Medalist Blog

When the leaves change and the temperature drops, the hunting generally becomes better. That was the case this November for me as I traveled from Alabama to Missouri than up to South Dakota in search of some deer, turkey, waterfowl, and pheasant.

After leaving Alabama to hunt with TreeTop Outfitters in Missouri, my mood began to change from the subtle woodsie approach to the more dynamic rattling/grunting a more aggressive approach. Bobby Bowen owner of TreeTop outfitters had been sending plenty of trail cam pictures that had me speeding through most states. From spike bucks to 200 inch Treetop Outfitters has it all. I have hunted with Bobby in the past shooting 2 nice deer there last year, and hoping to better the deer this year.

With my Medalist Stalker gear on proud, Mike and I headed to the stand. The first week was great. We passed on several bucks in the 120’s, and filmed numerous bucks within feet of our stand and blind. The Medalist proved once again, no match for the deers nose, as most deer tried to circled downwind after a rattling sequence. On the 5th day of the hunt, I Innerloc’d a big fat Mid-Western doe, at 10 yards, so Mike and I could have some fresh back straps the rest of the trip. The weather was a bit windy, but we managed to film dozens of bucks, including a nice 145 inch 9 point, that never would stop, running the doe past our stand.

Finally on one of the last days of the hunt, my dream buck showed up…A huge 160 inch 9 point, the problem was, the sweet smell of a girlfriend in the air. Mike and I rolled the footage as this massive buck turned and walked away at 40 yards, making my trip to Missouri one to remember. I didn’t kill the buck, but the opportunity at a legendary mature buck was enough for this PA hunter. Till it was all said and done, I did not fill my Buck tag, but we saw 7-10 Pope and Young bucks, including 1 Booner, and the intelligence we learned that will help me when I return in January for a late season bow hunt. With the help of the Medalist not 1 buck smelled us, or knew we were in the area. The clothing was so comfortable, Mike and I were able to sit all day in some cases, without moving. Don’t worry that BUCK has not seen the last of BROSSMAN.

We had to leave Bobby Bowen, and head North to windy Hill Outfitters, in South Dakota for a 2 week hunt, that would include waterfowl action, pheasant hunting, and some wide open praire deer hunting with my bow. I had never hunted with Mike Bishop owner of windy Hill, and really had no idead what to expect. The 8 hour drive seemed quick, because normally our drive times average 15 hours…

My first impression, was WOW….The place was huge, and great. Pool table, hot tub, bug rooms for our gear, and a refrigerator fit for a king. Thousands of pictures to look at, and pretty mounts to stare at. There was no doubt this trip would be one for the record books. The first couple of days out were unbelievable, we shot limit after limit of ducks, and pheasants. I drew a swan tag, and an archery deer tag, so that was next on the menu.

On our first trip out for swans, we lucked out and both Mike Bishop and I scored on Mature swan as they flew over our decoy spread, and both piled up below us in the water, making for an exciting water retrieve by the labs. I never shot a swan, and I never was in the military, but I would say this was like shooting down an airplane. The swans looked like B-52 bombers as they passed by.

Since we TV program filmed, we needed to start the second half of it, so Mike and I switched gears and hunted deer. We had a 300 acre farm that was loaded with deer. The first afternoon out we saw 33 deer including multiple shooters. The wide open grasses made it very tough to hunt and film. We had several chances but the deer seemed to have the upper hand in the wide open. One buck we nick-named Luck, was in bow range 4 times, and instead gave us great footage, seemed to get away from my Easton arrows on several occasions. The grass, was to high, wind to fast, to far, to close, I used every excuse that a bowhunter could come up with. None of the settled me down enough to arrow this 125 inch 8 point. The cat and mouse game was on all week, and although the mouse on this time, I will be back, the buck will be 1 year bigger, and I will be 1 year smarter.

The coolest thing about the this November was the friendships we generated and the friendships we worked on. All the folks at windyhill, were first class, and in fact I left a Pearson bow, for Jeff Bishop, Mikes brother. He had a bow, and it was old, and to see the tears of Joy roll down his face, as we handed him the bow, was worth the trip. All the dogs, worked so well, and the guides were filled with passion. The last afternoon in camp, I took Bay, the Chesapeake retriever out for a one on one pheasant hunt. In a short amount of time we limited out. That is when I gained a lot of respect for the hunting heritage passed down, form my grandfather, and dad. The grew up hunting small game in Pennsylvania, and I never understood the meaning of it, until that moment. Thank you Windy Hill Outfitters, for helping me understand the hunting tradition a little more.

note: Mike and I were gone for 6 weeks straight. I want to thank my wife Joy, and little baby girl Camryn for there continuing support. No 200 inch deer could make a bigger smile on my face, than when I came home and saw them standing on the porch..I love you both!!!

Oh by the way while I was gone, my Mom scored on a great PA 9 point in Cameron County with her Excalibur crossbow. She said….I LOVE MEDALIST….the deer never new her and my dad were there… Wish I was there to see that hunt…..

Tony Bowels- a guide at TreeTop outfitters shot this 142 inch 10 point while wearing his Medalist. The buck was shot just north of a farm we were hunting. GREAT JOB TONY