“Let’s Hear it From the Girls!”
Becky Lou Lacock 02.27.12
Calling on all women in the field to share your stories, pictures, thoughts…women need girl talk!
Why is it a passion of mine is to encourage everyone to support women in the outdoors? Short story long, I have only been huntin’ and shootin’ things since 2000, and without a weekend workshop at Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Becoming an Outdoors Woman (B.O.W.) along with my husband’s encouragement later that year, I may not having the wonderful adventures I am having now! It is still fresh in my memory and very much aware that it takes information, encouragement, and inspiration to enable some people to step outside of their comfort zone and try something new. I was lucky enough to have all three, and I now strive to make those available to all who are curious. It may not be for every girl, but I am thankful that I had the chance to decide it was for me! As I always say about shooting, “You may like it, or you may not, but I‘m here to tell you, it’s worth a shot!”
I want to appeal to you girls out there that have already taken the leap of faith into the outdoors, be it hiking, four wheeling, fishing, camping, shooting, hunting, watching wildlife and capturing them on camera, etc. You are outdoors breathing that fresh air, loving life, and it is only fair that you take the time to inform, inspire, encourage…and share your experiences!
There are many ways to tell your tale, review a product, share a tip or show your trick. You may write on your own website; submit newsletters to various websites; also send content onto a few outdoor websites may approve a story. There are many social platforms available, but it is important to remember that if you take the time to write it, you want people to be able to find it and read it! So in addition to what you are doing now, I personally want to recommend and enlighten you about OutdoorHub.com. This organization is on track to be the online Mecca of information, the hub of all outdoor information/new/stories/photos and will link all aspects of outdoor information and products across the world. I know the history and capabilities of one of the founders in this organization and have every confidence that the company will live up to their name and goal to be the main hub for the best in resources for outdoor information, services and products! Accepted and approved by P.O.M.A., they verified their credibility and can only create confidence in their missions and goals.
Outdoor Hub is actively seeking real stories from real people in various sports, with different platforms to offer, they will talk to you and decide where your words belong! They are currently providing outdoor content to over 12,000,000 people, growing steadily as I type. They have staff that work with you for editing, and also full time website masters that work continuously to help people find and actually read your story and allow you a link back to your own website! Thankfully they realize that not everyone is a professional writer and have developed carefully written guidelines that have been a tremendous help to me in my efforts to blog, write, and just share in general. Just ask and they are yours. Email them at content@outdoorhub.com. These are great people, a wonderful organization, and I am sure that once you begin working with them, you will totally agree. I say these things wholeheartedly and without reservation. Please contact me and I will give you all the direct contact info.
I am sincerely hoping that this information has encouraged and inspired you to begin sharing your stories somewhere…. ANYWHERE!
If you have any questions, I look forward to hearing from you!
“Camo can be Classy”
Born and raised in Louisiana, my Outdoor adventures began just a short time ago, with a weekend workshop, B.O.W. 'Becoming an Outdoors Woman' in the Spring of 2000. A nationwide program , in Louisiana it is facilitated by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Educational Dept. I was feeling a little adventurous, and chose “Intro to Shotgun” as one of my 4 workshops for the weekend. I had never had the opportunity to shoot guns, and decided that this would be the perfect place to give it a shot! This course required a detailed Firearm Safety course held in a classroom the day before various guns handy for some “hands on” instruction. I was very anxious the day of shooting, but as it unfolded, with patient expert instructors by my side, (helping to muffle the voices inside of me shouting NO! NO! NO! You're a Girl! Its gonna hurt!) I hit the second clay target, thus began my passion for Shooting! I absolutely LOVED it!! I have always loved to fish, sharing many hours with the only outdoor influence in my life growing up, my mother Tommie Lou. She and I spent many hours in the Freshwater Marshes of SW Louisiana, searching for that elusive HOG (Large Mouth Bass) but also pulling in huge Redfish, Speckled trout & Flounder in and around the salt water lake "Big Lake". I always joke that we had to use our running lights to get out to the fishing spots, and we had to also needed them to come in, as we would spend all of the precious daylight fishing hard…. the days were always too short. That was the limit to any outdoor activity for me, but shortly after my "Shooting Incident" I met my husband Lou, and was introduced into hunting, starting with a west Texas whitetail hunt, at which point my life took a drastic turn from inside to "EXTREME OUTSIDE"!! Without a doubt, I am all girl, I don't like bugs, critters, or Snakes, but because of my willingness to Take a Chance, I have learned that a little DIRT..or even or a TICK will not keep me from this new adventure!
With the first hunt of my life being shortly after the workshop, I understand first hand the skepticism that some women have to step outdoors, and I believe that most women just need to be aware of the resources readily available to them, along with a little pinch of encouragement. I have been fortunate to have both, for without it I would not be doing what I am today.
With great encouragement from Greg Martin of RealHuntersJournal, an online resource for outdoor information, I began writing, and going to the industry shows such as Shot Show, ATA, NWTF, and others to review the latest and greatest products in the industry. I met several wonderful people, and began to realize that the people behind the products, TV shows, and outfitters were just down home people, real people just like me! I think of it as a large family, and like most, they may not always agree on every method, design, or camo pattern, but all share a common dream, and ultimately work together to make that dream a reality for the rest of us. I have been blessed with a lot of energy and enthusiasm that just seems to spill out onto everyone around me, I love people and Lord only knows how I like to talk, and over the past few years I have been encouraged to take more of an active part to promote women in the outdoors. I was invited on several exciting hunts to experience many new adventures, and share them. With a style all my own, I have really enjoyed writing. Loaded with lots of adventures and information to share, I started my own website in 2009, www.BeckyLouOutdoors.com. The following year I was asked to participate in a Reality Television series with 5 other women, consisting of 11 episodes. Somehow with my determination, some skill, and a lot of luck, I won the first season competition!! The show was a success, and continues on each year for a new season with 6 new contestants and many new challenges. . In 2010 I was honored to be named Pro Staff for Commando Call Products. I do a lot of freelance writing for many websites and most recently InterMedia Outdoors with an article in print for Dec/Jan 2011/2012 nationwide Game & Fish and also Sportsman. I have a trademark phrase, “Camo can be Classy”TM for women like me that are 110% all girl, but can enjoy the outdoors to whatever level we desire! I have grown to believe that if you Love Life it will Love you back! I hope to provide some information, encouragement and inspiration for women to get out in the Great Outdoors. It has made such a difference in my life, and I truly believe that I am Happier and Healthier because of it! Shooting may not be for everyone, but it is definitely worth a SHOT!
