Women Getting Started in the Shooting Sports….

Below is an email I received this morning from a woman who recently attended one of the Babes with Bullets Camps instructed by Kay Miculek and her team of top notch competitors.  I encourage others if they have the opportunity, to introduce someone to shooting sports, women or youth that may not know how to get started.  You can make a difference!

“Dear Chris:

 I recently attended a BWB Camp for the first time in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

My husband, Dan, has been active in the shooting industry his entire life, including the almost 27 years we have been married. I have never taken any interest until… Sheila Hoekstra from On Target Guns encouraged me to attend a camp. Did not expect such a life changing event. Having a healthy respect for weapons and somewhat intimidated by their power, I wasn’t sure what I had gotten myself into.

I have worked in the medical field for over 30 years, and was a little afraid, but initially was looking for a concealed carry because of rotating shifts and fear for my safety. I also want you to know I stood a little straighter with that holster around my hips. Did I stress enough how the ladies treated us with respect, never made us feel stupid or out of our element? (even though I sure was?!!) The camp was first class all the way. Safety was number one, and was at the forefront of everyone’s minds for the duration.

This was very empowering , not overpowering as Sheila had promised. I can not wait to purchase my own handgun, and begin serious shooting at the range. Dan is excited as well to share his life long passion with me on the range. All the instructors were top notch and made an unbelievable team from which to learn.

 I applaud you and your company for sponsoring these camps, and the education of women in an otherwise male dominated field.

Thank you, and please extend my thanks to all those who make these opportunities available.

 Best Regards,

 Carla LaFond”

2012 IRC Championships

      It’s time again for the upcoming International Revolver Championship coming June 1-3rd hosted a the Hogue Action Pistol Range in San Luis Obispo, CA. 

The International Confederation of Revolver Enthusiasts (ICORE) www.icore.org was founded in 1991 by Mike and Sharon Higashi.  Amidst all of the other action shooting sports at the time they started the revolver-only competition.  The sport combines elements of Bianchi Cup, IPSC, and the Steel Challenge exclusively for revolvers.

The event draws some 250 of the top revolver shooters from over 22 states and 6 foreign countries.  The main match consists of approximately 300 rounds with side matches available every year.  Smith & Wesson, www.smith-wesson.com, sponsors the match.   A popular model in the event is the SW 627, 8 shot, where you just might see quite a few HIVIZ sights on the Limited Class revolvers!  

HIVIZ Model #SW3002

S&W professional shooter and HIVIZ Pro Staffer, Jerry Miculek, www.bang-inc.com, has won 20 out of 21 Championships…and only because he missed attending one year! 

Photo by Yamil Sued

Two of the summer upcoming regional matches are the Rocky Mountain Regional, June 23-24 at WCFW High Plains Shooting Range in Galeton, CO and the East Coast Regional on July 22 at the Ontelaunee Rod & Gun Club in New Tripoli, PA.  You can visit www.icore.org for complete match listings and schedules for 2012. Also check out the ICORE website for courses of fire and classifier stage descriptions.

“Wheel Guns are Real Guns”

Colorado Olympic Twin Biatheletes Shoot Sportsman’s Team Challenge

Lanny and Tracy Barnes Compete at NRA Whittington Center

May 11th – 13th I attended the Sportsman’s Team Challenge Regional Match in Raton, NM.  HIVIZ has been a local sponsor for the match for the past seven years.  The event consists of three shotgun events: Flurry, Flush and Mixed Bag events, and three pistol/rifle events.  

I was pleased to see the Lanny and Tracy at the event!  It is very impressive to witness the ladies shooting the rifle event.  The silhouette targets range from 40 – 90 yards and your team has about 2 mins. or less to shoot before time is called!  Apparently not so difficult for biatheletes….some of the rest of us it’s a different story. 

An enjoyable event and beautiful setting at the NRA Whittington Center.

HIVIZ is fortunate to be able contribute, in whatever small way, back to the shooting sport.  It’s our passion and we hope to even see more of you next time!

In the company of great competitors, fun sport and excellent match! !

HIVIZ Sights for the New Smith & Wesson Shield

HIVIZ Sights available for the new M&P Shield

 The NRA Show last month in St. Louis, MO proved to be extremely busy once again!  Many of our trade shows are strictly for Dealers or Distributors, but at NRA we have the opportunity to meet a huge cross section of our customer base.  At HIVIZ we work closely with many of the gun manufacturers.  This past year we had been working with Smith & Wesson on front and rear sights for their new M&P Shield that was released during the show.  Front fiber optic sights are available in either green or our new fire red color #SW2007-G or #SW2007-R.  Rear sights for the Shield will be in production later in June #SW2112-G or SW2112-R.The Shield is a slim, scaled down version of the poplar full size M&P pistols.  Available in 9mm and 40. S&W calibers.  I had the opportunity to test fire the 9mm the following week.  Comfortable grip, smooth action ….and with the set of HIVIZ sights on there it makes finding that target that much quicker!

Jon Michael McGrath

HIVIZ Pro Staffer, Jon Michael McGrath

  

HIVIZ Pro Staffer, but more importantly 2012 Olympic hopeful!!!   Jon Michael has been busy with some intense training lately, competing at the Tuscon World Cup the last week in March and now headed to London to compete in the Pre-Olympic Team Trials for Men’s Skeet to be held the third week of April.

We’ve been privileged to have Jon Michael using our HIVIZ CompSight since he was making a name for himself at the ripe old age of twelve.  Since then he’s has grown into a fine young man and driven competitor.  Jon Michael’s list of accomplishments are almost countless…not to mention the World Cup Gold medal he won in Munich previously. We couldn’t be more proud.  Jon Michael is 100% USA home-grown excellence!

US Olympic Medalist, Corey Cogdell Joins HIVIZ Pro Staff

Corey Cogdell, 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist, Trap Shooting

We are proud to announce the addition of Corey Cogdell to our Pro Staff!   She is the first American woman to ever win an Olympic Medal in her sport.Just last week Corey won the first Women’s Trap gold medal of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Season.  She has been training in Tucson to prepare for this match and heading to the US Olympic Team Trials for shotgun in May.

See her press release at http://www.usashooting.org/news/2012/3/30/208-americas-wining-streak-continues-with-cogdell 

In addition to her athletic talents Corey has also become a powerful motivational speaker by sharing her story and passion for the shooting sports.  Corey is also a TV personality on shows such as Cabela’s Ultimate Adventures, Outdoor Guide and Safari Hunters Journal. 

When not competing for the USA Shooting Team Corey enjoys hunting and being an active outdoors woman.  She hunted big game while growing up in Alaska, but has developed a love for bird hunting, and has become an avid bowhunter as well.

Welcome to the HIVIZ Pro Staff Corey!

 

Travis Mears Shooting Exhibition

HIVIZ Pro Staffer, Travis Mears

Saturday, May 19th, Travis Mears will have a live shooting exhibition at The 1st Annual Operation Lock and Load Sporting Clay Tournament supporting our troops.  The tournament will be held at Rio Brozos Hunting Preserve, west of Houston, TX.  It will include music, vendors, auctions, sporting clays tournament, military equipment displays, live shooting exhibitions, and more!

Join Travis Mears and the Texas Sentinels Foundation in honoring our veterans!

www.texassentinels.org/lock-n-load/  

Photo courtesy of Texas Sentinels Foundation

Legendary Champion Jerry Miculek on Hot Shots TV

Jerry Miculek, S&W Pro Shooter and HIVIZ Pro StafferBragging time…. and I think Hot Shots TV, a documentary type reality show, put it best:  “Jerry Miculek – Legendary Champion”

If you haven’t seen the show yet, it airs Sundays 9AM EST on the NBC Sports Network.   Hot Shots TV is a behind the scenes journey across the country and around the world with the biggest names in shooting.  HIVIZ is proud to be associated with Jerry Miculek.

This past Sunday focused on the Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships.  2012 will see the championships held in Frostproof, FL on November 1st – 4th.  For more information check out www.steelchallenge.com.

 ….and don’t forget to check out Jerry on Hot Shots TV next Sunday!

Photo by Hot Shots TV/NBC Sports Network

It’s Turkey Time with Marty Fischer!

Marty Fischer, cohost of TNT Outdoor Explosion TVTurkey season is underway and long time HIVIZ Pro Staffer, Marty Fischer is hard at it again! 

Besides Marty shooting a bird last Monday in South Carolina with seven beards, one of the highest scoring birds ever taken in the state, he is busy on the road again for his next appearance and competition!

The next few weeks Marty and Todd Cast, hosts of TNT Outdoor Explosion TV are preparing as one of the Celebrity Teams at the upcoming World Turkey Hunting Championships in Clay County, Texas where they will be competing for the title of Turkey Fest World Champion.  They will have two and a half days to hunt. 

The 3rd Annual Old West Invitational Turkey Shoot is next on Marty’s list for May 10-12 in Hulett, WY.  As a celebrity hunter for the weekend of turkey hunting, Marty will be helping to raise funds for research, education and habitat projects that benefit the state’s game and nongame species as well as improve Hulett’s community center.

You can check out the TNT Outdoor Explosion TV website at www.tntoutdooradventures.com.

 

NRA Show April 13-15th in St. Louis, MO

Chad Belding, host of The Fowl Life TV

The NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits will be gearing up in a few short weeks!  This year the event is held in St. Louis, MO with over 340,000 square feet and over 500 displays all the major gun manufacturers and accessories, outfitters’ section and the gun collectors’ area.

HIVIZ is again honored to be able to exhibit with the NRA this year.  We’ve expanded the booth a bit to include appearances daily by Chad Belding, host of The Fowl Life TV and Dead Dog Walkin’ shows.  Along side Chad, HIVZ will be hosting The Women’s Outdoor Media Association (WOMA).  Please stop by our booth #3505 to visit with us!  Chad does an outstanding job sharing his passion of the outdoors with the public….and don’t forget to visit and find out more about the dynamic group of women comprising the WOMA!

You can visit the NRA website at www.nra.org for a complete schedule of events. 

We look forward to seeing you there!