The NRA's women-only charity shoots and instructional clinics are already well underway this year, and NRA's Women On Target program has now set its 2001 hunting schedule as well. The program, designed to make hunting and the shooting sports mroe accessible to women, includes more than 60 events natinwide. In all events, the emphasis is on safety, fun and making women feel welcome and comfortable.

In the Women On Target program, women of all experience levels can take advantage of three different types of events. First, hunting trips for game species from ducks and pheasants to deer and quail give women various sporting opportunities. Second, weekend charity shoots give participants a good recreational experience while raising money for charities such as the Special Olympics, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and others. Finally, instructional clinics -- ideal for women who have never shot before -- provide thorough lessons in gun safety and marksmanship in either rifle, pisto or shotgun shooting.

While a few of the women's hunts have already been held, most are scheduled from September through December. Hunt locations and game species are: South Dakota, pheasants; Ohio, pheasants and chukar; Kansas, pheasants and chukar; Nebraska, pheasants ad chukar; North Carolina, deer; Texas, deer; and Arkansas, ducks.

For more information on these hunts or for a schedule of all charity shoots and instructional clinics, call 800-861-1166 or log onto www.nrahq.org/shooting/women.