Hunters For The Hungry

With hunting season being so close I figured I would post a little info on the Hunters For The Hungry program. It's a great program that I hope I'm going to be able to contribute to this year. My first 2-3 are spoken for, if I get even 1, but anything over that will most likety got to Hunters For The Hungry. Here is the explanation of the program from their site...
...Hunters for the Hungry operates by solicitation of successful hunters to donate venison. The deer are accepted by professional meat cutters who process (cut, wrap, and freeze) the venison. The meat is provided at no cost and is distributed by foodbanks and other 501 (C) (3) nonprofit organizations feeding Virginia's needy. We are not supported by any state funds nor are we a United Way Agency.

...Funds are raised to cover the cost of processing, distribution, and the overhead expenses of operation (less than 20% of total expenses). Financial support is currently the limiting factor.

...The simplicity of the program makes it not only easy to understand but also practical to operate. Hunters, all volunteers, do the work of providing the food. Processors inspect, cut, wrap, and freeze the meat (most charge us a fee reduced from normal rates). The venison is distributed through agencies already equipped for and in the business of feeding the needy. The food provided is a quality high protein, low-fat item not normally available.

The Benefits
Our natural resources are used to help those in need.
Potential waste is eliminated
Hunters are involved in helping and providing for the less fortunate.
The deer population is controlled which not only benefits mankind but the deer themselves.

Among those who have worked with, assisted, and endorsed this effort are:
Ruritan National and Ruritan Clubs across Virginia
The Federation of Virginia Foodbanks
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
The Virginia Department of Meat and Poultry Inspection
The Virginia Department of Health
The Virginia Deer Hunters Association
The Virginia Wildlife Federation
The Virginia Game Warden's Association
Many civic clubs including - Rotary, Lions, Izaak Walton League, Moose, American Legion
Churches including - United Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Baptist, Episcopal
Many businesses both involved and uninvolved in the outdoor sporting world
Virginia Association of Meat Processors
Many media outlets including - radio, television, magazines, and newspapers

...We have a proven track record. We have received and distributed nearly one half million pounds of venison to the needy across Virginia. The potential exists to provide almost this quantity on an annual basis.

...Our long term goal is to make 500,000 pounds of venison available to the hungry annually. We already have in place the needed program to receive and distribute this quantity. As funds are available more meat will be accepted and distributed.

...Please take a few minutes to review our materials. We are very proud of the cost-effective manner in which we operate. Contributions should be used primarily for program not for overhead.

...Your consideration of a contribution is greatly appreciated. A favorable response to our request would:

1. Help us expand our effort while we continue to build our support base
2. Provide needed food to many who otherwise will do without
3. Impact the operations and budgets of many feeding agencies around the state as all meat is provided by us at no charge
4. Enhance the cooperative program that we have begun. This cooperation clearly involves many who do not otherwise participate in charitable endeavors or who do not normally find common ground on which to pool their efforts.

...We would gladly provide any additional information that would be helpful.

...Thank you for your time and consideration. We hope you will see fit to invest in our effort to feed, educate, and cooperate.

...To contact Hunters for the Hungry e-mail(staff@4hungry.org) or write us at:
Hunters For The Hungry
P.O. Box 304
Big Island, VA 24526

Phone: 1-800-352-4868

Here is a link to their processing centers, just click and find the one closest to you! All you have to do is properly field dress the deer and deliver it to a processing center. I hope this info helps and that no one out there lets any deer go to waste, best of luck to you all this hunting season! I for one can't wait to get this hunting season started!

My future best hunting partner!

SWVA Today newspaper article

Here is the article Nate Hubbard wrote about me. I'm pleased with the article and I think that Nate did a great job! I hope I don't come across like I don't like country people because I'm a country boy myself. I just want people to know that those are not the only people who hunt. Also, I don't think of myself as a rock star, those were Nate's words lol! I'm grateful to Nate for giving me a chance to talk about hunting and a chance to help me get the word out there that the outdoors are for everyone!

From bass to bow
Mark Sage
Wytheville Enterprise: News > Bland County Messenger: News >
Wed Aug 27, 2008 - 10:48 AM

By NATE HUBBARD/Staff

Tommy Nunley was a rock star.
Now he’s often alone in the woods.
And he couldn’t be happier.
Nunley, a Hollybrook native and 1992 Bland High School graduate, grew up hunting and getting outdoors before embarking on his music career as the bass player for popular local band Drivn.
While living the “rock star lifestyle,” Nunley said he shunned his roots as much as possible.
“I just got away from my beginnings,” he said. “I never was anti-hunting, but I kind of let myself buy into the stereotypes of a hunter.”
You know, those beer-swigging, white country boys piling in pickup trucks to go shoot up the woods.
Nunley, though, has now made it his mission to correct those stereotypes and get people to share in what has become a life-changing hobby for him.
The current Wytheville resident said there wasn’t a single moment or transformative event that brought him back to the woods.
“It was actually a gradual process,” he said.
As he started to realize a few years ago that hitting the clubs wasn’t as fulfilling as it once was, Nunley said he found himself in the outdoors more and more, initially doing activities like hiking and camping.
“The more I did those things, I really enjoyed it and I was kind of looking for more ways to spend time outdoors,” Nunley explained.
Suddenly hunting didn’t sound so beneath him anymore.
Nunley went out small game hunting and the experience immediately captivated him in a way that never happened when he glumly traipsed through the woods on hunting trips as a kid.
“I didn’t think it was ever going to be my thing,” Nunley said about hunting. “It kind of just got me hooked.”
Last October, Nunley finally quit the band for good (although he said he remains good friends with its current members) and began heading to the woods at every chance he could find – after work, on weekends, even taking all his vacation time for hunting trips.
Then last spring, Nunley applied to join the pro staff of Mossy Oak, a camouflage gear company.
The former hunting skeptic is now an ambassador for the Mississippi-based company, appearing at local outdoor shows such as the Virginia Outdoor Sportsmen’s Classic in Salem last weekend to promote gear and espouse the benefits of getting outside.
Nunley also blogs about his love for hunting at tommynunley.blogspot.com and said he hopes to develop a separate Web site in the future that will be dedicated entirely to debunking negative stereotypes and helping people get started in the sport.
In the meantime, he said he welcomes any questions about hunting at tnunley@gmail.com.
Although his day job remains working for J.J. Haines and Co., a wholesale flooring company in Wytheville, the ex-rock star said he’d love to be able to turn his Mossy Oak Pro Staff position into a full-time gig.
In addition to continuing to write online, Nunley said he’s also interested in developing a hunting television show as a long-term goal.
“It’s my meditation I guess,” Nunley said about being out in the woods. “I love being out there. I love watching nature unfold in front of you. You’re sitting there wearing camouflage and you kind of just become part of it.”
While Nunley said he mostly enjoys just getting outside, he added that hunting provides an extra challenge to the experience.
He said he prefers to hunt with a compound bow, which usually requires the hunter to get within 20 to 40 yards of an animal before a shot can be made.
“To get that close to a wild animal is extremely hard,” he said. “That’s the real challenge of it.”
Nunley added that he’s reconnected with some of his old friends through getting back into hunting and has made plenty of new ones as well.
He said he’s especially enjoyed sharing the experience with his dad, Harry, who also had gotten away from the activity.
Whatever Nunley kills he eats himself or donates to a program called Hunters for the Hungry as he said he finds it “disgraceful” not to use the meat.
Being ethical and still enjoying the sporting aspect of hunting actually go hand-in-hand, Nunley said.
“You don’t ever want to just wound an animal and let it run off,” he said, explaining that you want to respect the animal and at the same time not miss out on a prize catch. “It’s very important to me that you honor that animal by making it a good shot.”
Now that Nunley spends his weekends in the woods instead of on stage, he said he can’t imagine a better place to be.
“I think people would be a lot better off if they got back in touch with where they come from and the outdoors,” he said. “It just kind of puts you in your place in the world.”
Nate Hubbard can be reached at 228-6611 or nhubbard@wythenews.com.

My preparation is finally coming together

My off-season preparation is finally coming together, although I feel it’s going to be nowhere near enough and I’m going to have to double my efforts next year. After battling bow and health problems all year long my bow is finally just about dialed in and I’m definitely in better shape than I was last year. I’ve worked hard on my shooting all year but I’ve had so many setbacks that I’m not where I wanted to be. I have my comfort zone for shooting and I got it expanded, but not by much. I have a little over a month left to get super intense with my shooting and I plan on doing it! My fitness level has improved as well but considering the fact that I’ve been exercising “somewhat” steady since February it’s not at all what I wanted it to be. I feel better about the fact that I made the effort to improve this year but it also lets me see just how difficult it is to get where you want to be. I’ll have more on this coming up but as of right now I have to get ready for work.

Wythevile Enterprise

I just got back from an interview with Nate Hubbard of the Wytheville Enterprise! He was a really nice guy and I believe the interview went well! I was a little nervous, as it was my first time doing an interview by myself, and definitely the first time being interviewed about hunting. I was more nervous because I feel that my message about getting in to the outdoors and in to hunting is so important! I think that mankind would be a lot better off if they would get back in touch with nature and this was my first chance to get the message out in print. I guess I had better get used to interviews though as if things go as planned and things take off for me then a lot more people will be wanting to hear what I have to say about the outdoors and hunting. I’m really not in to this for myself but I have to go through this to get out there and fight the good fight! The article is supposed to be out in the Wythe Enterprise and maybe the Bland Messenger this Wednesday, if it doesn’t make that edition then it will be in Saturday’s paper. I hope you all are doing well! Keep on keeping on!

Virginia Outdoor Sportsmen's Classic *Summary*

What can I say about the Virginia Outdoor Sportsmen’s Classic? I guess if I had to sum it up in one word it would be educational… and fun! It was a real pleasure to be at the show representing Mossy Oak, I really learned a lot, met some great people, and had a good time all the while doing my job! The lady who runs the show, Waynette Anderson, and her husband were extremely nice and accommodating people and were a pleasure to work with! Dr. William C. MacCarty III, the Boone and Crockett scorer, provided me with quite an education on scoring deer and was intelligent and forthcoming with his knowledge! I would love to sit down with him some time in the future as he has hunted all over the world, mainly as a bowhunter, and has been a scorer for a long time as well! If you ever run in to the man listen to what he has to say, as he truly knows what he’s talking about! I also finally got to meet Mark Taylor in person as well; he’s the outdoor writer for "The Roanoke Times" and was also very knowledgeable and entertaining as well! Two guys who I really wanted to meet were Team Hale/Ward from Drury Outdoors, I did get to meet them but due to circumstances I really didn’t get to talk to them too much but they are just as nice in person as they seem on TV. I watched a little bit of the auction they were doing for the Catch A Dream foundation and the guys are hilarious as well! I also met more of my fellow Mossy Oak ProStaffers, and Dr. James Vance and Travis Dalton are both great guys who you will certainly be hearing more from in the future! As always my new buddy Cody Altizer and his terrific family were a pleasure to talk with as well! I love running in to them, as they seem to be a really close-knit family and truly good people! Scoring the deer also led me to meet many other quality folks as well and I unfortunately didn’t get many of their names but I’ll remember their faces if I run in to them again and I certainly hope I do! There was not one deer brought in to the show yesterday that wasn’t truly beautiful! The show offered plenty of entertainment as well but due to my work schedule I wasn’t able to catch much of it. I did see a little of the Ultimate Air Dogs show though and these dogs are incredible athletes! I hope to be involved with this show again in the future and I hope to see more of you all out there as well! Have a great rest of your weekend!

First Video Post

This was supposed to go up Tuesday night but I just now got it to upload.

Some more reminders!

Don’t forget about the Virginia Outdoor Sportsmen’s Classic coming up August 22-24! It's going to be an awesome show with lots to do so come on out and check it out! I will be at the "Bucks That Rock" event most of the day so come by and say hello!

Also for you small game hunters rabbit and squirrel season opens up September 6th! As for me I'll probably do a little squirrel hunting but I'll mainly be practicing for archery deer season which opens up on October 4th, I can't wait! I've been practicing a lot and continuing to exercise and get in shape but I'm starting to lose sleep from excitement already, it can't get here quickly enough for me. For more info on hunting dates check out the VDGIF!

Cameron Hanes

For those of you who don't know who Cameron Hanes is got to www.cameronhanes.com and watch his newest video... Dialed In. The dude shoots a better group at 100yds than I do at 20! He is an intense and dedicated hunter who will inspire you to pick up your game, I would about guarantee!

More From Mark Taylor... Virginia Outdoor Sportmen's Classic!

Be sure to check this article and more out in it's original form here.

Salem to host summer outdoor expo

By Mark Taylor


When entrepreneur promoter Waynette Anderson decided to bring a big outdoor expo to the Roanoke Valley last summer, some cynics cringed.

Previous shows hadn't gone over well, albeit those attempts came long ago. Then there was a scheduling conflict with the long-established expo in Richmond, a problem not so much with attracting attendees but for vendors who can be in only one place.

Those thinking this could be a one-and-done scenario were silenced when the Virginia Outdoor Sportsmen's Classic drew nearly 8,000 people and earned solid reviews from sportsmen and vendors.

Anderson put on a winter show this past February, and the summer show returns Aug. 22-24.

The show will be at the Salem Civic Center, whereas the previous two were at the Roanoke Civic Center.

Other than the location change, the general concept for the expo remains intact, with the show offering a mix of gear sellers and seminar speakers.

The show features a number of interesting offerings.

Among them, Virginians Eric Hale and Chris Ward, who shoot videos for the Drury Outdoors team, will conduct a special live auction to benefit the Catch a Dream Foundation.

Anyone who has seen the Drury Outdoors' "Dream Season" TV series knows that participants in the show are asked to raise money for the foundation. Hale and Ward, who also will be giving six seminars throughout the weekend, participated in the series a couple of years ago and were asked back for "Dream Season All Stars," which is being filmed this hunting season and will air starting July 2009.

The auction will be at 4 p.m. on Aug. 23. Ward says items on the block include ATVs, bows and gift certificates.

The show will also feature the Virginia Outdoor Open turkey calling contest, which is being hosted by the Franklin County Longbeards chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

The contest is at 1 p.m. on Aug. 23. The entry fee is $25, and prizes range up to $500 for the winners in the top divisions.

The trophy buck contest has been tweaked. Categories will be offered for bow, muzzleloader and rifle-killed bucks taken last year, with an additional historical category for older trophies.

A number of exhibits will allow sportsmen to put their hands on gear. They include an ATV test track, a 3D archery range, a youth archery range, a youth education area and a fly-casting pond.

The popular jumping water dogs attraction -- this time from Ultimate Air Dogs -- also is back this year.

The indoor bass tank will also be back and provide a venue for fishing-related seminars from the likes of guide Teddy Carr.

Other speakers include coyote hunting expert Tom Bechdel, and Max Rowe and Buck Buchanan of the "Just Killin' Time" TV show on the Sportsman Channel.

Fred Cox of Grand Slam Turkey Calls will talk about making turkey calls; Bobby Edwards of Capture outdoors will discuss quality deer management, while J.C. Hall of Sacred Ground Outdoors will present a how-to on filming hunts. I even managed to wiggle my way on to the speaker schedule to talk about ways to get kids hooked on the outdoors.

Admission to the show is $9, with $2 discount coupons available at Roanoke-area Hardee's. For more information, visit vaoutdoorsportsmensclassic.com.

Big Game Contest in September

The 69th annual Virginia Big Game Contest will be held over two weekends in September, giving hunters a chance to show off their deer, turkey and bear trophies from the past hunting season.

This year the Western Regional will be combined with the state championship. The contest, which is hosted by the Rockingham County chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, will be Sept. 27-28 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds just south of Harrisonburg.

Entries will be accepted starting at 9 a.m. on Sept. 26, with no entries accepted after 2 p.m. on Sept. 27.

For more information on the contest, call John Ritenour at (540) 434-8028.

Turkey, Deer, and a Turtle

Scouting report 8-10-08
I finally had a couple of hours today to put shoe leather and my binoculars to good use! I took a couple of hours to scout some of the public land I’ll be hunting yesterday and it went pretty well! I checked on about 4 of my spots and found really positive sign in two of them, and I ruled out a spot or two as well. I verified some stand spots for different wind directions and I’m really excited for the season to kick in! I still have to talk to some landowners about some private property but I’m feeling good about my National Forest spots. Before I could even get in to the first area I was going to check on I was nearly busted by a flock of Turkeys. I managed to get hid before they took off though and I got to observe them for a while. The neatest thing was the little bitty dudes that were in the flock, so cool to see! Later in the day I was standing by the road and glassing a couple of fields when something told me to look over and to my surprise there was a doe standing right in the middle of the road looking right at me. I smiled at her and we checked each other out for a minute and then she cruised on up the hill. Still later in the day I was checking out another area when I looked down and saw a really neat looking yellow headed turtle that I could kick myself for not taking pictures of. All in all it was a very fun and productive day! There’s nothing like being out in nature and there’s certainly nothing like the excitement of getting ready for this upcoming season!

Bass Pro Shops and Mossy Oak

I had a great time yesterday at the Charlotte NC, Bass Pro Shops Fall Hunting Classic. It was the kick off for my group of the new Mossy Oak ProStaff and it was a pleasure meeting many of my teammates! I have to say though the biggest surprise of the day was the knowledge of the Bass Pro Shops staff. I’ve been in various Bass Pro Shops before and the staff seemed to be able to do there job well, but after working closely all day long with the BPS staff these guys and gals really know what they’re doing and I was really impressed! I had a great time chatting with my fellow teammates and I learned quite a bit from them but it was also a real pleasure talking to the many customers I met! The ProStaff seems to be off to a great start and had very favorable reviews!

It was also nice to meet Kevin Renwick, the Marketing Director of Traditions Muzzleloaders. I’ve been really impressed with Traditions lately and from talking with Kevin the best is yet to come. You’re really going to be hearing more from Traditions in the future and I was already planning on buying one but after talking with Kevin and handling the guns today it will be sooner rather than later! I had to travel three hours each way to the show due to the fact that my babysitter for the day was 30 minutes in the opposite direction but it was easily worth it to do one of the things I love best, talking Mossy Oak and Hunting!

On a related note it seemed I saw more deer out yesterday in all different places than I have ever saw in a single day in my entire life. I’ll have more from my weekend coming up tomorrow but for now I hope you all are enjoying your weekend as much as I am!

PS
Don’t forget about the Virginia Outdoor Sportsmen’s Classic coming up August 22-24!

PPS
Check out my fellow Mossy Oak ProStaffers Cody and Damin Altizer at Obsessing Over The Obsession! I talked with them for a long while yesterday and they and their family are great people and their blog is really informative and well written as well!

RIP Bernie Mac

I had a great day today at the Bass Pro Event and I'll write about it tomorrow, but today we lost a very funny man... RIP Bernie Mac.

Tomorrow is the big day and I can't wait! Hope to see you there!

Bass Pro Shops Fall Hunting Classic

More weekend pics

Some pictures from this weekend!

Bass Pro Shops Fall Hunting Classic 2008

Don't forget the Bass Pro Shops Fall Hunting Classic 2008 kicks off on the 8th! There will be various Mossy Oak ProStaffers in attendance and I will be at the Charlotte NC store on the 9th, see you there!

Another great weekend!

What a cool day yesterday was. First of all we had Harry baptized yesterday and he behaved so well through the whole thing! He was so cute dressed up in his white satin suit that our friend Adam bought for him (pics to follow soon) and he was just an amazing little boy through the whole thing! Afterwards the church was having a homecoming and we all stuffed ourselves on some great home cooking! We then came home and washed our cars a little bit, hung out for a while, and then watched the big WEC event last night! If you don’t have VS channel you really need to get it as they have great hunting shows and the http://www.wec.tv/. The UFC owns the WEC and is the bigger promotion but somehow the WEC has the best fights of all. Almost every single fight is exciting!

Before I forget, on a hunting related note Harry and I cruised some new hunting areas Saturday night and I found what looked to be whitetail heaven! The only thing is I have to obtain some hunting permissions and I’m going to be working on that tonight! I hope you all had a great weekend!

CamoSpace

If you haven't checked out camospace yet you really should! www.camospace.com!

Some recent pics

Great post by Dave Richey!

From Dave Richey...

Your children need you. For many reasons, but one that is near and dear to my heart is to teach them about archery and bow hunting.

Some schools are becoming more involved in target archery, and as a natural extension of that sport, to help children learn about the hunters role in society, why hunting is the preferred way to reduce deer numbers, and to learn the disciplines of being a conservationist and hunter.

Many parents think hunting is solely an adult pastime, and predominately for males. Frankly, that is not true.

Women who take up bow hunting are the fastest growing segment of the minorities. Studies show that more women are coming into the sport by the year. They grow tired of their husband heading off to the woods, and have made a determined effort to learn to hunt.

There are two other segments of society that bow hunting must touch—minorities such as African-Americans, Asians and Latinos, and children. Other studies show that two major groups—African-Americans and Native Americans—belong to the two least interested groups to become involved in archery or bow hunting.

Those who are deeply involved in hunter education believe that if children are not exposed to archery and fishing before they are nine or 10 years old, they probably will never become involved. It’s sad but true.

The children of this generation are beset by many different activities. We know full well about their seeming addiction to television, video games and talking on cell phones. The latter seems to be a status symbol for kids these days, and I can remember 30-35 years ago when my kids were young. They were always on the phone. Back then it was our phone; now it is their phone.

So the problem rests with the parents in determining how to get their boys and girls involved in shooting a bow, and as their age and skills develop, into bow hunting. Sadly, very few parents wish to buy their child a bow that fits them. Instead, they try to make do with one of their older and heavier bows, and it seldom works well.

Fitting a child with a bow is different than outfitting an adult. For one thing, the bows are much smaller and the draw weight is much less than for an adult bow. But, it’s possible to shoot and kill a deer by shooting razor-sharp broadheads on properly spined arrows from a 25-pound draw weight bow. I know several women who pull only 25 to 35 ponds, and they kill deer every year because they can shoot straight and their broadheads are very sharp.

There is a somewhat natural progression for children from target archery to bow hunting. Some never make that jump, and that is fine. Bow hunting doesn’t have to appeal to everyone which is why I don’t bowl or golf.

Getting children involved is difficult and time consuming, and it’s up to the parents to make it fun for kids. An overly critical parent, filled with negative comments, can drive a child away from shooting a bow. The obvious thing is for the child to learn to shoot properly, and to be able to hit the target at 10 to 15 yards. Once they can hit the target on a regular basis, encourage them to hit the bulls-eye, and once they can do that, back them up to 20 yards. Shooting a bow accurately must become a constant challenge.

There are numerous challenges to overcome to become a consistently good shot while bow hunting or shooting targets. Consistency breeds confidence, and confidence makes children more susceptible to continuing to shoot a bow while hunting or target shooting.

I know many people who shoot targets who never hunt, and their joy comes from shooting well-placed arrows. I also know many hunters who shoot targets only enough to become deadly shots.

In the long run, if parents don’t encourage their children in shooting a bow, some day in the future there will be fewer bow manufacturers around to pay the excise tax that is returned to each state (based on hunting license sales) that pay for hunter education and fund many wildlife programs.

This is a complex issue, but it all hinges on parents getting their children involved. If you don’t do it now, who will be your hunting buddy when you get older?

Sadly, it won’t be your kid.

To read this article in it's original format view it here! Be sure to check out Dave Richey as he always writes great articles and he updates daily!