Remington's The Buck Stops Here with Mike Hanback

Mike Hanback's new show premiers tomorrow on the VS. Network. Mike is a great guy, a fellow blogger, user of Twitter and Facebook, and of course a great hunter and TV host. Check out his new show tomorrow and let him know what you think!

Free NRA Memberships!

From Michael Waddell's blog...
The NRA is giving FREE 1-yr memberships to everyone who wants to join.

They are trying to build up their membership to fight pending legislation that impacts our right to keep and bear arms.
It is very important that anti-gun congressmen see how many people they will have to fight to get their legislation through.

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!

This can include spouses and children also
https://www.nrahq.org/nrabonus/accept-membership.asp

SIGN UP TODAY!! It only takes 2 minutes.

I have already done this and it is legit! Please take the time to register, it is quick and easy!

Upcoming Outdoor Shows *Updated*

I've found another great outdoor show that I, and other Mossy Oak ProStaffers, will be attending. Coming up February 20 - 22 The Greater Virginia Sports and Big Game Show is sure to be a blast! It will be at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds in Harrisonburg VA. Come out and have a great time with us!

I also want to give everyone a heads up about a great show coming up Feb 27 - Mar 1, 2009 in Fisherville VA. The show is the Western Virginia Sports Show and it's going to be great! The show features a lot of top pros such as Ronnie "Cuz" Strickland, Paul Butski, Lee and Tiffany, and much more! There will also be various members of the Mossy Oak ProStaff on hand so come on out and have a great time celebrating hunting and the outdoors with us!

Upcoming Outdoor Show in Fisherville VA

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up about a great show coming up Feb 27 - Mar 1, 2009 in Fisherville VA. The show is the Western Virginia Sports Show and it's going to be great! The show features a lot of top pros such as Ronnie "Cuz" Strickland, Paul Butski, Lee and Tiffany, and much more! There will also be various members of the Mossy Oak ProStaff on hand so come on out and have a great time celebrating hunting and the outdoors with us!

New Blog Format

I’ve decided to change the format of my blog a little. I’ve been thinking about what my goals for this were and I don’t think I’ve quite been accomplishing them. I started this as a way to not only track myself as I grew as a hunter, outdoorsman, father, and person, but also to help others learn some things along the way as well. Too often we, myself included, get caught up in all we see on TV and think that we should all be experts and trophy hunters. While I’m sure some of you are, most of us are not. It takes a long time, and a lot of work, to get to “expert level” for most people. Despite my wishes, it’s certainly looking like it’s going to take me a long time to reach that level as well. However, the thing to remember is there is no shame in that. Most of us don’t live in prime trophy habitat anyway and to get caught up in that and not enjoy hunting should be a crime. If you don’t hunt because you enjoy it then maybe it’s time to find a new hobby. No one will enjoy every hunt, and part of why a lot of us love it is for the challenge, but my biggest message to anyone would be to go in to the woods and have a good time enjoying God’s great creation!

I’ve gotten caught up in trying to go from amateur to professional myself and have not been to forthcoming with my shortcomings! From now on though I’m going “TO TRY” to start posting all of my hunts, scouting trips, and everything associated with my efforts. I’m going to give everyone a backstage pass to the effort that goes in to trying to become the best hunter that you can be. I’m going to post all of my blunders and my successes. If the hunts go well there will be more details but when they don’t, unless I learn an important lesson, then they will only be long enough to give out the pertinent information. I hope all of you enjoy what I have upcoming and learn along with me! Please let me know how you like this as things progress!

Chinese Democracy!!!!!!!

Wow! I know this album comes out Sunday, and mine has been preordered since the day it became available, but I found it leaked today and couldn’t resist giving it a listen. This CD is freakin’ awesome! Was it worth the 350,000-year wait that Axl put us through? No. Is it as good as Appetite? No. Is it a brilliant and enjoyable album in its own right? YES! It is not what traditionalists will expect from GNR but if you give it a listen with an open mind I think you’ll find that you love and will be rocking it out for a long while! Well done Axl!

PS

Next time you really don’t have to wait so long, we’ll all be dead by the time a new one comes out if you do.

Abingdon VA's Hunting & Fishing Expo...

Don't forget to come out this Saturday and Sunday for the Hunting & Fishing Expo! It's packed will cool things for hunters and fishers, and for young and old! See you there!

Hunting and Fishing Expo Abingdon, VA

Be making your plans now to attend the Hunting and Fishing Expo in Abingdon VA September 20th and 21st! It's going to be a great time and I will be there along with Travis Dalton, a fellow Mossy Oak ProStaffer, running a kids archery game! If you have kids be sure to bring them out as there will be plenty for them to do and see.

Also, don't forget to be practicing and getting all of your gear ready as bow season will be here SOON!

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Reception & Hunters For The Hungry Banquet

Here are two new events I just got emailed about. I don't think I'll be able to attend but I thought I would pass the info on to you all as they sound like a great time!

The Blue Ridge Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is holding a Conservation Reception this Friday evening at Ashley Plantation. This is a wonderful chance for you to learn about the organization and how you can help to preserve our wildlife and land. It's also a chance to meet some wonderful people who love the outdoors just like you.

The Reception will start at 6pm this Friday (9/5) at Ashley Plantation. Tickets are $30 for individuals, $50 for couples, and $10 for kids. Ashley Plantation will be catering heavy hors D'oeuvres. For more information about the RMEF or to purchase tickets to the September conservation reception, call Brandy Vassar at 556-6998 or 992-2172.


Hunters for the Hungry Banquet

A Sportsmen's banquet to benefit Hunters for the Hungry will take place on Saturday September 27, 2008 at Dave Sarmadi Mitsubishi in Salem, VA. The event will include dinner, dessert, and beverages, a variety of raffles as well as live and silent auctions of donated merchandise. Ticket prices are as follows: $20.00 Single; $35.00 Per Couple; Children 12 and under eat for FREE. For tickets or other information contact Jeff Fletcher (540)985-6523 or Fred & Phyllis Wells (540) 992-3874. Other entertainment includes trick archery by Byron Tabor, Bob Duncan of the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries and a kids activity area.

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!

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!

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.

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

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!

Women in the Outdoors Event

Women in the Outdoors Event

Saturday, July 26, 2008
Bastian, VA

NWTF Bland County Many Beards Chapter and VDGIF have teamed up to offer a Women in the Outdoors day at Camp Roland in Bastian, VA. If you are interested in learning new outdoor skills, meeting others with similar interests and spending time with friends and family, then this event is for you! Some of the 2 hour classes offered include: Outdoor Cooking, Archery, Outdoor Photography, Stream Fishing, Rifle & Pistol to name a few. Please look at the attached brochure for more information and registration forms. This workshop is designed for women 14 years of age and older. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a registered adult.. For more information, contact Amy Hancock at 276-682-3777 or amy@blandvanwtf.com.

The Virginia Outdoor Sportsman's Classic

The Virginia Outdoor Sportsman's Classic summer edition is coming up soon! The show will be at the Salem Civic Center and will feature, The Ultimate Air Dogs,an ATV test track, a 3D archery range and competition, an RV Experience area, a fly casting pond, lots of vendors, a turkey calling competition, and much more. The show will run from August 22 thru August 24! Be sure to check it out!

June 16, 2008 Mossy Oak Prostaff and General Updates

I’m still putting some things together for the Mossy Oak ProStaff position and we’re still waiting for our ProStaff packages to come in (shirts, stickers etc) but I’m so pumped to get this thing going! Right now my first scheduled promotion is at the Bass Pro Shop in Concord NC on August 9th! I can’t wait to get out and meet my new teammates and help out a great company! I hope some of you will make it out as well! Talking hunting is one of my favorite things to do so feel free to hit me up on email anytime at tnunley@gmail.com. I don’t know about you but not having anything in season is getting old quick. I’ll be glad when I can at least chase after those bushy tailed squirrels!

Oh well, during the “off-season” I’m taking all the time I can to hang out with my family, get some things done around the house, and get some rest. I hope you and yours are doing well, talk to you soon!

PS
If you know of any events in the area that need presence from Mossy Oak please let me know. tnunley@gmail.com

Happy Fathers Day!

This is my first Fathers Day and it feels really great! I love being a Dad and I love my little boy! I hope all of you other Fathers out there are having a great day as well!