RUSSELL THORNBERRY OUTDOORS

Jan. 2010 Newsletter

Adventures Abroad on the Outdoor Channel

In my years of doing outdoor television for Buckmasters and for Media Jungle’s Outdoor Channel programming, there is one show that will forever be my favorite and it will air in February of 2010. (I don’t have the specific date yet but I will keep you posted.) The title of the show is “Traditions of the Hunt” and it will appear on Adventures Abroad.

What makes this show so special to me is the process that inspired it. I decided to learn to knap arrowheads out of stone as did the Native American Indians for centuries before Europeans set foot on American soil. That intriguing pursuit led me to learn to make self bows of Osage orange wood – again patterned after those of the ancient American Indians. Finally the whole process created a desire to make the weapons as nearly like the Indians did and then hunt with them. That all came together in October of 2008 on the Rancho la Palma in northern Mexico. It was clearly the most challenging hunt of my life since all shots had to be at 10 yards or less with my antiquated equipment while hunting from the ground. I managed to take a whitetail buck and a doe, as well as a javelina, and it was all captured on film. Tune in for this show if you can. I think it is unlike any hunting TV show you have ever seen.

Dances with Turtles finished at last!

It’s been in the works for years but with the time-consuming duties as Editor in Chief of Buckmasters Whitetail Magazine, it seemed that there was always something more pressing. However, with retirement came freedom to write and now it is finished. Dances with Turtles is something of a belated sequel to my first book of outdoor humor entitled, Bucks, Bulls & Belly Laughs. Shame on you if you haven’t read it! So now, as I write these words, my son Darren -- my favorite editor, is proofing the chapters and I expect to have the finished book available by spring or early summer. I believe this collection of hunting and fishing insanity will make you laugh, and if it does, it will have served its purpose!

A New CD on the Horizon

As with Dances with Turtles, I have been writing and stock piling more material – in this case, off-the-wall songs, which I am about to record for my first music CD since Lonesome in the Saddle. Seems the older I get the goofier the songs. How about  tunes with titles like “One Butt-Ugly Baby”, “Co-dependent Waltz”, “The Weather is Here and I  Wish You Were Beautiful”, and as they say in the music biz, many, many more!  Expect an earthy bluegrass and country/folk genre. I am hoping to have this project wrapped up by spring as well. If you’re a little off-the-wall like me, I think you’ll like it.

“Hillbilly’s Bear”

By Kimberly Duncan McCormick

Modern speed-of-light communications has made possible things that were impossible if not unheard of only a few short years ago. Take Facebook for instance. In my Russell Thornberry Outdoors Facebook Group that I launched only a week ago, I’m hearing from people I would otherwise never have known and the fruit of those communications have already found their way into this month’s Feature Article by Kimberly Duncan McCormick, AKA “Hillbilly” as she has been dubbed for her West Virginia roots.Kimberly brings us one of the most entertaining black bear bowhunting stories I’ve read in many a moon so don’t miss this.  It’s really good stuff! 

 

In this month’s Field Tips I am introducing you to the mother of all hunting flat shooting rifle calibers, the Ferguson Hot Tamale -- a custom made .257x7mm STW, which routinely spits 100-grain bullets from the muzzle at 4,000 feet per second or more. Its performance on game has to be experienced to be believed. If you’re like me – always looking for a better mousetrap – then I’m sure you are going to find this information rather mind boggling. Imagine holding dead-on an animal out to 500 yards with no holdover – even on very big game like moose, elk, bison and large African plains game!

PETA’s Jesus Campaign Isn’t Biblical

In this month’s Real Life segment I am reprinting an article that I wrote several years ago refuting PETA’s claim that we should be like Jesus and become vegetarians. Of course their claim was preposterous but sadly many Christians don’t know what the Bible tells us about eating the meat of wild and domestic animals. It is my hope that this article will help educate Christians to the truth of the matter.

Welcome our New Industry Partner:
RAVEN WEAR of CANADA, INC.

 

Raven Wear’s Alberta Special reverse parka and bibs - windproof with ComforMax IB.  Fleece outer reverses to snow camo when conditions warrant.  Great for sitting on stand
for long hours.

I had the pleasure of being a part of Raven Wear’s beginnings back in the 1980s when I was guiding and outfitting in Alberta, Canada. During my November whitetail hunts my biggest challenge was keeping hunters in the field in extreme cold. Typically they could not find warm enough hunting garments in their U.S. locales, so I turned to my dear friend Susan Hindbo who was known for her expertise as a seamstress.  We collaborated on some experimental garments and they worked so well that my hunters wanted to buy them and take them home because they were the warmest and quietest cold weather garment they had ever used. The rest is history and hunters have been relying on Raven Wear ever since.  The names of celebrity hunters on television who use Raven Wear garments reads like the who’s who of the hunting world. So, if you spent some miserable hours or days in stands during the deer season, take a look at what Raven Wear offers. Not only will freeze-out be a thing of the past but Raven Wear custom makes garments to your specific measurements to ensure a perfect fit! And look to Raven Wear for early season garments as well. I’ve got a closet full of Raven Wear garments for all my hunting needs from the warmer early bow season to the dead of winter whitetail hunts. Check them out at www.ravenwear.ca.

RTO Dream Elk Hut

I will be hosting a trophy elk hunt Sept. 1-5, 2010, with Spirit of the North Outfitters in Saskatchewan, Canada, home of some of the world’s largest bulls.  You can hunt with rifle or bow. My clients have been 100 percent successful since I began in 2004 on bulls scoring from 325 to 440! For details click on RTO Trips and be one of 10 hunters headed for the elk hunt of your dreams!

Russell’s 2010 Speaking Itinerary

 

I will be speaking at the following events and hope to connect with old friends and new as I travel throughout the winter and spring.

Jan. 14, 2010
Men’s Dinner
New River Fellowship
Weatherford, TX
(817) 341-7970

January 21-22, 2010
Prayer Breakfast
Safari Club International
Reno, NV

Jan 30, 2010
Orchard Hills Baptist Church
Newnan, GA
Richard Schmidt cell (404) 392-5227
Church (678) 854-9180

Jan. 31, 2010
Men’s Wild Game Dinner
Resurrection Life Worship Center
795 Memorial Boulevard
Picayune, MS 39466-4649
(601) 798-4511

Feb. 2-4, 2010
Enterprise, AL
First Baptist Church    Contact: Michelle Drew 334/393-5683                                                                                                                                                                           Feb. 11, 2010
Wild Game Dinner
First Baptist Church, Americus, GA
Michael Smith: (229) 942-0833

Feb 26, 2010
Cabin Fever
Prairie Lakes Church
Cedar Falls, IA
Mike Messerer (319) 240-7649

March 4-6, 2010
Elk Foundation Prayer Breakfast
Reno, NV

March 11-13th, 2010
Southeastern Sportsmen’s Retreat
Carrollton, GA
Richard Culpepper (404) 915-9707

March 14, 2010
Roopville Road Church
Carrollton, GA
Tim Eason (770) 301-4985

March 19, 2010
Bow Bending Believers of CBA
Medina, NY
Merle Frederick (585) 765-2839

June 4-6, 2010
Western Canadian Sportsmen’s Rendezvous
Living Faith Bible College Campus
Caroline, Alberta, Canada
(403) 722-2225

June 19-25, 2010
Team Canada Mission Trip
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Sharleen Thornberry (719) 687-2473

July 23-25, 2010
Clearwater Music Festival
Living Faith Bible College
Caroline, Alberta, Canada
(403) 722-2225

August 6-8, 2010
Father/son retreat
Living Faith Bible College Campus
Caroline, Alberta, Canada
(403) 722-2225

August 20-22, 2010
Bowhunting School
Living Faith Bible College Campus
Caroline, Alberta, Canada
(403) 722-2225

Hillbilly's bear

"Hillbilly’s Bear"

This is the story of my first bear hunt --a Christmas gift from my husband, Chris.

 By Kimberly Duncan McCormick

My hunt took place with the guide/owner from Alberta, Rod Laboucane of Bear Trap Outfitters. In Rod’s fifteen years of business he’d never had a female hunter before so he was as excited as I was about this hunt. Rod chose a stand on his property that had a lot of bear sign, and took me out each day and set me up in it. He made sure I had everything I needed and left me a two-way radio just in case. After a discouraging and quiet four days of hunting, Rod told me I could rename the stand if I got a bear which I was excited about.

On the fifth day, Rod had me set up in my stand twenty feet in the air and had barely left the area when a bear came in. I wasn’t quite ready yet, but the bear was already at the barrel pulling logs away to get at the bait. I quickly discovered the stand was set up for a gun hunter, not a bow hunter as I struggled with the limbs of my bow to get in shooting position. Finally,
I loosened up my safety belt just enough to slide off my seat and kneel on the platform. I pulled back to aim, but the bear was behind some limbs. Leaning out from the stand as far as I could to get a good shot, I aimed…I shot…I missed. My arrow had gone directly under the bear as he sat eating. The bear never moved, just continued to eat as he looked at my arrow. I said a few choice words, took a deep breath…took aim… shot… and missed! My second arrow was now next to my first arrow and the bear still hadn’t moved. At that point I am questioning my abilities as a bow hunter when Rod calls on the radio to tell me there is a bear headed in from the main road. Once again I’m hopeful; maybe this will be the “bearzilla’ I’m meant to get.

Quietly I watch for the other bear when suddenly bear #1 one charges my tree and starts climbing as he tries to get out of the way of the bear #2 running into the area. After bear #1 and I both have slight heart attacks, bear #1 figures out that bear #2 isn’t a threat and backs down the tree to resume his eating. Now I’ve got two bears and I’m pretty confident I can get one of them.

As I’m contemplating my situation, bear #3 wanders into the fray. Bear #3 is a pretty black with a chocolate tuff and my decision is made to go after that one. I attach my release, begin to pull back and discover my release is open. I’ve only pulled back my string a little bit, but my arrow falls to the ground beside bear number #3. Luckily he also ignores the arrow as he focuses on the food. I have one arrow left. I repeat my routine…attach the release…pull the arrow back…drop the arrow to the ground.

What! Now I have no arrows and three bears on the ground. With my head in my hands, I call Rod to request assistance. Rod tells me to stay in the safety of the tree as he makes his way into the area. As he motors in on his quad the bears scatter. Shaking his head and laughing, Rod gathers my arrows and sends them back up to me on a rope, gets back on his quad, (still laughing) and rides away. A short fifteen minutes bear number one makes his way back into the area. At this point I’m mad, embarrassed and determined! I give the bear time to settle into his meal and move into the perfect shot. He stood up and leaned on the barrel. I checked my release to make sure it’s closed, attach it, pull back and let my arrow fly. Hallelujah, I finally did it. I got a great hit and the bear ran a short twenty yards before falling over. My first bear! I call Rod on the radio and announce that from this day forward this stand will be referred to as “The Hillbilly Kim” stand in honor of my West Virginia roots. Rod is just as excited as I am and makes his way into the stand before I even make my way down the tree. Rod laughs and gives me a hug and says, “Maybe we’ll call this the 5th arrow stand instead, eh?

So now you know my first bear hunting story. If you make your way to Canada and meet up with Rod, ask him for the “Hillbilly Stand”, he’ll know which one you want.

Editors Note:
Chris took two gorgeous cinnamon-colored black bear on this hunt.

For additional information contact:
Mark Bueher
Bowhunting Safari Consultants
www.bowhuntingsafari.com
800-833-9777

Or

Rodney Laboucane
Bear Trap Outfitters
Box 6
Heinsburg, Alberta
Canada , T0A 1X0
(780) 943-2148

November 2009 Newsletter

Best Bow and Arrow Buck!

A friend invited me to come to Saskatchewan, Canada, for some whitetail bowhunting last month (October). I had to fight to squeeze out six days for the trip but boy was it worth it.  After a bit of scouting I placed a trail camera in what looked like a strategic spot.  The next morning when I uploaded the trail cam photos on my laptop I was stunned to see a huge buck.  I chose the best nearby vantage point for a treestand and spent that evening in it but the buck didn’t show.

It rained cats and dogs that night and dwindled to a fine foggy mist by the time I headed back to the stand in the dark the following morning.  By 8 a.m. I was getting pretty soaked and miserable.  The thought occurred to me: “On a morning this nasty, any self-respecting whitetail will probably be curled up under a tree somewhere, trying to stay out of the rain.” That negative thought was the first step in justifying abandoning my stand for a warm, dry cabin – and at that very moment I spotted the buck coming down the trail in front of my stand.  My emotions shifted from grandma low to overdrive in a millisecond.  I grabbed my bow off its hanger and got my release on the string loop just as the buck entered my shooting lane.  At that point I went into complete autopilot, coming to full-draw, aiming and sending an ACC tipped with one of the new G5, 100-grain Carbon Steel Montecs into the ribs of the incredible deer. In a couple of seconds he was gone from sight.  I did a mental rewind and review of all that had happened so fast and spotted my arrow drilled into the wet ground.  The shot had looked good and I had a complete pass-through and a crimson arrow shaft. A short, 50-yard blood trail ended abruptly at the most magnificent buck I had ever seen while bowhunting.

The whole hunt had been amazingly short for me. Typically I get my game on the very last hour of the very last day, if at all.  This buck was truly a gift, measuring 178 3/8 gross score.  I still have trouble believing that it happened to me.  If there’s a lesson to be learned from this it is that a hunter’s misery might just be a nice day for a walk for a record book whitetail!

Equipment Used

Bow: BowTech General – 70 lb.                                                                                                       

Arrow Rest: Q.A.D. Ultra-Rest

Quiver: Treelimb Premium

Arrow: Easton ACC 371/70

Release: Scott Little Goose

Broadhead: G5 100-gr. Montec CS

Treestand: Millenium M100 Hang-on

Clothing: Raven Wear Thermal Fleece

Trail Camera: Reconyx RC55 Rapid Fire

Safety Harness: Hunter Safety System

Introducing the 2010 BowTech Destroyer

The Wait is over!

Every year is like Christmas as I await BowTech’s latest next technological advancement in archery equipment – specifically bows. In fact, the only means of making me at all discontent with the BowTech bow I am shooting at any given time is to pick up and shoot what’s new for next year.  I’ve been a die hard BowTech shooter for years and I always wonder what they could possibly do to improve the bow I’m shooting.  They always do, but this year they have trumped themselves to the extreme.  I don’t typically choose their highest performance speed bow because I am more concerned with an easier draw and utmost shootability. Okay, I’m a senior citizen so cut me some slack.  But what if I could have all of the afore mentioned attributes, as well as sizzling speed?  Who could turn that down?  Not me! For the first time a bow has been developed that offers all of the above and I’m like a kid in a candy store – and you will be too.

For their 10th Model Year anniversary, BowTech is pleased to introduce their most advanced bow ever produced. It's called the Destroyer for a reason.
 
"From concept, this bow was designed to be easy to draw, quiet, accurate and forgiving. As it turns out, the bow happens to be fast," Craig Yehle, Principle Designer explains. "We believe it is important for our flagship offering not be construed as a speed bow, but as a truly exceptional all around offering. We believe we have achieved this."
 
The Destroyer is offered in two models; Destroyer 350 and Destroyer 340. Both are accurate, shock-free, easy to draw and fast...very fast. While most archers have to trade shootability for speed, the Destroyer delivers both. This balance is accomplished using three new technologies; OverDrive Binary™, HardCore Limbs™ and FLX-Guard™.
 
OverDrive Binary™ synchronized dual cam system gives the perfect synchronization of a Binary while allowing split buss attachment to both cams for best-in-class cam stability and tune-ability. Premium alloy composition allows for a strong, lightweight design which diminishes noise and vibration.

The high modulus carbon core of the HardCore Limbs™ puts the core to work, storing energy not only near the surfaces, but inside the limb. Distributing stress through the limbs increases overall limb response, efficiency and durability.  

The new FLX-Guard™ cable containment system addresses the tuning effects of extreme cable tension and inflexible cable guards found on today's bows. As the bow is drawn, it flexes inward, isolating the riser from unwanted cable guard torque.

            Destroyer 350        Destroyer 340
IBO Speed:                     342-350 fps        332-340 fps
Brace Height:        6 Inches        7 Inches
Axle-to-axle:        32 3/8 Inches        32 3/8 Inches
Draw Length:        25-30 Inches        26-31 Inches
Peak Weights:        50/60/70 lbs        50/60/70 lbs
Kinetic Energy:    95.22 ft-lbs        89.86 ft-lbs
Effective Let-Off:    80 %            80 %

See www.bowtecharchery.com for more information

Wild Man Weekend Coming to Memphis
Feb 5-7, 2010

Danny Worsham and Russell Thornberry will host the first annual Wild Man Weekend at Brigadoon Farms near Memphis, TN, on the weekend of Feb. 5-7, 2010. The Wild Man event will feature numerous opportunities for outdoorsmen to learn and/or hone their skills at fly-casting, archery, antler scoring, flintknapping and hunting techniques, as well as to participate in some hilarious, off-the-wall outdoors competitions such as knife throwing, bow and arrow golf, the Texas Hog Toss, Mountain Man Triathlon, pickle spitting and more.  Be ready for some of the best campfire songs and story telling sessions to be found anywhere in the south!  Come and bring a buddy or your son (minimum15 year of age) and expect to learn, laugh, and make lifetime friends and memories. There will be a casual church service on Sunday morning. We can accommodate a maximum of 30 men so all bookings will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Antler Scoring
Official Buckmasters Scorer Bill Leon will be on hand to score your whitetail antlers, so bring your antlers or head mounts and get them officially scored.

Flintknapping Demonstration
Professional Flintknapper, Stan Payne, will provide a captivating demonstration on how Native Americans made arrowheads, knives and spear points of stone.
 
Check in: Be sure you are checked in no later than 5 p.m. of Friday, Feb. 5th.
Check out: The event will conclude before lunch on Sunday, Feb 7th.
 
Accommodations: Bunk house style accommodations are included, as well as your bedding and all meals.
 
What to bring: Casual outdoor clothing and footwear, personal toiletries and cameras. Bring your fly tackle and archery tackle if you have them. If not these items can be provided on site.
 
Cost: $225 per person (bring five people and come for free)
A deposit of $125 is required to confirm your booking. (Due before January 15th)
The balance of $100 is due upon arrival at Brigadoon Farms.
Or Pay $200 Before January 15th and save $25
Make deposit checks payable to Danny Worsham and send to:

Danny Worsham
188 N Walthall
Holly Springs, MS 38635
Phone 662-404-1143
Email: wdanchar@bellsouth.net

 

Sept. 2010 Trophy Elk Hunt

For those of you who have dreamed of bagging a true trophy bull elk, you can now start picking out a place to hang that shoulder mount.  I will be hosting a trophy elk hunt Sept. 1-5, 2010, with Spirit of the North Outfitters in Saskatchewan, Canada, home of some of the world’s largest bulls.  You can hunt with rifle or bow. My clients have been 100 percent successful since I began in 2004 on bulls scoring from 325 to 440! For details click on RTO Trips and be one of 10 hunters headed for the elk hunt of your dreams!

 

Russell Thornberry 2009/2010 Speaking Itinerary

For the balance of 2009 and the first half of 2010 I have a pretty full speaking schedule, which I am posting here in hopes of connecting with friends across the U.S. and Canada when I am in your area.  See if I’m going to be in your neighborhood, and if so, as Bob Barker would say, “Come on down!” 

November 19-23, 2009
Wild Game Banquet
Hydesville Community Church
Hydesville, CA

November 23-25th, 2009
Wild Game Banquet, Northfield Christian Fellowship
Tremont, IL

December 12, 2009
Wild game banquet
Crow Hill Bible Church
Bailey, CO

Jan. 14, 2010
Men’s Dinner
New River Fellowship
Weatherford, TX
(817) 341-7970


January 21-22, 2010
Safari Club International
Reno, NV
Prayer Breakfast

Jan 30, 2010
Orchard Hills Baptist Church
Newnan, GA
Richard Schmidt cell (404) 392-5227
Church (678) 854-9180

Feb. 2-4, 2010
Enterprise, AL
First Baptist Church
Enterprise, AL

Feb.5-7, 2010
Wild Man Weekend
Memphis, TN
(662) 404-1143

Feb. 11, 2010
Wild Game Dinner
First Baptist Church, Americus, GA
Michael Smith: (229) 942-0833

Feb 26, 2010
Prairie Lakes Church
Cedar Falls, IA
Cabin Fever
Mike Messerer (319) 240-7649

March 4-6
Elk Foundation Prayer Breakfast
Reno, NV

March 11-13th, 2010
Southeastern Sportsmen’s Retreat
Carrollton, GA
Contact: Richard Culpepper
(404)915-9707

March 4, 2010
Roopville Road Church
Carrollton, GA
Contact Tim Eason:

March 19, 2010
Bow Bending Believers of CBA
Medina, NY
(585) 765-2839

May 14-16-, 2010
May 14-16. 2010
SCLM Sportsmens Retreat
Tesoro Escondido Ranch
Mineral Wells, TX
(817) 267-9224

June 4-6, 2010
Western Canadian Sportsmen’s Rendezvous
LFB Campus
Caroline, Alberta, Canada
(403) 722-2225

June 19-25, 2010
Team Canada Mission Trip
Tegucigalpa, Honduras

July 23-25, 2010
Living faith Bible College
Clearwater Music Festival
Caroline, Alberta, Canada
(403) 722-2225

August 6-8, 2010
Father/son retreat
Caroline, Alberta
LFBC Campus
(403) 722-2225

August 20-22, 2010
Bowhunting School
LFBC Campus
Caroline, AB
(403) 722-2225

More November Features
This month’s Field Tips features the “Trail Cam Revolution” and the value of trail cameras in observing and understanding whitetail social dynamics.

The Nov. Feature Article is entitled “Famous Outdoor Firsts” featuring a range of outdoorsmen from novice to seasoned experts who experienced a benchmark accomplishment that rates as a famous first in their outdoor exploits. This one was really fun to put together and I know you be entertained and impressed.

Real Life offers “The Perfect Set-Up,” which explores the ever present power of temptation in our lives, even when deer hunting.