On my last blog, I talked about my hunting set up for this fall and got plenty of feedback from you. (Thank you!) And Jason from Texas asked a question online that I answer a lot, whether it’s from friends, in camp somewhere or maybe from someone in an airport that may stop me and want to talk a bit. Jason’s question was this, “Why did you switch from Mathews to BowTech?”
That is a very good question.
For several years, Mathews Archery used the Realtree pattern on all of their bows and paid Realtree a royalty per bow dipped in Realtree camo. Given the number of bows that Mathews was selling every year the total dollars paid to Realtree made them a very good partner. But it was not a “one way street.” We, through constant advertising and brand building of the Realtree name, make it our No.1 priority to create demand for any product sold that uses the Realtree pattern, from boots to knives to four-wheelers.
However, a couple of years ago, the folks at Mathews notified us that they would be designing, and eventually using, their own pattern on new models released beginning in 2008.
Suddenly, we had to ask ourselves if we wanted to promote a bow manufacturer that would be promoting their own, and essentially, a competing camo brand, especially since Mathews announced their intentions to sell their own line of camo clothing.
Well, the answer was pretty clearcut for us. It was not a personal decision at all, purely business.
I have to say that everything has worked out wonderfully with me now shooting and working with the folks at BowTech. Believe me, it is a lot better bow than I am a “shot!"
That is a very good question.
For several years, Mathews Archery used the Realtree pattern on all of their bows and paid Realtree a royalty per bow dipped in Realtree camo. Given the number of bows that Mathews was selling every year the total dollars paid to Realtree made them a very good partner. But it was not a “one way street.” We, through constant advertising and brand building of the Realtree name, make it our No.1 priority to create demand for any product sold that uses the Realtree pattern, from boots to knives to four-wheelers.
However, a couple of years ago, the folks at Mathews notified us that they would be designing, and eventually using, their own pattern on new models released beginning in 2008.
Suddenly, we had to ask ourselves if we wanted to promote a bow manufacturer that would be promoting their own, and essentially, a competing camo brand, especially since Mathews announced their intentions to sell their own line of camo clothing.
Well, the answer was pretty clearcut for us. It was not a personal decision at all, purely business.
I have to say that everything has worked out wonderfully with me now shooting and working with the folks at BowTech. Believe me, it is a lot better bow than I am a “shot!"
Bowhunting Equipment for This Fall
9 Comments Published by David Blanton on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 8:50 AM.
Just got through meeting with T-Bone and he is going to give my bows a “once over” and make sure they’re ready for the summer shooting program and the fall which will be here quicker than you think.
Here is the setup I’m going to shoot this fall:
BowTech Guardian 68 lbs 29” draw
BowTech General – going to give this one a try but with me being 6’2” with a long draw length, TBone feels like I’m going to like the Guardian better. I sure liked it last year. A bunch!
G5 Optix XR sight – really looking forward to the “floating pin” below the 3 fixed pins, and the light is really cool
G5 Expert II Rest – Going to try this rest even though it doesn’t have the “full capture” feature like the UltraRest does which is the rest I’ve shot for years. We’ll see. I like the looks and the mechanical motion of the Expert II but I’ll just have to see how the arrow reacts to really fast, quick draws.
Easton Full Metal Jacket – This is another change I’m making. I’ve shot the SuperSlims for years but Easton no longer makes these so T-Bone has suggested the Full Metal Jackets.
3” QuickSpin Vanes
125 grain G5 Striker Broadheads. I just like the heavier broadhead especially for elk hunting.
Stanislowski Release
The NEW Octane Quiver from Bowtech – now this is an awesome concept! The covered hood of the quiver is magnetized and securely holds broadheads or fieldtipped arrows.
Octane Stabilizer from BowTech
I believe this setup will be my QUIETEST ever and I’m all about quietness. I should shoot around 265 fps which is faster than I can run.
Here is the setup I’m going to shoot this fall:
BowTech Guardian 68 lbs 29” draw
BowTech General – going to give this one a try but with me being 6’2” with a long draw length, TBone feels like I’m going to like the Guardian better. I sure liked it last year. A bunch!
G5 Optix XR sight – really looking forward to the “floating pin” below the 3 fixed pins, and the light is really cool
G5 Expert II Rest – Going to try this rest even though it doesn’t have the “full capture” feature like the UltraRest does which is the rest I’ve shot for years. We’ll see. I like the looks and the mechanical motion of the Expert II but I’ll just have to see how the arrow reacts to really fast, quick draws.
Easton Full Metal Jacket – This is another change I’m making. I’ve shot the SuperSlims for years but Easton no longer makes these so T-Bone has suggested the Full Metal Jackets.
3” QuickSpin Vanes
125 grain G5 Striker Broadheads. I just like the heavier broadhead especially for elk hunting.
Stanislowski Release
The NEW Octane Quiver from Bowtech – now this is an awesome concept! The covered hood of the quiver is magnetized and securely holds broadheads or fieldtipped arrows.
Octane Stabilizer from BowTech
I believe this setup will be my QUIETEST ever and I’m all about quietness. I should shoot around 265 fps which is faster than I can run.
The Funniest Country Music Star
5 Comments Published by David Blanton on Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 5:11 PM.
I just came out of one of the edit suites where Phillip Culpepper was putting the finishing touches on an Realtree Road Trip episode. On this particular show, scheduled to air around the first of August, Michael is sharing another camp with Blake Shelton, the country music singer.
Now, I’ve had the privilege to meet Blake and hang out with him a little but not as much as Michael has and I have to say, after previewing this episode, that Blake has got to be the absolute craziest, funniest guy in all of country music.
In fact, this may be the most entertaining Road Trip that I’ve ever seen. Now, there has been some really funny moments with fellow “country singing” comedians in the past such as Rhett Akins and Gary LeVox, but Blake is now officially listed as the No.1 goofball of them all!
Not to give away the entire show, but there is a scene where Blake is conducting a backstage “meet and greet” with fans and he asks all the ladies if they’ve ever heard of Michael Waddell. Of course, some had and Blake’s responses are gut busting! Then, if they’ve never heard of Michael his reactions are even funnier!
Yeah he’s funny.
And man, can he sing! Sitting around camp with just a guitar in his hand, delivering some of his past hits, Blake sounds just like he does on the radio! It’s truly amazing.
I’m thankful a guy like Blake has remained just a good guy and doesn’t take himself too seriously.
Don’t miss this Road Trip!
Now, I’ve had the privilege to meet Blake and hang out with him a little but not as much as Michael has and I have to say, after previewing this episode, that Blake has got to be the absolute craziest, funniest guy in all of country music.
In fact, this may be the most entertaining Road Trip that I’ve ever seen. Now, there has been some really funny moments with fellow “country singing” comedians in the past such as Rhett Akins and Gary LeVox, but Blake is now officially listed as the No.1 goofball of them all!
Not to give away the entire show, but there is a scene where Blake is conducting a backstage “meet and greet” with fans and he asks all the ladies if they’ve ever heard of Michael Waddell. Of course, some had and Blake’s responses are gut busting! Then, if they’ve never heard of Michael his reactions are even funnier!
Yeah he’s funny.
And man, can he sing! Sitting around camp with just a guitar in his hand, delivering some of his past hits, Blake sounds just like he does on the radio! It’s truly amazing.
I’m thankful a guy like Blake has remained just a good guy and doesn’t take himself too seriously.
Don’t miss this Road Trip!
Since David is taking a little vacation this week, he asked me, Dan Johnson, (cameraman and editor at Realtree) to fill in for him on his blog. So here we go.
Every year we eagerly anticipate the day when David hands out the schedule of fall hunts. Two things generally happen immediately. First, we pour through the schedule to see who, when and where we will be filming. Then, we start to make predictions…
A good poker player never tips his hand, but I’m about to show you a STRAIGHT FLUSH!
Put it in your time capsule's boys & girls! When the dust settles on the 2008 hunting season, here's (what I believe) we'll be looking at for Realtree Outdoor episodes.
1. David Blanton - Northern Rockies
(Great guides, beautiful scenery, and a lot of deer… David will kill a good P&Y deer to get us going)
2. Bill Jordan – Wyoming - Elk
(Area 7, Mid September, and Bill, it should be great!)
3. David Blanton, Ned Yost, Other guest - Alberta
(every other year we get a good one... And we're due!)
4. Bill Jordan, Brad Harris & Spook Span - Milk River
(Bill, Brad & Spook all kill with their bows?? I’ll take 2 out of 3!)
5. Tyler Jordan- New Mexico Elk
(This may be the highlight hunt of my fall! The only thing you need to know is the number 16, and the letter C. Put them together, along with a special youth rifle season Oct. 4-8… and it will be AWESOME!!)
6. David Blanton- San Miguel, TX
(When the Realtree Cameras go to Texas… they usually bring home some backstrap!)
7. David Blanton/Ron Skoronski – Iowa
(David has scheduled the last couple days of Oct. and the first 10 days of Nov. to be there… This has the potential to be UN-BELIEVABLE!!!)
8. Bill Jordan & Ben McDonald – Kansas
(2 good bowhunters… 2 good bow kills!)
9. David Blanton- Illinois
(New spot, but I'm getting a good vibe from this one...)
10. Bill & Tyler – Missouri
(We got blanked there last year, but there are a TON of big deer out there and this year we seal the deal!)
11. David Blanton – Texas – Mule deer
(See # 6)
12. Well, well.... Here we are again.
The infamous show # 12. Will David come through on a 4 day bowhunt for elk in New Mexico? Can Bill arrow a huge bull with Daryl Welty?? After much thought and meditation… I believe show #12 will be...(drum roll please)... David and Harmon Blanton’s whitetail hunt from Indiana!
There you have it! Danny “The Schwamy” Johnson has spoken. I would like to take this time to thank all the little people who I stepped on while climbing the ladder of success, and also David Blanton for letting me be a “guest blogger”. It has truly been an honor.
Every year we eagerly anticipate the day when David hands out the schedule of fall hunts. Two things generally happen immediately. First, we pour through the schedule to see who, when and where we will be filming. Then, we start to make predictions…
A good poker player never tips his hand, but I’m about to show you a STRAIGHT FLUSH!
Put it in your time capsule's boys & girls! When the dust settles on the 2008 hunting season, here's (what I believe) we'll be looking at for Realtree Outdoor episodes.
1. David Blanton - Northern Rockies
(Great guides, beautiful scenery, and a lot of deer… David will kill a good P&Y deer to get us going)
2. Bill Jordan – Wyoming - Elk
(Area 7, Mid September, and Bill, it should be great!)
3. David Blanton, Ned Yost, Other guest - Alberta
(every other year we get a good one... And we're due!)
4. Bill Jordan, Brad Harris & Spook Span - Milk River
(Bill, Brad & Spook all kill with their bows?? I’ll take 2 out of 3!)
5. Tyler Jordan- New Mexico Elk
(This may be the highlight hunt of my fall! The only thing you need to know is the number 16, and the letter C. Put them together, along with a special youth rifle season Oct. 4-8… and it will be AWESOME!!)
6. David Blanton- San Miguel, TX
(When the Realtree Cameras go to Texas… they usually bring home some backstrap!)
7. David Blanton/Ron Skoronski – Iowa
(David has scheduled the last couple days of Oct. and the first 10 days of Nov. to be there… This has the potential to be UN-BELIEVABLE!!!)
8. Bill Jordan & Ben McDonald – Kansas
(2 good bowhunters… 2 good bow kills!)
9. David Blanton- Illinois
(New spot, but I'm getting a good vibe from this one...)
10. Bill & Tyler – Missouri
(We got blanked there last year, but there are a TON of big deer out there and this year we seal the deal!)
11. David Blanton – Texas – Mule deer
(See # 6)
12. Well, well.... Here we are again.
The infamous show # 12. Will David come through on a 4 day bowhunt for elk in New Mexico? Can Bill arrow a huge bull with Daryl Welty?? After much thought and meditation… I believe show #12 will be...(drum roll please)... David and Harmon Blanton’s whitetail hunt from Indiana!
There you have it! Danny “The Schwamy” Johnson has spoken. I would like to take this time to thank all the little people who I stepped on while climbing the ladder of success, and also David Blanton for letting me be a “guest blogger”. It has truly been an honor.
As the summer quickly moves along, my thoughts begin to center more around the “fun” part of our jobs...hunting!
I’ve got a habit of envisioning how some of the hunts may go and I always enjoy dreaming about a big, nasty non-typical coming down the trail. I can even see the spitting snow and the steamin’ breath coming out of his nose!
So what hunts am I most excited about?
1.Wyoming- Seven J- September 1 – Michael and I get a chance to share a deer camp together for the first time in quite a while. Anytime I can hang out with Michael is a good time. Also, Jeff Smith tells me they’ve had quite a bit of moisture this spring and early summer so conditions should be perfect for growing big antlers. There is a big muley buck running around out there and if Jeff can find him this year, I may give him a whirl.
2.Montana- Northern Rockies Outfitters – September 16 - Going back to where I got skunked last year but I am pumped about getting back out there. Going a couple weeks earlier so maybe the bucks haven’t dispersed as much and they are still hitting the alfalfa hard. Hoping for a hard frost or two before I arrive, killing the natural browse and making the alfalfa fields much more preferred. I really believe there is a 170” buck walking by my northern most stand setup as he heads back to bed in the morning.
3.Kansas - Diamond Spring Ranch - Due to Ginger falling ill last year I had to cancel my annual trek out to hunt with Bob and Audrey Boos and it just didn’t seem right not hunting with them. Their place is awesome and I just love going there since they are great people and there are a lot of huge bucks on the ranch.
4.Illinois - Timberland Outfitters – Mid- November - Really geeked about hunting with Ben Plattner. Went out in May, killed a big tom and hung some really awesome stands! I have a chance to bowhunt for a few days and then hunt with a shotgun during the early gun season.
5.Indiana – Riversbend – Mid-December – Will reunite with Joe Smith once again and this time Harman and I will have a chance to hunt together during the muzzleloader season! Joe has got some monsters running around and if the temperatures are really cold, the bucks should really hit the foodplots during this post-rut season. Harman will be home from his first college break and I will cherish the time.
There are other hunts as well but these are the hunts I daydream about when I’m out running or cutting grass . . . or during any activity where I need serious mental diversion to get through.
What about your fantasy list for the fall?
I’ve got a habit of envisioning how some of the hunts may go and I always enjoy dreaming about a big, nasty non-typical coming down the trail. I can even see the spitting snow and the steamin’ breath coming out of his nose!
So what hunts am I most excited about?
1.Wyoming- Seven J- September 1 – Michael and I get a chance to share a deer camp together for the first time in quite a while. Anytime I can hang out with Michael is a good time. Also, Jeff Smith tells me they’ve had quite a bit of moisture this spring and early summer so conditions should be perfect for growing big antlers. There is a big muley buck running around out there and if Jeff can find him this year, I may give him a whirl.
2.Montana- Northern Rockies Outfitters – September 16 - Going back to where I got skunked last year but I am pumped about getting back out there. Going a couple weeks earlier so maybe the bucks haven’t dispersed as much and they are still hitting the alfalfa hard. Hoping for a hard frost or two before I arrive, killing the natural browse and making the alfalfa fields much more preferred. I really believe there is a 170” buck walking by my northern most stand setup as he heads back to bed in the morning.
3.Kansas - Diamond Spring Ranch - Due to Ginger falling ill last year I had to cancel my annual trek out to hunt with Bob and Audrey Boos and it just didn’t seem right not hunting with them. Their place is awesome and I just love going there since they are great people and there are a lot of huge bucks on the ranch.
4.Illinois - Timberland Outfitters – Mid- November - Really geeked about hunting with Ben Plattner. Went out in May, killed a big tom and hung some really awesome stands! I have a chance to bowhunt for a few days and then hunt with a shotgun during the early gun season.
5.Indiana – Riversbend – Mid-December – Will reunite with Joe Smith once again and this time Harman and I will have a chance to hunt together during the muzzleloader season! Joe has got some monsters running around and if the temperatures are really cold, the bucks should really hit the foodplots during this post-rut season. Harman will be home from his first college break and I will cherish the time.
There are other hunts as well but these are the hunts I daydream about when I’m out running or cutting grass . . . or during any activity where I need serious mental diversion to get through.
What about your fantasy list for the fall?
I wanted to let everyone know about the new TV pages on Realtree.com. They really look awesome and contain some very valuable information about our shows. One other cool feature is that you can watch full-length episodes of Realtree Road Trips, Season One on the Road Trips page. We'll be adding more shows soon, but check out each promo for the upcoming shows in the meantime.
Realtree Outdoors
Realtree Road Trips
Monster Bucks
Let me know what you think and don't forget to catch the new shows. They start this week!
Realtree Outdoors
Realtree Road Trips
Monster Bucks
Let me know what you think and don't forget to catch the new shows. They start this week!
