A letter to Bass Pro Shops

[icequeen]

On the morning of November 4th my hubby and I ventured south to take in the grand opening of Bass Pro Shops in Toronto. Considering what is available online and in their stores in the US we were anticipating finally finding some decent gear for my daughter and I. Well, it didn't happen. We were saddly disappointed with the selection of women's gear. There was little of it and what there was didn't come close to being practical for a northern climate. Actually, there was more of a selection of camo in the lingerie section than there was in the hunting section. Go figure.

Last week I sent a email letter to the manager of the Toronto store in hopes that it may bring a response, and may give him a little incentive to make an attempt to get some kind of gear for women into the store. That letter, as follows, has gone unnoticed.

To: Mr. Jessop, Manager Bass Pro Shops Toronto, Canada...

Mr. Jessop,

My name is Karen and I am an avid hunter from Northern Ontario, 300 miles north of Toronto. My husband and I made a trip to Vaughan on Thursday November 4th to the opening of the store there. The store, overall, was impressive. But, I have to say I was gravely disappointed.

The main reason for our trip to Toronto was to make yet another attempt to get myself and my daughter serviceable clothing for hunting in the Canadian climate. Our first stop in the store was to the hunting area, only to find very little women's hunting clothing. What was there was indeed pathetic, only one rack, and absolutely useless to women hunters in a Canadian climate.

I know that women hunting in Canada is far from the norm but we do exist and we are sorely in need of a reliable outlet in which to find suitable clothing. All over the United States it is easy to find women's hunting clothing to suit all climates, but here in Canada we are presented with little or no selection. I had really hoped, because I have been told what is available in American Bass Pro Shops, that we would finally find some clothing that fits properly and would serve us well in our climate. Again, I was very disappointed.

The staff member that we had the pleasure to work with was great. She took the time to help us look for something that would fit and had the needed insulation, and wind/weather resistance. Unfortunately the smallest size available in the men's section is a medium, throughout the entire store. My daughter and I are not large, which means even looking in the men's section of the hunting clothing was basically a waste of our time. Some men's clothing will work, I admit that, but there are some things that will just not work for us women in the outdoors. We would really like to be able to find something that is built for us, without having to order over the internet and end up with something that yet again does not fit. I have a very difficult time spending over $200 on a pair of gortex bibs which I then have to bring home and spend hours altering so they will fit.

After looking for clothing that was suitable we ventured over to the footwear section and again I was disappointed. The only hunting boots there for women sported a steel shank. Any steel in boots in a Canadian climate, during hunting season, is a recipe for frozen feet. If you look at the Bass Pro web site you'll find many different styles of women's hunting boots, only one with steel, and that is the one that is carried in the Canadian store.

I know I am not alone in my disappointment, there were many other women in the store who were there to find hunting gear. There was basically nothing for us women, not even hats or gloves. My husband and I had a laugh when we looked in the women's clothing section, only to find multiple racks of camouflage lingerie. I hate to tell you this, but when the wind and rain/snow are blowing and the temperatures are hovering around (if not below) freezing, lingerie doesn't really do the job. Try sitting for hours in the cold wearing a little satin cameo, I don't think you'd enjoy the experience.

If you take into consideration that I am clothing two women who hunt, it comes to quite a sum that we are willing to pay for the proper gear. We need different gear for different seasons, considering the wide range of game that we hunt. Unfortunately most of that time spent hunting is when the temperatures are below freezing. I, and other women in Ontario are looking for a place to get the gear that we need. We are no different from the men who spend their time in the outdoors, whether it be hunting/fishing/hiking etc etc. If we lived in the United States we could go to Bass Pro Shops and get that gear, there is no reason why it should be different in Canada.

Unfortunately I have been unable to find an address for the corporate headquarters for Bass Pro, I'd hoped to also send them a letter voicing my disappointment with the selection of women's gear in the Canadian store. This issue is something that women in Canada have been trying to do something about for a very long time. If you could provide me with a valid address, either email or regular post, I would greatly appreciate it.

Sincerely,
Karen xxxxxx
One Canadian outdoors woman, among many.

I have finally found the snail mail address for the Bass Pro Shops Headquarters in Springfield, Missouri. Because this email to the Toronto manager has gone without notice I'm now drafting a letter to Missouri. I am also going to send a copy of this email and the subsequent letter to thier headquarters, via snail mail, to the manager in Toronto.

Bass Pro Shops is a huge ourdoors chain. They boast a wide range of gear for women, they even have a guideline on their website to assist women in finding the right type of clothing needed. I can assure you that lingerie does not fit the bill in Canada, or anywhere else for that matter.