Bowcast at the Bird 2011

For those who know me well, know that I love archery (thanks CJ for getting me hooked). One of my favorite Nikon-sponsored event is Bowcast at the Bird. This extreme 3D shoot is unlike any other in the country. This high elevation, high-octane shoot is not for the leisure shooter. Targets are difficult, 50-yards is considered a close shot and angles are realistic to a backcountry hunt.

What makes it even more fun is the people and the overall laid back atmosphere. You don’t have to keep score. In fact, my score was either the "thunk" sound of foam, or me mumbling expletives because lost my arrow over a cliff. This shoot also pushes you and your gear to the limits.

The first day I tackled the FMP and Elite courses with my friend Kelly and Rick Hanson (Bowcast & Bowhunting.net contributor). The target average was 70-yards on these courses and required a gondola ride to the top of the mountain at 11,000 feet.

Shooting that high up, in the snow and in July was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had. It took us four hours to navigate through deep snow, incredible canyons and shoot 20 extremely difficult targets.

I never really knew the importance of an angle compensating rangefinder until I shot these courses. I had guessed an uphill mule deer target to be about 60-yards. When I ranged it with my Nikon RifleHunter 1000, it read 40-yards exactly. I didn’t want to believe it, but I trusted my gear and placed my 40-yard pin on the deer’s vitals and watched as my arrow went exactly where I wanted it.

The next day was the ladies social shoot hosted by Carrie Z. Women from all over the country took over one of the many courses for an afternoon. I had the pleasure of shooting with Michelle Brantley from Realtree.com, my friend Kelly and Katy from California. It was really neat to see all of the enthusiastic women conquer one of the toughest 3D courses in the country.

I may have lost and broken more arrows than I wanted, but my shooting confidence is at an all-time high and I can’t wait for fall to get here!

dialing them in

I love my back yard. And the reason is that while you might get a headache from a falling acorn, you can also shoot a bow, pattern a shotgun or even check a rifle's zero if need be. I do let my closest neighbor know that it's just me sighting in. He's a Police Officer and I wouldn't want him to think I was in a gunfight with a home invader.

Karen saw a new picnic table as a spot for quests and parties. I sat

down at it and saw it to be a great shooting bench. Plus I wouldn't have to move it in and out when I need it. Our wireless network means I can use my laptop and Nikon's Spot On

software (For client business only Greg, if you're reading this) to dial my particular BDC reticle in to the specific round I'm using.

This time I was checking a .243. I learned that with the Winchester XP3 load I am shooting it actual fits my needs better to dial it in for a 200-yard zero instead of the usual 100-yard one. I would not have considered that were it not for Spot On being right there beside me showing me the light. Now the reticle chart is printed out and taped to the stock, ready for action on a longer range.

Even if your range isn't wireless, it won't be long before you can use Spot On on your iPhone or get a disc to load it on your laptop.

Canadian Sub-Arctic Hunt - Photo Blog

Photo Blog of Shannon's First Black Bear Hunt

First chartered flight!

The runway at the lodge...it's dirt!!

Dusty films the arrival

Float plane to camp

Home sweet home

Looks like a bomb of equipment went off!

No need to explain

Laundry day

Poor Ralph, wilderness hunt with a bunch of girls!

Vicki fishing for some lunch

Happy guide!

Walleye paradise

Who can resist candy?

Common sight every evening

Sunset at midnight

About as dark as it gets

Yes, it is a Thursday, and we are at work!

Once again, who can resist candy?

Ralph's huge chocolate bear

Dusty's black bear

FIRST black bear!

Massive

Behind the scenes

Happy hunter!

Ladies Take Over Nikon Booth at SHOT Show

The dust has finally settled (for the most part) from ATA and SHOT Show, needless to say, I have been chomping at the bit to write this post.

Ladies completely took over the Nikon booth at SHOT Show for the official launch of the Nikon SHE Binocular. The women’s only launch party had the who’s-who of the industry in attendance; celebrities, retailers, buyers, media and women from companies in the industry.

They all gathered for a champagne toast, it was not only a toast to two great companies coming together to create a supreme women's product, but also a toast to all the women in our industry.

Cupcakes from Las Vegas' GIMME SOME SUGAR. They made cupcakes with the Nikon and SHE logo as well as ones that look exactly like the binocular shoulder bags!

Yummy cupcakes up close

Nikon booth full of women to preview the Nikon SHE Binocular

The Nikon and SHE ladies. These ladies were a HUGE help getting the event put together!

Group photo of the ladies in our industry

Jodi Clark, Pam Zaitz and Kandi Kisky team Nikon and SHE

The new Nikon SHE Binocular. This is the best of fashion and function. Available in 10x36 (chocolate) and 8x36 (plum). They include a signature leather strap and a stylish shoulder bag with a built-in optics case, multifunction pockets and a soft fabric lining.

ATA Shot Update

We just finished Nikon's annual Monarch Awards Luncheon at this year's ATA show. It's a great time and a good chance for all of our TV partners to network and see what's new for 2010. Here's a short clip of Lee and Tiffany Lakosky of The Crush TV. They took home the big prize with this year's Monarch Award. Other winners included Deer and Deer Hunting TV for the First ever YouTube award for Entertainment while Babe Winkleman Productions and North American Hunting Club TV tied for Excellence in Product Usage. Congrats to all the winners!!

Weekend in the Eastern Oregon

Here in Oregon, October 3 meant the statewide deer rifle season opener. I did not draw a tag this year but my boyfriend Matt did. Matt has never hunted for deer before, and since I didn’t draw a tag, I was going to be his guide in the Sled Springs Unit.

We met up with Chevalier Advertising office manager/bookkeeper Sherri and her husband Sam Saturday morning to hunt. It was a cold and rainy day. Sam, Matt and I loaded into the truck and headed out to a field and started walking. Grouse would flush every 300 yards; they would often startle bedded doe, but no bucks in sight.

Matt and I split off from Sam at a wooded area. Sam went into the woods while Matt and I skirted an alfalfa field. Sam must have driven deer out of the woods because two doe came running out and stopped about 20 yards in front of Matt and I. We stood completely still while one doe blew at us and the other one stood there and didn’t notice us. I am pretty sure that was the closest Matt has ever been to a deer. It was pretty cool.

A few hours later, and with no luck, Sam took us up the hill to show us where they hunt elk. The higher we went, the more it snowed. I couldn’t get over how gorgeous Eastern Oregon is and how fortunate we are to be able to hunt there.

Daylight was getting shorter by the minute and we decided to head back down to camp. We would stop every so often to glass. I am so glad I had my Nikon Monarch X binoculars they gathered so much light at sunset!

Then it happened, Sam spotted a doe and a buck by an abandoned barn about 100 yards away. Legal shooting light was fading fast and this buck wasn’t going to wait all day. I told the boys, ‘you have one minute!’ As soon as Matt declined the shot, Sam had his gun to his shoulder and a shot off.

The buck ran about 30 yards and dropped, and excellent shot! Sam was like giddy like a girl that just got asked to prom! Sam showed Matt and I how to field dress the beautiful eight point whitetail and we were all in the truck in no time.

I asked Matt why he declined the shot and what he said made me smile, “Sam has been hunting this area for 11 years, he has earned that buck.” What a great guy!

Cold, wet and tired, back at camp we ate our hamburgers and retold the story over and over to everyone at camp. What a great weekend!

Gear List:

Nikon Monarch X 8.5x45 Binoculars

Nikon Fieldscope III 60mm ED

Winchester Power Max 30-06 Sprg