News

Meet Jennifer Braley, Women of OHA coordinator

The Women of OHA program, started in January 2024, has grown to the point of needing a part-time coordinator to help maintain the momentum of the program. Jennifer Braley, from Summer Lake, has joined OHA to assist with the outreach work for the Women of OHA program, including coordinating volunteers for outreach events, planning the annual Weekend Away trip, and creating promotional opportunities to continue the rapid growth of the program. 

Jennifer has an extensive background in outreach, project management, grants management, and administrative-level support having worked previously for the U.S. Forest Service and USDA Agricultural Research Service. 

You can reach Jennifer at outreach@oregonhunters.org.

 

Second annual Women of OHA event a success

The recent Women of OHA Weekend Away event proved to be a success for the second year in a row. Over the course of two days, women from all over the state came together in Prineville for a weekend of fun, food, and chukar hunting. 

The Weekend Away event offered more than a chance to hunt—it provided hands-on learning, and mentorship. Morning briefings covered field safety, shot placement, and ethical hunting practices, while experienced volunteers led hunting pairs in the field. Attendees practiced their shooting skills at the skeet range station prior to their hunts and gained hands-on experience processing their harvested birds after their hunt.

Twenty-four women participated in the chukar hunt portion of the weekend, which was put on with assistance from the Bend OHA Chapter. The evening prior to the hunt, the ladies gathered in Prineville for a catered meal, social event, and numerous giveaways donated by OHA chapters. One lucky participant won a Citadel 1911 .380 series pistol donated by Legacy Sports International.

A particularly encouraging trend this year was the growing number of female dog handlers who volunteered to support the hunt. Local handlers brought well-trained flushing and pointing dogs, demonstrating handling techniques and dog safety around hunters. Newcomers benefited from watching handlers work their dogs in the field and several handlers expressed excitement about returning each year and recruiting other women to help, expanding the volunteer pool, and strengthening the event’s capacity to host larger groups.

The Bend OHA Chapter’s contributions were instrumental to the Weekend Away’s success. In addition to donating their hunt location and expertise, chapter members also organized and prepared the hunt location and staffed multiple roles from bird planting, safety oversight, running the skeet shooting station, and teaching the participants how to process their harvest, ensuring participants left with practical skills as well as memories. Their local knowledge and willingness to donate time made the weekend run smoothly and safely for everyone.

This is the second year of the Women of OHA program and its annual Weekend Away event, which was supported by donations from Mid-Willamette OHA Chapter, Umpqua OHA Chapter, Tualatin Valley OHA Chapter, Legacy Sports International, and a grant from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund. 

With momentum building, the Women of OHA Weekend Away is becoming an important annual gathering for women hunters, mentors, and conservationists across Oregon. The program continues to inspire new participants, cultivate skilled volunteers, and foster a welcoming community of women committed to responsible hunting and outdoor stewardship.

Planning has already begun for the 2026 event which will be held next October. Subscribe to the Women of OHA newsletter for more information and to receive notices of event registration. 

 

Find past Women of OHA newsletters on the Publications Page.

 

This program is supported by funding and donations from the Leupold & Steven Foundation and Legacy Sports International.