Outdoors: She’s a Little Woman with a Big Gun
Written by Daniel Turner, Thursday March 12 2009
Okay, now that she’s had a Beretta Silver Pigeon 20 gauge fitted to her 5”2” frame the gun isn’t as big as usual, but Bitsy Kelley still handles weapons built for adult males and does so with competence. Her ability to handle weapons and hunt game has made her a staple of the outdoor scene in the Pacific Northwest and opened up the door to her burgeoning TV and radio career.
Bitsy’s real name is Elizabeth, but she won’t be going by that handle anytime soon. As a diminutive outdoors women she maintains the name given to her by a sister who couldn’t wrap her tongue around Bitsy’s given handle. Now, she’s known as Bitsy both in the outdoors and in the boardroom.
Bitsy Kelley was born in Hawaii to parents who were in the hotel industry. Her grandparents founded the business and the family now owns over 50 properties in the Pacific. Bitsy learned her hands on approach to the outdoors from her grandfather, Roy. He was an architect who designed the initial properties owned by the Kelley’s. He and his wife began Outrigger Enterprises which has grown to include real estate and a division that Bitsy became involved with, Hawaii Sportsmen’s Adventures. That division is a full service sporting and outdoor activity enterprise.
In Hawaii there is no hunting season. Since the island is void of predatory species hunting remains a year round activity. Having grown accustomed to a full calendar of outdoor life, Bitsy had to make some changes when she relocated to Oregon in 2002. That is why she chose to settle on a ranch where she has the acreage to stock game and keep up with her shooting. She has taught both of her daughters how to responsibly handle and discharge firearms. He youngest daughter is equally drawn to hunting while her oldest is more given to water activities. Having grown up in Hawaii where land is expensive, Bitsy also teaches them to value nature.
Her love of outdoors drove her to question why there were no sports specific radio programs in the Pacific Northwest. She had a friend in radio who answered her question by challenging her to host her own program. Since she had worked on promotional pieces for the family businesses she agreed and became a staple on Sunday morning. Her one hour program became so popular with hunters and fishers that it soon underwent a name change going from “Oregon Sportsmen” to “Bitsy Kelley’s Outdoors”. Bitsy’s on air presence is so invigorating that she was soon contacted by Comcast to host a program on their network. “Outdoor GPS” allows a viewer to call in, or e-mail questions to Bitsy. The format allows her to share her expertise and answer specific issues.
With all of the microphone duty it is difficult for Bitsy to find time for what she likes best, being outdoors, but she manages to utilize her property and uses free time to go on excursions to hunt in other areas of the country. One of her yearly activities is the Easter Egg Hunt she hosts on her ranch in Oregon. Eggs are hidden in the greens and visitors shoot them. Children are invited as a way of teaching them to safely handle firearms while allowing them to experience using a weapon in a safe and friendly environment. After all, Bitsy knows you don’t have to be big to conquer the outdoors.
Tags:
Leave a comment
Not So Fast! To publish your comment, you have to login
Not Registered? Register now as it only take 20 seconds!
Click here to browse
0 comments