MOUNT JEWETT — Women from five different states attended the first weekend session of Women’s Introduction to Wingshooting offered by the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) at the premier Mount Jewett Sportsmen’s Club in McKean County in NC PA over the last weekend.

Women attended from California, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

“This was our largest enrollment ever,” said Bethany Ford, leader of this unique Women’s Shooting program, taught by women. The program teaches women the fundamentals of shotgun shooting and hunting game birds in Pennsylvania. In addition to an emphasis on safety and gun fundamentals, enrollees were treated to introductory sessions on Game Birds, the North American Model of Wildlife Management, and Types of Dogs.

Lion Country Supply, a premier dog supply company here in the United States, gave a presentation on planning and preparation for hunting trips and emergencies, and pet insurance considerations. Chad Work, chair of the Versatile Hunting Dog Federation, enlightened the women on things to consider when thinking about getting a hunting dog that will also be part of the family.

This unique program will finish up in August back at the Mount Jewett Sportsmen’s Club and all graduates will then be offered a bird hunt to test their newfound skills at the Rolfe Beagle Club, a Shoot to Retrieve bird dog club in northcentral Pennsylvania.