’s gift card and prizes from Eberlestock, Hoyt, Kershaw Knives, Montana Decoy, Montana Silversmiths, Schnee’s and Traditions Performance Firearms.

Even though hunting is a way of life in northern Idaho, Misty said not all that many women go. Still, her co-workers think what she does is pretty cool, and from time to time they ask her to liven up their meetings with a calling demonstration. Misty hopes she can use her accomplishments to encourage other women to get involved in the calling competition as well as give hunting a try.

Women do have a great opportunity to compete against each other at the World Elk Calling Championships. RMEF officials introduced the women’s division in 1994 in response to the enthusiastic participation at the Becoming an Outdoors-woman seminars they offered at Elk Camp, according to head judge and contest official, Fred McClanahan, Jr.

Good news is, with next year’s Elk Camp scheduled for March 3-6 in Reno, Nevada, you’ve got about a year to get your mews and chirps down pat.

For more information, visit http://www.rmef.org/AboutUs/ElkCamp/ElkCampMedia.htm

If you ever took a moment to watch the reality show drivel known as “Denise Richards: It’s Complicated,” you immediately understood it was anything but that.

What is does suggest, though, are the lengths some Americans will go to avoid topics with any complexity. Thank goodness there are people willing to do the deep thinking for those trapped in a haze of crappertainment.

There does seem to be an uptick in the willingness to tease through the tricky details whether it is understanding the ramifications of the health care bills or how McDonald v. City of Chicago will decide whether or not the 50 states are required to obey the Second Amendment, by testing the 14th amendment.

Hunting is not without its share of difficult issues as well.  What constitutes fair chase and the legal intricacies associated with access are just a couple of the matters we have to grapple with. In many ways the privileges we enjoy as hunters depend on our ability to tune in, understand and take a stand.

Being someone who helps shape the future means you should have some understanding of the past. Our wildlife history is a riches to rags to riches story that includes a group of conservation forefathers who pioneered a blueprint known as North American Wildlife Conservation Model.

Elk have benefited from the principles outlined in the North American Model.

While the North American Model and the Seven Sisters of Conservation may sound like a wild theme party at the Playboy mansion, actually, it’s the philosophical framework used to restore wildlife populations from the brink of extinction to the abundant levels we know today.

The model’s two basic principles—that fish and wildlife belong to everyone and are to be managed so their populations will be sustained forever—are explained through a set of guidelines known as the “Seven Sisters for Conservation.”

I visited Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s Web site to obtain a list of the “Seven Sisters” and below, I’ve provided a synopsis. You can see the full explanation at: http://www.rmef.org/Hunting/HuntersConservation/

Sister #1: The Public Trust
In the United States and Canada, wildlife is not owned by individuals. Instead, federal, state and provincial governments are responsible for managing wildlife and their habitat on public lands. This public trust gives all citizens the opportunity to view, hunt, fish and enjoy these natural resources.

Two hundred years ago, American colonists appreciated this unfettered access to the continent’s abundant wildlife. Back in Europe, in many cases only nobility and the very wealthy were allowed to hunt. In 1842, the U.S. Supreme Court set a legal precedent by supporting the American ideal that wildlife belongs to everyone.

Sister #2: Prohibition on Commerce of Dead Wildlife
Because we all own wildlife, it is illegal in North America to sell the meat of any wild animal. In some cases the hides, teeth, antlers and horns of game animals and the hides of a select few furbearers may be sold.

In the latter half of the 1800s, buying and selling meat, hides, feathers and other wild animal parts was big business. Excessive hunting nearly wiped out bison, egrets and elk, and drove other species, such as the passenger pigeon, to extinction. Strong laws written at the turn of the 20th century restricted market hunting and the buying and selling of some wild animals, which allowed many threatened wildlife species to rebound and thrive.

Sister #3: Democratic Rule of Law
Every citizen of the United States and Canada has the right to help create laws to conserve and manage wildlife. You can share your ideas and opinions about wildlife management at government hosted public forums or by voting for or against ballot measures.

Early 20th-century conservationists wanted to protect wildlife populations, yet many still wanted to hunt and fish. So they established laws and set limits to enjoy the bounty without depleting the population.

Sister #4: Hunting Opportunity for All
Everyone is allowed by law to hunt and fish in the United States and Canada regardless of social status, race, creed, religion or gender.

Hunters and anglers led the crusade for wildlife conservation a century ago. For instance, before Theodore Roosevelt became president, he helped found the Boone and Crockett Club. The club’s Fair Chase Statement was the first document outlining a code of conduct and ethics for hunters and anglers. It became a cornerstone of our game laws.

Sister #5: Non-frivolous Use
In North America, we can legally kill certain wild animals under strict guidelines for food and fur, self-defense and property protection.

Laws restrict us from casually killing wildlife. We can’t kill wildlife merely for antlers, horns or feathers or to use only a small portion of the meat. Laws also help ensure we show respect for and avoid mistreating wildlife and the land, and that we make maximum use of every animal hunted for food and other purposes.

Sister #6: International Resources
Because fish and wildlife migrate freely across boundaries between states, provinces and countries, the United States and Canada jointly manage land and wildlife to ensure wildlife can safely cross borders and that no country, state or province will take more than its share of a common resource.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 demonstrates this cooperation between countries. The Act made it illegal to capture or kill migratory birds, except as allowed by specific hunting regulations. Treaties now exist between the United States, Canada, Mexico and Russia, which has helped restore ducks, geese and cranes that cross several countries between their wintering and nesting areas.

Sister #7: Scientific Management
Scientific research—and applying that research–is essential to managing and sustaining North America’s wildlife and habitats.

If you’re still reading this, your understanding of wildlife conservation likely ranks in the top percentile. You probably could run an entire Jeopardy category titled “Measures That Saved Wildlife.”

Besides the obvious game show advantages, understanding the basic principles of wildlife conservation can help you become an informed decision-maker and a better spokesman or woman for hunting and fishing. Many Americans don’t even know hunters and anglers led the way in rescuing our wildlife populations let alone that we continue to be the biggest supporters of conservation today.

This community’s willingness to give back helps drive the model’s success. And a great place to start is by being in the know.

One of the most delicious 22 minutes on cable TV has to be “The Soup,” a comedy show hosted by the sultan of satire, Joel McHale. The part of the show that always cracks me up is when Joel gazes into the camera and leads into the regular segment about female celebrities by saying, “Let’s talk about chicks, man.” Though I don’t normally refer to women as babes, girls or chicks, the segment logo, which features several baby birds huddled together, is set off by biting commentary about the antics of Heidi Montag or Kim Kardashian, making the whole thing just plain funny.

Though I don’t aspire to that kind of humor, this week I will be talking about chicks, instead of what I usually do, which is talk with chicks.

Kenny Kieser

To that end, I called Kenny Kieser, an outdoor writer, book author, hunter and angler who possess an unabashed admiration of strong women.
Kenny comes from hardy stock. He loves to tell the story about his great, great, great grandmother, Elizabeth Rose, a Missouri woman who in 1876 bravely forged ahead to South Dakota with her four children after her husband succumbed to illness. Kenny said the family contends Elizabeth Rose was the second white women in Deadwood, S.D. She and her boys set up a livery stable and food tent for the town’s hungry gold miners. And she prospered during a time when there wasn’t a government bailout for widows trying to make a go of it against all odds with rough prospectors and hostile Lakota.

In the American old west, a woman had to be courageous and a proficient shot. Though Kenny hasn’t modeled one particular character after the legendary Elizabeth Rose in his books, you’ll find the women in Kenny’s historical westerns, “Ride the Trail of Death, and “Black Moon’s Revenge” borrow from her indomitable spirit.

Fast forward to modern times and Kenny says the women in his life are still  fiercely independent. His aunts know how to take care of themselves and his mother single-handedly runs a 160-acre farm. These role models have fostered Kenny’s appreciation and understanding of women who know what they want.

He said he’s glad today’s woman has claimed a more visible presence in the industry. Kenny is quick to point out more women hunters means additional dollars for conservation, through hunting license fees, duck stamps and taxes on firearms and ammunition especially earmarked for wildlife management and hunter education.

I asked Kenny what he thought about the conversations women were having now about our place in the outdoors including: Are women such as Tiffany Lakosky and Haley Heath good role models or does their beauty generate skepticism about their skills? Are pink firearms, fishing rods and other outdoor gear a condescending marketing ploy or a way for women to assert their femininity while enjoying hunting, fishing and target shooting? Does a woman have to be an “extreme” hunter or angler to portray the right image or should we strive to make the outdoors more welcoming to women who are beginners or maybe just less hard core?

I posed these questions to Kenny in a gush of words, and he had good answers. First, he said hunting and fishing should not be driven by your ego, whether you’re a man or a woman. Being an outdoors-woman is what you make of it, not an exercise in meeting some subjective standard. Kenny said hunting and fishing should be enjoyable. Relaxing. Exciting. A chance to watch the seasons change, observe wildlife, learn about nature, build your skills and confidence, and savor the companionship of your family and friends.

What I’ve come to understand is how neat it is to have such diversity among women who hunt, target shoot and fish. It means there truly is a place for every woman who wants to be a part of our community, whether she’s a diehard outdoorswomen or an occasional participant. There’s a place for women who wear makeup when they go fishing and shoot handguns with pink grips and for women who can identify ducks on the wing and insist on field dressing their own deer.

This really isn’t a new idea. Within my lifetime, I’ve seen attitudes change about women’s role in society.  When women first began entering the work force in great numbers, the career woman reigned supreme. However, attitudes have evolved and today, women are respected whether they want to work in an office, be a stay-at-home mom or both. The outdoor community is beginning to understand and accept this concept, too, that as outdoor women we should be free to be who we are, not who we should be.

An obvious symptom of cabin fever is the onset of plotting what you’ll do when the mercury rises and it finally stops raining, sleeting and/or snowing. Those of us living in the Deep South really should be spared from this condition. However, this winter has provided few opportunities to brag to our northern kin about how great the weather is down here. So, we plan for better days.

After summarily dismissing the idea of painting my living room, kitchen and dining room this winter, I decided what I really wanted to do was improve my handgun shooting skills. Personal protection is the primary reason for this new interest. Plus, I have just enough experience to know target shooting with a handgun is really fun.

One program I looked into is First Shots, which is conducted by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. First Shots seminars give newcomers an opportunity to try handgun shooting while learning about firearms safety. While the program is open to everyone, nearly half of the participants are women, according to a survey completed by more than 3,100 seminar participants.

I’d fit right into the program because the average age of women attending a First Shots seminar is about 42. Okay, so maybe I’m a little above average on that account.

I do fit this demographic, though. While I have shot a handgun before, similar to 8 out of 10 women surveyed, First Shots would be my only formal introduction to handgun shooting. And because I want to be safe and competent, taking a course is really important to me. So is learning from a certified instructor, a commonality I share with 96 percent of female First Shot participants who are considering attending a handgun personal protection skills course.

Those who attended a First Shots seminar reported they now have a greater understanding of handguns and are more likely to purchase one and continue shooting. Personal protection is the biggest motivator for buying a handgun and that desire appears to increase with age.

NSSF surveyed participants again six months after they took a First Shots seminar, and they learned two in 10 women sought more training such as basic handgun, concealed carry, defensive handgun, NRA safety course, one-on-one instruction, home defense or other programs. Half of the First Shots participants had already met their state’s requirements to own or buy a handgun. Overall, women who took the course were pleased with the experience and many expressed an interest in learning more about the rifle and shotgun shooting sports as well.

While the data in NSSF’s survey doesn’t represent a national sample of female target shooters, it is another indicator that interest in our constitutional rights to own a firearm is alive and well. It’s also reassuring to know women are getting the training they need to take responsibility for protecting themselves and their families. We have come a long way, baby.

If you’d like an introduction to handguns through the First Shots program, visit http://www.firstshots.org/.

Outdoorsmen and women who yearn for international travel dream of many things — escaping their routines, hunting exotic wildlife, exploring new landscapes and discovering different cultures.

Whatever the reason, hunting outside of the United States is powerful juju. A recent HunterSurvey.com, conducted by Southwick Associates, found nearly 700,000 sportsmen and women will act on that longing to hunt an international destination in the next two years while a half million people already have in the last three years.

One woman who has collected her fair share of frequent flyer miles is Peggy Vallery, president of the National Wild Turkey Federation. Peggy, who lives in Tucson, Ariz., has traveled to Africa 16 times on big game safaris in addition to hunting Australia, New Zealand, Bulgaria, China, South Korea, Spain and throughout North America. During the last three decades, she has taken 109 different species around the world including a world slam of wild turkeys, the African Big 5 and the Spanish Big 5. Peggy was the first western woman to hunt Bulgaria and pheasants in South Korea. She also was the first woman to take an elephant in South West Africa, which is known as Namibia today, and has bagged world record trophies. Listing all of her international hunting accomplishments could eat up several megabytes.

Growing up hunting with her dad and grandpa in Maryland, Peggy said she always dreamed of going to Africa. When a group of friends from Safari Club International invited her on an African safari, she jumped at the chance. Though she has traveled back 20 times now, she never tires of the continent regarded by many as the birthplace of humanity. Peggy has hunted South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe (and Rhodesia), Namibia, Zambia, the Cameroons and even places such as Sudan, where you can’t hunt anymore. She’s not done yet, either. She is planning to revisit Africa possibly as early as 2011.

Peggy pointed out how important hunters are to the international destinations they visit, especially developing nations. The dollars hunters spend in these countries provide obvious economic benefits in the form of jobs and money for schools, hospitals and safe water supplies. In addition, hunting provides conservation benefits such as keeping wildlife populations in check, and it elevates the value of game animals. The locals begin seeing wildlife as something more than competition for their crops, and conserving wildlife becomes a better option than subsistence hunting to feed their families.

When people go outside of the U.S, especially to developing nations, the experience changes them and not just because of the hunting. Peggy said being exposed to the plight of others and forming an emotional bond with the local people is transformative. She witnessed firsthand the devastation that HIV/AIDs have caused in Botswana. The suffering of the many orphaned children compelled Peggy to contribute to the Matlou Fund, and her dollars were used to build a home for a young girl and her siblings. The Matlou Fund is a U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to the long- term well-being of the local people, wildlife and habitat in remote areas of Botswana.

Hunting outside of the U.S. is not all lollipops and roses, though. There are a myriad of hassles to deal with ranging from uncooperative airline employees and customs agents to the reams of paperwork and regulations that dictate your ability to transport firearms and ammunition.

Peggy recommends that even if you have the savviest outfitter in the world, you should check with the U.S. Department of State to better understand exit/entry requirements, safety and security issues and other pertinent travel information. It’s also recommended you line up a taxidermist before your trip and be sure you understand what permits are required to export any trophies you take.

She also noted international destinations expose travelers to different foods and water that can make them sick as well as the possibility of disease. So before you hop that plane, see your doctor or a physician who has expertise in the country you’ll be visiting. Get the vaccinations you need, refill necessary prescriptions and make sure you have a clean bill of health.

Another barrier to international travel is cost. A big time safari can run thousands of dollars when you consider daily rates, trophy fees, gratuities, and charges ranging from government concessions to importing guns/ammunition and preparing trophies for export. According to HunterSurvey.com, on average hunters spend $6,718 outside of the U.S. on international hunting trips. While 19 percent of hunters who responded to the survey spent more than $10,000 outside of the U.S., the good news is 29 percent of hunters spent only $2,001 to $5,000. As Peggy observed, it would be hard to find a quality elk or sheep hunt in the U.S. for that price.

There are some hurdles to jump for those who decide to hunt outside of the U.S. However, anything worth doing takes time, money and work. And hearing Peggy tell her stories of hunting other countries leaves no doubt it would be the adventure of a lifetime.

There are a plethora of single-day events hosted throughout the country that do an excellent job of giving kids a chance to try fishing, camping, hunting and target shooting. Exposure to the outdoors is an important part of the process. So is mentoring. While introducing a child to the outdoors can spark their curiosity, it takes long-term guidance from a caring adult to grow that interest.

That’s exactly what the program Pass It On Outdoor Mentors, Inc. provides. President and CEO Mike Christensen explained Pass It On got its start within Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) where he served as director of outdoor mentoring. In November of 2006, the program stepped out on its own with funding from the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to launch pilot outdoor mentoring programs in Kansas, Texas and Pennsylvania. Since then, additional BBBS agencies and conservation partners across the nation have worked together to recruit mentors and host events to introduce at-risk youth to the outdoors.

I really like this program for two reasons — because it matches up young people with adult mentors for ongoing lessons in hunting, fishing, hiking and more. Plus, it brings together BBBS and the volunteer resources of Pheasants Forever, Whitetails Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Delta Waterfowl, National Wild Turkey Federation and more to focus on what we’ve all agreed is critical, recruiting the next generation of conservation stewards.

If you’d like to support the program or become a mentor, contact Mike at:
316-290-8883
mchristensen@outdoormentors.org
http://www.outdoormentors.org

Another program worth looking into is Hunters Education For Troubled Youth (HEFTY). The program is based on the concept of “why hunting is good for bad kids.” This program is designed to break the cycle of unacceptable behavior, followed by punishment that can expose vulnerable kids to the “wrong crowd” and lifelong problems as a result.

The program provides a new environment for these kids and teaches them the principles of self respect, compassion, integrity and high moral values through mentoring and hunter education.

HEFTY was developed by Karl Milner, a Wyoming volunteer hunter education instructor who is devoted to improving wildlife habitat and giving back to his community. Milner found support for his thinking in Dr. Randall Eaton’s book “From Boys to Men of Heart:  Hunting as Rite of Passage,” which explains how hunting has been and still is a rite of passage that helps boys realize the need to become productive members of society.

For more information about HEFTY or to become a supporter or mentor, contact Karl at:
307-686-5705
307-299-2084
karl@hefty4kids.org
http://www.hefty4kids.org/

Thanks to programs such as Pass It On and Hefty, I am encouraged about the future of hunting and today’s young people, who are growing up during complicated and confusing times. The next step for programs such as these is evaluation, so we can better assess what efforts are most effective.

What gives you hope for the future of hunting, fishing and target shooting? Let me know. Leave a comment here or find me at:

Facebook: facebook.com/tammy.sapp2
Twitter: @TammyDianeSapp
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tammydianesapp

Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 3, the Women’s Outdoor Wire will be featured as part of The Outdoor Wire.

Readers will continue to receive news and information specifically for women and families except it will come packaged in The Outdoor Wire every Wednesday. I accepted an invitation from Jim Shepherd, publisher of the Outdoor Digital Wire Network and editor of The Outdoor Wire, to write features and blog posts as well as track down products, events and advice for women.

The reason we agreed to make this change is while the Women’s Outdoor Wire boasts some wonderful sponsors, it did not receive enough industry support for us to continue producing it as a separate entity. I’m not pointing fingers either because I am well aware of the numbers and so, too, are outdoor manufacturers and retailers.

Results from the National Survey of Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife-Association Recreation from 1991 to 2006 reveal women continue to comprise a small portion of the overall market. While the number of women hunters held steady from 1991 to 2006, the National Survey indicates fewer women are fishing.

Results taken from the National Survey of Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife-Association Recreation
1991
Women anglers —9.9 million (28 percent of all anglers)
Women hunters —1.1 million (8 percent of all hunters)

1996
Women anglers —9.5 million (27 percent of all anglers)
Women hunters — 1.2 million (9 percent of all hunters)

2001
Women anglers — 8.9 million (26 percent of all anglers)
Women hunters —1.2 million (9 percent of all hunters)

2006
Women anglers —7.6 million (25 percent of all anglers)
Women hunters —1.2 million (9 percent of all hunters)

Though I’ve read a lot of hoopla about the number of women hunters increasing, the jury is still out on that. The National Sporting Goods Association participation survey showed the number of female hunters decreased from 2002 to 2007, though an increase was posted from 2003 to 2008. Some statisticians question NSGA’s web-based survey methodology, though; whether or not there are enough respondents and if survey results are representative enough of the American population to provide statistically significant results. While no survey is perfect, the National Survey is one of the most trusted sources of information on fish and wildlife recreation in the United States.

As far as female target shooters, I dug into those numbers with the help of Jim Cururuto, director of research and analysis for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. According to a Southwick Associates research effort, which was partially funded by NSSF, there were approximately 10.3 million target shooters in 2008. However, Jim reported no gender data is available from that survey but the latest NSGA Shooting Sports Report shows 23.7 percent of those involved in target shooting are female. We should know more soon. NSSF recently funded a large research project through Responsive Management that will provide another source for numbers of target shooters, including women. Results will be available in early March.

Don’t take this journey into the numbers as me throwing in the towel on encouraging women to find health and happiness in the out-of-doors. I’m just keeping it real. Any good marketer knows you have to understand the true situation to develop strategies that will get you to the goal. One of my tactics is to reach a wider audience, which is exactly what I’ll do by writing for women every Wednesday in The Outdoor Wire.

I hope you’ll join me as I profile amazing outdoor women, cover breaking news and unearth the most important information you need to know whether you hunt, fish, shoot, bird watch, camp, hike, kayak, canoe or climb. So make sure you watch your inbox for The Outdoor Wire.

Tammy Sapp

Let me know what you think. Leave a comment here or you can find me at:

Facebook.com/tammy.sapp2
Twitter @TammyDianeSapp
tammy@womensoutdoorwire.com

When Virginia hunters who had not purchased a license in 2008/2009 were asked in a telephone survey why they didn’t, their answers came as a surprise. Twenty-five percent of respondents said they hunted but it was on private land, and thus they were exempt from purchasing one.

Virginia regulations do allow hunting on private land without a license in specific situations, and hunters take full advantage of that opportunity. That same telephone survey revealed 46 percent of the hunters Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) thought had lapsed were actually hunting on private land.

This is alarming news because it means the agency is losing funds, which could be used for conservation work, in two ways. The first is the obvious loss of license sales money from private land hunters who qualify for an exemption. The second way is less apparent, yet extremely important to VDGIF funding. Fewer licensed hunters means the agency qualifies for less money through Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration. This program authorizes hunters and shooters to pay an excise tax on firearms and ammunition that is apportioned back to the states based on a formula that factors in the number of licensed hunters. Bottom line, those who don’t buy a hunting license reduce federal matching money for VDGIF’s wildlife management and habitat improvement projects.

You’re one of the first to hear about these new research results from Virginia. The reason is I am involved in a marketing communications project with VDGIF. Working with partners such as Mile Creek Communications and Southwick Associates, we assessed current factors affecting hunting participation and license sales in Virginia. Then Responsive Management conducted focus groups and a telephone survey to better understand why some hunters don’t buy a license every year.

We’ll use this information to develop communications messages and strategies aimed at bringing Virginia’s lapsed hunters back into the fold. Year one of this project was funded by the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s Hunting Heritage Partnership, a program that awards grants to support state-level hunter recruitment and retention programs.

The focus groups and telephone survey unearthed a treasure trove of information VDGIF can use to improve its products and services as well as market those opportunities to Virginia hunters. We learned why Virginians hunt, who they hunt with, what they hunt for, how often they hunt and what types of licenses they purchase and how often they’ve purchased a license in the last four years.

The survey also revealed factors that affect their enjoyment of hunting. Survey respondents told us not having enough time, work and family obligations were the top factors that took away from their enjoyment of hunting.

However, not having enough places to hunt and not having enough access to places to hunt were among the top four factors that strongly took away from lapsed hunters’ enjoyment of hunting in Virginia.

We first heard about their dissatisfaction with public land in the focus groups. Participants said they perceived much of the available public hunting land to be overcrowded with other hunters.

In needs to be said that providing hunters with a good experience on public lands is no small task because this group is not a homogenous blob. Hunter expectations vary greatly. Some hunters want a wilderness experience while others want to see a lot of game or have a chance to bag a trophy. VDGIF has its public land management work cut out for them whether they’re trying to attract those Virginians who aren’t buying a license because they’ve dropped out of hunting or not buying a license because they’re hunting on private land.

While there are no easy answers when it comes to managing public lands, this market research project does make several points abundantly clear. Wildlife agencies must understand their customers. They must provide products and services their customers want. And they must be more aggressive about reminding Virginia hunters to buy a license so they don’t miss sharing the hunting heritage with friends and family, connecting with nature and, of course, helping pay the bills of managing wildlife and their habitats.

Leave a comment here or you can reach me at: tammy@womensoutdoorwire.com, Facebook.com/tammy.sapp2 and Twitter @TammyDianeSapp.

BASS giveth to women and Bass taketh away.

When BASS launched the Women’s Bassmaster Tour in 2005, outdoor women were elated. It promised to raise awareness of female professional anglers, give them a chance to compete against each other and build the kind of relationships that would enhance sportfishing opportunities for all women.

Women

That euphoria turned to disappointment Jan. 4 when BASS General Manager Tom Ricks announced the decision to eliminate the Women’s Bassmaster Tour from the Tournament Trail, citing declining participation levels as the culprit.

“We have worked diligently to grow the WBT to increase or maintain participation levels – even awarding a berth in the Bassmaster Classic – but ultimately, our efforts didn’t resonate,” Ricks said. “This was a very tough decision, and one that we didn’t take lightly.”

I visited with several professional women anglers last week and while most weren’t shocked by the news, the timing of the announcement did catch them off guard.

Sharon Rushton said if they had canceled the tour last fall, it would have been less surprising. According to Sharon, during the tour’s first full year, boat numbers ranged from 90 to more than 100. That number had fallen to less than 70 by last year. However, with the new schedule announced, many women thought the show would go on in 2010.

The last minute cancellation left many women scrambling. Judy Wong, who claimed her second Bassmaster Women’s Tour Championship last year, had to decide by Jan. 11 whether or not she would fish the Bassmaster Opens or FLW Tour events.

Kim Bain-Moore, who focused on the 2009 National Pro Southern Kingfish Association Tour after her history-making appearance in the Bassmaster Classic last year, said even before the news of the WBT’s demise, it was decision time for a lot of women – continue to fish the WBT or focus on the next frontier, fishing the Opens to try to break into the Elites.

“Maybe if the WBT was still around only four or five girls would have a serious crack at the Opens in 2011,” Kim said. “Now with no other option, hopefully 20 girls will focus on the Opens in 2011. And for the success of women’s angling that is what we need. A bunch of girls turning up en masse to fish the Opens, united rather than divided by strength of numbers, and therefore less likely to be singled out. We don’t need to win. But we need to be there, fishing, and having a noticeable presence — A call to arms.”

For many women, competing in the Opens this year won’t be an option due to finances and schedules that conflict with Open dates. There’s also the fact that some women don’t want to compete against the men.
One thing is for certain, 2010 will be a year of flux for many women who fished the WBT.

For example, Sharon weighed her options and will most likely fish the Heartland Trail, which for her means she won’t have to drive as far and will spend fewer nights in a hotel. Debra Hengst, who said she could see the end coming, got into the BASS Central Opens in November and also will fish the Bass Champs Trail, which has four divisions in Texas. While Kim Bain-Moore decides what she wants to do next, she’ll definitely be filming the second season of her Sportsman Channel TV show “Breaking the Surface” with co-host Diana Rudolph.

While these women are launching their boats in different directions, they all said they were grateful for the opportunities the WBT provided.

“I made so many friends and met so many people along the way,” said Debra. “The Women’s Bassmaster Tour was something to be thankful for.”

Sharon appreciated the positive female role models the tour provided.

“I hate to see the tour go away because it showed women who were independent —launching their own boats and fishing on their own. It’s fun to fish with other women, too. It’s a different atmosphere.”

While everyone agrees the failing economy dinged the WBT, several of the women questioned whether or not everything possible was done to grow the tour.

Judy, Debra and Sharon all made the point that with the firepower of media giant ESPN behind BASS, why was there no TV coverage of the women’s tour?

Professional women anglers have been scratching and clawing for sponsors since Sugar Ferris founded Bass’N Gal. A fundamental law of sports survival is a dastardly chicken/egg situation: Without sponsors, there is no TV airtime. Without TV airtime there are no sponsors.

While TV coverage of the WBT was never promised, participants fervently hoped for it.

“I felt at the beginning it would grow and be THE tour for women. But ESPN didn’t get behind it,” Judy said. “They didn’t use all the resources available to them to grow the tour.”

The jury is out on whether or not someone else will pick up the loose ends. But as far as Judy is concerned, it will take someone who has an understanding and passion for women’s fishing. And a lot of money to back up that desire.

Despite upticks in the stock market, experts warn we’re probably facing a false economic rebound, which doesn’t bode well for tournament support. Though WBT title sponsor Academy Sports + Outdoors did not pull their sponsorship, according to a marketing representative who called into Fish Bait Radio on Jan. 6, it will be tough for individual anglers to catch the sponsor dollars they need.

So, 2010 may be a year where professional women anglers hit the water to keep their skills sharp in hopes there are better times around the bend.

If you’d like to hear what others have to say about the closing of the WBT check out the following podcast: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fishbaitradio

What do you think about the downfall of the WBT? Leave a comment here or you can find me at: Facebook.com/tammy.sapp2 and Twitter @TammyDianeSapp.

I am a soul hunter.

When things come together and I punch my tag, the feeling of accomplishment is intoxicating. When they don’t, I’m not disappointed because it’s the experience that makes me happy. I love the peaceful feeling I get when hunting. Yet I know at any moment I might glimpse a buck with a candelabra rack, triggering an exquisite adrenalin rush.

To be honest, I am grateful hunting is not a competitive endeavor because that would spoil its magical healing powers. Besides us soul hunters have more important things to consider than whether our buck has longer G-2s than someone else’s.

While I head afield with the goal of seeing and taking a deer, turkey or whatever it is I’m chasing, being a soul hunter means my attention is apt to wander. One minute I’m like the front side of a mullet, all business as I comb the woods for the flick of a tail or an ear. And the next I’m distracted by how the sun makes the dew sparkle like millions of Swarovski Crystals. Closing my eyes isn’t a great technique for spotting game but you can’t beat it for inhaling the spicy, sweet smell of decaying leaves or listening to the urgent calls of a pileated woodpecker.

While I’m not some whacked-out earth momma, in 2010 I’ll be seeking my own brand of Nirvana as a soul hunter. With just a few tweaks, hunting can nourish my spirit better than a massage or bubble bath ever could. Though my resolutions are simple, in my opinion they are critical to attaining this highest state of consciousness.

Steps to a Soul Hunter’s Nirvana

-After a cold morning waiting for critters to show up, those first rays of sunlight can put me to sleep faster than Ambien taken with a shot of tequila. I’ve tried to fight it. But why? If a buck shows up and I’m napping, I’ll never know. So there is nothing to fret about other than the pain from my head snapping around like a flag in a stiff breeze. I’ll be one step closer to Nirvana when I listen to my body and get one of those neck-stabilizing pillows.

- It’s important to distance myself from those who measure their self-esteem by turkey spur length, the inside spread on a whitetail’s rack or the number of animals they’ve killed. There’s nothing wrong with knowing the numbers behind your success. But there’s no room for those who want to shift hunting from the spiritual realm to a basketball game. It’s pure buzz kill for a soul hunter.

-Hunting in 30-degree weather is not a problem for me. However, when temps dip below that, I begin to whimper especially when my foot warmers fail, which they invariably do. Why? The hand warmers stay hot for hours. So one of my goals for 2010 is to find a product that warms my feet and doesn’t tear up my socks when I peel it off.

-Losing a few pounds would mean that when I wriggle out my cold weather hunting pants, the waist band wouldn’t be indelibly etched onto my skin. Plus, the ability to breathe deeply would help me control those occasional flare-ups of buck fever.

- I vow to never forget my Hunt Comfort cushion when I head afield, especially if there’s a long wait involved. I received a complimentary Fatboy Lite a year ago and believe they’re the best thing to happen to derrières since Spanx. Sitting in a ladder stand without one causes a serious condition known as “posterior paralysis,” which is marked by pain, numbness and sometimes a waffle pattern on your bum.

-I’ll also never give up my Gor-Tex woodsman hat with Thinsulate no matter how much people make fun of me. Yes, it’s too big for my head and makes me look like the female version of Elmer Fudd. But its soft warmth makes my detour to dorkyville well worth it.

- Most importantly, this year I plan to worry less about self-inflicted work deadlines, folding laundry or dusty baseboards and instead spend that time hunting. I’m old enough to realize enjoying life is more important than a clean house or even a fat bank balance. So in 2010, I intend to play outdoors even more with the people I care about most. I hope you do, too.

What do you resolve to do in 2010?

Let me know. Leave a comment here or you can find me at: Facebook.com/tammy.sapp2 and Twitter @TammyDianeSapp.