Another winter has departed from the Upper Midwestern landscape. Stream trout season is open; turkeys are gobbling; crappies have moved into shallow bays; and thousands upon thousands are chasing willing walleyes on rivers.  I can remember learning as a kid that blooming lilacs and oak leaves the size of a squirrel’s ear signaled two springtime activities: shallow-water crappie fishing and morel mushroom hunting.  With a bead on the weather, you know it’s morel hunting time when night-time temps are consistent in the high 40s to low 50s at night with daytime temps in the 60s, occasi ..read more

Gunsite Academy, the world’s oldest & largest privately owned premiere firearms training facility proudly announces 35-year-old Ashley Dooley has earned her certification as a staff firearms instructor at Gunsite Academy. (Gunsite Facebook photo) Born and raised in Memphis, TN, Dooley is currently a law enforcement special agent in middle Tennessee. With 13 years’ experience as a Probation Officer and Patrol Officer, she also has been a six-year firearms instructor at her current agency, specializing in handgun and carbine techniques and training. Passionate about empowering men and women ..read more

What used to be an activity reserved for “the guys,” shooting isn’t exclusive to men anymore. More women are interested in gun ownership and learning to shoot than ever before. Whether you’re a potential mentor or a newcomer, it’s an exciting time to share shooting sports and learn about the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) +One Movement.   One of the best ways to ensure a new female shooter has an enjoyable range experience starts with appropriate safety gear. Eye and ear protection that fits well not only helps protect eyesight and hearing, but together they contribute to mak ..read more

When my grandchildren (10 and 12 years old) come to visit, we make it a point to have time together on the range. That’s what we did with their dad and his siblings while he was growing up and the tradition continues. Plinking with the grands is always a good afternoon, and for this experience, I added the new Hammerli Arms Force B1 rifle. Sponsored by Walther Arms Hammerli Arms Force B1 The Hammerli Arms Force B1, made in Germany, looks a lot different than our grands’ .22 rifles (Rugers). The Hammerli is a biathlon-type rifle with a toggle-style straight pull action, and comes in .22 Long ..read more

When a publicity agent from Hatherleigh Press reached out to see if I would review the cookbook, “A Return to Ireland: A culinary journey from American to Ireland,” by Judith McLoughlin, I immediately responded, “Yes!”  For two reasons, I jumped onboard: First, I wanted to try the recipes out on my family, some who live nearby and others who would be visiting over the holidays and into the new year, and second, because some day I plan on spending time in Ireland. It’s on my bucket list. Having lived in England for three years, I regret that we didn’t make the effort to head over to the ea ..read more

I’ve been working with Gun Tote’n Mamas, writing sponsored articles, running social media and wearing their concealed carry purses for several years. Once in a while, as I peruse social media, I see cringe-worthy photos of women wearing their concealed carry purses incorrectly. So, I decided this month to make a public service announcement about fitting your concealed carry purse to you both before and after the purchase. Sponsored by Gun Tote’n Mamas Six Steps to Fitting Your Concealed Carry Purse The following three steps will help you find the best purse for your needs, whether in person a ..read more

When Caleb Giddings, marketing manager at Taurus USA, recommended that I try a new revolver, the 605 Executive Grade in 357 Magnum, I balked a bit. Frankly, some revolvers of late advertised for everyday carry (EDC) have been difficult for me to manipulate – thanks to excessive double-action trigger pulls of 12 pounds and more. He told me he thought I should try it, and that really, this one was different. Sponsored by Taurus When it arrived, I noticed it was in an attractive, strong black polymer case that had a foam insert fitted to the gun. I immediately liked the look of the revolver. Fra ..read more

You’re interested in thru-hiking a long trail, but you don’t know where to begin. If that strikes a chord, you’re in the right spot. Whether you’re interested in backpacking for a couple of weeks on treks like the Tahoe Rim Trail, Oregon Coast Trail, or John Muir Trail, or you’re seeking longer-term adventure on a route like one of the Triple Crown hikes, it takes planning, research, and dedication to get from start to finish. Signs marking the PCT (Arthur McMahon photo) The longest thru-hike I’ve completed is a northbound trek on the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). I planned and saved m ..read more

“I believe in intuition and inspiration. At times I feel certain I am right while not knowing the reason why.” Do you know who said that? It was none other than Albert Einstein.  “Intuition is a very powerful thing, more powerful than intellect.” Any guesses? It was Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs.  Albert Einstein and Steve Jobs both attributed their extraordinary success to this personality trait – listening to their intuitions. They have both been stated saying, “It has never let me down.”  Sponsored by LockedIn Grip Intuition is a noun whose definition means that someone ..read more

Turkey season is one of our favorite times here at The WON. Even if you don’t hunt turkeys, who doesn’t enjoy seeing them in the wild? Throughout the years, we have spent many hours in the woods and fields, hunting these elusive beautiful birds. We also have prepared delicious meals as a result of our harvests, and even had some fun crafting with turkey feathers. Check out some helpful advice below in this turkey time round-up, featuring hunting, cooking and crafting the great American bird. How to Hunt a Turkey Hawaiian hunting guide Emily Perreira gives us sage advice in 4 tips as to how to ..read more