Eugene Luzzi – 5/08

Hunter Colpitts – 4/08

Bill and Ryan Manning – 4/08

Bill Manning and his son Ryan from Endzone Sports in Norton, KS successfully fooled a few birds on April 1.  Bill’s gobbler sported a 7” beard and 1 ½” spurs and weighed in at 20 pounds.  Ryan’s had an 8” beard, ¾” spurs, and also weighed 20 pounds.  Equipment included a Mathews Drenalin bow, a Mathews Drenalin LD bow, an Easton Axis Realtree arrow, a Beman ICS Hunter Elite arrow, a Fuse Strut Buster broadhead, and a Magnus Bullhead 125 broadhead.  Thanks for the submission, guys, and congratulations on an excellent first day out!

Erik and Erika Johnson – 11/07

Erik Johnson of Gunner’Sports in Landenberg, PA, and his daughter, Erika, are definitely proud of their season!  Erika bagged her first buck with her Tarhunt 20 gauge, using Hornady SST slugs. Her buck was a nice 4 point and dressed out 120 lbs.  She also used the same gun to take a doe that dressed out at 98 lbs.  Erik got himself a P&Y buck which green scored 131 1/8 and dressed out at 188 lbs.  He used an Oneida Black Eagle and 5575 Gold Tip arrows with 100 grain Wasp “bullet” broadheads. The buck came in close following a trail of Bob Kirschner’s Silver Top lure and was shot at 7 yards. The buck dropped within 15 yards of Erik’s stand, making for a nice short tracking job!
Congratulations to Erik and Erika on a great year!

Hunter Colpitts – 12/07

Welcome back, Hunter! As everyone may remember, Hunter has been sending us pictures of his hunts since he was six years old. His father, Wayne, was a Kinsey's dealer at one time but has now moved on to work with Outtech's Outdoor Division. Hunter got his first gobbler when he was six and held the New Hampshire state record for the youngest at that time. Hunter is now the ripe old age of 12 and has bagged a total of six toms, two bear, and one deer this year. His 2007 season is nothing less than what we have come to expect from him. The turkey is an 18 pound tom with a 10" beard; the bear is his second which was taken in an Evolved Harvest food plot that he built himself; and the deer is a 133 pound spike horn shot in the same food plot on the next to the last day of the season, with the temperature a "warm" 17 degrees. Congratulations, Hunter! See hope to see you again soon!

Mark "Doc" Irlbacher – 11/07

Doc, owner of Doc's Archery in North Tonawanda, NY is having a great season!  This was a shotgun harvest in Chautauqua County, New York, on 11/19/07, out of the same treestand as his bow buck.  Keep 'em coming, Doc!

Ryan Manning – 11/07

Ryan Manning of Endzone Sports in Norton, KS, had a very successful fall hunting season and filled all of his five game tags.  His harvests included two whitetail does, one hen turkey, one antelope buck, and one whitetail buck (and a partridge in a pear tree)!

The turkey was taken at 20 yards with a Mathews Drenalin bow, Ted Nugent signature Gold Tip arrow, and a NAP Gobbler Getter broadhead.  Pictured with Ryan is his oldest daughter Reilly who hopes to get a turkey of her own when she gets a little bigger.  With her dad as her guide, we’re sure she’ll accomplish that task very early!

The Western Kansas antelope buck was taken at 60 yards using a Hoyt Vulcan bow, Carbon Express Maxima arrow and a Grim Reaper Razortip broadhead.

The whitetail buck was taken at 30 yards using a Mathews Drenalin bow, Ted Nugent signature Gold Tip arrow and a 2-blade Rage broadhead.

Ryan wishes best of luck to all who have unfilled tags.  Thanks, Ryan – most of us need it!  Congratulations on a superb harvest!

Mark "Doc" Irlbacher – 10/07

Mark Irlbacher, owner of Doc's Archery in North Tonawanda, NY, harvested this nice buck on October 28 in Chautauqua County, Town of Sherman, New York.  He dressed out around 160 lb. and scored about 100 inches of antler.  Doc's arsenal included his Pearson Z-32 Bow, 65 lb., Gold Tip Pro Hunter arrows and Grim Reaper broadheads (100 gr., 1-3/4").  It was a double lung shot at 20 yards.  Good job, "Doc"!

Chris Kinsey – 4/07

Chris Kinsey, pictured with Eric Thomas and Jim Bush, bagged this 2,000 pound buffalo (“Brutus Evil”) on April 18 in Hullett, Wyoming.  One 30 yard shot from her Excalibur Phoenix Crossbow equipped with an Easton Stalker bolt and a 3-blade 100 grain Thunderhead took this beast down.  900 pounds of meat are in the freezer, and the shoulder mount and rug will end up making their way to Jim and Chris’ home. 
Turkeys:  Jim and Chris Kinsey display Chris’ Wyoming kill.  Also pictured is Chris and her Montana bird.

Dave Messana – 5/07

Dave Messana, owner/operator of D. J.’s Archery Sales in Fair Haven, MI, recently forwarded the following pictures and information from him Manitoba hunt. 

8/26/06:  Manitoba combo hunt (bear/deer), K.C.'s Outfitting - Sundown, MB.  After arriving at camp, I was trying to get in some practice, when I noticed that the launcher arm of my rest (Trophy Hunter Drop Zone ) looked out of position; like it was bent towards the front of the bow/rest.  When I pulled the draw cord, I also noticed that it was sticking before completely retracting.   I tried disassembling the unit, but did not notice anything unusual.  I even drove 50 miles into Minnesota to the nearest Archery Shop (Streiff’s Sporting Goods) to see if they could help.  They could not pinpoint the issue either, but did notice that when I shot the bow, my arrow was hitting the rest.  After tinkering a bit in attempts to resolve the issue, we just could not seem to find a good spot on the bow to achieve total vane clearance.  No matter what we tried, the arrow kept hitting the bottom and right side of the rest; causing the fletching to deteriorate very rapidly.  I was going to assemble another rest and start from scratch, but it was the night before my first morning in the woods, and though my consistency had suffered a bit, I was still putting the arrows within a pie plate circumference, so I decided to go with it.

8/27/06:  The first morning went by with some minor excitement with a few does and smaller bucks.  However, the first night would prove to be much different.  Just 2 1/2 hours into the first evening’s bear hunt,  a nice 300+lb bear came in.  I watched the bruin for 25 minutes, trying to judge correctly and prepare for a possible shot.   When he presented a nice broadside shot @ 22 yards,  I finally made up my mind to take him. I drew, aimed and released the arrow and watched as the arrow flew high & buried itself into the bear’s spine.  I immediately nocked another arrow and let fly, only to watch the arrow hit high again from where I had aimed.   A few minutes later (though it seemed like an eternity), I had a nice Canadian black bear that Ken Holme of K.C.'s Outfitting & I hauled out of the bush.

8/28/06:  I awoke at 5:00 a.m. in an attempt to fulfill our mini-grand slam and score on a trophy whitetail in velvet.   Showered, dressed and ready, I grabbed my bow and headed out.  Before I stepped out of the lodge, I noticed that the launcher arm on the arrow rest had moved yet again.  When I touched it, it snapped off in my hand, putting an end to my hunting opportunities for the morning.  I promptly removed the Drop Zone rest and put on my old trusty Whisker Biscuit Drop Tine that I had, thankfully, brought with me .  In a matter of minutes, I was square and shooting with confidence again.  

8/28/06:  Saw some very nice bucks, but nothing over 125.  A 130" class minimum in this area.

8/30/06:  Though the morning went by without much action, my third evening had me in a nice stand of pines, in an area I had been glassing days prior, with a well used trail about 20 yards out.  At 7:40 pm, after having watched many younger bucks walk within 15 to 20 yards of me (some very nice 8 pointers I would have gladly taken in Michigan), I heard a distinct "snap" behind me.   That snap was a beautiful trophy class 10 point in velvet that came out and stood just left of where I needed him to be.   While I was still obstructed from the buck’s view, I decided to draw and wait for the buck to move the extra 15 feet into my cleared shooting lane.  After what seemed to be an eternity, he finally started walking again and was soon in the position every bowhunter waits for - broadside @ 20 yards.   I released and put the arrow right through his shoulder and dropped him flat.   He never ran!  He’ll score 157 4/8. 

To add more drama to this story, as soon as the buck hit the ground, a second buck , that I never saw, was still in the woods behind me,  crashed and ran off .  I would have loved to have seen that one!

Equipment used:
 Bow: Archery Research, AR 34 (29/70)
 Arrows:  Radial "X" Weave (Bear); Easton ST Axis  (Deer)
 Broadhead:  Thunderhead 100's
 Rest(s): You know by now!
 Release: True Fire - Judge
 Clothing:  Scent-Loc / Redhead anti-microbial
 Stabilizer: Sims Modular

Phillip Rega – 4/07

Philip Rega from Blue Mountain Archery in Falls Village, CT, harvested this nice 9-point (140 3/8) on October 16, 2006 in Connecticut.  The buck dressed out at 182 pounds.

Also pictured is Philip with two trophies that he took in Illinois over the past few years.  The 8-point (152”) dressed out at 223 pounds; the 18-point (172 1/8” B/C) dressed at 205 pounds.

Great job, Phil.  Keep on huntin’!

Nick Trotta – 11/06

Nick Trotta of Sunset Archery in Greenville, NY, took this nice big buck in Altoona, Kansas on November 11.  The deer followed a doe within 20 yards of Nick’s stand and was taken with a Hoyt Ultra Tec, 75 grain Muzzy, 400-16 Beman, a VBG pro slide, and a whisker biscuit.  Thanks for sharing, Nick.  Super job!

Ryan Manning – 4/07

Ryan Manning from Endzone Sports in Norton, Kansas is back on the board after his October hunts, and he was no fool on April 1st when he harvested this nice tom shortly before 8:00 on opening morning.  He weighed 22 1/2 lbs and had a 9 1/2 inch beard.  Ryan’s equipment consisted of a Black Widow recurve, Beman MFX Classic arrows, and a Magnus Stinger Buzzcut broadhead.

Erik Johnson – 2/07

Erik Johnson from Gunner’Sports in Landenberg, PA, took down this 200 pound Russian Boar with an Oneida Black Eagle, a 5575 Gold Tip, and a 100 grain Wasp Boss Bullet broadhead.  Great job, Erik!