Becoming an Outdoors-Woman

[Rick]

BISMARCK ND - The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program has announced a schedule of events in 2012.

Hike the Maah Daah Hey Trail is June 15-17. This workshop is designed for women with previous hiking or backpacking skills, or who are in good physical condition. Participants will hike a 15-mile portion of the trail south of Medora. Activity is strenuous due to rough terrain. The $30 fee includes lunch and dinner each day, plus group gear. Each participant must provide their own personal gear.

The annual summer workshop is scheduled Aug. 10-12 at Lake Metigoshe State Park, Bottineau. Participants may take several programs including archery, canoeing, introduction to firearms, fly-fishing, kayaking, navigating outdoors, global positioning system, plant identification, introduction to photography, and tracking and trapping. Workshop fees of $135 cover instruction, program materials, use of equipment, all meals and lodging.

Turtle River State Park will host a workshop Sept. 21-23. Classes include mountain biking, wild game cooking, stream fly-fishing, nature jounaling and archery. Workshop fees of $135 include instruction in all sessions, program materials, use of equipment, and all meals and lodging.

Waterfowl hunting is scheduled Oct. 6-7 in Bismarck. Participants are instructed in firearm and waterfowl safety, shotgun shooting, waterfowl identification, water/field decoys and gear, and the techniques for decoying and calling waterfowl. A mentored hunt will be featured Oct. 7. Participants must possess a hunter education certificate, current hunting licenses and provide their own hunting clothing, boots or waders. Workshop fees of $20 include instruction, program materials and use of equipment. No lodging is provided.

A bow hunting workshop for women with no or minimal archery experience is set for Oct. 24-28 at Lake Metigoshe State Park. Participants will achieve the necessary education, experience and confidence to archery hunt alone. Participants must have previously taken the beginning archery course or have demonstrated a minimum level of proficiency, and must provide their own archery equipment. More information on this event, including cost, will be available in midsummer.

BOW workshops are designed primarily for women with an interest in learning skills associated with hunting, fishing and outdoor endeavors. Although open to anyone age 18 or older, the workshops are tailored primarily to women who have never tried these activities or who are beginners hoping to improve their skills.

Women interested in attending a workshop can enroll online, or print an information brochure and enrollment form, at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. More information is available by contacting Nancy Boldt at (701) 328-6312, Brittany Fish at (701) 527-3075, or email [email protected].