|
Speed Goat Masquerade 2008
Left-Handed Bow Kovers
Have Arrived
"The Latest Installment" - Suzuki Kingquad Toolbox Mount
Trade Show
Plans for 2009
Here's hoping you're getting your fair share of hunting in this fall. I've
done pretty good as far as hours afield go. Having trouble finding the
right bull moose, but have arrowed a couple deer and a pronghorn antelope, which is where
we begin this Bulletin...
Speed Goat Masquerade 2008
My brother, Bryce, and I pointed the Ford south and spent
the next couple hours catching up on life's events and wallowing in the
excitement of our first archery antelope hunt in years. In fact, this
would be Bryce's first time pursuing pronghorns as a shooter. Two and a
half hours of travel found us pulling up to the campsite already staked out by
our Uncle Albey and cousin Carman. We would've been there sooner if not for our
moonlit scenic tour around Blood Indian Reservoir.
Carman wasted little time in showing us the video of their
day's events, culminating in a great 45 yard shot by Albey on a nice antelope
just before dark. Right on! One down, two tags to fill. And
with three days ahead of us, time was on our side.
If time was on our side, the weather certainly wasn't.
Sure, it was nice if we wanted to sit in a lawn chair and catch trout all day.
But we were here to hunt and the cool early-rut weather of mid September just
wasn't that cool. Hopefully the bucks would still be aggressive enough to
challenge our costume decoys.
 Soon after entering the WMU on Thursday morning, the herds
started to show themselves. As Bryce was trying to
 fill his first antelope
tag ever, I let him have the honors while I manned the Sony HDD cam. One
stalk after another, we crawled across cactus-ridden plains only to be foiled by
our normally curious adversary. Following close behind on every stalk with
the camera rolling so as not to miss a shot opportunity, I accumulated way more
footage of my brother's backside than I care to mention. Um...delete that.
Considering the vast openness of the Alberta prairies, it's
always amazing to see the wide variety of species that call this place home.
Besides our primary quarry, we also saw elk, mule deer, moose, tons of coyotes,
gophers and, oh yeah...a badger. My first one with the bow, to boot!
Bryce's best opportunity came in the late morning of Day 2
when we spotted a nice buck bedded down in some sage brush some 500 yards away.
Over the next hour, we closed the distance to a mere 22 yards. With a
stiff crosswind and the buck laying quartering away from us, the plan was coming
together. As Bryce drew his WCA Innovator Pro, the buck caught a glimpse
and jolted a couple steps away before turning broadside. Looking through
the viewfinder, I couldn't see the arrow's flight, but the antelope bolted away
and Bryce dejectedly informed me that something went wrong. Now, normally
I'm a big proponent of the Whisker Biscuit arrow rest, but we learned on that
day that even great products have an Achilles heel. Having carried his bow
at ground level with a nocked arrow for some one hundred yards during the final
approach, the arrow became wedged into the bristles of the biscuit. During
the draw, the arrow didn't return to center position which threw the arrow
sharply down and right. Watching that Pope & Young pronghorn trot over the
hill was definitely the low point of our hunt.
 In an effort to change our luck, Bryce agreed to swap
positions on the next stalk. Only a few miles away, we found an antelope herd
grazing behind a shallow hill. "Perfect," I said as I backed up and parked
the truck. I donned the antelope head and grabbed my bow. Bryce
followed close behind, camera in hand, as we approached the hill with an
aggressive, "not fooling around anymore" mentality. We crested the hill to
see the herd disappearing over the next rise. Oops, maybe a little too
aggressive. But wait...there's a couple bucks down below! We assumed the
position, fully expecting them to study us for a minute and then follow the herd
out of our lives.
"Here they come!" I said over my shoulder as I latched my
trigger release and put on my best antelope impersonation. The bigger of
the two led the way, trotting offside now at about 50 yards. A short grunt
finally got him stopped and an arrow quickly made flight. Curses...shot
behind him. Unshaken, I grabbed another arrow as the antelope did a
buttonhook towards Bryce, putting him now at 40 yards! By this time the
second buck had made the scene and was less startled when I drew my Switchback
for a second attempt. I settled the pin on the standing buck and released.
Thwack! The first buck headed east to safety while the second took off
hell-bent in a wide circle, indicative of a solid hit.
Less than a hundred yards later, the buck expired. For a few minutes, two
grown men jumped around like little kids, relishing brotherhood and another moment in
our hunting careers that will never be forgotten.
Check out the video of this exhilarating hunt on the Video Gallery.
 Product Update - Left-Handed Bow Kovers Are In!
The first shipments of left-handed Bow Kovers have finally
arrived at my Illinois warehouse and here in Wainwright. Due to consumer
demand, I had to hasten the manufacturing of these covers. Sorry for the
delay, but if you're wanting one, give me a call or visit the Store Page to place your
order. See the previous Bowkaddy Bulletin
(Issue #12)
for more info on the Bowkaddy Bow Kover.
"The Latest Installment" -
Suzuki Kingquad Toolbox Mount
Here's what happens when an innovative individual lays his hands on a versatile
product...
Thanks to Blake Howland from Calgary, AB for sending in these pictures.
Great job on the install, Blake!
ATV: Suzuki Kingquad 4x4
Box Seat: Wes Classic Standard
Inside Reinforcement: 1/4" Plywood Cutout
Bow Carrier System: Bowkaddy and Bow Kover
  
 
If you have any questions pertaining to an install such as this one, feel free
to contact Alaris Concepts.
Trade Show Plans for 2009
The first quarter of '09 looks to be
another busy trade show season for Alaris Concepts. Here are the venues as it stands now:
ATA Show - Indianapolis, IN
January 8-10, 2009
Indiana Convention Centre
Saskatoon Sports and Leisure Show
March 5-8, 2009
Prairie Land Park
Toronto Boat
& Sportsmen Show
March 18-22, 2009
Direct Energy Centre Exhibition Place
Canadian Indoor 3D Nationals - Red Deer, AB
March 27-29, 2009
Westerner Park
Return to Bowkaddy
Bulletin Main Page
|
