Event Scrapbook Women in the Outdoors Event

The Cuthand (Texas) Women in the Outdoors was held in March and brought NWTF Spokesperson Brenda Valentine to the Lonestar State to participate. The more than 60 women in attendance chose from 13 outdoors events.

 

Turkeyville Toms Women in the Outdoors Group Photos
Turkeyville Toms Women in the Outdoors Event

The Chapter Spotlight in this issue’s Chit Chat is the Turkeyville Toms and their 10th annual women’s event. Held at the Centerline Gun Club in Bellevue, Mich., participants enjoyed a variety of hands-on classes, including building bat houses (right). Nearly 60 women attended the event.

 


Taurus 709 Slim
Taurus 709 Slim
Taurus M856
Taurus M856 .38 Special Revolver

Shopping for personal protection

Search online for a statistic that says more women than ever are carrying concealed handguns and you may fall short on information.

Ask Turkey Country photo editor and certified shooting instructor, Matt Lindler, and he’ll tell you he’s witnessed a rise in female students firsthand.

“When I first began teaching concealed carry courses three years ago, I may have had one or two women in my classes,” said Lindler. “Now, it’s common to have five or six.”

I was one of Lindler’s students a couple of years ago, when I decided to take a concealed carry course. I’d been plinking for several years, but wanted to take personal protection to the next level. I qualified for a permit using my husband’s old .22 pistol. It was a fun gun to shoot but didn’t promise much against an intruder.
With my newfound knowledge, my quest turned to finding a handgun that fit my small hands, as well as my budget and comfort level. Personal protection is serious business, and I wanted the right tool.

I looked to the catalog of NWTF supporter and firearm manufacturer Taurus International (www.taurususa.com). With dozens of models and calibers of pistols and revolvers to choose from, I needed some advice, so I turned to Kristen Hunt, a longtime shooter and public relations representative for Taurus. Our search ended in two options.

Foxy Huntress handgun bag

Stylish, affordable concealment

Choose from two styles of the new Foxy Huntress concealed handgun bag. Shelah Zmigrosky, president of Foxy Huntress, first showcased samples at the NWTF in 2009, right before production and after getting feedback from Foxy customers. And they made their debut at this year’s SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Check them out at www.foxyhuntress.com.

PT 709 SLIM

“For this pistol it’s all in the name,” said Hunt. “The Taurus SLIM is thinner than any other 9mm in its class.” According to Hunt, this lightweight pistol was specifically built with concealed carry in mind, with no revealing lumps or lines and well-thought-out grip contours.

“Many of my gal pals have commented that they feel confident in accurately shooting with the SLIM because its grip size and trigger positioning are comfortable for smaller hands,” she said.

M856 .38 Special revolver

Hunt said revolvers are always a great choice because they are simple and easy to use. “Plus the 856 offers a 6-shot cylinder, but is virtually the same size as most 5-shot revolvers,” she added. “That extra shot could make a big difference.”

The 856 is offered in a 13.2-ounce magnesium lightweight version, making it comfortable to carry all day.

Still in research mode

Both guns seem like good choices, but more time at the range will help me decide. Both Hunt and Lindler say comfort and accuracy are key to any concealed carry choice.

“Choosing a handgun that is comfortable to shoot and accurate at a reasonable distance builds confidence in the person carrying it,” said Lindler. “Having that confidence is vital when using your gun to protect yourself or your loved one.”

Lindler also suggests looking for a handgun that’s easy to carry and conceal. If the gun is difficult or inconvenient to carry, then you probably won’t. He said, “A gun in a drawer at home is useless when you’re not there.” — Karen Lee

 

Cute calls

Polka dot turkey calls just can’t be ignored. That’s why we wanted to learn more about this custom line from Roost’em Calls in Oxford, N.C. Here’s what Jeff Wade, Roost’em owner and president and new member of the NWTF flock, had to say about his stand out calls and why he chose to create an affordable line just for women.

NWTF: Tell us about Roost’em Calls, the company and your products.

Jeff Wade: We strive to build a quality custom call that is affordable. Our calls stand out by their sound quality, because they are handmade. We’ve also had reports of high success rates from Roost’em call owners across the country.

NWTF: Tell us about your women’s calls. What makes them different?

Roost'em Turkey CallsJW: We are different from other call makers, because we created a full line of turkey calls for women only. When a lady hunter goes afield with a Roost’em “Poke A Dot” call or a box call made with pink ivory wood, she will stand out. We want women to feel as if they have “their own” turkey call and give all hunters the opportunity to have something different than everyone else.

NWTF: Why did you decide to do a women’s line?

JW: Women play an important part in hunting today. The hunting industry should be looking for ways to include more men, women and children to keep our heritage and passion alive.

NWTF: When did you join the NWTF and what motivated you to do so?

JW: I have just recently become a NWTF member, but I have always believed in the organization and its ideals of turkey conservation. I have donated calls to NWTF fundraisers in the past and have proudly carried the NWTF logo on my truck. As a call manufacturer, I possibly would not exist if not for the hard work of the people who belong to the Federation.