The Buddy System

Their paths first crossed at A-1 Archery in Hudson, Wisconsin, where Dana has worked for over a decade. A USA Archery Level 3 Instructor and NASP-certified coach, Dana has spent 36 years in the sport. Through her time at A-1, she’s mentored countless beginners — from 4-H students to curious adults dipping their toes into archery later in life. 

One of those adults was Ali Verges. 

Ali walked into A-1 not for herself, but for her daughter, Brooke, who had received a gift card for lessons. As Brooke took aim on the range, Dana and Ali struck up casual conversations.  

What began as small talk soon bloomed into something much more, revealing a shared love of farm life, horses, motherhood and hunting. 

“From that moment on, Dana and I became great friends,” Verges said. “Dana is such a beautiful soul.” 

Verges lives on a bustling hobby farm in Spring Valley, Wisconsin, with her husband, children and a lively menagerie of animals — horses, goats, chickens, ducks, cats and dogs. When she’s not wrangling livestock or kids, Verges serves as the jail administrator and captain of the Pierce County Jail, with 16 years under her belt in law enforcement. Her path has led her through dispatching, patrolling, corrections and into teaching new officers at local technical colleges. 

Her days are full, but amidst the chaos of duty and caretaking, Keller helped her rediscover a space that was just for her. 

It started with a simple invitation. While talking during league night, Keller mentioned she was planning a bowhunting trip to Missouri and asked Verges if she wanted to tag along. 

“I was shooting in a women’s bow league that Dana manages, and it came up in conversation that she was going to be heading to Missouri to bow hunt deer that fall,” Verges said. “Dana had mentioned that I should go with her. I had never been out of the state of Wisconsin bow hunting.” 

Verges hesitated. She’d never bowhunted out of state before. But her husband encouraged her to go — and that trip changed everything. That road trip to Missouri sealed their bond. The pair continued hunting together, spending time together enjoying the outdoors and helping grow the same passion in their children.  

The Missouri deer hunt unlocked between them a space where they could laugh, cry and simply exist outside of their day-to-day roles. That trip kicked off a tradition of making time just for them. 

They talked about their kids, their marriages and their careers. They shared what it’s like to be a women in demanding, male-dominated fields. They also shared their dreams — and one in particular stood out: chasing wild turkeys with a bow. 

Friends at the archery shop had told them about a place in Nebraska with a strong turkey population and welcoming landowners. They packed up and went. Their first trip didn’t result in a harvest, but they returned home energized, vowing to return. 

“We have met some amazing landowners, and the people of Nebraska have been super friendly and outgoing,” Keller said. “Over the years we have made some great friends down there and are always excited to go back again.” 

When they returned to Nebraska this spring, it wasn’t just about filling a tag. Their hunt was self-guided — an added layer of challenge — and they reveled in the freedom of doing things their own way. 

“One of our favorite spots is in a river bottom that has two huge ridges on either side,” Keller said. “It is a big hill we have to walk down to get to our hunting spot, but the views are spectacular. The landowner told us that the turkeys liked this area in the late morning or early afternoons, so we were sure to be out there well before light so we could hear the woods explode with gobbling. It is such a rush to have turkeys gobbling and responding to calls. Ali and I love to try out calls. Sometimes the calls start out funny and we giggle.” 

Ali’s first turkey with a bow came on one of those mornings. The birds had been gobbling across the ridge, their drumming so close it felt like thunder. 

“We were in the blind before first light and the woods were exploding with gobbling. We would occasionally call to let the turkeys know where we were,” Keller said. “Pretty soon we saw some heading our way across the river bottom. They went up the ridge behind us, and after a bit, we could hear them behind us coming back down to us. I know the excitement was getting to us. Ali drew back and shot a turkey out the window to my left and dropped her bird! We cried and laughed and couldn’t believe all of the action we had in such a short amount of time! That morning was one that I will not soon forget. I was so very proud of her and her accomplishment!”  

The emotions were raw. For Verges, it was her first turkey with a bow — a milestone marked by the presence of someone who had helped her get there. 

“It was surreal,” Verges said. “When I let my arrow fly, all I heard was a loud ‘thump’ and then he dropped! I had been waiting for this moment to happen for years, and here I was in Nebraska, doing what I love with my best friend. It was absolutely incredible.” 

The next day, Dana notched her tag as well — stalking and crawling through the brush, spotting two strutters, and taking a shot with her shotgun after a belly crawl through the grass. 

But as meaningful as the harvests were, the real gift was the time spent together. 

“I jumped up, and as I did, I saw a whole flock of turkeys scattering — except for one that jumped on my bird,” Keller said. “I went running to make sure my bird couldn’t get away and to get the other one off of it. The bird that was on mine ran away, and I was able to enjoy the satisfaction of harvesting my very first Nebraska turkey.”  

For Keller and Verges, the Nebraska trip wasn’t just about filling tags — it was about filling a deeper well of connection. Their friendship is rooted in more than hunting. It’s about encouragement, support and trust. Whether it's laughing in a blind or crying after a big moment, they’ve created a safe space for each other — one that only deepens with each shared sunrise. 

“Ali and I are more than just hunting buddies or friends; I see her as my sister,” Keller said. “The sister that you can confide in without judgment. I consider myself extremely lucky to have Ali in my life. We both have our struggles and challenges with work and family and being wives and moms. We both also have positive attitudes, and we want good things for ourselves, our families and our workplaces. So, going on hunts and spending time together gives us time to decompress, find that faith in the woods and humanity and enjoy our friendship. We are definitely stronger women by having this bond because we know we will support each other.”  

For women like Keller and Verges, carving out time and space to participate often comes with a dose of guilt, self-doubt or pressure to “prove” something. 

But they’ve rejected that narrative. 

“Although our lives are busy and take us in many directions, we always make it a priority to schedule time for the two of us,” Verges said. “You need to make time! Life is too short, and we all know life gets busy. It’s easy to procrastinate. Make the time for yourself — for your friendship. Don’t put it off. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, and we sure are not getting any younger! Make those memories because it brings so much happiness to our lives.” 

In addition to focusing on finding the time and space for herself and Verges to hunt, Keller’s dedication to mentorship goes beyond her friendship with Verges. She’s a longtime volunteer for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) program, which teaches women outdoor skills in a welcoming, non-competitive setting.  

“I try to help women and girls get out hunting and learn how to do it confidently,” Keller said. “It isn’t about the kill; it is about the time we spend outdoors in nature and being able to connect to it. We, as women, definitely need and deserve a chance to get away. I love being able to help women learn how to start hunting and being outdoors. I love to mentor them and show them that they can do this! If a woman or girl is looking to get into hunting or outdoor activities, I would highly recommend looking up your local DNR’s Becoming an Outdoors Woman program.” 

Looking ahead, the duo is already planning their next adventure — a turkey hunt at Verges’ farm in Wisconsin this spring. The pair also plans to return to Nebraska for next turkey season. Long term, they hope to check off a bigger bucket list hunt — chasing the beautiful ocellated turkey in Mexico. 

For Keller and Verges, these hunts have become more than just time spent in the woods — they’re a form of renewal, a commitment to themselves and each other. Through early mornings, shared laughter, quiet moments in the blind and the thrill of the hunt, they’ve deepened their friendship and rediscovered parts of themselves often buried by the demands of everyday life. These experiences have strengthened their bond, made them more confident as hunters and as women, and reminded them of the importance of carving out time to reconnect with nature and with each other. No matter where life takes them, they’ve made a promise — to keep showing up, to keep chasing gobbles together, and to always find their way back to the wild places that bring them peace, strength and a sense of home.