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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 FIRST YEAR FREELANCING Lessons learned | p. 14 Wildlife photography safety, SEO for writers, & OWAA Member deals AND MORE. Outdoor Writers Association of America FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Our mission: improve the professional skills of our members, set Paddling away in the deep end the highest ethical and communications standards, encourage FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 | VOL. 80, NO. 8 n my last note, I mentioned a few Expand benefits – Already I’ve public enjoyment things that I’d be doing as I ‘dove brought a few new opportunities to and conservation of Iinto the deep end’ of getting up to the table for our membership. We natural resources and speed on all things OWAA. While I’m now have a partnership where OWAA mentor the next gen- just starting to wrap my mind around members can apply for press trips eration of professional CONTENTS all our programs, initiatives, history with member ranches of the Dude outdoor communicators. and impassioned membership, I want- Ranch Association, discounted access ed to update you on progress thus far, to a few conferences for outdoor/ad- NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS as I start to paddle around: venture trade, a new store filled with 2814 Brooks St., Box 442 OWAA-branded merchandise and the Missoula, MT 59801 Listen & learn – I said I’d have ‘pro’ deals via the IPA Collective. 406-728-7434, Fax: 406-728-7445 many conversations with members, [email protected], owaa.org the Board and other OWAA stake- Build partnerships – Partnerships STAFF holders. Thus far, I’ve interviewed take time. I’m continually working Executive Director: Chez Chesak (almost) every member of the Board to secure mutually-beneficial part- Publications Editor: Suzanne Downing of Directors and had great and very nerships that will provide you with Designer: Betsy Alvarez valuable conversations with external new data about outdoor consumers, PRESIDENT partners and members, including ones enhanced OWAA communications to Tim Mead, North Carolina who have been engaged for decades the trade and consumer outlets and OFFICERS and those that just recently joined. access to more trade events. 1st Vice President: Pat Wray, Oregon 6 12 16 2nd Vice President: Christine Peterson, Plan – I’d noted that I’m a consum- Build membership – This one is Wyoming mate planner. I’m now developing a going to take more time. While I'm Secretary: Tom Wharton, Utah p.5 | GOING MIRRORLESS p.16 | EXPLORING VERMONT ALSO IN THIS ISSUE plan for 2020. While I’m still in the 'chomping at the bit' to expand and Treasurer: Tom Sadler, Virginia By Paul Queneau By Gary Moore PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE p.4 note-taking phase, some things are grow our membership, corral new BOARD MEMBERS becoming clear as the plan develops. sponsors and get new registrants to John Kruse, Washington PRODUCT REVIEW p.13 p.6 | OUTDOOR ADVENTURES p.19 | DO MORE THAN JUST Upgrading our members’ accessibil- our annual meeting, I first need to Ann Simpson, Virginia ALONG THE GREAT AMERICAN ATTEND CONFERENCE BOOKSHELF p.27 ity to OWAA resources, their own get our house in order a little. I’m Danielle Taylor, Pennsylvania RAIL-TRAIL By Pat wray MEMBER DISCOUNTS p.28 directory listings and each other is laying the groundwork to develop the Ruth Hoyt, Texas By Laura Stark Ken Keffer, Iowa SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT p.31 paramount. To that end, I’ve initiated materials, resources and capabilities to p.20 | A BAD IDEA a new members-only Facebook group grow our community and continue to Shawn Perich, Minnesota p.8 | SEO FOR OUTDOOR WRITERS IN A SPECIAL PLACE to share select information within bring together even more storytellers Nick Lowrey, South Dakota By Scott Severson By Michael Furtman our community. I’ve also started passionate about the outdoors. Gary Moore, Vermont researching developers to provide us Emily Stone, Wisconsin p.10 | KEEPING IT REAL: THE MAKING p.22 | PORTFOLIO with an updated website and a new So, we’re on our way toward a new COUNSELS OF A TRAIL GUIDE By Jacqueline Kehoe Association Management Software horizon. We’ve got a long way to go, Attorney: William Jay Powell, Missouri By Mary Terra-Berns to power (among other things) the but the initial results are positive. The Medical: William W. Forgey, Indiana p.27 | ENVIRONMENT members-only area of our site. pack feels heavy, the trail is long and Supporter Liaison: Katie McKalip, p.12 | DANGEROUS CRITTERS AND NATIONAL AFFAIRS we’ve got miles to go – but we are on Montana By Tim Christy By Drew YoungeDyke Understand – Knowing what our way! the needs of our members are will Copyright February/March 2020 by Outdoor p.14 | FIRST YEAR FREELANCING take time, but I’m looking to better Writers Association of America Inc. Reproduc- By Christine Peterson leverage the collective body to better — With more than tion in whole or in part without permission is benefit you, the member. A recent 20 years' experience in prohibited. The contents of Outdoors Unlimited do not necessarily represent the opinion or en- example of this type of consideration the outdoor and travel dorsement of OWAA, its staff, officers, directors is the new benefit providing members industries, Chesak is the or members. Outdoors Unlimited (ISSN 0030- access to discounted ‘pro’ pricing from 17th executive director 7181) is published bimonthly by Outdoor Writers ON THE COVER a slew of brands via IPA Collective. of OWAA. Association of America Inc., 2814 Brooks St., Box 442, Missoula, MT 59801. Periodicals postage After all, what outdoors person paid at Missoula, MT, and additional mailing BY TIM CHRISTIE | A bull bison, intent on protecting the cow he’s tending, stares intently for any adversary during the August rut in doesn’t need to upgrade their gear – at offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Yellowstone National Park. The look, should tell anyone, “I’m not to be messed with!” some point – right? Outdoors Unlimited, Outdoor Writers Associa- tion of America Inc., 2814 Brooks St., Box 442, www.timchrisitephoto.com Missoula, MT 59801. 2 OUTDOORS UNLIMITED | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 OWAA.ORG/OU | OUTDOORS UNLIMITED 3 CRAFT IMPROVEMENT PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE OWAA Ethics GOING MIRRORLESS BY PAUL QUENEAU | Working with Noah Buchanan and per charge. I also found the rave reviews of hortly after being elected OWAA Only Facebook page where members had MISSOULA, MONTANA Gary Farber at Hunt’s Photo and Video, a Sony sensors to be spot-on. But speaking President, I returned home from the some concerns about a recent OWAA staunch OWAA supporter that has treated of spots, it’s a nice segue into my single SLittle Rock conference. Soon after member benefit. OR MOST OUTDOOR WRIT- me wonderfully for more than a decade, biggest complaint of mirrorless cameras. that, I received a request for help from a So, what to do? My wise friends ERS, camera equipment is the costliest I ordered the budget-minded Sony a7 iii They require a constant fight against dust member. seemed to agree, the best OWAA strategy Fgear we take afield. We debate which with its renowned 24-megapixel full-frame without a mirror there to protect the sensor. He alerted me that he wrote for a was a third-party intervention, in our case brands and models will best suit our needs, 35 mm sensor and 10 frames-per-second I now swap lenses with the utmost care major magazine months ago and was by the Executive Director or President. and when the time is right to replace or speed. Combined with Sigma’s MC-11 and speed, but dust inevitably still gets on never paid. Could I help? Both editor and Including, as a matter of fact, that an upgrade our trusted tools. converter, it allowed me to mount all my the sensor, requiring me to clean it with far publisher were people I had worked with OWAA member stiffed by a media outlet For 15 years I’ve used Canon DSLRs for Canon EF lenses. Sony built their E-mount greater frequency. before. I sent them an email and asked may let the word get out among the all my professional work, and they’ve never to allow for full-frame converters that My other main gripe, at least about the for an explanation. I did not get one. community that we should take care in let me down. My Nikon friends report the require no glass elements, meaning no loss Sony a7 iii, is the sharpness of its view- The OWAA member told me he still had dealing with that publisher. same—one reason why these brands have in sharpness. There is a negligible focus finder. I’ve long used my cameras and long not received a check. So, I sent a second In that context, if you are having trou- ruled the roost for so many years. lag, and some of the fanciest settings aren’t lenses like binoculars to inspect wildlife OWAA President Tim Mead is a free- email. ble getting paid, let Chez Chesak, our Yet this spring, buoyed by sales of its available, but to me it proved plenty work- from a distance, but the 2,359,000-dot lance writer and photographer from A couple of months went by. The Executive Director, or me know and we’ll mirrorless lineup, Sony overtook Nikon able while also making me quietly long for EVF of that base-model Sony simply isn’t North Carolina with hundreds of credits member sent me a message saying he had rattle cages as best we can. as the number two manufacturer the U.S. native Sony lenses. up to the task. in national and regional magazines.