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TRAVEL | ENVIRONMENT | COMPETITIONS | GEAR | PHOTOGRAPHY
LadyShooter
PROFILE: Judy Morris Team USA's Leading Lady | Diva WOWCOMPETITIONS: World English - Team USA Ladies vs The British Ladies Team
TRAVEL: Somewhere in Argentina | South Florida’s Shooting ClubEQUIPMENT REVIEW: Lakewood Products Bag and Case
www.LadyShooterLifeStyles.com
L I F E S T Y L E S
....your digital magazine resource for ladies in the shooting world.
This first issue has been a whirlwind of activity and exploration as we entered the world of shooters fromaround the world. With serendipitous synergy, publisherRichard Steward and co-publisher Thaddius Bedford, enthusiastically decided to take on the task of creating amagazine to represent the women in shooting sports.Our paths have crossed with so many interesting and
supportive individuals eager to be a part of this publication for the fastestgrowing segment of the shooting market. Thank you all for working withus.
We would particularly like to thank the powerhouse, Judy Morris, forher unwaning confidence, tireless effort and abundant support by intro-ducing us to many significant players and sources in the lady shooterrealm, which has resulted in making this issue possible.
Women in shooting sports come from all walks of life. Lady ShooterLifestyles will celebrate their diversity in each issue by featuring storiesabout the ladies behind the scenes as well as the women of the front line.In addition, we will talk about places we have been for shooting events:we discuss food, activities, accommodation we would recommend basedon our experiences from those trips. This is a lifestyles magazine, and thereading will be designed to reflect the many facets of a woman’s lifestyle.
We count on you, the readers and contributors, to help this magazinedevelop. Suggestions and comments are welcome; we want the contentto reflect what you want to see, so please let us know what you think.
Thank you all for your patience and support through the process ofputting this all together. We hope you enjoy the subjects of this issue asmuch as we have.
Ready. Aim. Read!
Jeni NovakovaManaging EditorLady Shooter LifeStyles
Jeni Novakova
Managing [email protected]
Richard H. Stewart
Publisher/Editor in [email protected]
Thaddius Bedford
Co-Publisher/[email protected]
Sheila Greenfield
Associate [email protected]
Judy Morris
Associate [email protected]
Contributing Editors
Alyssa GruberDavid Holmes
Richard H. Stewart
Design/Production [email protected]
Sheila Greenfield
Advertising Sales [email protected]
LADY SHOOTER Lifestyles
No part of Lady Shooter LifeStyles may be
reproduced in any form without written
permission of the publisher. Copyright 2013,
LifeStyles Media..
Visit us at www.LadyShooterLifeStyles.com.
COVER: Anne Mauro, Beretta and Pure Gold
shooter, competes in 2013 Grand Prix at
South Florida Shooting Club. Image by
Thaddius Bedford.
| Welcome to Lady Shooter LifeStylesEditorial Team
Welcome to Lady Shooter LifeStyles....
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 3
c o n t e n t s
7 The Team’s :Leading Ladyby Jeni Novakova
11 Diva Wow, Helping Women, Help Womenby Jeni Novakova
17 Fresh and Ripe Mango Salsaby Jeni Novakova
18 Somewhere In Argentinaby Alyssa Gruber
30 Watch Those Earsby Jeni Novakova
36 The Bedford Portfolio, A Shooters Lifeby Thadius Bedford
49 A Shooter’s Best Friendby Jeni Novakova
52 South Florida Shooting Clubby Jeni Novakova
61 Lakewood Products Caseby Dave Holmes
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 5
S h o t s o f t h e D a y
Tell them...you’re a Lady Shooterwith an LSL T-Shirt!
Click on the image to download a high quality verson suitable for
self-printing or sending to your area T-Shirt imprinter.
I
by Jeni Novakova
The Team’sLeading Lady
“The Ladies category is thehardest to fill,”
explains Morris.“women are
caretakers, mothers,
workers etc..,’and expectations
are different”
t’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life,”replied Judy Morris when asked why she volunteers her time to manage Team USA. By day Judy Morris is a busy IT ProjectManager for the City of New York; in her “spare time” she is the firstfemale manager for the National Sporting Clay Association’s TeamUSA - the sport shooting team that represents the United States in international shooting events.
Team USA is an eclectic group of the top shooters in the sport. To qualify, US shooters must participate in mandatory and electivequalifying events around the country, of which the top four scores aretaken into consideration and compared against other shooters. Thetop scores reflecting each category are then given the opportunity tobe team members. The team is divided into two divisions: Sportingand FITASC (European); and into the categories of Junior, Open, Veteran, Super Veteran, and Ladies. Currently, there are 36 membersas some members qualify for concurrent participation. There are atotal of forty-three slots available; eight of which are available for
Tell them...you’re a Lady Shooterwith an LSL T-Shirt!
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 7
Team USA Manager Judy Morris carries flag leading the team duringan international championship.
women. “The Ladies category is the hardest tofill,” explains Morris. “women are caretakers,mothers, workers etc. and expectations are different. It’s harder for them to get away to participate in the events.”
Morris herself began shooting in 2005 whenfriends asked her to use her marketing mojo tohelp them with a shooting course on theIdaho/Montana border. The process required research on the sport and speaking with manypeople in the field. After being surrounded bythe shooting community she was hooked. Assoon as she returned to New York, Morris got fitted for a Beretta shotgun and learned to shoot.As much as she loved it, she never intended tobecome a professional element in the sport.
In 2008, Morris had the opportunity to travelto Cypress with Team USA and that was the turning point. “During the opening ceremonies I looked up from the valley to see our team comeover the hill with our National Anthem playing, itwas very moving. Morris explains what spurredher to take on the huge task of team management, I thought, “I can help these guys, I can do something. I looked at all these other
countries with matching uniforms and theylooked so sharp and put together..” I thought,“we are the wealthiest nation and we don’t lookput together. There is no reason we can’t look assharp as the other teams.” Upon her return to USsoil she immediately submitted her resume forthe position. She was rejected and a man washired, “I knew it was because I was a woman.”Despite being rejected as team manager, Morristook on the administrative responsibilities she feltwere lacking. “International travel is very daunting to US shooters. Travel documents fortravelers with guns can be very intimidating andcomplicated. I didn’t merely tell team memberswhere to find the application, I helped them complete it and submit it properly.” Her philan-thropic efforts were not in vain. In 2012, after asuccession of other managers didn’t work out,the NSCA finally approached the dedicated Mor-ris and offered her the position. Despite the 4-year resistance from the recruiting board of theNSCA, Morris has taken the team to the next levelin little over one year since taking the position ofmanager. Not only has she pulled the team together, streamlined uniforms, and implemented
Judy Morris and NSCA Director Robert Crow at the 2013Grand Prix. FITASC at the South Florida Shooting Club
fund raising initiatives; but the overall image of the team has changed as well. “The transformation over the past two years has elevated the team to its rightful status making it apoint of pride and aspiration for the membershipof the NSCA. She has brought a sense of pride tomembers of Team USA: past, present, and future.”Said Will Fennel, long standing member of TeamUSA. Morris explains, “It used to be a burden tobe on the team, but now it’s something shootersstrive for. It’s prestigious.” After the first qualifying event of the 2013 year, she said shehad 12 phone calls from shooters of the event interested in joining the team. But, the impact shehas had goes beyond adding prestige to teamUSA, “She has elevated the entire program andthe sport.” states Wendell Cherry, Team USAmember for over a decade and one of the topshooters in the world. “She has raised the standard for young shooters to aim for.”
Where the affectionately titled “Team Mom”felt resistance from decision makers she did notfeel the same from the shooters, in fact, it wasjust the opposite. While there was some resistance from the NSCA to hiring a woman, themale dominated team welcomed Morris withopen arms and confidence in her ability to leadthem down a successful and fulfilling road. Andshe hasn’t let them down. “She has done an
amazing job!” explains Cherry, “Since Judy Morriscame along everything has changed. It feelsmore like a team now and she has made being onthe team more fun.”
The once disheveled team now proudly represents the USA with matching uniforms intwo shooting events abroad. In addition to facilitating the application process and uniformstandardization one year of Morris’s ambitiousfundraising efforts have provided enough fundsto pay for all of the team’s expenses – includingthe two overseas events! This is huge for members. With the expenses covered, the dedication required is more tangible for a widerrange of shooters meaning a bigger pool tochoose from, resulting in a stronger team.
What does she see in the future? “I want thereto be enough money in the bank to support theteam in lean years.” In addition, Morris says shehopes to get the team to more internationalevents abroad. After all, that is the whole pointof having a Team USA…
Morris can be seen at shooting events aroundthe country supporting her team. Just look forher bright smiling face at the Team USA fundraising tent with her dedicated four-leggedshooting companion, Miss Daisy.
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 9
Judy Morris gives team member and four-time NationalFITASC Champion and NSCA Hall of Famer Wendell Cherry
a little lesson on how to shoot clays.
Judy Rhodes enjoying a bird huntwith Grassland Safari.
H ooting and hollering may not traditionally be associated withhunting, but for the ladies of DIVA WOW it comes with the terri-tory. “We want to have as much fun as we can because it took usso much to get there,” explains Diva’s founder, Judy Rhodes. Thedaughter of a rancher, Rhodes has had a gun in her hand since the ageof 4. Hunting is her life and she has taken on the mission to empower women to make hunting and shooting sports a part of theirlives as well.
“Women Helping Women; Women Teaching Women; Women Supporting Women” is the slogan for the organization which now hasover 1500 members worldwide. Diva Women Outdoors Worldwide,originally known as Texas Women in Shooting Sports, is a non-profit501-C3 organization. Their mission is to “help, teach and supportwomen worldwide in a women friendly, non-threatening, supportiveenvironment by introducing them to shooting sports and a variety of
by Jeni Novakova
DIVA WOW!Helping Women Help Women
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 11
Rhodes poses at Cape PointSouth Africa on her 20thAfrican Safari.
outdoor activities.” By creating anon-threatening environment,women feel more comfortable tolearn the ropes of what has traditionally been a male dominated community. Throughher own experience, Rhodes, aseasoned shooter and hunter, remembers what it felt like to bebelittled and not taken seriouslyon excursions. If an experiencedshooter is treated this way, why
would a woman want to exposeherself to that kind of ridicule?Due to this kind of reaction tofemale shooters, it’s no wonderwhy the female shooter community was dwindling.When Rhodes was asked tospeak at a conference, she realized there were enough interested women, but no onewilling to stick their necks out asleaders, so she decided to take
on the task herself. And, thus,the beginning of what is nowDiva WOW was started.
The headquarters of Diva’s islocated in Dallas, Texas, but themembers are from all over theUS and the world. Rhodes, whosaid she hunted over 200 dayslast year, meets and recruitswomen as she trots the globe onpersonal shooting trips. Theclub itself welcomes around 285
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 12
Rhodes poses at Cape Point SouthAfrica on her 20th African SafariRhodes poses at Cape Point SouthAfrica on her 20th African SafariRhodes poses at Cape Point SouthAfrica on her 20th African Safari
Rhodes takes a brake during the filming of “Ammo and Attitude” in front of the Greystone Castle Sporting Club.
women weekly who come to shootor take lessons. In addition to theactivity at headquarters, Divaleagues are sprouting up aroundthe country. “We introduced thefirst leagues 4 years ago. Now wehave leagues as far away as Washington, Pennsylvania,” statesa proud Rhodes. Leagues includeclass A, B, C & D shooters andwere started to suit the more competitive souls who wanted go
beyond just hobby shooting.“Diva WOW was not set up to becompetitive in shooting as a club.We need to stay neutral to becheerleaders for ALL women,”states Rhodes. “We want to besupportive so women feel comfortable in a shooting environment.” But the leagueshave given an outlet to thoseshooters who want to shoot withpeople they know and trust in a
competitive but fun spirited event. With a growing female interest
in guns, it is important for womento get educated and groups likeDiva WOW seem to be becomingmore prevalent. As many households have guns, it is important that the women of thehouse also know how to use themand to be comfortable. In recentyears, women’s interest in learningabout shooting and guns has
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 13
Rhodes takes aim at an Oryx while hunting at the Five Star Ranch
increased, according to statistics,and Rhodes concurs. With thethreat of new legislation womenhave begun to be proactiveabout their rights and learn howto protect themselves and beself-sufficient. The Diva’s goal isto provide education and appropriate outlets for women inan environment that understands what it means to bea woman shooter. It goes beyond simply picking up a husband’s or father’s gun andshooting. Women have differentneeds than men and men arenot always understanding ofthese differences, which canmake it challenging for a womanto learn effectively from a maleshooter. In an environment likeDiva’s other women are there toadvise how a woman shouldhold a gun, and assist in equipment selection and properfit. “Diva WOW has it’s own research and development department. We review every-thing from clothing to equipment. We also have a DivaSeal of Approval so womenknow what has been tested tobest suit their needs,” explainsRhodes.
While gun shooting and hunting are the primary focus ofDiva WOW, the organizationpromotes and educates womenon all outdoor activities. According to the Diva website:“With a variety of shooting clinics, we are introducingwomen to AR-15 rifles (modernsporting rifles), shotguns, handguns, bb guns, black powder rifles, archery, cross-bows, fly fishing, spin casting,dog training, equestrian events,camping, sailing, and even out-door cooking.” And the newest
member to the Diva activity listis slingshots. “Slingshots are ariot. It also offers women agood introduction to shooting ifthey are intimidated by thethought of a loaded weapon.”
But Rhodes warns, “Diva’s isnot for every woman. This is forwomen who want to takecharge.” She adds, “We are overthe top. I always have makeupand jewelry on. This is a groupof ladies who like to shoot butlike to look good too. We arenot one of the guys; we are notone of the girls; we are our own.”And Rhodes stresses it is not justabout the woman either. This issomething that can promote thefamily: when women learn toshoot they can participate andgo out on the hunt with theirhusbands and she can get
behind her children learning toshoot as well. Rhodes says themost rewarding part of what shedoes is “Making a diamond outof a chunk of coal: The womenwho [with the help of Diva’s] become leaders and role modelsfor other women and in theirown home without losing theirindividuality.”
Judy Rhodes is a woman whois not all about herself; she is“into introducing women to theoutdoors.” She strives to be arole model for women who wantto take charge of their lives. Beon the lookout for future contri-butions from Rhodes in thecoming issues as she shares withus experiences and opinions ofthe shooting world including an account of her 21st African safari.
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 15
Rhodes hunting Turkey in Kansas.
Flavors | By Jeni Novakova
Fresh & RipeMango Salsa
ince we will be traveling toSan Antonio, TX. For the NSCA’sWorld English Competition, Ithought I would tip my hat tothe southwest.
I created the salsa recipeyears ago with a friend for ourbook club. I have since altered itwith fresh ingredients making itan even more refreshing and delicious melody of flavors forany occasion.
I have found the key words tothe salsa are: Fresh & Ripe.Choose your mangos wisely; themangos are what make this salsasing. Make sure your cilantro isfresh and fragrant – pinch off aleaf and roll it in your fingersand sniff. If it smells green likeparsley, do not use it. Your ginger should also be nice andplump, leave the shriveledpieces aside and break-off themore rounded, almost shiny,smooth skinned stems.
Mango Salsa:2 Ripe Mangos –
cubed.1 Medium Red
Onion – chopped fine½ Cup Fresh.
Cilantro – choppedfine.
1 Can Black BeansFinger length of
Fresh Ginger – peeledand cubed.
3 Cloves FreshGarlic.
Wedge of Lime.
Place mango,onion, cilantro, and beans in a medium-size mixingbowl.
Use a garlic pressto press the ginger,scraping the bottomand adding the finepieces to the bowl.Remove the ginger from the inside of the press and discard(you can also leave the gingerwhole and use a hand grater tograte the ginger if preferred).
Press the garlic into the bowl.Squeeze in the lime wedge.
Mix the salsa and place in adecorative bowl to enjoy.
Delicious with tortilla chips oras an accompaniment to grilledchicken.
S
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 17
Image by Thaddius Bedford
The sky was painted a deep orange and purple as I sat and watched a once in a lifetime lunareclipse somewhere in Argentina, just outsideBuenos Aires. A spectacular and unexpected display as the day headed toward dusk. It hadbeen the first time my father and I had crossedinternational borders for one of our many outdoor adventures together. We were there topursue the world-class wing shooting for ducks,doves, perdiz and pigeons, my first time ever,and I was in awe of Argentina’s beauty. Thebeautiful landscape, coupled with the charmingSouth American culture, made for an experiencethat will likely never leave my mind.
Hunting the fowl in a field with only male companions may be intimidating for somewomen, but for me, it felt like home. I’ve been
somewhere in Argentina, just outside Buenos Aires
Images by Thaddius Bedford
Alyssa (center) and her father,Steve Gruber (right) pose with thecrew from Los Dos Hermanos.
The sun sets over the Parana River inSanta Fe, Argentina.
around firearms for the majority of life, starting froma young age with safety lessons from my father.Guns were never hidden and kept away from me,acting as if they were a secret that only adults wereallowed to know. Instead, my father taught meabout the caution that was always to be taken whenaround firearms, and that they were never to be usedas a toy. Guns were to be used as intended andthere was never room or an excuse for a 'mistake'when it came to guns. I'd hunted with my dad fordeer and turkey but at the age of 20 I had never really spent time using fine shotguns and focus onwing shooting. I knew it would be a learning experience and I hoped I could make my dad proudwhen I shouldered the gun and pulled the trigger.As I stood in the middle of the farm field waiting forthe passing of doves, I realized that there are only ahandful of people that can say they have done what
somewhere in Argentina, just outside Buenos Aires
TRAVELby Alyssa Gruber
I was doing at that very moment. I was overcomewith gratitude for the hand that I had been dealt.Not only was I in a foreign country enjoying a vacation of sorts, but also I was able to spendtime with my father because of his hard workand dedication to his profession. My father hasspent most of his adult life making nationallysyndicated outdoor programs for the OutdoorChannel. From a young age, he took me alongwith him on his excursions all around the greaterUnited States. From rainbow trout fishing in the
backcountry of Wyoming, to alligator hunting inFlorida, I have seen and learned things that cannot be taught in a classroom. The emphasis ofimportance that was put on hunting and fishingas I was growing up, still and will continue to bea huge impact of the way I see the world. Beingable to go out and bring home your own dinner,whether it be a fish or a deer or any other sort ofanimal seems to be so crucial in a world
forgetting its connection to nature. Today, whena young person knows more about fast food thana fresh catch, I am so thankful for the lessons Iwas taught as a kid. I was always observing mydad, or any other member of my family, bringinghome a fresh whitetail deer, and butchering it inthe field behind our house. For dinner, we wouldhave some sort of venison dish, and I was exposed to the true circle of life. For some, theidea of firearms is completely foreign, even rejecting the idea completely. Humans, in nature,
are usually scared of what they do not under-stand. In that ignorance, they pass on the beliefthat guns are a bad thing that only barbarianswould use in times of violence and crime. Notonly is this opposite of the truth, it creates acloud over outdoor enthusiasts everywhere. I amnot a monster; I do not commit crimes. I think itis crucial for my generation to become muchmore aware of nature through hunting and
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 22
Alyssa loads her trusty Beretta.
AAlyssa enjoys a break in the sunshine.
Los Dos Hermanos guide Patricio Aldertarrio gives Alyssaa lesson in dove hunting
fishing. We have become glued to television setsand cell phone screens, unaware of how theground beef in the market actually ends up there.Thinking that hunters are destroying the world isso far from reality and it should be confronted.On the vast majority of his hunts, my father willoften give the meat of the animal he has huntedto the villages for food. If it wasn’t for my father,I might have been in the dark about the contributions that hunters make, not only in theirown neighborhood, but also all over the planet. I am so thankful I have grown up the way I have.Being able to look at a firearm and know itsworking parts and its contribution to society issomething I cannot put a value on. I have an immense passion for nature, and the conservation of such. I know that without the lessons I learned growing up, I would be like themajority of people may age, not knowing the difference between a Sig Sauer and a Benelli, amule deer and an antelope. We are cutoff fromwhat is right outside out windows, and it is ourresponsibility to change.
Needless to say, that day in the field in Argentinaturned out successful with me bringing downseveral doves and perdiz. I think at the end of theday, it is easy to say my dad was proud of me,and I was proud of myself. It is my hope that parents everywhere can show their kids how toshould a gun, or tie on bait to a hook. We owe toourselves as Americans, to not let ignoranceeclipse our heritage and bring the power ofknowledge to the light.
Hunter takes aim over a farmer’sfield near Santa Fe, Argentina.
Great Dane takes a siesta.
Alyssa and her father watch as their hunt-ing companions try to lasso a goat.
An Argentinian dove.
Watch Your Ears!
That may sound a bit silly to some, sinceit’s darned near impossible to see the side ofone’s head, but around the range, it’s a common phrase when someone is ready tostart shooting, a simple warning that the immediate environment is about to get noisy.It’s usually a casual reminder, as most rangeshave signs proclaiming eye and ear protectionmandatory.
Interestingly, most give little thought tohearing protection, using whatever means is
handy. The eyes seem to draw far more attention, with different tints and such, to entice one to open the purse strings and trythem out. The protection aspect of glasses isoverridden by the vision enhancement capabilities. Enhancement is what shootersare after, protection is taken for granted. Fewhave actually been spared injury by theirglasses on the range. They are a “just in case”item.
Hearing protection, although the poorstepsister, is a totally different situation.Hearing protection benefits a shooter, or
To Hear .....
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 30
...or Not to Hear!
spectator, on the range every shot. Ignoring itis guaranteed to cause long term damage.Understanding hearing protection should beon everyone’s priority list, not an afterthought.
Damage to hearing occurs when excessivevibration damages the hair cells of the innerear. (Age also wears them out in case youwondered why your grandpa always ignoresyour grandma when she’s talking.) The haircells change the mechanical energy of the vibration into electrical impulses that tell thebrain what you are listening to. They don’tregenerate, so damage is permanent and cumulative.a
There are two main types of hearing protection. The first type of protection is passive protection. It blocks sound from en-tering the ears. Plugging your ears with yourfingers is passive protection. However, plugging your ears makes it hard to hold agun and shoot, so shooters have supplemented the process with foam earplugs, or plastic muffs with foam linings. Silicone plugs can also be molded to the exact
shape of the ear.The second type of protection is electronic,
or enhanced. That consists of taking a passiveform of hearing protection and supplementing it with electronic circuitry thathelps a shooter hear with their ears plugged.It’s nifty stuff!
Hearing and vision are our two main sensesfor monitoring the world around us. When weuse passive hearing protection, we reduce thesound input that our brain uses for keeping ussafe. Electronic protection circuitry actuallyamplifies soft sounds while reducing loudsounds to a level that isn’t harmful. It is thebest of both worlds as it allows us to communicate effectively verbally while stillhaving protection.
We’re in a little bit of a quandary withhearing protection. The noise from a gun discharge, tire blowout, thunder clap or someone slamming a book shut is of short duration. It’s called an impulse sound. Theother side of the scale is the steady sound of ajack hammer, jet engine or industrial machinery or race cars. Hearing studies
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 32
dealing with loud noise are industry based,hence done with steady sounds. Impulsesounds are the orphan step-child. OSHA doesn’t drive the studies on impulse sound, sowe are left transposing the information fromsteady noise to try and make it relevant to impulse noise.
Sound is measured in decibels. Few of usare ever in a situation where sound is monitored so we can develop a feeling forhow many decibels a noise might be. Sound iseither comfortable, uncomfortable or painful.
Studies indicate that exposure to soundover 115 decibels for over 15 minutes, maycause damage. That indicates that the negative effect of sound vibration in the earmay be cumulative. Steady noise in the 90decibel level is about max for safety’s sake.Gun shots can easily exceed 150 decibels, alevel certain to cause damage. This is wherethe impulse issue comes in. We don’t fully understand where the “damage line” is. (A screaming baby can make it to 120 decibelsand that’s why some folks aren’t very tolerant.It hurts.)
Hearing protection is quantified by thedecibel reduction it creates, measured by putting a microphone inside the protectionand comparing that to the volume when themicrophone is exposed to the full sound. Thebest reduction is about 30 decibels, with mostin the 22-26 decibel range. A thirty decibel reduction in a steady environment of 150-160likely wouldn’t be enough to prevent longterm damage. Real world experience indicatesthat, when dealing with impulse sound, thereis sufficient protection for most people atthat level.
Just to keep it from getting too simple, ittakes about 5 decibels for most people to tella difference in the volume of sound, whichmeans the average person would be hardpressed to tell the difference between protection that provide 25 decibels of protection, versus another unit that provides30 decibels.
And there is a bit more to it than just therated protection of muffs or plugs. They haveto fit properly to work properly. Foam plugs,
the most common form of protection, are anexcellent case in point.
Auditory canals come in all shapes andsizes. While foam plugs should be rolledtightly and allowed to expand in the ear whilebeing held in with a bit of finger pressure tocreate a proper seal, if plugs are too big forthe canal, they will work their way partiallyout of the ear. As soon as the seal is broken,protection is compromised. If an ear canal istoo big for the plug, the seal will never beformed and protection is compromised. Plugmanufacturers know this and produce plugs inseveral different sizes.
The problem is that retailers, by a verylarge margin, only carry one size. If it fits dad,it isn’t going to fit the kids. Wedging them inthe outer ear may help, but it isn’t the correctanswer to the problem. Industrial supplyhouses or the internet are the most likely
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 33
spots to find different sizes of foam plugs, notyour local shooting range. Some internet vendors offer sample packs of different sizesso you can figure out the right one for youand stock up.
Some folks don’t care for the pressure fromthe expansion of the plugs and readily lookelsewhere to meet their needs.
Molded silicone plugs eliminate the sizingissues of foam plugs. They fit your ears exactly, hence, if molded properly, you get allthe protection they can possibly provide. Theyalso do away with the potential discomfortfrom plug expansion. Molded plugs can bemade by audiologists. Some shoots have vendors making them on site.
Muffs that clamp over the outside of theears have to have a good seal. Hair, hats, jewelry and carelessness when putting themon can be obstacles to getting that good seal.The plastic cup that fits over the ear causesproblems for some shooters. When shooting,some find muffs bump the gun stock. Thatbreaks the seal and reduces the effectivenessof the protection.
The ear cups will be lined with foam to absorb sound. The seal that makes contactwith the head around the ear is an all important factor to both comfort and effectiveness. Seals made of soft leather arethe most comfortable I’ve found.
When comparing the noise rating of muffs,keep in mind there are no miracles. A greaterreduction rating means there is more mass tothe muff: more foam and plastic. So a ratingof “30”, with a large bulky cup that bumps thestock and breaks the seal, may actually provide less protection than a more slendercup with a rating of “26” that doesn’t get displaced in the mount.
Electronic plugs and muffs follow the sameconstruction methods as those of their passivecounterparts, with the addition of electroniccircuitry. Prices can vary widely, but in general, you’ll get what you pay for. The mostexpensive part of a good set of electronicmuffs or plugs may well be the programmingthat goes into the circuitry. You can’t see that,but you can tell it when you use the product.
Sound compression technology, found in
all the better electronic units now, compressesdangerous sounds down to around 90 decibels, but amplifies soft sounds so a usermaintains total auditory contact with theworld around him or her. Not only is it handyon the range, it is great in the field. Birdhunters can easily follow their dogs by soundas they work brush. It also allows one to keeptrack of fellow hunters moving through thebrush and woods. (Dick Cheney likely wouldhave avoided a lot of embarrassment had hebeen wearing electronic protection!) Waterfowl hunters can hear the birds, especially handy for any slipping in from behind. Big game and turkey hunters can heartheir prey approach through the woods. It’s amatter of choice whether to enhance one’shearing or damage it.Many models allow forattaching phones or pads through a mini jack.They can be worn around power tools, lawnmowers, snow blowers and even while watching TV for those whose hearing may notbe what it once was—all while being able tohear the soft sounds and keep the louder onesbelow the danger zone. Cost may seem like anissue, but for the money, your hearing is paramount and not just in the shooting envi-ronment. Hearing protection with enhancedhearing capabilities is greatly appreciated bymany users.
The next time you need to protect yourhearing, make the best choice for your needsand wallet. Doing it right will only make theexperience better!
S
by Jeni Novakova
A Shooter’s Best Friend
ome call them a man’s best friend, but to Jennifer Broome of Quinebaug
Kennels dogs are a huntingcompanion and a career. The history of dogs inhunting is vast. Throughouthistory dogs have been used forshooting sports and huntingaround the world. A well-trained dog keeps shooters
company as well as assists insuccessful shots.
At Quinebaug Kennels, dogsare trained for such jobs. “Weprovide services from puppy selection to training maturedogs for hunts” states kennelowner and dog trainer, JenniferBroome. Quienbaug Kennels isa 50 acre farm located in Canterbury, Connecticut.Broome, who lives on the prop-
erty, makes sure dogs getplenty of exercise and consistency to assure goodhealth and success based oneach dog’s needs and goals.
There are several caninebreeds that are bred specificallyfor shooting sports. Each breedis known for specific traits. According to Broome, however,just about any dog can betrained for hunting. “As long as
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 49
Jennifer Broome in 2009.
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the dog is high energy and enjoys chasing things it can betrained for hunting.” Whilepuppies are ideal for training,even older dogs can be successful. Puppy training be-gins with two one-month ses-sions. The first session focuseson obedience, voice commands,and electric collar response.The second session acclimatesthe dog to bird hunting andshotgun conditioning. Witholder dogs the approach is
slightly different; the naturalpredator, which is usually hin-dered in pets, needs to bebrought out through playgames, and obedience trainingis merged into fieldwork. Dogsare conditioned to associategunshots with rewards and fun.Shots go off during play timeand chase games and graduallygo off with more frequency.
The AKC regulates the bestbreeds of dogs for sporting.Dogs that excel in sporting and
hunting include pointers, retrievers, setters and spaniels.There are many to choose fromso the decision can be daunting.Kennels like Broome’s offer con-sulting services for such decisions. Getting help choosing a breed that fits yourneeds and personality as well ashelp finding a reputable breedercan make the endeavor easierand more successful. But itdoesn’t only depend on thedog, “People can be the hardest
to train,” says Broome. Not onlydo the dogs need to learn obedience and skills, but “theirowners need to understand howto communicate and care forthese dogs.“ Sporting andhunting dogs are high energyand need regular outlets fortheir instinctive on-the-go personalities by exposing themto invigorating activity. For city-dwellers this can be challenging. There is little opportunity for city dogs to
expend their energy at home,but creative alternatives areavailable. Quinebaum Kennels,for example, provides a shuttleservice to Manhattan. Dogs arepicked up curbside and taken tothe farm for training, “pre-sea-son tune-ups”, exercise, etc. Thekennel staff work with the dogsto keep them conditioned andready for sporting excursionswith their owners who weekendor vacation in sporting environments.
A gun dog’s career doesn’thave to stop with companionhunting; there are competitionoptions as well. Field trials,championships, hunt test, runtests, etc. are all stimulating andcompetitive events for gundogs. Information on the different competitions is readilyavailable online. Kennels canhelp ready and train dogs forthese competitive events aswell.
“It is so rewarding to have adog as a constant companionand a hunting companion. A professional trainer can helpmake your training successquick and fun,” advises Broome.Quinebaug Kennels works withdog owners all over the UnitedStates and Canada, but the convenience of a kennel closerto home might be more practical for non-east coast residents. Contact a kennel inyour area for information ongun dog training and services.For more information onQuinebaug Kennels or JenniferBroome, go towww.QuinebaugKennels.com.
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Jenifer Broome with some of her charges onQuinebaug Kennels' grounds in October 2012.
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Jenifer Broome with some of her charges onQuinebaug Kennels' grounds in October 2012.
Jennifer Broome in 2009.
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Jenifer Broome with some of her charges onQuinebaug Kennels' grounds in October 2012.
South FloridaShootingClub
The sun sets after another fantasticday at South Florida.
Photography by Thaddius Bedford
How about a five-star sporting clays range? No kidding!
South Florida Shooting Club is located a couple miles west of I-95.
Take S.R. 714 exit to SW Long Road, head north and you can’t miss it.
To the north one sees lots of citrus groves, but this area of Florida produces
lots of potatoes. Did you know Florida was a potato state? I sure didn’t!
The architecture of the spacious clubhouse has a southwest, stucco look.
It is spacious, well-appointed serving food a cut above the average.
In one corner is a gunroom with representative pieces from some of
What would you expect to find in the middle of a bunch of potato fields? A farmer on a tractor?A French fry stand?
Europe’s finest makers. Exquisite engraving, fine wood
and immaculate workmanship suggest that these guns
aren’t for those worried about the price of gas. They
are however, a delight to even a pauper’s eye.
The grounds cover in excess of 600 acres, replete with
palms, palmettos and lots of open area. The courses are
laid out around the edge of the property. Unless one favors
a long walk, a cart could be considered mandatory
equipment. The sporting courses 42 stations offer covered
shooting stations to beat the South Florida sun, or an
unexpected shower. Trap and skeet fields can be found just
east of the manicured lawn surrounding the clubhouse.
The club is managed by British expatriate Doug Vine.
Many clubs tend to set targets that offer a fair degree of
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 54
A FITASC group takes their turn atshooting over the pond.
Staff reloads one of the towertarget launchers.
entertainment. Doug’s targets tend to offer a fair
degree of challenge, something club members expect
and enjoy. He is available for instruction by
appointment.
The club is a member only facility. The decision has been
made to host several tournaments a year that will open the
property to non-members. The first was held the first
weekend in February of this year. The Florida State Shoot
will be held there in April.
The central part of Florida is becoming quite the snow-
bird shooter mecca. Given the success of a series of Florida
tournaments roughly embracing the month of February,
there’s no reason to think this shoot series won’t continue
in the future. South Florida’s Grand Prix FITASC started
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 56
South Florida Shooting Club House
Wendell Cherry lookson as Judy Morrisbreaks a few clays.
things off this year. Tournaments followed at Indian
River, Quail Creek, and Bradford Farms. Several new
clubs are being developed in this same area. If you are
a northern state shooter, a winter trip to Florida might
just be in order! Few areas in the country offer as many
quality venues within easy driving distance of each other.
In addition to the tournaments, top name instructors are
available throughout the month on weekdays for a bit of
instruction.
Take it from this Yankee. Shooting over palmettos,
watching clay pigeons arc over palm trees and walking
under Spanish moss beats heck out of slipping and sliding
around on the roads and shoveling snow. If you make to
the area while South Florida is open to the public, swing by
and see how nice a shooting range can be!
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 58
View from South Florida Shooting Club House.
Desirae Edmunds takes aim over the pond.
Imay be a guy without any purse time, but I’ve watched you ladies digging frantically, knowing the Chapstick is in there, somewhere. Maybe it’s a nail file instead of the Chapstick, but you
know, in the end, it will be in the deepest, darkest corner of the bagunder something you should have eaten three months ago.
Most shooting bags are like that: an abyss with a collection of stuff,the most important of which will be in a deep, dark corner. Construction is typically a main pouch with a smaller one on eachside. Some stuff goes in and stays there, but never gets used. Thestuff you want to use is underneath the unused stuff. No matter whatyou are after in a side pouch, you always look in the wrong one first.
I’ve used the same shooting bag for 14 years. I’ve seen a lot of niceones, but none that seemed any better than the one I had. My number one gripe has been that I couldn’t get my rain gear and myshells in my bag at the same time. I hate shooting wet! When I saw
by Dave Holmes
Lakewood Products CaseRemember what a pain it is to find
something in that big, baggy purse?
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 61
mention made of Lakewood Products bag, designed to hold 100 rounds of ammo oneach end with a section in the middle thatwould hold 200 empties, my eyes lit up. Fewsporting shooters bother to carry their emp-ties with them anymore, but that middle compartment looked like it would hold raingear. I had never heard of Lakewood Products,but this was a no brainer. Sign me up!
The Clay Shooter Case, as Lakewood termsit, is 15” long, 10” wide and just a bit over 9”high. It’s “foot print” is actually a bit smallerthan my old, soft-sided bag. The exterior is anylon fabric. The “magic” of the Lakewoodcase is that it has a solid frame and dividersfor the interior compartments. The frame material appears to be Masonite, or a verysimilar product. It is thin and lightweight.There is a thin layer of foam between thenylon and the frame. The case supports my180 pounds without a grunt or groan.
The compartments are set up to hold fourboxes of shells on each end, great for thosewho like to carry different shot sizes. The center compartment measures 7 ½” x 9” x 9”.The huge difference between this case and asoft bag is that every bit of the space in theLakewood case is usable due to the rigidframe. All the space is accessible for the samereason. There’s no digging in a black hole forthe “Chapstick”. It packs nicely in a vehicle.
The lid is also rigid and hinges along theback side. When you open this case, it staysopen. A soft pouch, roughly 7” long, 5” wideand 3” deep is stitched to the bottom of thelid, as are five elastic shell loops Another softpouch is stitched on the front of the bag, 13”long, 2 ½” wide and 7” high.
The Shooting Case is available in camo andblack. It retails for a penny less than a hundreddollar bill. I can easily get 150 shells, all theregular stuff and my rain gear in this one. Packwisely and you’ll get to the range with everything you need for the day in one case,just grab and go. I’m happy!
But wait, there’s more! For separate shipping and handling charges you can doubleyour order! Just kidding, but good ideas somein pairs. Lakewood also makes nifty gun cases.
It follows the same construction patern of the Clay Shooter case: nylon exterior,thin foam, full Masonite lining with closed cellfoam inserts to hold the gun firmly in place.
The really interesting part is that this case, unlike any other I’ve seen, opens on the top. Thelid has a full zipper and can easily be folded over,out of the way. The gun is simply set down intothe case. There’s no disassembly, no searching forroom to open the typical case that doubles insize to get the gun out and put together. D-ringsare attached to each corner of the case so it canbe strapped on about any kind of conveyance. Acarrying handle is stitched in the middle of thecase and a detachable carry strap, easily clippedon the D-rings is included. A pouch is stitched tothe outside middle of the case
The biggest case (53” long, 10” high and 5”wide, outside dimensions) comes with a 50” gunslot. My gun is a bit longer with extended chokes,so I cut out the foam at the butt adding over aninch to the gun slot. The gun is quite securelyheld. Like the Clay Shooter case, this one will easily support my 180 pounds, top or side.
While it has a sort of soft feel to it, the caseseems to be quite stout. The zipper tabs of thetop can be padlocked together, making the caseairlines approved. Steve Wagnitz, head of thecompany, has traveled to Africa and the caseshave survived that trip in fine style. The softtouch makes them a bit more comfortable tocarry than a heavy, hard case.
On a more domestic scene, the cases’ softsides and corners are quite polite to vehicles theycome in contact with. The empty case weighs
around 10 pounds. The overall length makes it atough fit in my Honda Civic trunk unless I put thebackseat down and put it in through the trunk.It’s a piece of cake to carry it like that. The camocase kind of shouts “gun”, but the all black caseisn’t so distinctive. It’s just a long black case withno definite adjectives attached to it.
This may well be the world’s perfect pickuptruck case. Hunters will find the easy, drop-in fitreally handy when dealing with dogs. It only takesa few seconds to get the gun covered. There’sonly a very, very short opportunity for a dog tojump in and make contact with the gun. A dogcould lay, roll or barf on the case after the gun isin and the gun will never know it.
Several shooters traveling together can optimize the back of a vehicle with these cases.Four guns would only take up a 20” wide swath.After arriving at the range, loading up would be awalk in the park, without having to trip over eachother to get out guns while others try to get backin the vehicle for other items. Couple the guncase with the Clay Shooter case and four guyscould easily be out of the vehicle, on the cart andheaded out to shoot in five minutes.
If you are shopping for a gun case or shootingbag, you owe it to yourself to give the LakewoodProducts a hard look. They’re handy as all get outand quality made in the U.S.A. That’s a toughcombination to beat!
Go to www.LakewoodProducts.com and seetheir full line of tackle boxes, bow cases, andother nifty products.
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 63
T
by Dawn Grant
Focused & PresentWhile Shooting
“I spend a lot oftime discussing
and teachingclients things like:the importance of
being presentbeing aware of
negative thoughts,being aware of
your reactions”
here are many things a shooter can do to sharpen theirmental skills, all of which would have a tremendous impact ontheir performance. Today, I want to focus on helping you withyour ability to be focused and present. As you know, being focusedand present is important to making good shots for any shooter. Yousee this with the Pros, while squadded with others, and in yourself.You must be focused and present if you expect to break the targetwell.
As we look to address this skill set using mental training, we needto first recognize that a correction needs to be made to the times inwhich you are not shooting focused and present. Take a momentright now to brainstorm and familiarize yourself with how you arethinking and feeling when you are not focused and present whenshooting. Your thoughts can be on a discussion that occurred earlierin the day, on the squad mate that won’t stop talking, or on chewingyourself out for missing an easy target at the last station. All thesethoughts will cause anxiety in your body. We have to counteract this
Lady Shooter LifeStyles | 7
cycle by purposely thinking in ahealthier, more productive man-ner. One of the suggestions Iuse with clients and in my clayshooting products is “I am focused and present on the current shot.” We are going tobreak this down and expand onit as a way of helping you to improve your skills in that area.
As with all my teachings, Ihighly encourage you to practice mental training on andoff the course. You will gainmuch more mastery over theskill in a shorter period of time.Look at your ability to be focused and present in any moment, where ‘in any moment’can be anything happening inyour life. You cannot expect tobe able to easily pull this trickout of your pocket at a weekendtournament if you have limitedability to do it in life. If youpractice what I teach you in life,then you will easily carry it intoyour shooting game. In shooting, ‘in the moment’ applies to whatever particular
shot you are engaged in at anygiven moment in time.
I spend a lot of time discussing and teaching clientsthings like: the importance ofbeing present, being aware ofnegative thoughts, being awareof your reactions to some ofthose thoughts or old programming, and being ableto feel confident that you havethe tools to shift away fromthose old ways of responding orthinking. The reason I spendtime on these topics is so theycan have a more positive, effective, healthy and limitlessway of experiencing life andtheir shooting game. All this ispossible to you when you simply (easier said than done)learn how to stay in a presentmoment, and keep your mindfrom wandering out of the ‘hereand now.’ Staying focused andpresent are critical factors to improving your shooting per-formance.
All shooters know the importance of being present in
that moment, but they strugglewith their mind taking them intothe past…into a past shot, a previous station or round.Maybe they missed a target orpair on the last station, or itcould have even been a few stations before that. What ifthey started an event andmissed targets on the first pegor station, and carried the frustration with them into thethird, fourth and fifth station, oreach shot after that so-calledbad station? Do you think theywould perform well if that is allthey thought about?
Another tendency is to allowyour mind to take you into thefuture, with ‘projections.’ Let’ssay you missed a few targets orplayed a few stations poorly.You can then have this doomand gloom attitude about whatwill happen on the upcomingstations or pegs, and maybedraw a gloomy conclusion tothe entire tournament. Or, let’ssay you had a streak of perfectstations and you have been performing really well. Youmight get to a point of concernabout whether you can carrythat on, where you may think: “Ican’t do that very much longer…
Dawn Grant
the longest streak I’ve ever hadis four stations.” You could alsoproject: “at this pace, I couldwin.” Or “at this pace, I couldend up being in the top ten!”These can lead to pressure asfear or expectation creep in andcause you to fumble futureshots.
These are a few examples ofthe different things that canhappen if you allow your conscious mind to wander intothe past or the future. It becomes imperative, then, thatyou learn how to keep yourconscious mind present andstay focused in each momentwhen you are shooting; that youare focused and present on thecurrent shot. This ultimately isthe biggest skill to learn. It’snot really hard, but it can seemhard because it takes commitment and diligence. Youwill find, after learning this in-formation and going into
observations of this phenome-non happening, that your conscious mind wanders all daylong, continually in the past orfuture. Your mind plays out different scenarios of what hap-pened, what should have happened, what is about tohappen and many other varyinganalyzations. You will see thatevery time your mind does that,it takes you out of the presentmoment. But the good news is,you already know what it feelslike to reel your conscious mindback in – to bring yourself present. I notice I do this when Iam driving down the highway, itstarts to down pour rain and Iwant to be safe; or when one ofmy kids comes to me withsomething important and I wantto give her my undivided attention. You can train yourmind to do this, with commitment and diligence, andyou will see your performance
improve as you do.It’s time to go to work! Start
training yourself to be morepresent in life. Shift my suggestion so it pertains towhatever life event you are participating in. If at work, itcould be: “I am focused andpresent on… this call, project,meeting, conversation, etc.” Athome, it could be: “I am focusedand present on… cooking dinner, conversation with lovedones, cleaning dishes.” You canfind opportunities all day longto practice this skill. The moreyou practice this skill, becomeaware of it, and commit tochange; the more likely you willbe in transferring it over to theshooting course, to your gameand into each shot. Practice thismental training and you willdefinitely see significant increase in your performance.
Nexus Shooting is NOW OPEN!WELCOME TO THE FUTURE OF SHOOTING! We are proud to announce that
we are now open for business. Starting Monday, May 13th, our normal hours
will be 10am-10pm, 7 days a week. We are located at 2600 Davie Rd, Davie,
FL 33314. Just a minute south of I-595 on Davie Rd.
Come experience what you've been missing with the cleanest, safest, quietest, friendliest,
and most technologically advanced indoor shooting range on the planet! From our million-
dollar, military-grade, fully air conditioned ventilation system, to our innovative use of the
latest technologies, proprietary live fire computerized targeting, and spacious, modern
showroom, no expense was spared!
We are fully stocked with thousands of firearms, rows and rows of black rifles and
magazines, and ammunition in all major calibers. YES, we even have 9mm, 5.56, .223, and
.22LR! Our professional staff is friendly, approachable, attitude-free, and ready and willing to
assist you in any way possible.
We allow flexible training with rapid fire, holster draw, prone and kneeling positions, and
dynamic shooting on the move (after demonstrating the ability to safely perform these skills)
through our unique licensing system.
With FORTY lanes, we have more capacity than any other indoor range in the southeastern
United States!
Multiple individual bays of varying sizes allow us to accommodate any size group and offer
private shooting experiences, providing the ultimate in comfort and safety.
Visit our website for further details at: www.NexusShooting.com
THE FUTURE IS FINALLY HERE!
