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    Archery - Desert Rat - The Premier Hunting and Fishing Blog of the Southwest!

    Archive for the 'Archery' Category

    All things archery-related

    HOAL Has An Immediate Opening For A Sick Child

    I’m a volunteer with the Arizona Chapter of Hunt of a Lifetime. It looks like we have a bunch of potential tag donations this year so we are looking for kids with life-threatening illnesses that want to go on a hunt. Our immediate need is for an archery-proficient child. We have a donor willing to donate an 11M Arizona antelope tag (archery) . The season runs August 21 - Sept 2. We have guides lined up, for this hunt- when we can, all hunt expenses are paid. on HOAL sponsored hunts. For more info on this hunt contact me ASAP. If you have questions about getting a sick child on a hunt, or supporting HOAL, please let me know.

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    Posted on 5th August 2010
    Under: Archery, Arizona News, Conservation Groups, General, Hunting | No Comments »

    Stick Em Archery Interviews Spook Spann

    My friend Brian Stephens over at Stick ‘Em Archery has an awesome site going over there. Below is an interview with TV personality Spook Spann. If you’re a bowhunter, have a look at Brian’s site ASAP!

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    Posted on 29th July 2010
    Under: Archery, General | No Comments »

    Hunt for a Liver

    The beautiful young lady pictured below needs a liver. I am hoping that all of you can do something to help.

    Sadie was diagnosed with Auto-Immune Hepatitis in February 2008. She is now in need of a new liver.

    The following was posted by my friend Amanda over on the CouesWhitetail.com Message Board.

    You all have heard me talk about the Outdoor Experience 4 All before. This is a great group that takes kids with disabilities or illnesses out hunting/fishing/camping. One of the kids they have helped is Sadie Anderson. I have met Sadie several times and she is an amazing young lady. She is also a very good hunter. She has taken many big game animals in the last few years. Sadie has requested to go on a hunt before she starts the liver transplant process and Eddy Corona just told me that they have a bull buffalo hunt lined up for her. Mary Keebler has donated her buffalo tag to OE4A and so now we are working on getting Sadie up there for a hunt.

    Anyway, she needs a liver transplant and Derek Taylor is leading an effort to raise money for that.

    You can view/download the flier at the link above. They are raffling off the following hunts to raise money for Sadie:

    1) AZ Archery Deer Hunt - Fully outfitted, 4-day, value $2800 Ticket $35

    2) AZ Bear Hunt - Fully outfitted, 4-day, value $2800 Ticket $35

    3) Nebraska Deer Hunt - During the rut, 5-day archery or rifle, fully outfitted, value $3500 Ticket $50

    OR - One of each for $100 !

    Information - Contact

    Derek Taylor
    3856 E . Meadowview Dr.
    Gilbert, Az. 85296
    480- 223-2775
    [email protected]

    Make checks payable to: Sadie Anderson

    Maybe you can’t afford a ticket, or aren’t interested in a hunt - throw 5 or 10 bucks in an envelope and send it along. Thanks ~Desert Rat

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    Posted on 18th May 2010
    Under: Archery, Arizona News, Conservation Groups, Events, General, Hunting | No Comments »

    Ben Pearson Introduces The Legend

    I own two Ben Pearson bows and love them both! Would love to see more Ben Pearson fans in Arizona. ~Desert Rat

    BREWTON, AL - Built on the company’s heritage of hunting and innovation, the Legend bow is the smoothest and quietest bow ever produced by Ben Pearson.

    Hunters want a fast bow with low hand shock, a huge valley, an unbelievably solid wall and a great draw cycle, and Ben Pearson offers this with the Legend. The Legend was designed so that hunters can draw back with ease after sitting in the stand for hours on a cold morning and is easy to hold at full draw while waiting for an animal to present the perfect shot. The Legend’s valley is so deep that hunters will even forget they’re holding at full draw.

    The Legend Specifications:

    · IBO Speed - 332-321 fps

    · Axle-to-axle - 32 3/4 inches

    · Brace Height - 7 1/4 inches

    · String Length - 55 1/2 inches

    · Cables (2) - 37 3/16 inches

    · Draw Weights - 50, 60, and 70 lbs. (75% let off)

    · Draw Lengths - 25-30 inches (half-inch increments)

    · Weight - 4.1 lbs.

    · Colors - Mossy Oak Obsession®, Black with black limbs, Black with Obsession limbs

    For more information, log on to www.benpearson.com.

    Ben Pearson produces official licensed products of Mossy Oak/ Haas Outdoors Inc. Haas Outdoors Inc. is headquartered in West Point, Miss., was established in 1986 and is home of Mossy Oak (www.mossyoak.com). Mossy Oak specializes in developing and marketing modern camouflage designs for hunters and outdoorsmen. Mossy Oak patterns can be found on a multitude of products worldwide. Haas Outdoors Inc. is the outdoor industry leader in modern camouflage design, international licensing and marketing. Haas Outdoors Inc. markets its services and products under widely recognized brands including: Mossy Oak, BioLogic, Mossy Oak Productions, MOOSE Media, Nativ Nurseries, and Mossy Oak Properties.

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    Posted on 20th February 2010
    Under: Archery, General, Hunting, Press Releases | No Comments »

    The Heritage Fund: What its loss will mean to Arizona

    This is serious, serious stuff. I encourage all Arizonans to stay on top of this issue, contact your legislators, and do what you can to spread the word. ~DesertRat

    The Heritage Fund: What its loss will mean to Arizona

    Feb. 1, 2010

    Public invited to Game and Fish presentation and webcast on Feb. 2

    The Arizona Game and Fish Department will host a public presentation and live webcast tomorrow evening (Tuesday, Feb. 2) to discuss the potential ramifications to Arizona from a proposed elimination of the Heritage Fund.

    In mid-January the Governor’s office released a budget plan that proposes to permanently eliminate the department’s voter-approved Heritage Fund and redirect all Arizona State Lottery revenue to the state’s general fund. That proposal has been sent for consideration by the Legislature.

    “Adoption of this proposal could have significant impacts on Arizona’s land use and growth that will be vital for the state’s economic recovery, as well as affecting outdoor recreationists and the future well being of the state’s wildlife,” said Deputy Director Bob Broscheid. “We acknowledge the difficulties the state faces in addressing the budget situation, but we owe it to the public to inform and educate on what this could mean to them.”

    Arizona Game and Fish is a “business-model” agency reliant wholly on non-tax dollars. It is critical that the customers who pay the bills in this “user pay, user benefit” model understand the potential statewide economic effects that could result from a permanent elimination of Heritage funding. Those effects potentially include constraints on land use that could affect our state’s economic recovery.

    The approximately 30-minute presentation will start at 6 p.m. at the department’s Phoenix office at 5000 W. Carefree Highway (1.5 miles west of I-17). The public is invited to attend the presentation or view it live over the Internet at www.azgfd.gov/webcast.

    The seminar, presented by Broscheid, will cover the history of the Heritage Fund, what it’s used for, how it benefits wildlife, its many success stories, and the impacts to wildlife, land access and Arizona citizens if the fund is lost.

    After the presentation, an interactive question-and-answer session with the public will take place. Online viewers can submit questions for consideration via an e-mail link at www.azgfd.gov/webcast.

    Passed as an initiative in 1990 by an overwhelming 2-1 bipartisan ratio of Arizona voters, the Heritage Fund provides up to $10 million each year from lottery ticket sales for the conservation and protection of the state’s wildlife and natural areas. The Arizona Game and Fish Department receives no general tax revenue and the Heritage Fund is one of the department’s primary funding sources. The Heritage Fund makes a difference in communities across Arizona and benefits all citizens

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    Posted on 1st February 2010
    Under: Archery, Arizona News, Conservation Groups, Events, Fishing, General, Hunting, Politics and More, Press Releases | 1 Comment »

    Natural Predator Showcases Pink Arrow in Peterson’s

    I got this from friend Scott Gudowicz who manages the Pro Staff for Natural Predator. “Well done”, guys and gals! ~DesertRat

    Just wanted to let everyone know that Natural Predator will be in the Jan/Feb Issue of Peterson Bowhunting in the special Field Gear column. The Pink arrow that we are selling for the National Breast Cancer Foundation will be in that issue. Thought some of you might be interested in this. Thanks

    Scott Gudowicz
    Natural Predator

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    Posted on 21st December 2009
    Under: Archery, General, Products | No Comments »

    Interview With Marlon Holden - Graylight Productions

    This is the second of a two-part interview with Marlon and Alisha Holden from Graylight Productions. Thanks Marlon! ~Desert Rat

    1) How/why did you decide to make a DVD?
    This one was fairly easy… I love hunting and I wanted to share my hunts with everyone. With so much emphasis on guided hunts or treestand hunts and whitetails, I thought it would be fun to share some of our Western DIY hunting adventures. Worst case scenario, I get to watch what I did in the hills when I’m old and gray!

    2) I reviewed your DVD and it was awesome; was this your first? To what do you attribute the quality of this one?
    This was our first DVD… I have had no formal editing training, just a good understanding of what I wanted to convey with the footage I had. I purchased the computer and Alisha gave me Final Cut Studio for Christmas and that’s how I got going! You see it is very hard to film and hunt without a dedicated cameraman, so getting footage enough to tell your story can be an overwhelming challenge! We managed to do just fine though and let me tell you… there are great kill shots in the upcoming DVD!!! We are dedicated to improving on every production and making each video the essence of the field. It’s work that we love!


    3) When can we look forward to another one? Will it be the same type of hunts and regions?

    We are going to release the new DVD this spring and you will see a 180″ Muley stalked to 29 yards and shot in his bed at 12,000 ft. Also, California hybrid hunts as well as Arizona again this January… Who knows what will happen then as it is still the future. We are mixing it up though, as Alisha and I are going to Kansas to hunt Whitetails this November… we have never been before and I think it’s time to go and see what all the fuss is about! Who knows - I may like it! I have always been very impatient when it comes to sitting all day, so keep your fingers crossed for me!

    4) You mentioned you just had some exciting news related to marketing - wanna share that with my readers?
    Recently , we just signed a licensing agreement that will place our DVD’s nationwide in most box shops that we all now about and shop at for our hunting products… It is very exciting and we are happy to be making good progress with Gray Light Productions.

    5) Well, your first DVD s out, and you guys have some cool merchandise out as well - where do you go from here? Where do you want to see Graylight Productions in 5 years?
    What a question! I have always strayed from business plans as I am constantly evolving. As such I am looking forward to working with our partners creating a great brand that people of all walks and ages in life can enjoy and appreciate. Even though we are bowhunters, we appreciate all sportsmen and women; bottom line is that we all appreciate the same thing. Being in the outdoors, on top of a peak at sunrise, breathing in the still fresh air and peering through glass readying ourselves for what lay ahead. I love the field and first and foremost, I want to continue doing what I love. Gray Light Productions is an extension of who we are and what we love. We are looking forward to letting people know about us and growing. It’s great people such as yourself that help with our growth and traction within the industry and for that we are thankful. As for 5 years from now… Who knows? We will have to work diligently and in the end, let the people be our voice through doing excellent work and being great ambassadors to this awesome lifestyle.


    6) OK, what is your dream hunt?

    Believe it or not, I am living the dream… I have no “dream hunts” because I am a hunter’s hunter and what I mean by that is that I hunt where everyone else hunts too. I hunt these locations regularly and they are like homes away from home. They are close to my heart and places I long to be. I lose sleep over it sometimes and wait till the opener like everyone else! DIY is my favorite… It’s the most rewarding and the most difficult. Taking a big buck on land where big bucks are not frequent is like getting in a spaceship and going to the moon, talk about an awesome feeling! Walking up on fallen game with antlers sticking wide and high on public ground also allows our viewers to identify with us. It’s how most of everyone hunts… It’s what everyone can afford! It is taking the everyday guy and saying “you can do this too”. Everything on TV now days is all about this ranch and that ranch or plots that the average guy will never hunt… People get tired of seeing unattainable goals, especially with a family and a real job. If we hunt private it is because we asked for permission like anyone else and we will never hire guides to help us… We will remain DIY and we will always welcome our friends to come have fun with us! Making friends, building relationships and coming back year after year to hallowed ground is the best hunt I could ever draw, year after year; like tradition. Now don’t get me wrong I put in for a ridiculous amount of tags each year but if I draw them great if I don’t who cares =)


    7) When are you guys coming back to Arizona? Are you going to try to get a Coues on video?

    We will be in Arizona this January, chasing big ole’ ruttin’ muleys… My favorite time of year! I am definitely interested in a Coues deer one day but I still have my sights set high on taking a 200″ desert buck… As I see it, that could take some time, so it might be a while before Coues deer have to worry about me!

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    Posted on 12th November 2009
    Under: Archery, General, Hunting, Interviews | No Comments »

    Talking With Alisha Holden of Graylight Productions

    Here is the first of a couple of interviews that I am really excited about. Thanks to Alisha and Marlon of Graylight Productions for agreeing to do interviews. I did a review on the first DVD and I must tell you, it was awesome! These 2 interviews were fun and I am looking forward to doing more projects with Marlon and Alisha! ~DesertRat

    1) OK, some of my readers are going to want to hear the “girl meets boy” story, so how did you two meet?

    Marlon and I met at a nightclub in Newport Beach. I was a dancer and no - not the kind some of you might be thinking! He was at the club hanging out with his friends, As I walked by him to go back to the changing room he grabbed my attention and asked me my name.

    2) Did you know Marlon was a hunter when you met him? Were you already a hunter or did he “convert” you?

    When I met him, initially I had no clue he was a hunter. We went on our first date December 27th 2006, the very next day he left @ 5am to go on a hunting trip to Arizona. Now, I didn’t have a clue about hunting. In Los Angeles and Orange County there aren’t many hunters. So to find out he was going hunting kind of took me by surprise. I mean, on New Year’s Eve, I was choreograph backup dancing for a musical performer and he was in a one-man tent in the desert. It was kind of weird, I almost didn’t believe him. When he got back (2 weeks later) he had me over for dinner, he showed me a video he had taken while he was out there. So I knew then he was telling me the truth.

    3) In my review of your DVD, one of the things that struck me was the quality of your videography; do you have professional training?

    Okay, a lot of people tell me the same thing. I haven’t had any real training with the use of video cameras. I was raised in the movie industry (my father is an actor) I too have done some acting so being in front of the camera, then looking back at yourself, gives you a better idea of what looks best to the viewers. When I am filming I look through the viewfinder as if I’m watching T.V., it allows me to get the better angles. I have realized the zoom button is not preferred. It can be distracting to the person watching the video, people like to see everything, and people don’t like looking with tunnel vision. Unless there is a specific item I want the viewer to capture I usually will stay zoomed out for the most part. Also, looking up looks better to the eye; since I am only 5’2” I guess I naturally have an advantage. Lol..

    4) For the techies amongst my readers, talk a little about your camera of choice…

    Well to be honest I don’t know much about many cameras, I know the Canon works well. It seems to be the best buy for the price. Any camera that is HD is going to be the camera to buy. Other than that you will have to go to your electronics store and talk to a professional..

    5) What has been your favorite hunt to date (filmed or not)?

    Okay my favorite hunt…. Well, I kind of have two that I like the most. The first year we went to Idaho, it was so much fun - I had a huge 4×4, 60 yards from me, Marlon was pushing him towards me, he got about 50 yards away when he got spooked and started to run, jumping in my direction. I literally stood up and pulled my bow back, he was about 15 yards from me and literally turned right and ran off. That was the first time my heart rate jumped out of my chest!!! I felt that energy and adrenaline pulse through my body-wow! What an experience. The other hunt I like the most is when we go to Utah. I love hunting with the Badlands folks, and their friends. I have to say the land plus the great people out there make it a hunters dream!

    6) What is your dream hunt?

    Okay this one is easy to answer… sitting on my porch in Colorado, having a huge 370-inch non-typical mule deer standing broad side at 20 yards from me. I shoot him and he drops right there! Perfect! Lol…

    7) What message do you have for ladies who hunt, or may be interested in giving it a try?

    This is the hardest question to answer… hmmmm… practice practice practice!!! There is nothing worse then seeing a deer run off injured and never recovering it, or getting a second chance to take it down. There’s no sense in doing it if you aren’t going to do it right the first time! And good luck!

    I want to thank Alisha again for answering my questions. Well done! ~Desert Rat

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    Posted on 9th November 2009
    Under: Archery, General, Hunting, Interviews | No Comments »

    Target archery shooters and bowhunters: Expand your skills, try 3-D targets

    Target archery shooters and bowhunters: Expand your skills, try 3-D targets

    Arizona Game and Fish offers fun shoots

    Step off the range and into the field and expand your archery skills in judging distances, terrain, and identifying the target zone on a variety of life-sized 3-D targets in a natural desert setting.

    All ages and skill levels are welcome, so bring the entire family out to the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in north Phoenix to enjoy some cool fresh air and the Sonoran landscape. The 20-target course will add a new dimension to your archery skills.

    “The course uses life-like animal targets (elk, turkey, bear, deer, etc.) set in the desert landscape and it makes for a fun and challenging shoot,” said Mike Raum, bowhunter education coordinator for Arizona Game and Fish. “On 3-D courses the distances are not marked. Targets could be on a hill or in a valley, and the scoring area varies on each target, much different from the target range. It’s a lot of fun.”

    There are three shoots available this fall. No registration is required and the cost is minimal. For participants 17 and younger the course fee is only $3. The cost is $12 (includes $7 range fee) for shooters 18 and older. The scheduled shoots are:

    Saturday, Oct. 31, open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
    Saturday, Nov. 14, open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
    Saturday, Dec 19, open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
    Additionally, the course is open to all Arizona Archery in the Schools shooters as part of the 3-D Regional Shoot. For Archery in the Schools 3-D information, please contact Tanja Washburn at (623) 236-7233 or [email protected]

    The Ben Avery Shooting Facility is located on the northwest corner of I-17 and Carefree Highway. Archers can enter the range at Archery Drive, which is the first light on Carefree Highway about 1.25 miles west of I-17. For a facility brochure and site map, visit www.azgfd.gov/basf.

    To learn more about the outdoor programs like watchable wildlife, environmental education, fishing, shooting sports, hunting and others offered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, visit www.azgfd.gov/getoutside.

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    Posted on 2nd November 2009
    Under: Archery, Arizona News, Events, General | No Comments »

    Michael Waddell Talks ELK

    Well, I guess Michael Waddell’s people talked to my people and the end result is a guest post by the man himself. Enjoy! ~Desert Rat

    CALLING ELK - BOW CLOSE

    Whether hunting public or private land, the fundamentals of calling elk remain the same

    By: Michael Waddell

    We heard the bull bugle at first light and snuck into his core area. When I hit a lick on my bugle, the bull sim­ply came unglued and stormed our position like a tank, crashing through brush and small lodgepole pines like they were match­sticks. Before we could react he was in our lap and we were pinned down, myself hiding behind a camera, too afraid to even touch the tripod for fear of my shaking hands would run the footage. All I could see of my partner wedged against a stunted pine was the tip of his undrawn arrow shaking uncontrollably on the rest. Before a shot presented itself, the bull smelled a rat and disappeared as quickly as he arrived. While this experience didn’t result in a dead elk, it did hopelessly addict me to calling them.

    It seems that in all walks of life, be it the animal kingdom or humans, communication is a key ingredient for all social interac­tion. However not all living things communicate to the same degree. If you ask my wife, I am sure she will tell you I lack in the communication department, in fact I am sure she believes I don’t listen to her at all, but when it comes to communicating with animals I can barely shut up. Of all the animals I love to communicate with elk rate right at the top.

    By nature elk are very vocal. The uninitiated often simply think of bulls bugling, but cows, calves and bulls make all sorts of noises year around. If you encounter a larger herd of elk while you might not hear a thing from a distance, if you get close you will hear lots of subtle vocalization. Most of the time these are sounds of contentment, but depending on what’s happening the vocalization reflects it. Elk can convey contentment, danger, curiosity, or a cow in heat. Bulls for instance only bugle primar­ily in the rut, but they also communicate to establish a pecking order. After spending a considerable amount of time chasing the mighty wapiti, I’m convinced every elk in the herd knows each other by sound alone. This happens with the cows as well as the bulls and based on my evaluation somewhere in this mix is the deadly secret to calling elk archery-close.

    Imitation Is The Sincerest Form Of Flattery

    It seems that the more vocal a herd the better the odds are for success at calling them. Some cows call subtle, while others are loud-mouth ladies actively looking for a date. By listening it gives you a better opportunity to imitate the particular tones and intensity of the herd.

    By calling we are automatically intruding into the social club without an invitation. The closer we can sound to a known elk, and match that intensity the better the odds are of filling a tag. Even though we may sound like an outsider to the herd, luckily for us, love crazed bulls are not looking to be intimate with just one or two cows they are looking for all the love of every cow in the world, so taking advantage of their sexual frustrations and promiscuity is what we aim to do.

    It doesn’t take a world champion elk caller to trick bulls within range. By simply paying attention to the herd and under­standing simple elk rhythm, tone and more important volume when calling, a hunter can depend on an elk call to be a valuable asset to dulling broadheads.

    Public Versus Private Land

    Since I started hunting elk 16 years ago, on private as well as public ground, I have realize that comparing these two different types of ground are like comparing night and day and it is all about the amount of pressure each receives. Generally speaking private ground bulls are way easier to call than public ground animals, but this is not always the case. Some private land does get a lot of pressure, which can make for some pretty tough calling duels with elk that can serve you up a humble pie every time you bust out a call. While conversely some public land either through sheer remoteness or hard-to-get tags is like calling the best private land in the nation.

    Hunting un-touched land and cow calling to bulls that have never heard a Hoochie Mamma would obviously be nice and it wouldn’t take long work­ing over these uneducated elk to start feeling like an elk calling pro only to be deflated the first time we went to the national forest and mixed it up with bulls so well-known by local hunters that they have knick names. However, regardless of where you hunt the basics of calling remain the same.

    Start with mastering the cow call and all its various inflections. Your basic reed type calls are the easiest to learn as well as get proficient with. You will find two kinds; both are bite down reed-type of calls, one being enclosed and the other having an open reed or reeds. These calls make a very realistic sound and before your wife can run you out of the house you will master the basics.

    I rely heavily on the cow call and think most of the time hunters are better off sticking with it over a bugle no matter where he is hunting. But learning how to make a basic bugle is important, especially for locating bulls at a distance before getting close and working him with your cow call. In addition, sometimes it is the bugle that finally provokes a dominant bull to commit, especially during the early season when bulls are still sorting out their peckin’ order.

    Earning Your Public Ground PhD

    Lets face it, unless you have deep pockets much of the private ground in the West is pretty much off limits, so you have to learn to hunt public land. This is not a bad thing as public ground comprises millions upon millions of acres across the West and happens to have some of the biggest bulls found anywhere. While it can be tougher than private, once you learn how to hunt it you won’t be disappointed. Over the years, one of my favorite places to hunt is the Gila National Forest, in New Mexico, and even though this is a trophy area tags are fairly obtainable through application.

    In the Gila, the trophy potential is off the chart, sporting some of the biggest bulls in the country, but just because the big ones live there doesn’t mean that you automatically make one call and they come running to get in the back of your truck. These mature jokers have a PhD in avoiding hunters.

    Over the last six years I have hunted this area religiously and have had the op­portunity to shoot some nice bulls all by using elk calls as an aid to close the coffin.

    Notice I said, “as an aid”, meaning the call was just one thing in a bag of tricks to help smoke these monarchs. My biggest bull that came out of the Gila was a 378 P&Y bull that had earned the name Professor because he always seemed to take you to school when you applied too much pressure. However, this bull was vocal and would bugle his butt off. He also seemed to be fairly easy to find, not only by his gnarly, raspy bugle that set him apart, but frequently he could be found early in the morning in a large meadow just south of a particular water hole that always attracted a large herd.

    The Professor was not the only bull in the area that had large headgear, but it was The Professor that seemed to call the shots. I had caught this bull in the open several times, but calling seemed to really make him uneasy when you were in close. The Professor however would bugle hard to distant cow calls and seem to be whole heartedly interested, but had a sixth sense when you moved in for the attack.

    Finally we decided to have a caller stay behind as we worked him coming off the meadow at daybreak. By doing this we could keep him interested and bugling as we stalked in closer. The caller always was no closer than 80 yards behind me. While the caller kept him occupied, I slid within 50 yards and gave him a G5 Tekan right behind the shoulder. This hunt was really a stalk, but the call and caller had a big part to do with his demise. Once we started quartering the bull up, we found a piece of an old arrow lodged just below the backstraps, so obviously someone had him in close before and gave the Prof and education, which explained why he was so wary.

    The Double Team

    As this old bull showed, hunting with a partner can work extremely well. It not only puts the hunter out in front of the call, but it gives the hunter a chance to move and adjust the angle based on where the bull might be ap­proaching. Likewise, the caller has the flexibility to move as well and apply a lot of different calling techniques.

    The double team plan worked again on another hunt. It had been hot and the bulls were only bugling early and late. As soon as the sun would rise the elk woods would turn in to a ghost town.

    Just after daybreak on the fourth day of our hunt we heard this bull bugle. He hit it only two times, both very weak and he sounded like the littlest rag horn in the land but with no other game in town we went after him. Getting as close as pos­sible to where we thought the bugle came from I eased up and sat down by a pine stump while my buddy moved back and to my right about 40 yards. Neither of us were very optimistic about our chances. My buddy made one or maybe two very soft cow calls on a two reed diaphragm then he started raking a tree and rolled a few rocks. We sat there for possibly 10 minutes in silence, then out of nowhere appeared a wide 340 inch 6 x 6 coming directly to us, at 25 yards the bull let out a soft chuckle, looked over his surround­ing and kept walking in the direction of where the last rock had been rolled, which led him 16 steps from my pine stump. By now I was at full draw waiting for a broadside shot. When the arrow left my bow, I knew we had killed a call shy monster by keeping it low key and stay­ing patient. Needless to say, I was never convinced by the two times he had bugled earlier that he was a shooter. This was a lesson in itself. Never judge a bugle until you can see what is making the sound.

    The most exciting way to bag a bull elk is to get him in close, and the best way to do that is with a call. Confidence in your call is critical, because if you’re insecure about using your call there is a good chance you will spook elk. Have confi­dence in your calling ability and become just another elk in the herd where you are hunting. Find a call that works for you and not what works for some else. Think like an elk and do as elk do. Real­ism, rhythm, and volume control can make the difference between bringin’ them in or running them over the next ridge. And remember its not always about calling, it can be just patiently listening to the sounds around you and applying minimal calls, while practicing good woodsmanship, and stalking skills that could help you put that monster on the back of the truck.

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    Posted on 29th October 2009
    Under: Archery, General, Hunting | 1 Comment »

    An Interview With Pete Crawford From Elite Archery

    Thanks very much to Maggie Armstrong and Pete Crawford at Elite Archery for making this interview happen. I’m predicting you’ll be hearing more and more of Elite, in the future! ~DesertRat


    1) I understand Elite is pretty excited about announcing their 2010 Line-up this fall. What’s new for Elite?

    We have a new bow called the Judge. The Judge has a 6” brace height, 34 7/8” axle to axle, IBO of 343 – 347 fps and is available in 26” – 30” draw lengths at 50 – 90 pounds. We will be outfitting our exiting line of patent pending, twin-track binary Revolution Cams, Z Cams & Cuda Cams with a modular system. All bows will have LimbSaver Vibration Damping Components. The XLR, GT500 & Judge will be available in Elite’s new target color: Anthracite Metallic. The XLR, GT500, Z28 & Judge bow models are available in Realtree AP, Realtree Max-1 (new for 2010), Ninja, AT Edition (AP & Max-1). We are also announcing a line of bow accessories. We partnered with Stokerized Solid Aiming Solutions and Doinker to bring a 7 ¼” and an 11” stabilizer. We will have a one piece and a two-piece quiver as well as a hip quiver for our target & 3D Archers. After much dealer & consumer demand, we now have an Elite Archery branded soft bow case.

    2) Is there a common theme running through your new line-up? What was your goal?

    Many of our dealers and customers are just starting to get to know the product line. Rather than scrapping our existing bow models and coming out with all new bows, which is something Elite did in the past, we wanted to keep the same line up but incorporate some new changes. We’d been getting some great feedback from our consumer base about wanting a “Speed” bow. We wanted to create a bow with the desired speeds, yet not compromise the draw cycle and smoothness of the bow. We believe we’ve accomplished this with the Judge.

    3) With so many bow companies and so much technology, how do you stay competitive?

    We listen to what our dealers and customers need in a bow. We are also avid hunters and 3D shooters, so we understand the demands for a great bow. We know we have great technology with our patent pending twin track binary cam system and would rather improve on these cams than try to reinvent the wheel.

    4) What is Elite’s biggest accomplishment with the new line-up? What are you most proud of?

    We are very excited to be able to provide our dealers with the adjustability of a modular cam system, but we don’t have to sacrifice performance. Our design team really did a great job with this new mod system. We are very happy with the Judge. We wanted to develop a speed bow, but it wasn’t worth it for us to give up a smooth draw cycle. So many new speed bows will shoot lights out, but really aren’t that fun to shoot.

    5) Do you hunt? If so, what’s your favorite species? Where?

    Yes. I enjoy hunting Elk in Colorado.

    6) I may have some readers not familiar with your bows. What would you want to tell them about Elite?

    We are a bow company run by hunters and archers. We strive for excellence in design technology, fit and finish as well as customer service. Our goals aren’t to be the biggest bow company, just the best. If anyone has questions regarding our line of bows, we invite them to visit a local Elite dealer and just shoot the bow. Many times we hear that customers will walk into a bow shop to purchase a particular brand of bow, then they shoot an Elite. Those customers usually end up walking out the door with an Elite bow.

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    Posted on 20th October 2009
    Under: Archery, General, Hunting, Interviews, Products | No Comments »

    Elite Archery Announces The Judge for 2010

    Look for an interview with Peter Crawford, President of Elite Archery, later this week. ~DesertRat

    THE JUDGE

    Elite Archery’s new bow in 2010

    Henrietta, New York; Elite Archery announces the Judge as its new bow leading into 2010. The Judge will be Elite Archery’s premier speed bow with an axle to axle of 34 7/8” and a brace height of 6”.

    “We’ve been listening to our dealers and customers and they’re asking for a faster Elite bow,” Elite Archery President, Peter Crawford, commented. “We want to make bows that are fast, efficient and still enjoyable to shoot every day. We believe the Judge is the answer.”

    The Judge is available from 26” to 30” with peak weights of 50 to 90 lbs. The new bow will also come standard with Elite’s new patent pending modular two-track cam system as well as Limbsaver vibration dampening components.

    Elite Archery’s design engineer, Mike Derus said, “Unlike other modular cams, our new patent pending modular cam system is not only designed to optimize efficiency and speed at every draw length, but each mod also includes an integral locking method to ensure positioning and strength”

    “The Judge was developed based off or our very popular GT500 platform, with an increased reflex riser design, giving us the 6“ brace height,” said Garret Armstrong, Elite’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “This bow is exceptionally fast, quiet and shock free for having such a short brace height.”

    Elite Archery is offering the Judge in Realtree AP and Realtree Max-1 Camouflage as well as Ninja black, Elite’s AT Edition with the black riser and both the Realtree AP and Max-1 limb color options and Elite Archery’s new target color option; Anthracite Metallic. Also new for this year, Elite Archery is offering high quality branded quivers, stabilizers and soft goods to support its current line.

    For more information on Elite Archery, please visit www.elitearchery.com or call 877-503-5483. Media questions can be directed to Maggie Armstrong at [email protected]

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    Posted on 19th October 2009
    Under: Archery, General, Hunting, Press Releases, Products | No Comments »