Post by Woody Williams on Aug 15, 2006 15:43:12 GMT -5
Crossbow Turkey Grand Slam
Outdoor Writer Makes Bowhunting History
From Sport Ventures
Outdoor writer Bob Humphrey made a little bowhunting history this spring by becoming the first hunter ever to record a wild turkey Grand Slam with a crossbow. The National Wild Turkey Federation's Wild Turkey Records officially recognized Humphrey's feat in August, making it the first officially-recognized crossbow Grand Slam.
When asked what motivated Humphrey to take up this challenge, he mentioned several reasons. "It all started as a bit of a lark when I was doing research for a story last year," said Humphrey, a regular contributor to numerous national hunting magazines. "In contacting the records department of the National Wild Turkey Federation, I learned they had no official record of a crossbow grand slam. That's when a light went on. There are very few opportunities to do something no-one else has done before. World records can be broken, but there's only one first. I saw it as a challenge, and a way to have some fun," Humphrey added.
"On a more serious note," he said, "I also saw it as an opportunity to raise awareness about crossbows. I've hunted with a compound bow for over 25 years, and will continue to do so as long as I can pull a string back. For me, crossbows represent a change of pace, another opportunity to spend more time afield. But for some folks, they represent the only means to be able to bowhunt. Crossbows are not the evil tools some make them out to be; yet some folks still discriminate against them. When I started this quest, 12 states allowed crossbows for deer hunting but not for turkeys. That's silly; you can hunt them with a shotgun, but not a crossbow!"
Humphrey's quest began in Florida in mid-March, and ended in Ohio in early May. Over that eight-week span, Humphrey took five longbeards including an Osceola, an Eastern, two Rio Grandes and his first Merriam's. All of the hunts were filmed for Extreme Hunting Adventures, which is slated to air on the Men's Channel beginning in 2007, and a DVD expected out by January, 2007.
"I want to emphasize that this was a team effort," said Humphrey. "A lot of folks helped make this happen: guides, supporters, hosts and especially Pete Brown of Extreme Dimension Wildlife Calls and my cameraman, Scott Underhill. Trying to hunt turkeys with a crossbow is tough enough," he said, "but filming every hunt was even more challenging. Somehow Scott made it work, and captured some great footage in the process. We also made some great friends along the way, to whom I'm extremely grateful."
Outdoor Writer Makes Bowhunting History
From Sport Ventures
Outdoor writer Bob Humphrey made a little bowhunting history this spring by becoming the first hunter ever to record a wild turkey Grand Slam with a crossbow. The National Wild Turkey Federation's Wild Turkey Records officially recognized Humphrey's feat in August, making it the first officially-recognized crossbow Grand Slam.
When asked what motivated Humphrey to take up this challenge, he mentioned several reasons. "It all started as a bit of a lark when I was doing research for a story last year," said Humphrey, a regular contributor to numerous national hunting magazines. "In contacting the records department of the National Wild Turkey Federation, I learned they had no official record of a crossbow grand slam. That's when a light went on. There are very few opportunities to do something no-one else has done before. World records can be broken, but there's only one first. I saw it as a challenge, and a way to have some fun," Humphrey added.
"On a more serious note," he said, "I also saw it as an opportunity to raise awareness about crossbows. I've hunted with a compound bow for over 25 years, and will continue to do so as long as I can pull a string back. For me, crossbows represent a change of pace, another opportunity to spend more time afield. But for some folks, they represent the only means to be able to bowhunt. Crossbows are not the evil tools some make them out to be; yet some folks still discriminate against them. When I started this quest, 12 states allowed crossbows for deer hunting but not for turkeys. That's silly; you can hunt them with a shotgun, but not a crossbow!"
Humphrey's quest began in Florida in mid-March, and ended in Ohio in early May. Over that eight-week span, Humphrey took five longbeards including an Osceola, an Eastern, two Rio Grandes and his first Merriam's. All of the hunts were filmed for Extreme Hunting Adventures, which is slated to air on the Men's Channel beginning in 2007, and a DVD expected out by January, 2007.
"I want to emphasize that this was a team effort," said Humphrey. "A lot of folks helped make this happen: guides, supporters, hosts and especially Pete Brown of Extreme Dimension Wildlife Calls and my cameraman, Scott Underhill. Trying to hunt turkeys with a crossbow is tough enough," he said, "but filming every hunt was even more challenging. Somehow Scott made it work, and captured some great footage in the process. We also made some great friends along the way, to whom I'm extremely grateful."
