03.11.2026 11:40
In Huğlu Neighborhood of the Beyşehir district of Konya, where more than 20 shotgun and ammunition factories are located, women come to the shooting range in their shalwars and do trap shooting. The number of women, who initially approached guns timidly, has reached 100. Some of the women, who organize prize competitions among themselves, work in the factories in the neighborhood.
In Huğlu Neighborhood of Konya's Beyşehir district, women interested in shooting sports find the opportunity to show themselves in this sport by doing trap shooting in the area they come to in their local attire. In Huğlu, which has a tradition of shotgun production spanning nearly a century, women's interest in shooting sports attracts attention.
At the Huğlu Shooting Range in the rural neighborhood, where trap and skeet shooting and traditional shooting competitions are held, women wearing şalvar sometimes gather, do trap shooting, and organize competitions among themselves. In the neighborhood, home to more than 20 factories producing shotguns and ammunition, some of the women who do trap shooting are employed in the sector.
WE PUT UP A PRIZE AMONG OURSELVES AND ORGANIZE COMPETITIONS Halime Sandal, 54, told the AA correspondent that her interest in shooting dates back to her childhood years. Sandal, who said she made her first shot when she was 13, stated that her interest in shooting continued over the years. Noting that women in the neighborhood initially acted timidly when guns were mentioned, Sandal spoke as follows:
“Guns are produced in our village, but because they are guns, it is inevitably a bit chilling. Since it is a sport, we tried to explain to women that it is a very good thing. We do the shooting at the range. We became one, then two, and eventually grew to hundreds. Shooting competitions are organized by the Huğlu Culture and Solidarity Association and the Huğlu Hunters and Shooters Association. We participate in these, and we also shoot at festivals. I enjoy it very much. Once you shoot, you want more. You hit from large targets to small targets. It is a sport, a beautiful thing; once you do it, you cannot give it up.”
Sandal, noting that some women who shoot have started working in factories, said, “We brew our tea here. We set a certain prize among ourselves and organize competitions. It becomes a sport. We also call today ‘Shooting Day.’”
SHE HAD NEVER HELD A GUN, BUT SHE HIT THE TARGET DEAD CENTER Gönül Uğur, 52, a mother of three, also stated that she started shooting with her friends' encouragement. Uğur, who mentioned that women in the neighborhood previously did most of their shooting in a family setting and among themselves, said that over time they began participating in events and competitions organized at the range.
Uğur spoke as follows: “Halime (Halime Sandal) started this thing. There is the thought, ‘Do women shoot guns?’ Then it followed, and we joined the competition. A friend of ours—we had taught her together with Halime—hit the target dead center even though she had never held a gun in her hand.” Gönül Uğur said, “I concentrate; making the shot and succeeding is a very big thing.” Huğlu Neighborhood headman Cihangir Sandal also said that women, too, are interested in shooting in the neighborhood. Sandal, noting that shooting competitions are organized at traditional festivals and events, stated that shooters from different provinces of Turkey come to the neighborhood and that women from Huğlu also “stand out with their shooting skills.”