See Maggie’s facebook page and the NRA Women facebook page for more info.

You just finished reading Maggie Makes It Look Easy on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

 

I think my most favorite memory was when my Daddy gave me my first hunting rifle. A Marlin 30 30 and its still my favorite to hunt with today. He is a retired police officer and was shot while on duty in 1978 and I can remember how proud he was when I made him a scrap book of the ordeal but sharing our love of firearms, hunting, fishing, and law enforcement has been a real blessing. -Tammy, reader

 

Barb Baird and Dr. Floyd Boschee

My dad taught me so many things — how to throw a spiral with a football, how to run hills, how to paint a house, how to serve a tennis ball and how to write a history report. Of course, by being there for me all my life, he taught me so many other things — without even knowing it, I’m sure. Lately, though, I’ve been on the teaching end of things and have been working with him on learning to shoot a gun for self-protection. Last fall, we even went to the range and he shot my pink AK-47. Among my two sisters, Dad and me — he was the best shot!  -Barb Baird, Founder, Women’s Outdoor News

 

I was lucky to get to visit with my Dad the week before he passed away. Years before, I had won a Mossberg shotgun in a raffle put on by his Shriner unit. Since I lived in MA at the time, he offered to buy it from me instead, with the intent that I could use it when I came to visit in PA. During that last week, he had me go up to the gun case and get the gun. It was still brand new, never shot – and he gave it to me. It means so much to me to have that thing we shared now – since it was my Dad that taught me to shoot. -Tara, reader

 

My father died when I was very young. but he left me his German Diana competition air rifle and a Sollingen Steel hunting knife. That rifle was my first firearm and I learned a lot with it. It is a break barrel and I hope to pass it on to my daughter when she grows up. – John, reader

 

When I was just around 12, my daddy took me shooting for the first time at my cousin’s house. Then a couple months ago he took me target shooting, and I did as good or better than him. Another recent time, he took me to a fellow firefighter’s house to shoot with the men. He’s taught me how to ride a dirt bike and 4wheeler. He’s my hero – he’s been a firefighter for around 25 years. ♥ – Joelle, reader

 

Karen Bartuch and her dad.

My dad was in the Army but rarely talked about it – not because he didn’t enjoy it – he is just extremely private. My mom lived in France with him while he was deployed, my oldest brother was born there. He did however, talk about how while in the Army he gave haircuts for a quarter! and he still had the pale pinkish ancient clippers that he did the haircuts with – he was very proud of that! He also had a very old toolbox filled with pennies and a few knives and bayonets (one of which was from my great uncle who brought it back from the war – it had a swastika on it). For some odd reason, those two things – quarter army haircuts and bayonets – lead to my perpetual curiosity about history, war, military operations and eventually guns.  – Karen Bartuch, President, Women’s Tactical Association

 

When I was 10 my dad started teaching me how to shoot. I was so excited learn because all of my older cousins knew how and I felt left out. The first gun I shot was a little 22 pistol and I remember feeling so accomplished that I finally shot a gun. After a few weeks of learning how to shoot and use the gun properly my dad took me hunting. We went to one of my families favorite hunting spots and in about 30 minutes I shot and killed my very first pig. My dad was so proud of me that he bought me my first gun. A Walther PPK. I was so happy and even til this day its my favorite gun to shoot at the range. Every Fathers Day since then we go out hunting and continue to make new memories. -Jamie, reader

 

My Dad had a very old pistol that he kept for safety reasons and he always had it in the glove compartment of our car when we traveled. The night my husband of 44 yrs. now proposed to me and we were waiting in the house for my parents to return for Mike to ask Dad’s permission Dad chose to bring that big old gun in from the car. Every ounce of color drained out of hubby’s face as he mouthed to me, “How did he know?” Our kids love that story. Of course he didn’t know, it was coincidence but it’s a fun story to tell. -Barbie, reader

 

Back when I was in high school I spent summers both shooting at our local gun clubs with my Dad. Every August we

Julie Golob and her father.

would volunteer to work the Miller Invitational which was one of the premier matches on the circuit. All the big names in shooting made it this match that was dubbed the “unofficial warmup” for the USPSA Nationals. I remember one year I took on co-chief range officer duties with my dad. Dad encouraged me to not only design a course of fire, but also help build all the props.  He said, “You just tell me what you want and what you need and we’ll figure out how to do it.”  I didn’t realize it then, but by giving me the reins, he was helping me learn about responsibility. Through the entire process, dad didn’t take charge or push. He let me plan it all and then we worked together to make it happen. The stage was a fun house, complete with giant clown head props, a hall of mirrors and a merry-go-round carousel with moving targets. It ended up being a lot of fun to shoot and work.  I learned so much but the best though was being able to share it together. – Julie Golob, Smith & Wesson Team Captain, Champ shooter and author of Shoot!

 

 

My best memories of shooting with my dad was going out every evening in the old HQ holden ute shooting foxes and rabbits, with his old Sako 17 ( which is still his pride and joy) bringing the kill home. Dad skinned them and I pegged them out and salted them . It was a blast! ♥ my dad -Emma, reader

 

 

Natalie and her dad.

As you may know, connecting with my dad was the reason I started shooting just a few years ago. If you have a story or memory to share about your dad, grandfather or other father figure, please leave it in the comments below. We would love to hear them. Happy Fathers Day! – Natalie

You just finished reading Here’s To Dad! on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

Natalie: I absolutely love what you are doing, Lynne. I think it is so important and good for little girls and families. Tell me how this idea came about.

Lynne: As an instructor, so many of the women that I meet that are coming in to take classes are there for self protection. Those are the stories that I hear and some of them are pretty uncomfortable. And then I read Julie Golob’s book, Shoot!. In the beginning of the book she talks about going with her dad to some of the competitions and sweeping up brass and doing whatever she could to be involved and to be close. She talks about how that helped evolve her interest in shooting. So I did a post on my blog asking “How did you come to shooting?”  I got so many wonderful responses from so many women all over the country saying saying, “I grew up going shooting with my dad” or, “I grew up hunting with my dad.”  And I thought, What a wonderful experience!  We need to encourage this. I started thinking about it and talking with my instructor, who is also my shooting boss, Evan Carson. We decided that this would be a great way to introduce girls to safety education as well as give them an opportunity to have some family bonding time. But we really thought focusing on the girls was important because the little boys grow up getting to go the range or learn to shoot in scouts and the girls don’t. We just want the focus on the girls.

Natalie: I love this – I think you are striking a very important chord here and it parallels my own experience very much. I got in to it to spend time with my dad and to me, shooting is not about self protection so much, though of course that is a benefit. For me, shooting is about relationships.

Lynne: That is something we are trying to promote. The bonding – the opportunity to participate in something either Father/Daughter or something as a family that you can do together. I personally find shooting to be one of the most relaxing things I can do. If I have had a really stressful day at the office, I like to go to the range and just make holes in paper. And if I can make a really big hole in the middle of the paper, that is a really good day [laughs]. I find it very relaxing to just go shoot and go have fun. But at the same time what I discovered when I became an instructor was that I really really love sharing this skill and teaching other people, especially women, about how much fun it is and that it is not something to be afraid of.  And watching them go from being tentative and nervous to realizing that this is something they can do its a lot of fun. Translating that in to a family event and something that focuses on younger girls- teaching them early, letting them have the opportunity to build that skill and the self esteem that comes with that – just seemed like such a great idea. It’s funny – I put it out on facebook and in less than two weeks we had hundreds of likes and had been contacted by 15 or 16 ranges that wanted to participate as well as a variety of sponsors.

Natalie: So how do ranges get involved?

Lynne: There are a couple of options. There is a contact link on the website that will send an email straight to me. I have also gotten posts through the facebook site and we begin the conversation that way. Our website has a map so you can click on a state and it will take you to a sub page where you can look up the cities with all the participating ranges.

Natalie: This is really exciting! I think this is such an important thing to be doing.

Lynne: Thank you, we are really hoping this turns in to an annual event!

We could not be happier for you, Lynne! Keep up the good work!

We will be out on Sat, June 9th supporting National Take Your Daughter To The Range Day. Be sure and send us pictures from your time at the range, too!

Be sure and check out all the cool ranges and give-aways at your nearest participating range. Follow Lynne and company on Twitter @NTYDTTRD and Facebook.

You just finished reading Take Your Daughter To The Range Day on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

The proprietor of Pretty Dangerous, Julie Ruster-Price, and I began a conversation about the origin of her business and found out that this chick has walked a pretty interesting road.

Julie has a long history in the fashion and merchandising industries, which served her well when it came time to create the custom holsters that are at the center of the Pretty Dangerous line. Like many of us, Julie appreciates beauty and has a refined aesthetic honed over a lifetime of being a girlie girl. Few of us, however, choose to take the step of a second career as a police officer. That is exactly what Julie did. She notes that she loved being a police officer, but an injury and the unexpected passing of her mother lead her to her latest career path; that of an entrepreneur.

Julie Ruster-Price

Julie started down the road of designing the Pretty Dangerous signature holsters after finding that she was unhappy with the options that were on the market at the time.

As a police officer, I had more basket weave than I knew what to do with and if I had to stare at the color blue any longer I was going to scream. I wanted something pretty and simple that would protect the trigger of my gun.

After a little market research, Julie realized that other women were looking for the same thing.  Julie got creative and began to experiment with various shapes, leathers and colors. It took her a couple of tries on the manufacturing side, she says, but the third time was indeed the charm. “I finally have the safe, luxurious product I have been looking for.”

So why all the effort for an item that few people will ever see? “Not many people see it, but I see it,” she says. “It makes me feel good to carry it.”

In addition to the holsters, Julie also offers a purse and super cute clothing options on the website.

Julie credits her supportive husband and the memory of her mother as motivating factors in the long and fabulous journey that has brought her to the genesis of Pretty Dangerous.

the back

What were some of the life lessons Julie learned along the way?

• Never doubt yourself.  Continue to tell yourself you can do it.
• If you dont enjoy what you are doing, you will never succeed. Do something you love.
• Start small and you will be astonished as to what you can accomplish.
• Push yourself.
• Go with your gut.

   Thanks for taking the time to chat, Julie! We wish you the very best and expect to see a lot from Pretty Dangerous in the near future!

You just finished reading Pretty Dangerous Accessories on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

NF: OK, there is a lot going on over at Red Jacket. Fill me in, sister!

SH: Yes, there is a lot happening. We are pretty excited. The first thing I want to let people know about is the contest we are doing. If you want to participate, you write in to Discovery with your idea for a gun build. We will look through all of them and decide on the winner. That person will have their gun idea built by the guys at Red Jacket for an episode.

Red Jacket is also going to be doing a contest of our own to give away a pair of tickets to the annual Birthday Bash, which is Will Hayden’s Birthday party. The winner gets meal tickets, ammo, and things like that. They are gonna get the works: hang out with the cast a bit and shoot all the guns- all that good fun stuff.

NF: Cool! When is that?

SH: Birthday Bash is the first weekend of June every year. It is very hot, but it’s worth it!

NF: That is super cool! The Birthday Bash is legendary. I have seen so many pictures of you guys having a ton of fun. People who go always talk about how much fun it is. How can people enter the contests?

SH: Keep your ear to the ground on that one. We are not announcing the details yet, but we want to make sure everyone knows that it is coming up very soon.

NF: Great – So let’s talk about the show. What on earth is going on? There are some rumors swirling and I need you to nail some of this stuff down for me.

SH: Right, so as far as the episodes go, they named the final episode ‘Wedlock and Load,’ which has had everyone kind of jumping on it and thinking that they know what is coming. It definitely gives the impression that something is kind of going on with me and Kris, but I mean… really?? Let’s put it this way, don’t you think that is a little fast? Marriage is not something you just jump into without thinking – you have to be absolutely certain. And that takes some time. So you have to wait to see what happens. You will really just have to hang on and keep your eyes open. You’ll find out soon enough!

NF: Wow! Sounds like there is a twist in there. What else can you tell us about it?

SH: There are some serious twists and turns through the next two episodes. You are going to be on the craziest roller coaster ride ever. And the moment that you think you have got it figured out or the moment that you think you know what happens, you are going to be totally blown away. Even in the beginning of next season – when this season ends and you think, “Ha! I knew this was going to happen.“ The beginning of next season is going to blow you away again. It totally knocks everything that you thought was final completely off the rails.  It has been an interesting couple of months for us, really. You know, there is a lot that people think that they know about us because of spoiler alerts on the internet and all of that.  Some of it is real and some of it is definitely not. There is a lot floating around and let’s just say that nobody has got a real clue of what is going on. They all think they know, but they really don’t.

There will be a lot of tense moments, but also some really happy, interesting moments, too. The guns that we have worked with in the last couple of episodes- the ones that they will be showing – were just incredible.  The next episode actually shows you the weapon that I told you about when I said I finally shot something that scared me.  I cant tell you what it is yet and I am just dying to share, which is one reason I will be with you, Nat, live on the Girl’s Guide to Guns facebook page answering questions so that we can talk about anything that anyone wants to know.  I will be online to clear up any misconceptions or the way things came across to people. I just want to really reach out and kind of go over some of that stuff.  Of course, I cant give away the next episode – I can’t give away spoilers, but I will do my best to answer all the questions.

NF: Cool- I am super excited about that. So…is it just me, or was this a really short, fast season?

SH: Good question- this season break is only going to be a month. We are breaking, but we are not breaking for long.  It is a paperwork thing. They didn’t really want to break us but they kind of have to.  We will right back on the air in February.

NF: Oh, good. We need our Sons of Guns fix!

Steph showing me the full auto suppressed 9mm

SH: You won’t be waiting too long. Also, we get a lot of remarks of people saying that they don’t want to see the show turn in to OCC or to become super drama- filled. But I definitely want people to keep in mind when they are watching these next couple of episodes that there is a lot of tension and there is a bit of drama, but it is not here to stay. We are all a family and family does go through really big things together. Sometimes it just happens – there is drama there. People get upset. People say things that they might not really mean. People react in ways that are completely out of their character when these things happen. Just stick with us and know that we are a family and we are going to do whatever it takes to push through at all times. No matter what happens. If something happens that upsets you, just understand that everything happens for a reason.

NF: Wow – I am officially intrigued! I will definitely have some questions lined up for you when you do the online interview this week.  Now, I understand you guys are going to go on tour, too. What is the story there?

SH: Yep, we will be doing meet and greets at different Academy stores around the country. We have plans to do a full US tour and we are very excited to get out there and meet some people!

Sounds like some pretty exciting stuff all the way around!  If you have questions of your own for Steph, you can ask her live on the Girl’s Guide to Guns facebook page on January 12 at 1pm Central time.  You can also leave questions for her in the comments section below.

You just finished reading SOG: Prepare for the Unexpected on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

NF: Ok, Steph, so the first thing I get asked about all the time is you and Kris… what can you tell me?

SH: I can’t talk about that really. I can tell you that he still works at Red Jacket. Other than that, you will just have to see how it plays out.

Nat and Steph at Red Jacket

NF:  Tell me about the new season, What have we got to look forward to?
SH: There have definitely been some changes around here. You will get to be introduced to a few new characters. You are going to actually get to see some of the other shop guys and things like that. We’ve got some pretty cool guests that have come in.  I can’t really disclose names. We have to keep a lot of this stuff under wraps – can’t give anything away too soon. We have some very big things going on. We are looking at getting a military contract for one of our guns, which is incredible. We are still in the works on that, but it is definitely coming. Honestly, it is hard for me to keep up with all we have done. There is just so much! You will get to see some of our new product lines that we have put out. There has really been a lot of growth within ourselves as a company.

NF: Have you guys been working on the bigger stuff or the small stuff?

SH: You know, it is a really good mix. I got to see some really cool older weapons come in. You get to see dad do another restoration. He doesnt get to do a lot of those so it is cool to see him take it from a pretty ugly chunk of wood to a magnificent looking weapon. We actually had a pro trick shooter come out with that one, which was very cool. We have a very big change – the characters that are here, that you are used to and that you love have had some major changes. We definitely are keeping some surprises rolling for you.

NF: You guys always do.

SH: We try to. And actually, at the very end of this season that you are about to see you will see some very big news around here as far as my family is concerned. You’ll get to see that – there is definitely going to be another cliff hanger at the end of the season that I am sure the audience is going to be very interested in.
Oh, and I actually shot something – I can’t say what it is – but let me tell you, it is one of the first times in a long time that I have actually been scared to fire something. There are definitely going to be some bigger explosions this year, too, so that is fun. Any time you can get bigger booms, ya know…

NF: I agree! I want to see some explosions!  So it sounds like you guys have definitely had your hands full.

SH: Oh Yeah, we like to mix it up. We have definitely kept with tradition. You are going to see a lot of different variation in types of weaponry. We are definitely pushing our limits. We have got new licensing that basically allows us to just do more things. Like I said, we have got some interest from some very cool people so you will definitely see some great guests.

NF: Ok, now on a personal note, we are in the middle of the holiday season now. Are there any Red Jacket traditions that you guys have or maybe just Hayden family traditions – anything like that that you care to share?

SH: We always hold a Christmas party for everybody around here. That is our big tradition. I have already got my tree up – that is my Black Friday tradition. I like to get everything all decorated and stuff like that. Business-wise one thing that I am looking forward to is that my clothing line will be coming out.

NF: That is huge news!

SH: I am very excited about it. I have been finalizing designs and working closely with my team on getting that exact look that I want. Right now we are sticking to a lot of the girls t-shirts, but they are not going to be what you are used to seeing on the Red Jacket site. I went heavy on graphics and I have been really careful with different cuts and sizes and things like that. We are going to get something a little different out there just to get it rolling and then we are going to be getting in to everything from sleepwear to blue jeans and swimwear.

NF: This is so exciting and I know lots of people will want to know when and where we find these things. Is it going to be online?

SH: It is going to start online – on my website. We are working out which stores we want to put it in, but I definitely want Academy to have it sometime after Christmas.

NF: Wow! What a year it has been for you guys!

SH: It has been a roller coaster! Any time you have extreme growth like this you are going to have your ups and your downs but we are still the regular little shop that you met in season one. We are just getting thrown into this huge corporate world and just trying to keep up, you know? Honestly, I think we have done a pretty good job of it.

NF: It sure seems like it. What else can we expect out of this season?

SH: Well, as far as me personally, you are going to get to see a different side of me. I have definitely grown in to a different person over this last season. With all the things we have been doing I have basically taken it upon myself just to better myself – to do more not only with the things that I do in business, but also in my general appearance. You are definitely going to see a new Stephanie.

You just finished reading Sons of Guns: Steph Talks Season 3 on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

If you haven’t heard of PROIS, it’s high time you did. PROIS is a high end line of hunting and outdoor gear made specifically for women. As you’ll read below, they take every little detail into consideration.

Kirstie Pike, CEO of PROIS

NF: First and foremost, where can we find PROIS products and apparel?

KP: We’re in a bunch of small mom and pop stores and we’re also in a number of Cabela’s, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Shields, Cabela’s Canada.

NF: Am I right in saying that you created PROIS?

KP: Yes, actually my husband and I. He’s my partner in the business. We launched in 2008.

NF: Wow, only in 2008? That’s been a quick rise.

KP: Yeah, it’s been really fast.

NF: That’s huge. Now obviously you have a hunting background, but did you have a background in garment manufacturing?

KP: No, not at all. Actually, I’m a nurse. I’ve done emergency and trauma care for about 20 years at a hospital here. We just started tinkering with this idea and it just evolved and took off.

NF: So just around the dinner table one night you got to talking about it – what was that conversation like?

KP: We were actually in a Bass Pro getting ready to gear up for archery season and I was ready to buy whatever I wanted – this was probably the end of 2006 -2007, somewhere in there. I tried to find some clothes and they had no camo for women. They had little cotton capris and slutty babydoll t-shirts and that was it.  And then for men it was, like, Kevlar. So we just started talking about it – bouncing the idea around. Just started playing with it, seeing what we could do with it and it just happened to work out.

NF: You guys have found some pretty solid success even in a down economy in 2008.

KP: We always joke that there’s no “Idiot’s Guide to Building a Business During a Big Recession” book, but we’ve been pretty lucky with it. I think what we’ve been lucky with is that it was a niche that needed to be hit – including in Gunnison. It’s pretty inclement weather, pretty harsh, so I think most people around here are big gear junkies. They’re always looking for top of the line performance gear and fabrics. For us it was a natural fit because, obviously a lot of other people were looking for that, too.

NF: How did you go from the little family thing to all these huge stores so quickly. It’s kind of shocking to me.

KP: (laughs) It’s pretty shocking to me, too. You know, it’s funny. As soon as we hit the market in 2008 we really didn’t think we were going to- I mean, we thought we were going to do something with it, but we didn’t estimate it going like it did. We just started working on ways to do sales and just jumping in and asking a lot of questions. Finding connections and networking and asking people. It just seemed like the doors just kept opening. We’ve been very fortunate to meet a lot of really good people along the way that were willing to help. We’ve learned a lot of really valuable lessons through mistakes, too (laughs).

NF: (laughs) I know the feeling.

KP: I know, why can’t you just learn them from good things? It’s always gotta be the brutal kick in the teeth.

NF: So – more about you…

KP: I’m pretty boring, actually. I’ve lived in Gunnison, Colorado since I was in middle school. Both my husband and I grew up here and left, went to school, became a nurse and came back. That’s as well rounded as I’ve gotten. I’ve worked here forever. Nursing has been everything I’ve done and I’ve loved it. It’s been the ultimate career for me. I’ve got two great kids – one’s gone off to college this year. So we’re pretty home grown. Our families still live here in a small town up in the mountains and I think we’ll be buried here. At least I hope.

NF: That’s really great.

KP: Yeah, it’s just not that exciting. And I didn’t pick up hunting until I was probably in my 20s. My husband, Steve, has always been a hunter, a guide, and outfitter – he had always done all of that. I never really picked it up until my kids were a little bit older. I took a chance at it that was it – it was fun!

NF: Is that how you got in to shooting? When was the first time you got in to guns?

KP: I got in to guns in my early 20s. I started shooting, again, with my husband. Just dabbling with it a little bit here and there. We took up shooting clays and really really started to build an appreciation for that. And then went in to archery and loved that. That’s actually when I started to think I wanted to hunt a little bit, though I didn’t start [hunting] with archery, I started with rifles. I drew a cow tag* one year and just decided that I was going to go for it.  It kind of evolved that way. Then once I got hooked more on hunting it opened a whole lot more for the shooting. It’s been a lot more fun. You learn a lot about the gadgets and everything. You want to try new ones and buy new ones – you become a junkie.

NF: I know! It’s like Carrie Bradshaw’s shoe addiction, isn’t it?

KP: It’s terrible! (laughs) I’m always joking, you know, be careful about getting your daughters in to it because they, of course,

PROIS hunting gear

become gear junkies and gear snobs and they want all the top of the top once they get going.

NF:I’m totally that way now, too. I mean, three years ago I hadn’t touched a gun and now I want the laser sights and the best holster and everything that goes along with it.

KP: That’s awesome, though! It seems like so many women – they hit it one time and they’re addicted. There it is.

NF: I’ve never hunted before. Can you describe what you enjoy about hunting – Why do you do it? What you get out of it? Help me and the readers who have yet to hunt understand what is so great about it.

KP: It’s pretty fascinating, actually. I totally understand where you’re coming from. I had shot some birds prior to shooting any big game. I was really concerned the first time I did it that I was gonna feel bad about it. Or that that would be the one time I blew off every leg and the animal would be there writhing on the ground. You worry about that. I’ve never had that, in fact I think the fun part about it is the challenge of it and I think it’s kind of empowering at the same time to know that you’re capable of doing it – the whole process of getting ready for it, the whole lifestyle of it. Working on your shot, learning about the animal and the terrain and everything that goes with it so that when you actually do harvest that animal, especially if you do it very successfully – one shot is always best if you can do it – it feels like such an accomplishment. And from a female perspective it’s also good to know you can harvest your own game. You can take care of that. It’s a nice balance of nature, I think.

NF: And you guys probably eat the meat…

KP: Oh, yeah. Of everything. The good, the bad and the ugly.

NF: Have you ever taken another female first time hunter out?

KP: I have not personally. I’ve been along with my kids. They’ve learned. My husband has taught us all how to hunt and he’s great. I feel like every time I go out I’m learning more and more. I feel like I’ve done a lot but I would never call myself an expert on it. There’s so much to learn and there are so many people who know so much more than I do. But it is fun to go with a new hunter. It’s fun to see somebody get that moment. When it actually does happen they’re so excited.  It’s thrilling. It’s an accomplishment.

NF: More about PROIS. You have got a fascinating set of ladies on your staff. You’ve got some of our friends, Julie Golob, and many others. How did you bring them on? What was the process there?

KP:  We’ve been really fortunate. We have this philosophy that you surround yourself with people that you genuinely like.  I think that’s the first criteria – finding people who are truly enjoyable to be around and good at what they do. It helps that they’re also powerhouses in the industry. Somebody like Julie or Barbara Baird. At the same time, you want to create team of women who like to be together get this great camaraderie. I think we work really hard to build that.

Katherine Grand of PROIS

We’ve brought Katherine Grand on to be our pro-staff coordinator. She’s been great, too, in helping identify other ladies that would be good fit.  It’s been really fun. We’ve met people through the media and the media organizations are great places for networking, shows, through other friends. It sounds so cliche, but that’s what it is.

NF: I agree- in the short amount of time that I’ve been in the firearms industry I’ve come to find a very strong family. So many of the other women are so encouraging of me and of each other. It’s really cool.

KP: It’s true. It’s like this little underground network of women who are just thrilled to be involved with each other. And it’s really fun.

NF:I think so, too. There’s that common bond. I guess because there are so few of us in this industry we’re immediately sisters. (laughs)

KP: It’s funny- it’s not competitive at all, ya know, we’re just looking for more girls. That’s all. Women tend to like to network more. You can spend all day emailing and just chatting on the phone. My husband is like, “What are you doing all day?” “Networking!” (laughs)

NF: You sponsor some pretty cool people organizations.

KP: Yeah, we’re now one of the main sponsors for the NRA Women On Target hunting program and the NRA’s Women’s Wilderness Escape program and Mule Deer Foundation and we really try to reach out to becoming an outdoor woman programs. Those are really key areas that we need to be in.

NF: Tell me about the Extreme Huntress award. I saw it at SHOT Show last year and that was so interesting. Can you explain what that’s all about?

KP: I’m glad you asked. We’ve been a key sponsor and really ran with the Extreme Huntress competition for the last two years. We were looking for women out there who are, for lack of a better word, bad ass women hunters [with the Extreme Huntress contest]. We have actually chosen this year to go in a different direction which we think is really spectacular. We call it the PROIS Award and it encompasses being that woman but it also includes conservation management and community education – taking that extra step. It’s more than being that bad ass hunter, it’s about being in the whole arena that surrounds it.  On our panel of judges this year we’ve got Brenda Valentine, Diana Rupp, who is the editor for Sports Afield, Guy Eastman from Eastmans Hunting Journal, Ron Spomer, Craig Spottington, Craig Boddington, Ron Schmeits, who was the President of the NRA. We’ve got some powerhouse hitters in there and tons of great sponsors with gear – a good hunt up in Alberta for elk, mule deer, whitetail and wolf, and Diana Rupp will go along and do a story for Sports Afield with that. We’re really looking for this very classy, really well rounded – the woman hunter that’s, like, everything. We want someone who has really dedicated their life to hunting and furthering the hunting community. We’re pretty thrilled about it.

NF: Are you announcing the winner at SHOT Show?

KP: Yes, we’re kind of following the same pattern. We’re going to have people send us their applications. We’ve got our panel of judges who I’m very proud about. I feel like they are some of the top names in the industry that really embody our vision of what we’re trying to do. They will pick the top 10 or 12 and we’ll put them online for voting. Then we’ll announce the winner at ATA and SHOT like we did last year and then they’ll be ready to go on their hunt.

NF: So lets talk about your products. Tell me why they’re so wonderful.

KP: Everything comes down to a couple of things. The first is quality fabrics. All of our shirts need to be able to wick moisture. It’s all about thermo-regulation – building layering systems that give you every kind of protection from the weather. We have wind blocking technologies; we have waterproofing, insulatory – everything is built around silence from having thumb holes in all the jackets to nylon lining to magnetic snaps. Even our rain gear is absolutely, utterly silent. We’re pretty picky about all of our fabrics. They’ve got to have performance; it’s got to have a reason. And we work on a lot of signature functions in there. We build scapular drop pockets between the shoulder blades so you can drop activated hand warmers back there. It’s a big thermo-regulatory zone that really aids in warming. We have pockets across the lower back which you can use for storage or hand warmers. We have thumb holes in everything. We’ve built Duck-tails in our rain gear – anything we can do to make the hunting experience more comfortable and more successful.

NF: Wow – it’s crazy to think that no one had ever done that before.

KP: We were pretty surprised that nobody had done it before, too. Again, there are other women’s companies out there and their gear is just fine, but in my opinion, hunting is more athletic than that, it’s more of a sport than that. Shooting, too, is more athletic than that. You know you’re going to go out and sweat. You’re not sitting still. You’re doing a lot and your clothes have to do a lot no matter what you’re doing, I think.

NF: What else is coming up for you guys at PROIS?

KP: Actually we do have another exciting thing going on. We have partnered with Outdoor Connection, a booking agency, to come up with PROISHuntingTrips.com. We’re launching the website with female friendly outfitters for Women Only hunts. We’re just getting ratcheted up and it’s gonna take off quite nicely.  We’ve got a couple good media hunts in the queue and we’re coming up with more and more. I estimate that we will have no problem filling camps at all. It’s such a great idea. I’m a big proponent of women’s only hunts. I’ve done plenty of hunts where I’ve had to go in to camp with men. Not that I’m opposed to it, but it’s less comfortable than it needs to be. So we’re thrilled. We’re really excited about what we’ve got in the queue and I think we’re on a really good tipping point with that. You’ll be seeing a lot more about it.  We’ve also taken back our Home Hunting program, which is pretty exciting. Basically, it’s like any home party where you can go in to someone’s home and buy PROIS gear. We had started this a while ago and the gal who was running the program went in a new direction. We have it back in house now and it’s really a successful program and a lot of fun and it’s innovative – it’s just a whole other way to reach women and customers. I think it’s gonna be a blast.

*Cow Tag is a part of the lottery process for elk hunters in Colorado. After you apply for a tag, you’re randomly assigned to a bull or a cow.

Kirstie Pike, CEO of PROIS

Thanks, Kirstie, for taking the time to chat. We look forward to many more great things from you in the near future!

You just finished reading A Chat with Kirstie Pike of PROIS on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

Natalie Foster: Thanks so much for chatting with me again, Stephanie. I had so much fun watching the show during Season 1. Like most of your fans who watch the show, I feel like I know you all now. So how are you guys? How’s everyone over at Red Jacket since we last spoke?

Stephanie Hayden: We’re great. We’re super busy – we’ve got such a backlog it’s ridiculous, but we’re pushing guns out daily.

NF: That’s a good problem to have. What’s going on with the business? Have you guys hired anyone new?

SH: We’ve definitely hired on a few new hands. I’ve got two new girls helping me out in the office and about three or four new guys in the back of the shop that are getting trained up getting ready to be pushing some of these new projects through.

NF: The last time we spoke was in January right before the show aired on Discovery for the first time. I can imagine a lot has changed since then. Give us the update.

SH: Ya know, the only thing that is really different is the fan stuff we’ve been doing. Other than that, everything is kinda the same. We’ve built out the business a little bit, but not a lot’s really changed. We’ve definitely taken on bigger, badder projects this season.

NF: Can you give us a preview about it at all or is it still top secret?

SH: Oh it’s definitely still top secret. The network would kill me!

NF: So we didn’t talk about this last time and I’d really like to know: how did the show come about? Whose idea was it to do a TV show about Red Jacket.

SH: Jupiter Entertainment. We actually have always done little YouTube videos and things like that because me and my dad were always taking it to the extreme. We get out in the field; we play with these things. We find the best changes for weapons that are out there and we’re also into developing new age weapons. So with us putting it all on the internet, basically they just found us. They came across a YouTube video one day of dad shooting a machine gun in some bunny slippers and some pajama pants and they just thought it was hilarious. So they came down and spent a week with us and thought we were perfect for TV due to the “characters”, as they call it, that we have around here. That’s a nice way of saying that we’re an interesting bunch of Southerners. They just decided it would make great TV and, well, here we are.

NF: Let’s catch up on all of last season really quick; you had some pretty exciting things happen. What were the highlights for you? It was cool to see you meet a Medal of Honor winner and the night time bow fishing and all of that. You did some really cool things. What were some of your favorites?

SH:  Actually, those two probably were my favorite things. Meeting Woody was incredible. He was the most vibrant 89-ish year old man you’ve ever met in your life. He had no problem getting behind the flame thrower. Just watching him go straight into old muscle memory – just hunker down with that flame thrower and give it his all, you know – the look on his face that I don’t even think TV captured – it was indescribable. Getting to see that man do that was… it’s what we’re here for and it makes it all worth while. The bow fishing thing was definitely fun. I bruised the heck out of my arm. I had a big old bruise on my arm for about three months after that experience, but it was fun. If you ever go bow fishing, definitely take an arm guard. It’s a very good idea. [laughs]

NF: Good to know. Had you ever done that night time bow fishing before?

SH: No, not at all. It just sounded like a pretty cool idea when the guys mentioned it to me. I’m always up for something new, you know? Around here here isn’t a whole lot to do. Might as well get out there and give it a try. It’s a blast – it really is. I’m dying to go back if I ever get some time off.

NF: I can’t believe you had never done it before. You looked like a pro.

SH: I had shot bows before. I started off on a bow and arrow. I used to horseback ride and shoot turkeys off of the horse, but that’s been quite a few years ago. That’s one of those muscle memory things, again, you get to where you just know how to work a bow.  He did have to train me, though, because it’s different shooting in the water than it is to shooting into land because the water makes you look like you’re higher than you are. You have to shoot like 6 inches lower than you think you’re supposed to, which was kinda crazy. After I got used to that I did pretty well. I actually pulled in like five or six pretty big fish.

NF: That’s amazing. It’s totally inspiring. I can’t wait to get out there and do it at some point. Back to the Medal of Honor episode, that was a particularly intense one even for the audience. Watching your dad overcome his fear of fire that was induced by his childhood trauma was very emotional.  (Note: Will Hayden was trapped in a burning building as a young child. This issue was highlighted in the Flamethrower/Medal of Honor episode.)

SH: Yeah, he’s always had issues with the whole fire thing. We didn’t realize how bad it was until that came up.  But I was proud of him. I loved seeing him get out there and do it. I mean, he’s not gonna put a product in someone else’s hands before he tests it himself.  So I definitely knew he would, but to see him do it… man, I was proud of him.

NF: So, of course, Girl’s Guide wants to know if you’ve seen a growth in female customers? You’re such an inspiration to so many girls that might be intimidated by guns. Have you seen an influx of women at all?

SH: Not so much with the weapons that we sell, but a lot of the weapons that we sell aren’t necessarily catered toward women. Now, I have had husbands order some of the .410 or 5.45 type weapons that we sell for  their wives to get them into it.  I have seen that. And I’ve seen a huge influx of female fans on my Facebook pages and stuff like that. Other than that, not a whole lot. We get a lot more women that call in, but as far as actual sales to women – not as much as I’d like to see, but we’re working on that. I think we need to work on designs that are really geared toward the women before we can open up that market. With rifles it’s just kind of hard. They look at the fact that it’s a big gun and they just assume that it kicks.

NF: Yeah, they look a lot more intimidating than they actually are.

SH: I have noticed that we’ve gotten more inquiries about it since they’ve seen me shooting on the show. They say, “Well, if you can shoot it, I’m twice as big as you are, I can do it, too.” It just takes getting behind it. Getting rid of the fear, you know, and just having the courage to get back there and do it.

NF: What would you recommend as a first Red Jacket gun for a chick?

SH: It depends on whether they want a shotgun or a rifle – most women who call in want the shotgun because it’s practical. They use it going hunting with their husbands and things like that. I recommend the .410 which is my signature gun – the .410 ZK SBS. It’s the blue gun that I carry. We won’t make another one like it. We do offer the blue, just not on that gun. But that’s the one I recommend for most women who are looking for a shotgun. If you want a rifle, they can make the .223. It’s a very light round for a female. All of our weapons, of course, are very easy to shoot. AK is by nature one of the simplest guns on earth next to a 5-shot revolver. Those are the two I recommend – the .410 shotgun and the .223 rifle.

NF: Tell me about the response you are getting from women who write in to your Facebook page.

SH: I definitely get a lot of positive messages mostly for not being… gosh, how do we put this PC-wise? I don’t show my butt off in every episode. [laughs] I make sure to educate myself so I can be an educated woman on the show which is something that is lacking on a lot of shows with females. It’s not that we don’t put any “sexy” in it – it’s not that.  But at the same time there is a difference between sexy and slutty, as my mother always said. I get a lot of credit for that – for keeping class on the show and for being willing to get out there and do this stuff with these guys. They say, “I can’t believe you’ve got the nerve to get up there and do it.” But I’ve been around it forever, you know? That makes it a little easier. I also have full faith in the people around me, so when they say, “Get on it,” I usually just do what I’m told. [laughs]

NF: You have a really good team there at Red Jacket. You often seem like a family.

SH: Oh yes, every person here is family. Whether it’s by blood or not, they’re still family.

NF: That really comes off on the show. It just seems like you guys have so much fun. Moving on, I saw that you passed your NRA Basic Pistol course with flying colors. Are you shooting handguns more often.

SH: I am – my dad actually bought me a Glock 26 so that I would have something for carry.  You’re not exactly gonna strap an AK on your back. I mean, you can, I have, but it’s not really the best thing for walking around the mall. He got me a little mini Glock 26 and I’ve gotten really good with it. When I first started shooting with it I was pretty bad. I was pulling to the left.  I actually got back there with Chris and he helped me out. For somebody who’s not a gun guy, it’s kinda crazy to get your shooting advice from him, but a lot of times you learn from somebody outside of the family a little better. Dads kind of automatically expect you to be good and all of that stuff, so it puts a little bit of nervousness on you and you don’t want that. So going with somebody who just says, “Ok, you don’t know how to shoot this, let’s get you taught,” takes some of that preemptive nerve off of you. He got back there with me and he’s never been a huge gun guy but he’s a natural with handguns, which is incredible.

NF: Funny you say he’s not a gun guy. I just assumed you all were.

SH: Well, he’s more of a gun guy now that he’s worked here for a couple of years.

NF: So when it comes to the show, you guy have no idea what’s going to air, do you?

SH: Oh no, we don’t see it until y’all do. That’s why we get so excited and can’t wait til the episodes come out. I’m ready to see what all they caught, you know? When there’s somebody following you around with a camera all day, you’re never really sure what they’re gonna use. It’s crazy to see how they condense your month down in to one hour.

NF: I think that a lot of people really think that you guys have more control over what airs than you actually do.

SH: They do! We got so chewed out for the fact that we don’t show NFA rules and guidelines and all that in the show. The problem is, paperwork is boring and it doesn’t make good TV, so they ended up editing out all of that stuff. They show it every now and then, but there’s so little of it, you know? So it’s another thing we’re trying to work on. We do have some control as far as stuff like that goes. We made it a really big deal to the network. We were like, “Guys, you cannot show us selling these types of weapons without explaining how we’re allowed to do that. It’s not fair. It makes everybody out there feel like they can own these types of weapons without any type of clearance. They don’t understand that you have to go through certain ATF forms to be able to get these. So this year they’ve been a lot better about actually taking that on and trying to incorporate that in to the show to where it’s more “TV fun”.

NF: Someone on some forum I was reading was chewing you out for the “suppressor versus silencer” thing.

SH: Yep, and really, who cares, right? You know what’s crazy, that Silencer/Suppressor thing – we went back and forth on it for months because everyone around here calls it a suppressor. It doesn’t silence the weapon, it suppresses the weapon. They wanted us to use the term – they actually asked us about using the term “silencer” instead to make it more TV friendly. There are certain things they do like that. They’ll never say, “Hey, I want you to go do this with this person.” They don’t do that. But they will ask us every now and then to use a different terminology so it’s easier for the viewer to understand. They showed me shooting a 37mm flare launcher. We called it a grenade launcher and we caught so much heck over that. But it made it easier for people to understand what it was. Yes, I understand that everybody who shoots guns would know exactly what I was talking about if I said, “37mm flare launcher.” But, the 15 year old kid watching with his dad has no clue. He knows “grenade launcher” from Gears of War, you know what I mean?

NF: And a lot of the producers, most of the time, are not gun people, so they don’t know.

SH: We’ve gotten a lot of that stuff cleared up. A lot of that is just first season stuff just because the people didn’t know. They didn’t know how to portray this stuff to non-gun owning people. Just little things that you have to work out within your first season. With this season it’s changed a lot. The store has changed. The people have changed. Our positions within the company have changed. We’ve all grown, so you’re gonna see that. You’re gonna see that Chris is no longer just the guy in the back playing around. He’s actually a floor manager. Vince is taking on more and more crazy, outlandish projects. I’m no longer a general secretary. I’m the NFA Specialist here and that’s all I can do – we’ve got so much volume going. It’s definitely changed. There’s a lot that’s different. But also a lot of the same. All the stuff that y’all loved and some growth, let’s put it that way.

NF: Ok, I have to know, do Vince and your dad seriously butt heads that much?

SH: [laughs] Yes. [laughs] But Vince always remembers his place. Of course, dad is the main guy here and sometimes you just do what you’re told. A lot of times it comes down to timing and it’s just like, “Don’t ask questions, just do what you’re told. ” Dad’s been doing this stuff forever.

NF: I kept thinking, “I bet they edited that – I bet they get along better than that, ” because every episode it looks like Vince is about to get fired.

SH: Ok, they do edit it a little bit for effect, I’m sure. They do get along. They are friends, but they do still butt heads when it comes to some stuff.

NF: That makes me feel better because I like Vince so much and I don’t want him to get fired! [laughs]

SH: No, no, he isn’t going anywhere.

NF: Good! OK, so I asked a people on Facebook if they had any questions for you, so these are a few of our fan questions: What firearm do you carry and why? Of course, you just said the Glock 26 – so that’s the one you carry day to day?

SH: Yes, it is. I also carry a little .22 long rifle miniature pistol revolver. The reason I carry it is because it fits on my ankle or on the inside thigh. It’s perfect for concealed carry when you want the little clutch instead of the purse or something like that. It’s just so super tiny I can put it inside my bra.

NF: Have you seen that new bra holster?

SH: I saw it on your page! I said, “Oh my god, that looks so cool! I’ve got to find that and try it out one day.”

NF: That’s on our list. I’m dying to try it, too.

SH: I’ve been waiting for you to put up your review on it. I kinda thought you’d have one.

NF: It’s coming! I promise!  So did you modify your Glock at all?

SH: No, with a handgun you don’t want to add a lot of stuff to it because it can get caught on other things. I just kinda left that one alone. I’m a decent enough shot not to need a laser. The only thing I could imagine putting on it would be a flashlight for night time stuff. You don’t want a whole lot of extra stuff. You want to keep concealed weapons as small as possible. I’ve always been a firm believer that there isn’t any accessory you can’t use by having the proper skill. Except maybe a flashlight. A flashlight would be handy. There are a couple of really good companies out there that make accessories that are built into the internals of the weapon. Crimson Trace, LaserLyte – they both make different types of accessories like that. I’m looking around, I just haven’t gotten my hands on anything yet.

NF: Next fan question: What is your favorite firearm and why? You did answer this last time we talked. Is there an update?

SH: My favorite weapon is the weapon that goes “bang” every time. [laughs]  I can tell you that I love my Tantal. That is the smoothest shooting weapon out there. My short barrel shotgun is the perfect home defense or rabbit hunting weapon that I’ve ever seen. Then again, I can also tell you that our new AR piston driven system is absolutely incredible. There are just too many. [laughs] It depends on what you’re using it for. As far as fun to shoot, you’d have to give me a category – machine gun, long rifle, handgun… there’s just so many.

NF: Let’s go with the exciting one. How about the machine gun.

SH: My favorite machine gun would have to be the 1919 Browning. It’s usually on a mount or a bi-pod so you don’t have to worry about the kick factor, which is really nice. It’s a really even spread on ammunition. When you’re laying out what dad calls the “force line”- when you’re drawing the wall with ammo – it keeps a really even pattern. It’s one of those weapons that we have had hardly any problems with. We’ve done a couple different models with it. One of them you’re gonna see coming up on our show. That weapon is probably one of my favorites that we’ve done. I think it’s in the second episode this season.

NF: People have been asking this one quite a bit in our search bar. Everyone seems to want to know this: does Stephanie have a boyfriend?

SH: Ah, well… I’m not really looking right now. [laughs]

NF: [laughs] Understood. So what kind of man do you go for? What’s your type?

SH: I’m really big on the fact that if I’m gonna be with somebody it’s gonna have to be somebody who is – well, they’ve gotta connect with the type of business that I’m in, you know?  They’re gonna have to get along with my family, which is everybody here at Red Jacket.  I’ve got a very big family and they are all armed to the teeth so it can’t be some jerk who thinks he’s the biggest baddest thing around because I can introduce him to that guy.

NF: Another question from a fan here – One woman just applied for her Class III license. What Class III gun would you recommend for her first one?

SH: It depends on who the person is, really. Is that person someone who just wants to have fun guns or is it someone who is serious about getting in to manufacturing and design? If they just want cool, fun guns to play with that they can’t normally have, that Browning 1919 would be perfect.  If it’s someone who is looking to get in to manufacturing, research and design, I would start with some of the earlier weapons. Start with your basics and learn from there.  The PPSH is an awesome gun. I never would have known it if we hadn’t had one in the shop and played with it and realized all the cool factors about it because it just doesn’t look like it’s that incredible of a weapon. But it’s won awards for a reason, you know?

NF: So there are a few rumors flying about a little cosmetic surgery, if you know what I mean. Care to confirm or deny?

SH: I hear that all the time! No, I have not had any “enhancements.” We can go ahead and dispel that myth right now.

NF: Good, you’ve got a cute figure. No need to go changing anything. Ok, and the last question I have for you is what is on the horizon for Red Jacket?

SH: We’re just steadily expanding. We’ve got some new Red Jacket weapons coming out – we’ve got that new 1911 that we just released. We’re now getting in to the AR market, which we’ve never done before.  We are also in research and development on a pump version of the shotgun, so we’ve got a lot of new stuff coming out on Red Jacket’s production line. As far as with the show, well… I can’t tell you all that. You know better. You’ll just have to wait and see.

Spoken like the truly commanding and fun loving personality that she is. Thanks, Stephanie, for that fantastic interview. Check out Sons of Guns on Discovery Wednesday nights at 9pm/8pm Central.

You just finished reading Stephanie from ‘Sons of Guns’ Talks About Season 2 on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

Natalie Foster: Tell me how you got involved in the world of firearms.

Doreen Garrett: Well, I’m the oldest of four children and my dad would take me hunting with him. I think my mom just wanted to get me out of the house as a teenager {laughs}. We hunt in northern New York and the snow is usually pretty deep and I had my great grandmother’s firearm, actually. I was hunting with my dad out in the Tug Hill Plateau and I’m short and I fell in the mud and snow and I had all this junk in the end of my barrel. I had nothing with me there to get it out so I had to walk all the way back to hunting camp in my nice electric socks because I’m kind of a fair weather hunter {laughs}. I was upset that I had to walk back to the hunting camp and there was nothing there. My father came back and I said, “How do you get this stuff out of the gun?” I, of course, did something really stupid and put a stick up the end of the barrel because I thought I could dig it out. That was probably not the smartest thing to do. I ended up going home and looking through some gun junk, so to speak, that my mother had inherited from my grandfather. He was in WWII 10th Mountain Division and they were always in the snow. I’ve done a lot of research on it now, but they had a device called a ‘thong’ and it was a chain with a weight on the end of it that they carried around in the field. They’d drop that down from the breech out the end of the barrel to take out obstructions. So I started carrying that in a shoe polish tin when I was hunting. My dad’s buddies were all like, “Wow, that’ s kind of a cool thing – something to take with you.” I was a junior in high school at the time. I loved engineering. I wanted to be a draftsman. My dad had a company that had a woman draftsman at it and I would apprentice under her during the summers and that summer I designed components that would mimic what that drop-through chain with the weight on it would do. I asked my dad to take me to the SHOT Show in 1985 – he was going to look for business for his company because he made little widgets for the archery industry and different things. I talked him in to letting me go and do some market research and see if my concept was viable.  I got a 10 x 10 booth at the 1985 SHOT Show and I got to the door and they wouldn’t let me in {laughs} because I was not 18. I was 16 at the time and I remember them stopping me and going, “Where are you going little lady?” And I said, “Um, to my booth,” and they said, “No you’re not, you have to be 18 to get in the show.” So my mother came to the rescue and we went back up to the hotel room and – it was the 80s – the hair went higher and the heels went on and there was lots of makeup and I walked back in to the show. So that was my first SHOT Show in 1985 – I had 8 prototypes at that show and ended up with two orders from two of the worlds largest distributors at the time. They each ordered 500 units, I think. My dad came back to the booth and said, “How ya doing?” I said, “We’ve gotta make these things!” {laughs} I went home and hired two or three friends from my high school and we started making gun cleaning kits on the kitchen table. That was 27 years ago now, so it’s been an interesting road. It was challenging being young in a male dominated industry. I think more so age, now, than gender, as the industry has grown and there are more women now playing roles in our industry. It’s kind of refreshing; and I’ve had the opportunity over the last 27 years to see and witness that change. But for me it’s always been an age thing: “Oh, when I turn 25 they’ll listen to me or when I turn 30 they’ll take me seriously.” Then when I hit 40 and realized that sometimes maybe it wasn’t about age and that it might be about gender {laughs}. But I was very fortunate, too, to have parents that always told me and my siblings that there’s nothing that you can not do. So I think sometimes, you know, having that motivation is important.

NF: That story is incredible! It’s so inspiring! It also speaks so much to what women can do when they put their minds to it.  So when did OTIS become the OTIS of today?

DG: {laughs} Over 27 years of hard work it became the OTIS of today.  I did develop the mission statement that the company still lives by back in 1985. It’s just about setting goals and making a quality product that you can stand behind and that doesn’t fail in the field. The product – the quality and the customer service and everything that our mission statement stands for -  is what has allowed our company to grow to what it is today. We’ve been very blessed in growing this company. Sometimes little quirky things happen that you would not want to go through, but if you don’t go through those challenges growing a business then you don’t become the business person that you are.   Take every learning experience as, “Well, okay, we won’t do that again.” And go forward. I would say the change really came when we started doing military shows back in the late ’90s because some of the Marines were buying our kits from LL Bean. We private labeled for LL Bean back early on for their high quality gun cleaning kits  that were compact enough. At one of the shows, the Marines came to us and said, “We would like for OTIS to develop cleaning kits for each specific weapon.” So we did that and we were being used by the Special Ops and the Marines. And then when 2001 came around and we went into theater and people in NATO and the US Army saw what Special Ops had there was a snowball effect on our military contracting and our long term contracts. That really has bolstered the growth of the company over the last 10 years as being a defense contractor. And I’m proud to say that next week we’ll be going to Columbus to receive the Gold Award for 100 percent on-time delivery and quality for the US Military, which is not achieved by many vendors. We’re proud to be on the front lines with the men and women. We have Ft. Drum right here in our back yard – our 10th Mountain Division where the President of the United States is visiting as we speak. And we have a lot of guys that will come back and visit the assembly line and the factory and thank the women for making the high quality product that may have saved their life. It gets very emotional but I think it’s also what drives us to come to work every day because we know that that product going out the door might save a soldier’s life. And it might be someone’s father or brother or mother that is going to depend on that product working. So the value proposition in that market is very very strong and we take it very seriously. And then all of our other markets like law enforcement and border patrol and our commercial market receive that same benefit because that product is of the same quality.

NF: Wow. I’m in awe. Your stories are so amazing and it’s incredible, too, to hear how you care so much about your products and how they really do affect people’s lives – and literally save some in some cases. It’s pretty profound, I think.

DG: It is and it always amazes me now how many lives we’ve touched and how many people I meet out and about who thank the company and the family for doing what we do. You know, that’s all we do – gun cleaning. And we take it very seriously. I think if you have a niche and you do something better than anyone else can… not that you can guarantee success… but you have that niche and you build upon it.

NF: You started out with your grandmother’s gun – that’s not something a whole lot of women can say. So were guns kind of a legacy in your family?

DG: You know, I didn’t think of it back then or even now, but I guess I was always around when my dad would bring the guns back from hunting and he would clean them.  People invest in guns today because they know they can hand them down to their children and in some instances it won’t disappear like money in the bank. They do appreciate and become valuable. I think the maintenance aspect of taking care of those heritage-type items, to be able to hand them down to the next generation, is sometimes just as important because I think for most people, at least for a lot of people in the industry, their fondest memories are hunting with their grandfather or dad. So any time they pull that gun out of the safe they’re reminiscing about those times, so the gun becomes something special. It was a unique experience to have my grandmother’s gun to be able to hunt and, you know, maybe she was looking over me that day. {laughs}

NF: So do you remember your first time shooting? Who taught you?

DG: My dad. Yep, I remember because my father is very adamant about safety and learning experiences and so the first time I shot a gun it was at a watermelon. We all shot a watermelon off a fence post. And it was made to be very scary because he wanted us to know that guns can be dangerous if not used properly. Just like you would teach your kid to drive a car and tell them that a car can be dangerous if not used properly. So we shot the watermelon and it blew up and he said, “That’s what happens to someone’s head if you shoot them.” So you get that fear and that respect for what that tool does. We’re very adamant and have taught hundreds of kids through the Eddie Eagle program: “Stop, don’t touch, leave the area, tell an adult.” I think safety is one of the aspects that is almost incorporated in to OTIS‘s products because you have to clean breech to muzzle so you are always opening the receiver. You’re never able to clean a loaded firearm, so there’s a lot of built-in safety to our cleaning kit.  And with the bore reflector, you know, you teach someone that they should always have the bore reflector in so when you’re at a distance you have a visual that the gun is safe, it’s unloaded, you don’t have to guess. There’s just a lot of different safety aspects that I think are very important for shooters in general. And sometimes the people that become the most confident are the most dangerous.

NF: You referenced the soldiers thanking the ladies. What percentage of the employees at OTIS is female?

DG: We are at 75% female.

NF: Wow- I’ve never heard of any company, especially a firearms company, being 75% female. That’s really fantastic.

DG: Yeah, well, we obviously hire based on skill but we also have assembly workers that dominate our work force. We also have a corporate day care, so many of the teachers in the day care are women.

NF: OTIS sounds like a pretty cool company to work for. Now, I know that you sponsor lots of different shooters, namely, of course, our friend Kim Rhode. How did all of that come about and why did you choose her?

DG: It’s an interesting story and it goes way back to me getting Kim’s autograph at an NRA show when she was 14 and just starting the sport, and looking at her as being able to be the face of female shooters who are young in our industry. At the time I felt like I was kind of alone out there, so when she won that gold medal it was just kind of a reiteration of, “We’re here and we’re ready to make our mark.” So we have a lot in common. We’ve talked about it before – about being so young when we started in this industry and how that affects how you work almost harder at something because you’re there to prove the world wrong. That it can be done. But, yeah, it’s just great. And when we had the opportunity to sponsor her and the means to do it, it was a no-brainer. I love being able to shoot with her and she’s just a great mentor and she just has all the same qualities culturally that OTIS has. You know, just being humble, and she’s just a great great role model for the shooting industry, and we’re very proud to be able to sponsor her. We, of course, wish her much luck in the 2012 games. I’m so impressed that she’s already qualified. It’s just really really cool and I’m proud to say that I’m a friend of hers.

NF: She really is an impressive person. Okay, so it’s probably been a little bit difficult to keep things girlie in the gun world. Do you find that that’s the case or do you do your own thing?

DF: I do my own thing. I love wearing my stilettos to work. I love pink guns. I like to find camo that fits. I love the opportunity to have something in common with my husband that we can do together after our kids are long gone out of the nest. I just have so many great memories and experiences around hunting. Whether it’s a successful harvest or not – just being outdoors in general. And I love being a girl, too. I love being girlie. I think you can have the best of both worlds and I’ve met a lot of women over time that are just, you know, you would never think they would be proficient at shooting or hunting and they’re some of the best. And you know, you can walk out in an evening gown at night and feel just as comfortable and confident walking out in your camo the next morning. I think it’s important to have those different roles because as women, you know, we do have to multitask. We are, you know, mothers, wives, sisters… we have our jobs. And to be able to go in and out of those roles and feel comfortable – each one is important to a person as a whole. So, you know, I don’t feel bad about putting on red lipstick when I go out to hunt. {laughs} You know, it’s just being who you are.

NF: I think that’s fantastic. It’s so important not to lose that sense of being girlie and feminine and it’s so great to hear such a leader in the industry express that. It’s amazing. You’re really paving the way. It’s inspiring for me, too, you know. Sometimes you do feel like it’s completely taken over by the guys and we’re here to make women feel more comfortable getting involved.

Lastly, what advice would you give women who have never shot before? They might be just dabbling their toes in the water or thinking about it – what would you say?

DG: To get a good mentor or join a woman that is involved.  There are a lot of great organizations out there – Babes with Bullets is a great one for pistol shooting. We run our employees through it and offer it to them. It’s just, you know, not only empowering and educating, but even if you never want to shoot again at least you know how to handle a firearm because it is the lack of education and the fear of it that is what makes it scary.  And you know, for most people who get into it, be careful because you will have a new addiction. {laughs} Beware because you’re gonna be spending some money and you’re gonna get in to it. Women do that, when we get into something we need to learn everything about it and we want all the gear.  And we’re very good at shooting and any shooter out there will tell you that. There’s just so much you can do, like the Cowboy Action, and there are so many fun things you can do other than hunting. And at OTIS we really have to remember that because when you are at a trade show there are a lot of shooters out there who don’t necessarily hunt. So whether it be extreme shooting or something like skeet like Kim would do. Or like Cowboy Action – you can still have fun with a gun and not hunt. You have to remember that you can be anti-hunting but still love to shoot guns and do target shooting. I think that’s somewhat of a misnomer out there – that if you have guns then you must kill stuff. No {laughs}. You know, I love to shoot first and foremost. Hunting is a passion of mine, but even if I never hunted a day in my life, I would shoot.

You just finished reading Interview with Doreen Garrett of OTIS Tech on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

Click here to view the embedded video.

You just finished reading How I Caught the Gun Bug on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!