Deer Camp Lessons: Reading the Signs of Shot Placement

A deer running through the grass in the wild.

By watching the behavior of your deer, you can identify where the shot landed. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on November 10, 2023 NEWS, HOW-TO, TIPS & TACTICS, HUNTING Support NRA Women DONATE With deer season comes deer camps, telling tall tales around the campfire, and creative excuses as to why a shot was missed, or the one that got away.…

Read More

Layer by Layer: The Secrets to Staying Warm in the Winter

A man in camouflage gear with a beard.

There’s nothing like cold, wet clothes clinging to your skin to ruin a winter outing. Knowing where and how to wear the proper materials will keep you warm, dry and safe! by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on November 8, 2023 NEWS, LIFESTYLE, TIPS & TACTICS, HUNTING, GEAR Support NRA Women DONATE Winter can be an exciting time of the year for outdoorsmen…

Read More

Do You Know Your Antler Terminology?

A moose with large horns is standing in the grass.

You might take a bull by the horns, but not a deer—or elk, moose or caribou! Regardless of how long you’ve been hunting, if you’ve been referring to a whitetail buck’s “antlers†as horns, it’s time for this refresher course. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on October 13, 2023 NEWS, TERMINOLOGY, HUNTING Support NRA Women DONATE Antlers are what drive…

Read More

4 Mistakes to Avoid When Introducing Kids to Hunting

A family with a deer in the woods

Mentoring youth hunters means dedicating the time, expense and providing the right equipment for the best outdoor experiences possible. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on October 11, 2023 NEWS, LIFESTYLE, TIPS & TACTICS, HUNTING Support NRA Women DONATE Many kids look forward to getting in the field for their first hunt with a parent or other adult role model. As such,…

Read More

How to Measure Your Trophy

A man holding the head of a deer

Think you’ve made the record book? Don’t take chances. What you do in the hours after can determine if it will go into the record books or be rejected. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on October 9, 2023 NEWS, HOW-TO, TERMINOLOGY, HUNTING Support NRA Women DONATE If you are an avid hunter, you go through the same ritual every year. As…

Read More

Understanding the Pittman-Robertson Act

A group of people walking down the road

Yes, it’s a tax—one asked for by a group of concerned sportsmen in the 1930s. Thank goodness they did. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on October 5, 2023 NEWS, TERMINOLOGY, HUNTING Support NRA Women DONATE Have you ever sat around the dinner table at night complaining about not paying enough taxes? Have you ever wished your representative government would listen…

Read More

Gone Fishin’ and Huntin’

A man standing on the beach with an umbrella.

How will you celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day? by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on September 22, 2023 NEWS, LIFESTYLE, HUNTING Support NRA Women DONATE National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF) occurs each year on the fourth Saturday of September, after a proclamation was signed by Richard M. Nixon on May 2, 1972. On the day of its signing, President Nixon…

Read More

Understanding Cartridge Headspace

A close up of the barrel and the barrel end.

Many things must properly line up before a cartridge can be accurately fired through a firearm—and one of the most important factors is headspace. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on September 14, 2023 NEWS, TERMINOLOGY, HUNTING, CONCEALED CARRY, GEAR, FIREARMS Support NRA Women DONATE Firearm cartridges are made up of four main components: bullet, case, gun powder and primer. If you look at…

Read More

Know Your Doves

A bird sitting on top of a cactus.

Identifying and shooting your limit of these fast-moving targets is one of the most highly anticipated activity of fall. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on September 6, 2023 NEWS, LIFESTYLE, TIPS & TACTICS, HUNTING Support NRA Women DONATE For many hunters, the opening of dove season signals the beginning of hunting season! Unless you live in the deep southern United States,…

Read More

Being a Markswoman in a Marksmanship World

A collage of people playing wii in the field

What’s it like to be an active participant in traditionally male-dominated activities like hunting and shooting? This prolific NRA Women contributor offers her insight. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on August 31, 2023 NEWS, LIFESTYLE, HUNTING Support NRA Women DONATE I have spent my entire adult life in what has traditionally been a male-dominated world as it relates to firearms.…

Read More