Located between Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the Mayville Gun Club. This non-profit, volunteer-based organization is a well-maintained shooting club that offers trap and skeet shooting, 5-stand and sporting clays. It is an ideal destination for those who enjoy competitive shooting or just a day of target practice at the range. The Mayville Gun Club has a long history of attracting outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels and involving the community by hosting numerous events throughout the year. With its spacious clubhouse and outdoor pavilion, it was obvious why this range was selected once again to partner with Sisterhood Outdoors and offer The Beretta Shotgun Experience in September 2025. Several individuals and groups came together to make this another successful and memorable event, including a representative from Beretta who brought a variety of shotguns for the ladies to try out, and a very special guest—six-time Olympian Kim Rhode of Team Beretta!
This one-day event was advertised for 50 women to sign up, pay a registration fee, and enjoy the camaraderie of other like-minded women on the shotgun fields. Whether one wanted to enhance her shooting skills or learn to shoot for the first time, this event was for her. The team of Sisterhood Outdoors along with Mayville Gun Club staff were there to assist and support the ladies along the way. The day included breakfast and lunch, a round of sporting clays, trap shooting and 5-stand, ammunition and clays, and one-on-one instruction from six-time Olympian Kim Rhode!
Mayville Gun Club
“Mayville Gun Club isn’t just a place to shoot; it’s Dodge County’s best place to share the unrivaled experience of Wisconsin’s great outdoors.” So says the club’s motto. This is apparent from the moment you step foot onto property. A midwestern friendliness welcomes all visitors and guests to the club. Gun club staff were available to answer questions and also served as event Range Safety Officers. Niki Bingen, a club member, mentor and Sisterhood Outdoors pro-staff member, served as event host. Niki stressed the importance of firearm safety, demonstrating keeping all over-under shotguns broken open, and all semi-automatic shotguns carried with muzzles up and actions open. Next up was Sisterhood Outdoors founder and president, Amy Ray.
The author (left) with Sisterhood of Outdoors Founder Amy Ray.
Sisterhood of the Outdoors
Amy described Sisterhood of the Outdoors, an organization that created to welcome and empower women who want to connect with others to enjoy outdoor activities and adventures. The group’s motto is, “Become the sportswoman you always wanted to be.” Amy and her organization believe every woman can belong in the outdoors and on shooting ranges. The support, skills and advice to begin outdoor pursuits is the foundation, and with other like-minded women and strong partners who also agree, the Beretta Shotgun Experience event was created.
Beretta
Beginning in 1526, Beretta is the world’s longest standing firearms manufacturer and will celebrate their 500th birthday next year. The company is in its 16th generation of continuous family ownership and has become a trusted name around the world.
Beretta Shotgun Experience at Mayville Gun Club has become a tradition, with Beretta has sponsored the event since 2022. Beretta Territory Manager John Falk brought more than a dozen shotguns for us to shoot. This allowed participants to ask questions about the many different shotguns made available for them to handle. John discussed proper gun fit, feel, balance, grip, barrel length, stock length, and explained the uniqueness among each of the 20- and 12- gauge shotguns.
Olympic Champion Kim Rhode
Six-time Olympic medalist and Beretta Ambassador Kim Rhode was the event’s featured guest. Rhode offered a motivating presentation during our lunch break and shared her impressive biography with the group. She started shooting at age 10 and has not stopped pursuing her passion and dreams. Kim is the first American athlete to win a medal in six consecutive Olympic Games and is the first Olympic shooter to compete in all three shotgun events: trap, double trap and skeet. Kim's remarkable Olympic medal count includes:
- 1996: Atlanta Olympics, Gold, Double Trap
- 2000: Sydney Olympics, Bronze, Double Trap
- 2004: Athens Olympics, Gold, Double Trap
- 2008: Beijing Olympics, Silver, Women’s Skeet
- 2012: London Olympics, Gold, Women’s Skeet
- 2016: Rio Olympics, Bronze, Women’s Skeet
Kim is currently training with the goal of competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games with hopes of bringing home another medal in her home state.
With her infectious smile and contagious enthusiasm, Kim invited questions from the participants. Questions about her childhood, travels, opportunities, and experiences she’s had around the world were among the inquiries. The most common question was regarding her intense training routine. Even though she shoots 500 to 1,000 rounds per day, seven days a week, Kim emphasized what is most important is that “you just get out there and do it, have a good time with others who also enjoy the shooting sports, and pass it on to keep the sport alive.”
Kim told the group that this event is about more than just shooting. “It’s about sharing a love for the outdoors and inspiring the next generation to find their voice, build resilience, and discover their purpose through sport,” she said. “Shooting sports have always brought people together from all walks of life. Partnering with Beretta to support this event means creating meaningful opportunities for women to grow their confidence, connect with others, and celebrate a shared passion for the outdoors.”
Kim loves to tell her story and be an advocate for the Second Amendment to protect hunting and the shooting sports. She is an inspiration for women and youth to pursue their dreams and connect with others who also enjoy the outdoors and shooting sports. She took the time to speak to each participant, signed her autograph with a personized note to them, and allowed them to wear her Olympic medals, and posed with each woman for the perfect photo. It does not take long to feel her passion for the sport and be inspired by her presence.
Kim was available at the trap range to give individual attention to each shooter throughout the day’s rotation. She gave quality instruction and simple yet impactful recommendations and tips how to adjust an incorrect stance or fix a gun mount to improve one’s shooting and break those clays!
The 2025 Beretta Shotgun Experience was a success, connecting women from across the United States who came together to get hands-on instruction and shoot quality Beretta shotguns. This was the perfect opportunity to gain knowledge and confidence and be empowered by other like-minded women. It was an unforgettable experience to not only shoot some of the best Beretta shotguns, but also be a student under the six-time Olympic medal winner Kim Rhode and get her expert tips and pointers to improve shotgun shooting skills and breaking clays.
—Heidi Lyn Rao
