Straight Shooter

Rochester Archery Club’s
Straight Shooter
www.rochesterarcheryclub.com.
Rochester Archery Club P.O. Box 6701 Rochester, Minnesota 55903
Upcoming Events
May
1
MN Bowfishing Opener
2
Club Meeting
RAC Pavilion
7:30
4
MN Moose and Bear Application
Deadline.
16 Board Meeting
Gander Mountain
7:00pm
18 3D Shoot
Open to compounds
19 Traditional Shoot
RAC
8am-3pm
20 Traditional Shoot
RAC
8am-2pm
June
6
Club Meeting
RAC Pavilion
7:30
16 20 Board Meeting
Gander Mountain
7:00pm
21 3D Shoot
RAC
8am-3pm
22 3D Shoot
RAC
8am-2pm
May
2012
Turkey Hunting on the Range
The following members were drawn for hunting on the range.
Joe Hensel ............................................... 4/18 to 4/22
Dave McFarlin ........................................ 4/23 to 4/27
Joe Rau ................................................... 5/3 to 5/7
Randy Doyle and Todd Lentz ................. 5/8 to 5/12
Larry Streiff and Lonnie Herrick ............ 5/13 to 5/17
David Lane ............................................. 5/18 to 5/24
Aaron Mickow ........................................ 5/25 - 5/31
Please keep in mind that these individuals could be hunting on the range. The
practice and field ranges are open but use common sense and stay visible if
you are in the woods. Hunters could also be using decoys, so don’t mistake
them for a 3d target.
Long Distance League
If you really want to improve your shooting skill try shooting at
longer distances. For hunting we often limit our shots to less than forty yards
but a great way to hone your skills is to stretch things out and challenge
yourself at shooting longer distances. Tuesday nights at 6:00 starting on May
2 we will have an long distance league. Cost is free to members. Nonmembers can shoot for $5 a night. We will start shooting at 40 yards the first
night and begin working out from there, eventually getting out to 90 yards.
You traditional shooter, don’t think this is just for compounds, come out and
show us your skills. For more information contact Joe Rau.
Drawing to Encourage Electronic Newsletter
Mailing hard copies of our newsletter cost the club money. It’s not a
lot, but to encourage more people to receive the newsletter electronically we
will be holding a drawing each month for a prize. In order to be eligible you
need to be receiving the newsletter electronically. If you receive your
newsletter by mail it’s not too late. You can get in on the drawing, which will
start next month, by emailing Dave McFarlin and letting him know that you
would like to receive the newsletter electronically and you will be entered into
the drawing. If you already get the newsletter electronically you don’t need to
do anything, your already entered. The prize for next month will be one of
two free passes to one of our 3D shoots. We will draw two different names.
1
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Joe Rau; 507-208-1350
VICE PRESIDENT
Terry Flowers; 507-285-1284
SECRETARY/NEWSLETTER
Dave Lane; 507-358-0910
newsletter@
rochesterarcheryclub.com
TREASURER
Bob Highet 507-634-4507;
SOCIAL CHAIRMAN
Tim Johnson; 507-281-1716
May Traditional 3D Shoot
Our first 3D shoot of the year will be our
annual traditional shoot on May 19. Dale Erickson
will be our shoot coordinator. Compounds can
shoot the course Friday night May 18th. If you can
help out with set up registration food or tear down
please give Dale a call at 280-5888
New Gate Combination Takes
Affect April 7th
If you have not received your new
membership card with the new gate combination
call Dave McFarlin. If you received this newsletter
you should be paid up.
BOARD MEMBERS
Aaron Mickow; 507-272-4182
Derek Flowers; 507-250-4229
Tim Johnson; 507-281-1716
Derek York 507 208-1269
Jamie Peterson
FIELD CAPTAINS
Aaron Mickow; 507-272-4182
Derek Flowers; 507-285-1284
WEBMASTER
Dave McFarlin, 507-635-5026
rochesterarcheryclub@
yahoo.com
Wait For It!!!
Rochester Archery Club
P O Box 6701
Rochester, MN 55903
Joe Hensel, MN
Don’t tell Terry (or me) You Can’t Kill a Turkey When it is Windy.
By David Lane
As the truck crawled up a gravel road on the Pine Ridge forest, the weather radio lying on the seat beside me came to
life as we got high enough to pick up a signal. The pre-recorded, digitized voice told me what I already knew “For
today, there is a strong wind advisory for the entire Nebraska panhandle area, with sustained winds of 35 miles an hour
and gusts of up to 65 mph”. I was hunting with Terry and Derek Flowers. Derek and I were taking a break from hunting to go to town and get some ice, after all, any turkey hunter knows how tough it can be to kill a turkey when it is
windy.
Derek’s dad, Terry, is not just any turkey hunter. He is hard core. He is always in the woods well before first light
and usually stays out all day until after sunset…that day was no different. Despite the wind, he was still out hunting at
2:00 in the afternoon. I’d given it up hours earlier when the wind blew a decoy off its stake.
Terry usually spends most of his time sitting in his turkey blind, but like most good hunters he knows how to use the
weather to his advantage and if there was ever a time when a bowhunter might possibly have a chance at sneaking up
on a turkey, that was the day. After sitting in the blind all morning, Terry donned his ghillie suit and left the blind to
try and locate some birds. It did not take him long, he only got a few yards from his blind when he spotted a flock of
turkeys in the valley below. He returned to his blind to see if he could call them in, but after two hours it was apparent
that the wind was drowning out his calls, they just could not hear him. So again, he decided to leave the blind. He
belly crawled to the edge of the hill to see if the flock of turkeys were still there, and they were, but not for long. They
were headed up a ravine out of the valley,
marching in single file like a formation of
solders. Fortunately, the ravine was going to
bring them right past Terry, close enough for
a shot.
Terry rolled to his side, pulled an arrow from
his bow quiver and nocked it on the string.
As the turkeys got to the top of the ravine he
knelt and drew his bow. The lead turkey
spotted him and immediately started to run
away. The other birds knew something was
up, but because they were not sure where the
danger was, they just started to scatter in a
panic. One of them stopped and Terry took
aim, the only problem was his single pin
sight. It was set at 20 yards and the birds had
scattered, this one was now farther away than
he had anticipated. So he mentally held his
sight pin high and released the arrow.
The 2 ¾” Hypershock broadhead hit the turkey from the back. He ran in a small circle and flopped down dead. Terry’s perseverance had paid off. It was not the biggest tom at 18 1/5 pounds, but any turkey taken with a bow under
those conditions is a trophy. Derek and I got back with the ice and while Terry told us the story I changed back into
my hunting clothes. We took a few pictures, shook a few hands and Terry started to clean the bird. I started to head
back into the woods. I know I’ll never think it is too windy to kill a turkey again.