| April 2006 |
Volume 30, Number Two
|
| President | Troy Tafoya | troyt@pds-co.com | (970) 226-4678 |
| Vice President | Stacey Litchfield | staceyl@peakpeak.com | (970) 667-9423 |
| Secretary | Michel Magers | mdmagers@teamconsulting.biz | (970) 481-3903 |
| Treasurer | Rod Albers | ralbers@fcgov.com | (970) 223-4649 |
| Range Director | Phil Buxton | pbuxton1@juno.com | (970) 568-7335 |
| Range Director | Terry Chamberlain | (970) 482-6830 | |
| Range Director | Ron Nelson | ||
| Range Director | Willis Slunaker | ||
| League Director | Tom Kelley | 4tjk@verinet.com | (970) 221-1518 |
| League Director | Jim Litchfield | ||
| League Director | Allen & Elsie Clark | ||
| League Director | Toby Trujillo | ettrjt@comcast.net | (970) 226-6279 |
| Membership Director | Marci Riddle | meriddle@frii.com | (970) 686-9968 |
| Newsletter Editor | Ken Yoder | ken.yoder@colostate.edu | |
| Youth Archery Director | Toby Trujillo | ettrjt@comcast.net | (970) 226-6279 |
| Webmaster | Tom Christian | webmaster@ftcollinsarchery.com | (970) 221-3319 |
My name is Marci Riddle. I have been active with the FCAA for about 4 years, and I have been the Membership Director for 2 years.
I started in Archery about 20 years ago, shot in the indoor winter leagues for a year or two, then got very busy with my kids and archery became a memory. About 5 ½ years ago I got divorced and found myself in search of an activity to fill some of my free time. I started asking Toby Trujillo (a good friend and co-worker) about archery. He was going to shoot in the winter leagues and let me know I was welcome. I decided to get my “old” bow out and go down to Arrow Dynamics to have it worked on and see if I could still shoot. I managed to pick a day that wasn’t too busy, (so as not to embarrass myself), and found out I could still shoot (although I needed lots of practice) and I was hooked. I went to the first night of leagues and almost didn’t go in as I was feeling a little intimidated, but I soon realized that all my worrying was unnecessary. I met so many nice people willing to help and answer questions. That Christmas my gift to myself was a new bow.
As I felt more comfortable, I started shooting in a few of the outdoor events. Archery and the amazing group of archers I continued to meet helped me gain much needed confidence in myself.
I met Andy, who is now my husband. He hunts Muzzleloader season, but continues to support my archery. He introduced me to elk hunting, and we have shared some amazing days while hunting. I have yet to bring home any meat, but I have had some incredible learning experiences, and I continue to be in awe of those creatures. Hunting season has become a quality time for us spent together in the mountains. I have been able to involve some of the youth from my church in an outdoor archery experience with the help of Toby Trujillo and the FCAA, and an indoor archery experience with the help of Arrow Dynamics. It was amazing to watch the enthusiasm of the kids as I shared something that means so much to me.
I have found this to be a great sport, and continue to meet great people. Thank you!!!
Be sure to mark April 22 on your calendar! That is the date of our annual membership shoot. It is open to members only and is a great time to renew your membership. A 3D fun shoot will be offered followed by lunch (provided by the club) and a club meeting. Registration is from 8:30-9:30 with a shotgun start at 10:00. The club officers for this coming year are elected during the meeting so don’t miss it. If you would like to get involved in the club contact Troy Tafoya at troyt@pds-co.com).
After lunch the range will be open until 2:00. There will also be fun shoots and door prizes! Don’t be surprised to find swinging chickens and a “bionic” turkey. The cost is $20 and includes your yearly membership dues (free if you have already renewed). A copy of the membership form is in this newsletter so you can mail it in or fill it out and bring it with you. Don’t wait until Wednesday Night Leagues to join!
May is just around the corner and so are the club’s Wednesday night leagues! They will start May 3rd. Each session will last 4 weeks with the best three scores counted. There is a cash payback for each class. You must be a member to shoot.
Time Change - The first session will start at 6:00 instead of 6:30 due to the sun setting early.
The second and third sessions will start at 6:30 and the fourth session’s start time will be decided later. Last years results, class descriptions and other information can be found on our web site.
By Lou Phillippe
It was the last morning of the caribou hunt. Troy Tafoya and I were still seeking a bull and awoke expecting to see caribou peering into the cabin windows. As predicted, there were caribou visible across the river from camp, but mostly feeding or bedded in very large groups. For a rifle hunter, no problem. Stalking into bow range was another matter.
Troy, Chris, and their guide headed upriver. Troy spotted a large herd on a ridge and asked to stalk them alone. Finding a good ambush spot, he let several marginal bulls pass within 15 yards, but waited for a bigger one. The main herd was trotting past just out of range, but when he attempted to sneak closer, a cow spooked and took the rest with her. One of the bulls he’d already passed-up circled back, and he elected to shoot. A perfect heart shot quickly put the bull down in a pond only 40 yards away.
He spent the rest of the day hunting for a big one, but it was not to be. (Troy’s entire “last day” story will appear in the next newsletter).
Tom Kelley accompanied me on a downriver hunt. Numerous stalks were spoiled by too many eyes, and I passed up a few nice bulls, but not of the caliber I wanted. By mid-afternoon the caribou began moving. From a high ridge, I spotted several thousand staging for a river crossing in a distant basin and we quickly decided to intercept them.
Rounding a corner in the freighter canoe, our path was blocked by a wide swath of ‘bou pouring off the hills and through a funnel, literally pushing each other off small cliffs and into the river. While Tom and our French-Canadian guide Jacques watched and photographed from a distance, I stalked through the low brush and crawled in near the beach. The grunting and splashing of dozens landing every few seconds was loud and raucous. After several hundred had passed my bush, I picked out a big one, led him and swung perfectly, but forgot to pick a spot. The arrow flew cleanly over his back. I scolded myself and waited for a very large bull to land, separate and offer a clear shot. I concentrated on the spot, swung as he walked, and center-punched him. He quickly expired after plunging back into the river. It was the trophy bull I wanted, so I elected not to shoot another. I carefully crawled away to avoid disturbing the migration.
We recovered the bull from the river and returned to camp to fish and share stories. For at least five hours, a continuous wave of caribou crossed within sight of camp, then began again the next morning. It was an event of a lifetime for a big game hunter.
Besides connecting on 10 great caribou, including several record-class bulls, we saw bears and caught Atlantic salmon, lakers and huge brookies on flies. Nighttime skies were filled with the Aurora Borealis. The camp accommodations were comfortable, the food surprisingly good, the guides experienced and friendly, and all agreed this trip is an adventure every bowhunter should experience at least once.