Niki Atcheson -from Missionary’s kid to big game outfitter to Próis Field-Staff
At Prois Hunting & Field Apparel for Women, we understand that it is the people on our team that make the business a success.  With that, we are immensely pleased to announce the addition of Niki Atcheson to our Field-Staff team. 
Niki Atcheson grew up as the daughter of medical missionary parents at Kibuye Hospital station in Burundi and Rwanda. It was 1960 and remote at the time. Outside communication happened just once a week on short wave radio. It was here that her passion for hunting began and now, in what some still consider the wild – Butte, Montana – her quest to hunt the world continues.
Out of Africa, Niki became a hunting guide for South Point Safaris on the big island of Hawaii. Remote Mauna Loa supported the world’s most pure strain of Mouflon sheep, as well as many other species. She described the experience: “Hunting from jungle to savannah to barren lava in this exotic location was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.”
Niki could not stay away from Africa, continuing to hunt there while using International Hunting Consultant Keith Atcheson, of Jack Atcheson & Sons, as her advisor. She concentrated on hunting dangerous game, including Cape buffalo. She said, “Zimbabwe is my favorite country to hunt, but I have also hunted in Namibia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa and the Cameroons.”
She married Keith and for the past nine years, they have hunted the world together. They also run an outfitting and guiding business, Hunters Montana, for elk, deer and antelope. The couple spends most of their time running Jack Atcheson and Sons International Hunting Agency. They often take their combined family of five children (four girls!) hunting with them.
An avid writer, Niki has contributed many articles encouraging other woman and kids to enjoy her passion of hunting and the outdoors. She firmly believes that the lifestyle of hunting fishing is an intricate part of our connection with to Earth.
She said, “What keeps me guiding through long hours, tremendous work and bad weather is the amazing people I meet. The honor of hunting with clients and seeing them achieve their goals is as much a fulfillment to me as a guide as my own hunting. Hunting has allowed me to meet some of the most giving, courageous and adventuresome woman in the world.”
When spending time back at home in Montana, Niki can be found gardening, watching birds or reading true-life adventure novels. We wonder if these stories can even begin to compare to her own life’s story? We’re thrilled to have this big game guide, American huntress on the team at Próis.

 
Kirstie Pike- Owner/CEO
Prois Hunting and Field Apparel
SERIOUS HUNTWEAR FOR REAL WOMEN
www.proishunting.com
28001-B West Highway 50
Gunnison, CO   81230
Phone: (970) 641-3355
Fax:  (970) 641-4400

HUSBAND-WIFE FIRST COUPLE EVER IN HALL OF FAME!
 
            SOUTHERN COLORADO: 5th degree black belt Master Shirley Bendell of Florence, Colorado was shocked and surprised at a banquet at the Pueblo Shrine Club Hall at Pueblo West, Colorado when she was inducted into the International Karate and Kickboxing Hall of Fame, joining her husband Grandmaster Don Bendell, a 1995 inductee, to become the first husband and wife ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Former World Champion and 1988 inductee Grandmaster Bob Chaney flew in from Temecula, California to make the surprise induction. Public about being a former victim of gang and acquaintance rape, Master Bendell was cited for her renowned Sexual Assault Prevention clinics for women and girls which have saved many females from rape and domestic assault; her innovative Mini-Ninja program for 3, 4, and 5 year olds which was the first of its kind in southern Colorado and is now copied by every major school in the state; and it was brought out that Master Shirley Bendell when competing in tournament competition not only won first place every time she fought, she has never had one single point scored against her by another woman in sparring competition.
            With tears flowing before the audience of several hundred, Master Bendell was first surprised with a “This is Your Life- Shirley Bendell” ceremony with one of her 2 Green Beret sons on his way to Afghanistan walking out in his dress greens, as well as her oldest son and his family, her 2 best friends from high school in Youngstown, Ohio in the late sixties, and other family members and friends who flew in from all over the country. Messages of congratulations were read from friends Bo Derek, H. Ross Perot, and other celebrities.
            A grandmother of 7, mother of 3, and step-mother of 3; Master Bendell owns and operates Bendell Karate in Pueblo West and Canon City with her husband and is a 5th degree black belt master instructor in Song Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do, Freestyle Karate, Shita Jujitsu, and Judo. Shirley has a Bachelors degree in film and television from Colorado State University-Pueblo and is working on her Masters degree in Business Leadership at Grand Canyon University along with Don. Don is an author, editorialist, and public speaker.

The Emerald Hotel

 M.A. Starner

The Emerald Hotel is a fast paced intriguing tale that takes you into a small Rhodesian village in 1901 where you are introduced to young Musi as her family and friends and peaceful way of life are brutally stolen from her and follow her courageous struggle for survival.

 Musi is taken captive by Kahlid  an emerald mine owner and evil slave master and our intelligent and determined heroine eventually kills her captor and is left fending for herself in the wild African wilderness. Emeralds scattered around her in the sand are a grim reminder of her situation but Musi is smart enough to know that they are also the key to her future.

This carefully woven story takes the reader on a exciting and often brutal trip into the emerald trade of Africa and through several decades until Americans Tom Dugan and Gabe Adams are running for their lives carrying thirty pounds of precious emeralds with Colonel Zima using his best trackers making sure they do not leave Africa alive!

I highly recommend this engaging and fast paced book for adults as there are a few scenes that may be a bit harsh for kids to read.

 M. A. Starner wrote The Emerald Hotel after a gem hunting adventure in Zambia where an article about the trip also appeared in Rock and Gem Magazine. Al Starner is a lifelong gem and mineral collector, big game hunter, pilot and skydiver. His work has been published in Soldier of Fortune and Flying Magazine and many others. He lives in Southern Colorado with his wife Janet and is currently working on his next novel. Oh did I mention he is my dad!

Get your copy on Amazon.com

Kirstie Pike~ CEO~ Prois Hunting Apparel

 

Having grown up in the outdoors where she developed a love of nature while boating, camping, horseback riding and fishing; Kirstie was also excited to learn to hunt from her husband Steve and has passed her love of hunting to her two daughters Hanna and Haydyn.

 While gearing up to hunt each year, Kirstie was frustrated as many lady hunters are with the poor selection of hunting clothing for women. So with the support of her family she took it upon herself to change things. Prois Women’s Hunting Apparel (pronounced pro-iss) was born with strict attention to functionality and fit. “Women were tired of wearing their husband’s hand-me-downs or trudging through the woods in bulky ill fitting clothing that didn’t keep them warm.”

Having worn athletic clothing throughout her life as an avid participant in running, downhill skiing and cross country skiing, Kirstie took great ideas from the athletic clothing lines she liked best and went to the drawing board; coming up with designs that fit well, look great and function for the hunter.

One of my favorite features of her jackets and vests is the ingenious scapular drop pocket where you can place a hand warmer and keep your core temperature steady. I also love that I can wash and wear all pieces and they are very durable, keeping their shape and good looks wash after wash.

Elk and mule deer are her favorite animals to hunt since they offer a rugged challenge and she has been known to bring down her fair share of pheasants on our trips to Pheasant Phun in South Dakota!

The memberships Kirstie loves to promote in the outdoor industry are the National Rifle Association and National Shooting Sports Foundation since they do so much to monitor and protect our rights but they have also been proactive in promoting women in the field.  She also is a big fan of the Rocky Mountain elk Foundation and the National Wild Turkey Federation for all of their conservation and management efforts.

I asked Kirstie what she sees as the biggest challenge hunters and sportsmen face. She replied “One is the constant battle against the anti-hunters and their misconception of the sport and the other is to ensure we continue to work hard to pass the love of hunting on to our kids and future generations. “ She went on “This starts not only at home but also takes a lot of initiatives to ensure gun rights, land/animal management and conservation.”

I know Kirstie will always be a mentor to other women in the sport and will bring up her daughters to do the same. That is why Kirstie Pike is an OUTSTANDING SPORTSWOMAN!

Contact Kirstie at www.proishunting.com or call 1-970-641-3355 to order your hunting gear in time for Christmas!