The Department of Natural Resources' Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program is offering a Beyond BOW waterfowl workshop on Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Island Lake State Recreation Area in Brighton. The cost for the workshop is $45, which includes instruction, class materials and lunch.

The workshop will begin at 9 a.m. with registration and safety orientation. Starting at 10 a.m., participants will practice their shooting skills at the Island Lake Recreation Area shooting range, shooting 25 targets on the skeet range and 50 targets on the sporting clays course. Participants are encouraged to bring their own shotguns and ammunition of 7 ½- 8 lead shot only (target load). Participants should bring three boxes of ammunition. Some firearms will be available to those who do not own one.

"Beginners are welcome to attend this workshop to learn the basics of waterfowl hunting," said Sue Tabor of the DNR's BOW program. "Enrollment is limited, and I encourage women to register early."

After lunch, participants will be divided into three groups to attend three different workshop sessions on different aspects of waterfowl hunting. The workshops will be offered round-robin style, with the groups rotating to each class.

Workshops will be offered on Duck Hunting 101, where participants will review hunting etiquette, seasons and regulations, waterfowl identification, equipment and clothing, types of hunting, blind lay-out and decoys. Another workshop will offer instruction on duck calling. Participants should bring their own duck calls, if they have them. The third workshop will focus on dogs and duck hunting, and will highlight choosing a puppy, dog training, getting ready to hunt and field demonstrations.

For more information on this program, contact Sue Tabor at (517) 241-2225 or go online to www.michigan.gov/bow. The goal of the BOW program is to provide opportunities for women to learn skills that enhance and encourage participation in shooting, hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities.