North American Outdoors

As a firearms instructor conducting classes to your students, always be on the lookout for techniques, methods or the lack thereof that might affect the quality of the course you are teaching.  Whether you’re a brand-new instructor or one who has been teaching for years, there are five common mistakes that can creep into your class and deny your students the experience they deserve from an NRA Fir...

NRA Women are the Best of the Best --- why don't you join us? There are 3 steps, regardless of shooting experience, past training, or your career, to become an NRA certified Instructor.  1.  take the NRA Basic Course in your discipline of choice, 2.  take Basic Instructor Training (BIT), and 3.  take the NRA Instructor Course in your discipline of choice. All NRA courses are objective-based, have...

Few causes have such a direct impact on our lives, children, grandchildren, and the future of our country as the Second Amendment.  Since the beginning of 2020, the number of women who own guns is rising rapidly.  But what about gun ownership?  GUN OWNING and GUN OWNERSHIP are not the same thing.  The word "owner" means "a person who owns something."  The word "ownership" means "the right over own...

Thanks to 2020 -- we have a brand NEW NORMAL at the Gun Range!    21 million --- that's TWENTY-ONE-MILLION --- background checks were conducted for the sale of a firearm in 2020.Here’s another staggering number...The National Shooting Sports Foundation estimates that 8.4 MILLION people bought a firearm for the very first time in 2020.  That equates to 40 percent of all purchases!!The total backgro...

Have you ever realized that the lessons you learned as a child attending a summer camp, or in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or even the YMCA --- those lessons have carried on with you into adulthood?  Sometimes we don't realize how much these lessons become a part of us and instilled in us through our everyday lives. In Boy Scouts, there is a Guide to Safe Scouting.  One of the areas of focus is what i...

Have you ever been on an adventure where things may not have gone as planned?  Or maybe something happened that you would have never believed except you saw it unfold in front of your very eyes? In this week's podcast I'll share what all developed on the 2nd day of a 12-day long Boy Scout summer camp journey cross-country.  You just can't make this stuff up - and if it weren't for our guardian ang...

     “What is the best gun for a woman?”  Women and first-time gun owners want to know for their own knowledge, and men want to know for their girlfriends, wives, or daughters.          It seems everyone has an answer to this common question.  It is either a specific manufacturer, a specific caliber, or the non-committal answer, “It depends.”  The solution to this dilemma is also the same, “Go out...

"Remember the Alamo" For Texans, the Battle of the Alamo became a symbol of heroic resistance and a rallying cry in their struggle for independence.  On February 23, a Mexican force numbering in the 1000s, and led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna began a siege of the fort.  Though vastly outnumbered, the Alamo’s 200 defenders–commanded by James Bowie and William Travis and including the fame...

In this week's episode, we chat again with Brian DeBolt, the Large Carnivore Conflict Coordinator with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.  In his 20+ years of service, he has worked to educate the public in the many large carnivores that roam the great state of Wyoming. He, too, enjoys recreating in the backcountry where other large wildlife carnivores and predators roam.  As a native Wyoming-i...

In this week's episode, meet Brian DeBolt.  He is the Large Carnivore Conflict Coordinator with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.  In his 20+ years of service, he has worked to educate the public in the many large carnivores that roam the great state of Wyoming. He will talk about some of his experiences helping landowners and ranchers protect their livestock and property against grizzly bears...

In this episode, think outside of the box!  Hear different ideas to continue your shooting passion beyond hunting season or competition season.  If your favorite firearm to use during hunting season is a rifle, consider picking up a shotgun during the off-season.  Talk with  shotgun shooters, take some lessons, and go to the range to learn how to be a better shooter. Then go one step further.  Con...

"Invasive species"—they may not sound very threatening, but these invaders, large and small, have devastating effects on wildlife. Aquatic Invasive Species are non-native aquatic species that invades ecosystems beyond their natural and historic range.  They are spread either intentionally, such as someone dumping their aquarium contents into a lake, or unintentional by way of ships, fishing, hunti...

The weather is getting nicer, temperatures are rising, and the water is drawing us near.  Swimming and beach time is a great summer activity, but do you know how to be water safe and smart?  80% of people say they know how to swim, but in reality only 46% can actually perform all 5 of these basic skills to save your life in the water? Learn about pools and spas, as well as beach hazards to be awar...

Spring is here and it's breeding season for the American Alligator.  Do you know how to stay safe when in their territory? American alligators are found all along the southeastern United States.  Distribution includes  all of Florida and Louisiana; southern Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi; coastal South and North Carolina; East Texas and along the Texas Gulf Coast; southeastern corner of Oklahom...

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ONE year ago this week I began my self-guided and self-taught journey into the world of Podcasting.  I’ve enjoyed launching every single weekly episode!  Especially those interviews I’ve brought to you - I love hearing people’s wide and diverse stories of how THEY were introduced to firearms and the great outdoors! This year I want to hear from YOU!  Share your comments and ideas for more great co...

"What color is the car you just parked next to?""How many people are standing in line behind you?""What mile marker did you just pass on the freeway?"Situational Awareness is being aware of your surroundings at all times.  Not to the point of paranoia believing there is a boogie man hiding behind every bush, but taking charge of your space and your environment.  How many times were you so focused...

Meet my friend Cindy Scott - She is the owner and created Galveston Gal Firearms Training to offer safe, friendly instruction to law-abiding, everyday folks who want to learn more about personal safety and defensive tools. Her training is primarily focused on welcoming women into the defensive training world.  Finding women firearm instructors are hard to find!  Cindy tells us about her journey in...

I still put on makeup, I still fix my hair, and I always shave my legs no matter what adventure I am about to go on!  It makes me feel good and I have a better time when I feel like a Lady!  More so - I love it when a guy takes care of ladies out in the field - helping carry their gear, clean their gun, and field dress that hog!  It's not that I cannot do those activities - rather, I surround myse...

This week we will hear all about some great camping tips and tricks to stay dry, warm and well prepared for any type of camping adventure you choose to go on.  Whether it is a day trip, learning the importance of having a day pack and items necessary to pack along, or a weekend trip or even longer...Some of the best items to make sure you have with you to make this trip the best one ever!  We hope...

In this week's episode we'll hear all about Luke's first adventure kayaking.  He tells us about how to stay safe around water, and some great tips to keep dry and always pointed downstream where you want to paddle.  Luke recently visited a campground with his Boy Scout Troop and one of their big adventures was a day on the river!  Hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed telling the story! L...

What does Leadership mean to you?  What draws you to a successful leader and why do you follow?  What makes YOU a successful leader with many who follow you? We'll discuss some skill sets that make a great leader, and explore some examples how to be a strong and effective leader in a variety of situations.  Maybe you already use some of these skills and techniques when organizing and leading an ev...

What is the difference between an Instructor and a Mentor?  Can you identify the qualities of each of these titles?  When is it appropriate to be an Instructor, and at what point do you become a Mentor?  Can you distinguish the difference between the two?  Instructing is just the beginning...soon, it may turn into a mentoring opportunity, which the focus is, and should always be, all about the stu...

It was Valentine's Weekend, 2021 along the Texas Gulf Coast.  The weathermen said it was coming...a historic freeze and arctic blast the Gulf Coast has not seen in 100 years.  We Southerners know how to plan and prepare for a hurricane, but an arctic blast?  A historic snow and ice storm?  What???  So thankful for the skills, tools and equipment we've acquired in our many, many years of Boy Scouts...

Have you ever looked at a life event and realized - how did THAT happen 20 years ago??  It seemed like only yesterday when I was ____ !  This week's podcast explores just that.  I had a few moments recently when I had to take a step back and realize how fast life is flying by.  Raising 4 boys, 5 including the husband, our lives thrive in chaos!  The good chaos though, where schedules are completel...