For the lady hunter and outdoors woman, click on over to Doeville. Proprietor Kim Pezzeminti finds one-of-a-kind pieces featuring semi-precious stones, copper, leather and antlers make this jewelry perfect for the woman who loves the natural beauty of the outdoors.

Fresh Water Pearl medley of colors including Chartreuse, Rose and Bronze all accented with gold. The Rose Heart shaped Fresh Water Pearl dangling in the center of the large side cut antler in a heart shape adds great dimension to this special piece. $125. Photo courtesy of Doeville.

Athena Means, at GunGoddess.com, offers bullet casing jewelry for both men and women. For the ladies, jewelry in this collection uses brass that has been cut and rolled back, forming pretty petals around the case head. There are even options for the primer pocket to be filled with a variety of colored Swarovski Crystals. For men, be sure to check out the cuff links and personalized pendant options.

Men's cufflinks come in many calibers and options. $19.95

Another site for the ladies, check out Addie Mia on etsy.com. The shop features jewelry designed by Natalie Foster of Girls Guide to Guns. Like Natalie, this jewelry is pretty, feminine and modern. Whether you go for a pistol pendant or a more traditional piece, you have the satisfaction of buying from someone who shares shooting with the world.

Addie Mia AK-74, just like Stephanie Hayden wears on "Sons of Guns!" $120. Photo courtesy of Addie Mia

Looking for something a bit more subtle? Check out Hot Caliber. Proprietors Kelle and Manos Phoundoulakis feature flattened bullet jewelry in sleek and modern settings. Offered in both gold and silver, from everything from earrings and pendants to keychains and lapel pins, this jewelry is an elegant way to show that you and your loved one are shooters.

A blackened sterling silver bullet held by a finely polished sterling silver frame. Comes with a sterling silver bead chain or rubber necklace in 16, 18 or 20 inch lengths. $200. Photo courtesy of Hot Caliber

Of course, there are plenty of other ways to say I love you too.  Ditch the restaurant and take your honey on a date to the range.  Who needs a chocolate when you can shoot up a box of these?

It wouldn't be difficult to spot your box of ammo if you chose this Federal 12 gauge Top Gun shotshell.

On a budget? You can always pen your sweetie a little love note. 

Speaking of pens and the month of love, share the moment you fell in love with shooting for a chance to win a Smith & Wesson tactical pen!

Machined out of 6061 hard anodized aluminum is this blue Smith & Wesson Tactical screw cap pen with a ball point black ink cartridge and a black pocket clip with the Smith & Wesson logo and name laser engraved on it.

And, if that’s not enough, our sponsors at Smith & Wesson added a throw and coffee cup that will be yours and only yours at the office or home!

This is a 100% cotton tapestry coverlet, rich in detail, colorful and colorfast. Approximately 48 inches by 60 inches they are machine washable, dryable and pre-shrunk. Made in the USA

So cool. A Smith & Wesson mug. Make a statement!

Captain of Team Smith & Wesson Julie Golob signs ball caps at SHOT Show. Photo by Barbara Baird

Tracy received her hat in the mail this week, and she just had to share her photo on Twitter. We think she looks, mahvelous, dahling!

Tracy Hughes likes her new Smith & Wesson ball cap, signed by Julie Golob! Submitted photo

Next week we’ll be giving away another fabulous Smith & Wesson item. Come on back and check it out!

One of the country’s most successful professional crappie fishing teams, Barbara and husband Jim are masters of fishing with spider rigs.

We met on a lake near the Reedy home base of Charleston, Mo., for a morning of crappie fishing using spider rigs.

With two anglers in the boat there is a division of labor that proves successful for over past nearly 20 years of crappie fishing. They have been competing in tournaments for 18 years.

Jim Reedy nets Barbara's fish in a show of partnership that is played over at each tournament. Photo by Don Gasaway

The Reedy team travels about 20,000 miles per year fishing about 20 crappie tournaments. They are popular participants in all of the Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters events. A 2009 winner of Angler Team of the Year, they backed up their success with second places in 2010 and 2011. Their principle sponsors are Bass Pro Shops, Vicious line and BnM Poles.

Barbara worked 23 years as assistant to the controller of Gates Rubber Company. In addition to fishing today, she also has some car washes and mini storage businesses. She also does some substitute teaching.

Jim runs the trolling motor, watches for fish on the locater, catches fish and nets fish. Barbara gets the poles and minnows to the front, nets fish and takes caught fish to the back to put in a live well. She also brings drinks and more minnows if needed. Both are responsible for their own poles.

At the ramp, it is Barbara who backs the boat into the water and then parks the truck and trailer. Jim handles the boat in the water and picks up Barbara at the ramp.

Team Reedy prefers pre-rigged minnow rigs that have a hook at the end and a ½ ounce egg sinker 8 inches above it. Twenty-two inches above the sinker is a three-way swivel. One eye of the swivel is tied to a line going back to the pole. The other has a 9-inch line with a hook on it. Both hooks are baited with a minnow.

The main line is composed of 6-pound Hi Vis line which allows for viewing any sideways movement made by a fish taking one of the minnows. Barbara explains fishermen often miss bites when they miss that sideways movement.

Other than the number of poles, spider fishing is basically jigging with 14-foot poles. That is where the resemblance ends. On the front and back of the Reedy boat are mounted brackets that will hold multiple rods. Fishing from the front is spider rigging and from the back it is referred to as trolling or long line fishing.

We have six rods in a fan pattern out from the bow. Each rig is set at a different depth as we slowly troll forward over submerged boulders and brush piles.

The rods are placed in a spider rig of rod holders available from marine supply catalogs or on line from BnM Pole Company (www.bnmpoles.com). The boat seats are near enough to the rods so as to be easily reached. They are also far enough away that they do not interfere with movement from the seats to a particular rod.

By fishing from a position down wind of a brush pile and then gradually moving into the wind, we ease the lines into the brush without the wind pushing us too and getting lines hung up.

The Reedys fish all sides of the piece of structure as well as the top. Barbara can scan a particular location using a side scanning fish locator. It tells her exactly what is going on down there.

Once the depth of the fish is found, the baits that are at different depths are adjusted to the desired depth to improve chances of catching more fish.

Once a fish is on a hook Barbara is careful to maintain pressure and not to drop the tip of the rod which provides slack. With slack on the line the fish is likely to get away. With larger fish a dip net is used to keep from breaking the line lifting a fish into the boat.

Spider rigging for crappie is a highly effective method of finding a limit of slabs for the dinner table. The Reedy team has also put tournament money in the bank using it.

~Outdoor writer Don Gasaway, from Southern Illinois, contributed this article. Thanks, Don!

Athena explains the concept for GunGoddess

I started shooting competitively about 18 months ago. My own frustration with trying to find feminine, colorful shooting accessories gave birth to the idea. I mulled it over for a few months, then started working on it. It took about a year from first having the idea, to getting the website launched.  While I am serious about my shooting, I also like to look like a woman while I am doing it.  Initially, it was just going to be t-shirts to wear to the range … it sort of mushroomed from there, because it’s hard for me to do anything in small measures!

She’s a real shooter, too!

My husband first took me to the range in 2004. He was about to deploy overseas for a year, and felt that I needed to learn how to use the guns that were in the home. I didn’t care either way, but I went, and loved it!  The gun I learned to shoot with was a Beretta F92. Big, heavy and clunky, but it has a special place in my heart!  After that, I took some classes and bought my own first gun, a Kahr P9. That’s the gun I still carry – it just fits my hands well, and I like its size and weight.

About 18 months ago I decided to try competitive handgun shooting, showed up to watch a USPSA match and the next week I participated with my Kahr. It didn’t take long to realize that I needed new toys for this sport (any excuse!). I now shoot both USPSA and IDPA with my Glock 34, which I love! It wasn’t my first competition gun, but it is the one that suits me best!

I also recently bought my first shotgun, a FN SLP Mark 1. I had borrowed different shotguns before making that decision, and again, that just felt like the best fit for me. I got to shoot it for the first time last week! I now have my sights on a rifle.

She’s got plans!

There’s a lot about GunGoddess that is trial and error; what products will women like? Or not like? What products are they asking for? It’s just all so new, that I’m sure as the year goes there will be many tweaks and changes to the products being offered. With a lot of the products, I am just sourcing them from other manufacturers and bringing them together in one place.

I would like to move in the direction of more GunGoddess-branded items. I definitely plan to expand the t-shirt line. I am also working on a GunGoddess line of range bags and gun cases.  And I am just staying open to new ideas and new products. I am working on shipping within 24 hours for as many products as possible.  And I am leaning towards American-made products, if I can. It’s not possible for all products, but I am focusing more and more on that.

Quality is critical. I test and use every product before offering it. If I wouldn’t use it myself, I wont sell it.

And, that’s not all. It’s not all about selling stuff. It’s about networking and inspiring, too

Well, initially I wanted GunGoddess.com to be a resource for information, and not just shopping. Then it dawned on me that other sites are already doing the information, article and educational material, and doing it well. So I scaled the idea back to just focusing on linking to women’s courses and shooting leagues. I’m still working on what the permanent format for that will be. My hope is that if there’s a growing and permanent link that is state-specific, it just becomes an easy place for women to go to find what’s going on in their area. While they’re shopping, they can look into taking that next course, or joining a women-only club or league. That’s the idea, anyway!

What’s hot at Gun Goddess?

My top sellers are the leopard print range bags and long gun cases, the bullet casing necklaces, the engraved Glock magazine floor plates, and the t-shirts.

Winged revolvers tee.

About those shirts …

They are my “baby.” I can’t even draw stick figures, but I am working with two wonderful artists who take my ideas and turn them into gorgeous artwork. The shirts are one of the reasons GunGoddess began. I wanted tees with fun, shooting-themed designs for myself, and I think the current three ladies’ designs are just gorgeous. Here again, quality is very important to me. I use higher-quality garments because I want my tees to have a super fit and feel. The water-based inks discharge into the fabric, so you can’t even feel the design. It will never crack or peel!

I just introduced embroidered polo shirts, as well the embroidered polos with a padded shoulder.  I am so excited about the apparel ideas I’m currently working on! Ladies just love the logo, which caught me by surprise! Although when you think about it, it’s not just a logo, it’s a statement … a woman who shoots IS a Gun Goddess! I am getting requests for more “Gun Goddess” items, and I can’t wait to introduce some of the new products!

Men's cufflinks come in many calibers!

Not just ‘for the ladies’

My focus is absolutely the women, but as I was searching for women’s gear, I kept finding “unisex” items that I thought guys would like too. That’s why I created a small men’s section, with a lot of gift ideas and original t-shirt designs, so that while a woman is shopping for herself, she can pick up a little something for him too. My “young shooters” page is expanding too. And the gift items are something I’ll be working to expand this year, too. I want the site to be THE place to go when you’re gift shopping for someone who shoots!

Visit Athena at GunGoddess.com.

The inaugural Outdoor Legends Tour includes an all-star list of participants, including: Valentine, Jim Zumbo, Jim Shockey, Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland, Ryan Klesko, Michael Waddell, Jerry Martin, George Thornton, Bill Miller, Jose Wejebe.  Lt. Col Deal and MGen. Randy West, USMC (ret), a PVA-ORHF Board member, will help lead the tour.

Lt. Col. Lew Deal, USMC (ret) and PVA_ORHF team leader, said he believes this is the first time celebrities and personalities from the outdoor world have been organized to meet the troops in person. “For those currently serving in a war zone there are few things that mean as much as knowing the folks back home care about you.  This is a unique gathering of well-known television hosts, industry leaders and recognized outdoor personalities who are taking the time to tell our troops– in person and face- to-face, that the outdoor community cares about them and is eager to welcome them home…and back into the outdoors.”

The Outdoor Legends Tour will spend 10 days touring bases in Southwest Asia, meeting as many soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines as time allows.  “It’s a hand-shake tour, Deal said. “There will be no production crews, no agents or sponsors ..just high-profile outdoor people mingling with the troops, posing for some personal photos and saying ‘Thanks you for your service.’”

As the official Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U>S> military personnel overseas, Armed Forces Entertainment and its performers have the honor of supporting soldiers, airmen, marines, and sailors by bringing the best  in American entertainment.  Col Kathleen Weatherspoon, Chief, Armed Forces Entertainment, is looking forward to the feedback on this tour. “Not everyone wants to hear a rock band, or meet a movie star …so we try very hard to provide individuals/groups from different genres to reach various segments of the military audience.

Valentine, said she  is extremely honored to be a part of this tour.  ” I have received so many letters and emails from servicemen and women telling me how much they miss the opportunity to hunt and fish and thanking me for bringing the outdoors to them through television and magazine articles.”  ”It is me/us that should be thanking them, for protecting our country and way of life, the Legends Tour will offer that opportunity.”

Visit Brenda Valentine online.

Responsibilities: The Digital Media Producer /Editor will provide creative and technical service in the production and post-production of outdoor programs to unique Broadcast shows on multiple networks. This person maintains a thorough working knowledge of video production, trends, new media, equipment and software. Troubleshooting equipment in the field may be necessary to complete projects. This person contributes to the overall operation of the video production department.

This person expands personal, departmental and corporate knowledge of new media and technology. This person will also perform other related assignments as requested and be available for emergency situations. Extensive seasonal travel throughout North America will be required for this position.

Learn more about this job.

We trained for a week-and-a-half on the manmade loops before our first test, which was an Europa cup. While we had mild temps all week, winter ran right into us a few hours before the star of the race. With driving winds and blowing snow, we fought some 100 women from all over the world to secure a spot on the World Cup. Lanny secured a spot and Tracy who had really bad luck with gale force winds picking up when she entered the range, just missed out making the World Cup. She competes in one more European cup in Italy next week and should hopefully be back on the World Cup circuit before Christmas.

Lanny stayed in Ostersund, Sweden, and competed in the first World Cup. She had a start to a great race in the individual, but the wind got the best of her and she missed 5 targets out of 20 to finish 48th place out of 98 women competing. If she would’ve been clean (hitting 20 of 20) than she would have made the coveted top 10.

Now Lanny heads to Hochfilzen, Austria, for some more World Cup action and Tracy heads to Ridnaun, Italy where she became the first women in the US to medal in the World Jr. Championships. There she hopes to take home an European Cup medal and secure a spot on the World Cup circuit.

Lanny Barnes racing in the World Cup in Sweden. Photo by Sam Merrins.

You can watch the races live on the Internet:

http://eurovision.digotel.com/ibu/index.html

http://services.biathlonresults.com/DataCenter_IBU.aspx

Here is the schedule of races coming up this week.

World Cup

Date Start time Distance Discipline

12/09 6:30am MST, 8:30EST 7.5 km Sprint Women

12/10 6:00amMST, 8:00EST. 10 km Pursuit Women

12/11 6:30 amMST, 8:00EST. 4×6 km Relay Women

Europa Cup

Date Start time Distance Discipline Kategorie

12/10. 2:00am MST, 10:00 am European 15 km Individual Women

12/11 2:00am MST. 7.5 km Sprint Women

~Lanny & Tracy Barnes

Www.twinbiathletes.com

Thank you to our wonderful Sponsors and supporters as a well as our family and friends for all your help in our quest to bring home the gold!

Sponsors: Advanced Technology International www.atigunstocks.com, Otis Technology www.otisgun.com, Enell Sports Bras www.enell.com, Danalco www.danalco.com, Babes with Bullets www.babeswithbullets.com, Bushmaster www.bushmaster.com, Columbia Southern University http://www.columbiasouthern.edu/

Supporters: Atomic skis and boots www.atomicsnow.com, Brunton www.brunton.com, Smith Optics. https://elite.smithoptics.com/, Women’s Outdoor Media Association, www.thewoma.com, SportLegs www.sportlegs.com, Elete Water www.eletewater.com, Prois http://www.proishunting.com/, Pelican www.pelican.com, Women’s Outdoor News www.won.com, Asym Precision Ammunition http://store.chencustom.com/Default.asp, TeludynTech http://www.teludynetech.com/

In Montana you get one “A” tag. It’s good for either a whitetail or a mule deer buck. You can also apply for antlerless tags based on the species and region but when it comes to hunting a buck, you have to choose which species to take. Some of you may be thinking, a deer is a deer right?

Julie G. with her first muley. Photo courtesy of Julie Golob.

Read the rest of Julie G’s mule deer story. She’ll take you along with her on yet another hunting adventure in the Treasure State. Visit Julie Golob’s blog.

Three Peaks range bag comes in purple, pink, black, navy blue or hunter green.

The availability of range gear for women is what sparked the idea for Bang Bang Boutique.   Having the right range bag was very important to me as a new shooter, so the store carries a variety of range bags that are affordable.  The Three Peaks small range bags in pink, purple, black, navy and green are just the right size for ladies who may have only one or two hand guns.  For women who need more room,  KNJ’s larger tactical bags, such as the Deluxe Range Bag, are another option. Additionally, BBB can customize any range bags with a rhinestone design or monogram.

For concealed carry, we offer holsters and purses.  We carry the innovative Flashbang Holster, which attaches securely and discretely to your bra.  It is constructed out of Kydex and comes with three different size leather straps to attach to it depending on the bra being worn. The Kydex is a clamshell design allowing for a fast and easy draw, while being totally secure when worn as it was designed to be worn.

Flashbang holster sold at Bang Bang.

Other concealment options offered are  pocket holsters, ankle holsters and belly bands made by KNJ manufacturing.  I’m always on the look out for other concealed carry holsters that best fit women’s needs.  I’m a strong believer that women should be able to keep maintain their fashion preferences while carrying a gun.

One of many in the lineup from Gun Tote'n Mamas!

Bang Bang Boutique carries purses by Gun Toten’ Mamas – including newly released styles.  These purses are not only affordable, they are well made and fashionable.  With models such as the zebra print hobo or red leather traditional open tote, all you see is a beautiful purse and no one would suspect there is a gun hidden inside.

Protective Eye wear is another area that can pose a challenge for female shooters.  Mainstream shooting glasses are masculine and not designed to fit smaller faces.  Bang Bang Boutique carries safety glasses that are ANSI z87.1-2003 compliant, in feminine styles and smaller fits.  The most popular model is the Cougar which comes in three shades of pink an in either clear or smoke lenses.  Women with smaller faces struggling with fit enjoy the Player and Geneva models.  Other frames offer more style appeal featuring tortoise shell frames and one with rhinestone accents.  All come with a microfiber storage pouch.

Bang Bang Boutique also offers hearing protection.  The most popular earmuff is the Browning Hearing Protector For Her which is NRR31.  For earplugs, the Super Leight Women NRR30 in hot pink are a best seller.  The are made for smaller ears.  For ladies who want something in between, we have the Ultra Light Sound Sensing Hearing Protection by Allen which are banded earplugs.

Kimberly Bortz, on the range.

Recently added are the KNJ belt holsters which are available in patterns (zebra, leopard, pink leopard and purple leopard) as well as in solid colors (pink, purple and black).  To go with the holster is the nylon web holster belt which comes in pink, black, foliage green and khaki.

Bang Bang Boutique offers pre made Range Kits which include a bag, hearing protection, shooting glasses and a hat or other extras.  Bundled together it is a great value, plus you get everything you need in one stop.  This is a great gift idea for a lady who is just getting her first firearm!

AK-47 case

For when the firearm is not in use, Bang Bang Boutique provides a variety of cases that will fit your pistols, shotguns, riffles and larger assault weapons.  Many of the cases are available in patterns and multiple colors.

Customize it! Add bling or whatever to your own bag.

Bang’s Signature features items that have been customized with rhinestone or Swarovski crystal accents for the lady who really wants her firearm accessories to stand out.  Besides what is offered in this section, a customer can make a special design request by filling out the customization request form.

A newly added feature is the “Bang of the Week” which is a featured discount.  The discount may be something already offered in the store – or it may be another firearm accessory offered at a special price. In April 2012, there will be a new line of range bags exclusive to the site.