LEADERSHIP STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Learn more about Cindy Minor

We asked Cindy Minor a few fun questions. Leadership Staff Spotlight is designed to help you get to know our awesome team of Leadership Staff a little better. Cindy lives in Oklahoma and is and an avid competitive archer.

Are you a competitive shooter? Yes, I’ve competed in various archery competitions since 2012.

What types of matches / shoots do you participate in? My favorite is the outdoor 3D shoots because of the challenges (wind, shadows, terrain, weather, etc.). I also shoot some indoor during the winter to try to keep up my form and muscle memory.

What types of firearms / archery do you shoot competitively? I shoot a compound bow…tried a recurve once and I swear the foam animals laughed at me! I have a ton of respect for those that can accurately shoot a recurve or long bow! I’m going to stick to my training wheels (compound).

If you could only shoot one type of competition what would it be? 3D for sure. My all time favorite part is the people, they have all become our archery family!

How did you get involved with competitive shooting? Our son, Seth, started shooting when he was 9 (almost 12 years ago). Then as our daughter, Cassie, grew big enough to pull a bow back she began competing (Cassie is also on the SLG staff!), so my husband and I decided if we were going to travel to all these competitions, we might as well look into competing too (also because doing archery is a lot more fun than watching archery). Apparently the good Lord agreed because He aligned the stars for us. I was so fortunate that a bow was donated to me, completely set up, thanks to a wonderful man I nicknamed Santa. Our son won a bow that was too much poundage for him at the time, but perfect for my husband. So we figured it was meant to be and we’ve paid it forward every chance we get since then!

How long have you been shooting competitively? 5-1/2 yrs (wow, time has flown!)

What shooting skill would you like to master? I need to work on holding steady and achieving the same anchor point every time with my release. I’d like to be able to make podium next year and win out of my class (Women’s Known 40). 

What’s your biggest shooting challenge? Making time for it. 

What would be the most amazing competitive stage that is still on your bucket list? Winning a national championship!

What’s the hardest lesson you’ve learned? When you start to get tired, STOP shooting. After shooting 40 targets at a fun shoot, I decided to go through one more time with other friends that had arrived. It was hot that day and I was already tired. I swore I had knocked an arrow, but I had not and I dry fired my bow. If you have never dry fired a bow, it sounds like a gun going off and the string hits your arm HARD causing your heart to jump to your stomach and nearly wet your pants! DON’T SHOOT WHEN YOU ARE TIRED (and never pull a bow back without an arrow knocked).

What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation? The safety steps of archery and checking your equipment every time before shooting. 

NON – SHOOTING RELATED 

What do you like most about the SLG shooting trailer? It provides a feeling of a safe and secure area for women to learn without judgement.

If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time? Shoot my bow of course!

What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue? Travel to more archery competitions and hunting expeditions

What non-shooting related skill would you like to master? Building flower beds that thrive

What non-shooting related .. do you wish you knew more about? History (love museums)

What are you interested in that most people haven’t heard of? I help bag food for the school backpack program so children have food on the weekends during the school years.

What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home? Maryland

Where do you usually go when you when you have time off? To archery competitions

Who inspires you to be better? My husband, Doug. He’s my major support system that encourages me, picks me up when I’m down, and reminds me to live life to it’s fullest. 

What are three interesting facts about you? I have a Masters in Engineering, I make puff quilts and T-shirt blankets, and I mentor women in leadership and young ladies working for their engineering degrees.

What is your biggest fear? STORMS! I’ve had 3 homes hit by lightening and 2 homes that had tornadoes go over them with minimal damage. 

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Seafood!

List two pet peeves – Negative and degrading people and littering

Which of the five senses would you say is your strongest? Hearing

One thing that not a lot of people know you love to do? Randomly secretly pay for a meal, especially for elderly and veterans. 

Mountains or Beach? Mountains

Anything else you would like to add? A few things I try to live by daily:

• Always set goals for yourself and make a plan to achieve them. If you set goals without a plan to achieve them, they will never be met. 

• Accept failure as it means you were willing to take a risk and learn. Failure is just a stepping stone to major success. 

• Lead by example.

• Everything happens for a reason and it’s not for us to question…it’s always part of His plan for you! 

• Live life to it’s fullest without regret. 

God bless you all!

PRO STAFF/INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: Learn more about SLG Archery Instructor Leslie Cotner

Pro Staff / Instructor Spotlight:  We asked Leslie Cotner a few fun questions. Pro Staff / Instructor Spotlight is designed to help you get to know our awesome team of Pro Staff / Instructors a little better. Leslie lives in Arkansas and is an avid hunter, competitive archer and Archery Instructor with SLG.

If you could only hunt in one season which one would it be? 

Deer season

What’s your favorite location to hunt? 

Haven’t been many places , but Poteau Mountain is a fave

Who introduced you to hunting? 

Went with my dad some when I was younger but my ex husband got me more involved in hunting.

What do you hunt for?  

Deer and turkey

What hunting skill would you like to master? 

I try to be ethical and make good shots in the field. The more I practice competitively and in the off season helps me with this.

What’s your biggest hunting challenge? 

Elk in Colorado with a bow

What would be the most amazing hunting adventure that is still on your bucket list? – 

Bear archery hunt in Alaska

What hunting skill do you wish you knew more about? 

Learning to age deer for more mature bucks

If hunting was no longer an option for you what would you do with your time? 

Archery Competitions 

What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation? 

Shooting Archery 

How many pairs of hunting boots do you own? 

3 pairs 

What style of hunting are you most passionate about? 

Bow Hunting 

NON – HUNTING RELATED 

What do you like most about Shoot Like A Girl’s Mission

Educating women about guns and archery and introducing them to the outdoors

If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time? 

Shoot guns and bows all the time and hunt 

What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue? 

3 gun competitions 

What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home? 

Las Vegas

Where do you usually go when you when you have time off? 

Love being in the woods

Who inspires you to be better? 

My son inspires me to be better

What are three interesting facts about you?

3 facts: graduated college at 38, I am a physical therapist assistant, and my son is a police officer

What is your biggest fear? 

Falling

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? 

Deer steaks, gravy, potatoes and biscuits

List two pet peeves

Drama starters and liars

One thing that not a lot of people know you love to do? 

Drive dirt roads with music blaring

Mountains or Beach? 

Hard choice love both mountain and the beach

PRO STAFF/INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: Learn more about Archery Instructor Debi Martin

Pro Staff / Instructor Spotlight:  We asked Debi Martin a few fun questions. Pro Staff / Instructor Spotlight is designed to help you get to know our awesome team of Pro Staff / Instructors a little better. Debi lives in Mississippi and is an avid competitive shooter, hunter and archery instructor with SLG.

If you could only hunt in one season which one would it be?

Big Game 

What’s your favorite location to hunt? 

At home in Mississippi

Who introduced you to hunting?

My Dad. 

What do you hunt for?

Whitetail, squirrel, rabbit, duck, turkey, dove, alligator, predator, bear and moose.  Pretty much anything in season and anywhere we have to opportunity to hunt.   

What hunting skill would you like to master?

I would love to learn to shoot a recurve bow. I am so envious of the skill and dedication that it takes to hunt with a recurve.   

What’s your biggest hunting challenge?

I strive to make clean and ethical shots with my bow.  I shoot competitively in the off season and I find this has helped me become a more skilled archer.  

What would be the most amazing hunting adventure that is still on your bucket list?

I would love to hunt elk with my husband in Colorado.  Brad and I both have traveled a lot of places to hunt, but we’ve yet to go to Colorado together.      

What hunting skill do you wish you knew more about?

I have learned a lot about aging deer over the last few years.  This helps me to insure I harvest a mature deer.  I would like to continue to do so and teach others about deer management.  

What’s the hardest hunting lesson you’ve learned? 

Things don’t always work out and sometimes it just isn’t your day.  That’s why they call it hunting and not killing.  

If hunting was no longer an option for you what would you do with your time?

Traveling shooting competitive archery on an international level.    

What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation?

I would have to say something to do with archery.  I love talking with people about archery and the whole shot process.  Regardless if it is hunting or competing, I always have plenty to talk about.   

How many pairs of hunting boots do you own?

Five.  Two hiking, two rubber (insulated and non-insulated) and one snake. 

What style of hunting are you most passionate about?

Archery hunting is my favorite.  I even like to bowfish.   

NON – HUNTING RELATED 

What do you like most about the SLG shooting trailer?

Getting to introduce archery to someone that has never shot before. Seeing the look on their faces after making the first shot makes my heart happy. Having those ladies give us feedback and tell us about their bow purchase and personal accomplishments is worth more to me than a pot of gold.    

If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?

Practice on the range and spend more time with my family.  

What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?

I would have an indoor range built and shoot dots all day long. 

What non hunting related skill would you like to master?

I would like to learn to speak French.  

What non hunting related. do you wish you knew more about?

I would like to learn to play the piano again.  I took lessons as a child, but I don’t remember how to read the music.  I am so drawn to any music with a strong presence of the piano.  

What are you interested in that most people haven’t heard of?

I love photography.  I like to take pictures of landscapes and sunsets.  They to me are the most natural.  I feel like its Gods masterpiece that he allows us to capture.  

What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?

Newfoundland Canada

Where do you usually go when you when you have time off?

Time off??? What’s that??? 

Who inspires you to be better?

My husband.  He is the kindest person, next to my late father, that I have ever known.  He tries to find the good in everyone and doesn’t let bad things get to him.  

What are three interesting facts about you?

Green is my favorite color. 

I used to team rope. 

I love all genres of music.  From gospel to rap, you never know what I am going to be listening to. 

What is your biggest fear?

SPIDERS!!!! True story!!

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Anything with bread.  I love bread!

List two pet peeves

Smacking and when someone says pacific instead of specific.  

Which of the five senses would you say is your strongest?

Hearing.  My friend calls me “Tune in Tokyo”

One thing that not a lot of people know you love to do?

Stay at home from time to time. It is such a rare event, that most people would think I don’t like to do it.  

Mountains or Beach?

Both…. The best of both worlds!!

Anything else you would like to add? 

Never miss an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life.  A few kind words can change a life in the blink of an eye.   

PRO STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Learn more about Archery Instructor/ Pro Staff Member April Mack

For our first Pro Staff / Instructor Spotlight, we asked April Mack a few fun questions. Pro Staff / Instructor Spotlight is designed to help you get to know our awesome team of Pro Staff / Instructors a little better. April lives in Oregon and is an avid archer and hunter.



If you could only hunt in one season which one would it be?

That’s not a fair question… but archery elk

What’s your favorite location to hunt? East side of Oregon. It’s not only my favorite place to hunt, but I would live there in a second!

Who introduced you to hunting? My husband almost 30-years ago. He started me off with archery for deer, then after we had kids I went with rifle.  After shooting a hole in the pavement I went back to archery. 

What do you hunt for?

Elk, deer, bear, cougar, turkey, upland and water fowl, coyotes, squirrel,

What hunting skill would you like to master?  

Bear hunting, knowing their behaviors, feeding and travel patterns and habits.

What’s your biggest hunting challenge?

Patience, I do not do very well with sitting and strategizing. I like to constantly be on the move.

What would be the most amazing hunting adventure that is still on your bucket list? Hunting in Alaska- Bear, Caribou, Moose, all archery with Salmon fishing in between!!!

What hunting skill do you wish you knew more about?

Muzzle Loader, I have never done it and know nothing about it, other than the basics I teach for hunter Ed.  Long range rifle shooting is intriguing but I would probably not hunt that way.

What’s the hardest hunting lesson you’ve learned?

Never become complacent when you’re tired or frustrated, that’s when opportunities get blown.

If hunting was no longer an option for you what would you do with your time?

I would hike. A lot!! Maybe take up photography…

What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation?

Turkey, elk & blacktail hunting, shot gun instruction, hunting with bird dogs – upland and waterfowl, how to skin and process an animal, archery

How many pairs of hunting boots do you own? 1- Lightweight summer hiking boot and 1-pair of rubber boots.

 What style of hunting are you most passionate about?

Archery - Spot and stalk… calling (elk and turkeys).  Getting up close to your game.

NON – HUNTING RELATED

What do you like most about the SLG shooting trailer?

Archery of course!! ;) I love the fact that ladies can come into the trailer and experience different venues of shooting, under a very controlled environment.  SLG instructors are very knowledgeable about the equipment available and we all have the passion for teaching others to get into the sport.  Whether it be for hunting, competition, self-defense, or a new hobby.  Ladies can take their time, ask questions and learn. It is the best experience to share with ladies when they have that “ah-ha” moment and seeing the confidence they gain. I think it is the overall atmosphere.

If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?

Read

What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?

Cooking meals like Gordon Ramsey and learning foreign languages

What non-hunting related skill would you like to master?

Rock Climbing

What non-hunting related .. do you wish you knew more about?

Carpentry

What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?

Florida

Where do you usually go when you when you have time off?

East side of the state (usually for hunting)

Who inspires you to be better?

My Christian Sisters!

What are three interesting facts about you?

I want to become a pilot, I once trained to fight in an MMA match, and I won’t swim unless the water is 70 or more.

What is your biggest fear?

Ants. Yes.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Cracker Barrel Macaroni and Cheese with bacon.

List two pet peeves

Overthinking things and lack of common courtesy

Which of the five senses would you say is your strongest?

Hearing

One thing that not a lot of people know you love to do?

I love to work out

Mountains or Beach?

Mountains most definitely!!! I do not like the beach.

Anything else you would like to add?

I love mentoring new hunters.  Teaching new hunters the ins and outs and tips to being successful. Last year I took a young lady out and helped her to harvest not only her first buck but her first bow kill!  That hunting experience was as memorable to me as it was to her.

INSTRUCTORS CORNER: Why we Teach... An Inside View from SLG Instructor Brielle Eaton

I will never forget her. It was my first show, a trial to see if I had ‘it’ to become a Shoot Like A Girl Instructor. After a tough set up in the rain and a run through of range procedures, we were ready. I love teaching, it was a gift passed down from my mother who is a baby whisperer, I mean a swim teacher. I have watched countless hours of her tender and, firm but gentle approach, learning and emulating as much I could.

We were preparing for a lunch break, when a woman entered. Karen had cleared the trailer leaving only the instructors, so this woman would be free from worry and stress of critical eyes watching. As she approached the rifle station, I could see her visibly trembling, I could sense her anxiety as she approached. I introduced myself and our eyes met. Tears were brimming and I asked if she was okay. She told the story of a violent childhood, where guns were used as a scare tactic, that she had witnessed a shooting and had never held a firearm. I told her, she didn’t have to participate if she didn’t want to and I would explain the process before even letting her handle the rifle. She nodded that she wanted to continue and said something that I will admire her for forever, “I want to have courage, this is me being brave”. I smiled gently and walked her though the mechanics of loading the firearm. She shouldered the rifle and shot once, tears streamed from her eyes and she asked me to take the rifle. With the flood of emotions she needed some air and exited the trailer. To be honest, I felt a little like a failure. Only one shot? That was all I could get her through?

As I was beginning to believe the sceptics in my own mind, she came back into the trailer. She came straight to me and hugged me still weeping. She graciously thanked me and thanked me for a chance to conquer her fears. Still shocked and amazed, I thanked her for her display of courage and told her it took a lot to be that brave after all she’s been through.

I know “Instructors Corner” is supposed to be tactical advise on gear or shooting techniques to help people become better shooters. But my advice from this experience and my own life, is that being brave will be uncomfortable but to have courage in those moments. For a lot of women, shooting (bows or firearms) can be intimidating. Heck, sometimes being a woman can be overwhelming. But doing those things which we think we cannot do, makes us stronger and more confident, if not wiser. Even Shoot Like A Girl was started by a woman calling deep on her courage and being brave. So my ‘advise’ is, to find opportunities to call deep on your courage and be brave, and encourage those around you to do the same.

Sportsmanship Blog

Cindy Minor

Shoot Like A Girl Pro Staff

Cindy Minor receiving the 2013 ASA Oklahoma Sportsmanship
Award presented by her son Seth Minor. 

Sportsmanship in relationship to archery is often misunderstood as being what you do for others or the sport. Sportsmanship is actually how you conduct yourself win or lose. It's human nature to want to be the best and do things perfectly, so when the results are less than desired, people tend to get angry or upset. We've all experienced it, but we each handle it differently. If you've ever witnessed a poor sport, you know the person who throws a fit, throws their equipment, curses, etc,, how did it make you feel? I know personally, I felt embarrassed for them and those around the person, as well as irritated by their actions. Then I found myself wishing for the event to be over so I didn't have to deal with the person any longer that day.

So the question becomes how do you prevent yourself from becoming this bad sport? Here's how we handle it in my family. We have a simple rule: you are allowed 3 seconds to be silently irritated, then you must smile, be thankful, and shrug it off. Some might think "smile and be thankful?"...are you kidding? I just made a bad shot or lost the tournament and you want me to smile and be thankful?? Yes, that's exactly what I'm asking. It's a matter of putting things in prospective. There are so many other things in life that are much worse than having a bad shot, equipment breaking, or you placed poorly in a tournament; therefore, be thankful you have your health to be able to shoot or compete, be thankful you have a job so you are financially able to shoot or compete, be thankful of the friendships you have made through the sport of shooting, etc. The list is actually endless when you stop to ponder it. Makes you smile just thinking of all the wonderful positives shooting sports has brought to you doesn't it?

Daughter Casie Minor with Son Seth Minor after receiving
2011 ASA National Sportsmanship Award

There's more to being a good sport than just how you physically conduct yourself. It's also how you mentally conduct yourself. So you had a bad shot, so what. There are some people that winning becomes everything and the little devil inside of them encourages them to secretly cheat. They convince themselves they won't get caught. WRONG! There's always at least one person, besides themselves, that knows they cheated. Even if the person consistently conducts themselves in a positive manner, this is still considered a poor sport. Why is it worth cheating? This is still a question I have, as I just don't understand it. Why is it worth surrendering your personal morals to win that medal, trophy or money? Again, put it into perspective. Is a piece of metal on a ribbon or a trophy really worth giving up your good reputation? Is a few dollars really worth selling your soul? Have strength and confidence in yourself to overcome that little devil and take great pride in your decision to be an honest person with high morals. If you don't, karma will likely attack when you least expect it.  

Ultimately, being a good sport is keeping reality in perspective which allows you to 100% enjoy the sport in every facet, good or bad. So have fun...and be a good sport so everyone around you can also have a great time!

Instructor Corner: Hold What You've Got!

Hold What You’ve Got!

Shoot Like A Girl Instructor & Pro Staff Member Suzi Greenlee

You hear it all the time…”follow through”!  Follow through with your golf swing, follow through with your bat swing, tennis swing, basketball shot and even follow through with your plans!

The sport of archery it is no different than any other sport, you have to follow through your shot.  Early on I was shooting a 3D tournament just for fun with friends, no pressure other than I am very competitive in nature.  That day every shot I made was a little too far to the left.  I made some adjustments to my sight, which meant moving my sight to the left to “follow my arrow”.  I shot again and darned if I wasn’t still shooting to the left.  Adjusted my sight again, certain it had come loose and was moved at some point during transit.  I began really focusing on everything that is important in archery like my stance, my anchor point, my grip, making sure I wasn’t punching my release and could not figure out what was off to make me shoot to the left.  I even tried to blame it on the uneven ground I was shooting on!  Hahaha.  It took only a few more shots when a buddy said “I know what you are doing, you are looking to see where your arrow went before it has hardly left your rest!”  Sure enough, I was getting more and more anxious to see where my arrow would land that I was jerking my bow away to see my shot too soon.  Nothing smooth about my follow through.  To be honest I was laser focused and dialed in until I released my arrow, then it was a race to see where it landed!  It is easy to develop bad habits if you aren’t careful.  If you drop your bow arm too soon and your arrow hasn’t cleared the rest, you can steer your arrow off target.  Follow through means engaging your back muscles even after you have released your arrow, and holding your bow up until the arrow hits the target.

I am thankful for 3D tournaments to have the chance to iron out any wrinkles or bad habits I may have developed before it’s time to be back in the tree stand.  It is so important to me to make a good, clean shot when harvesting an animal, we owe it to them.

Archery to me is an art, a beautiful, graceful motion from the moment you pick up your bow, smoothly draw it back into your perfect anchor position and gently release the arrow into flight.  With the final part of the almost poetic motion being a smooth, controlled movement with confidence to follow through the perfect shot.

May all your arrows fly straight and your aim be true.  <3