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That's too bad. They are making it pretty hard...
5/23/12
Brandon, you are correct, it passed. One thing I...
5/23/12
 No draw for me.......but.....Eric..Ill be...
5/23/12
this here is a great bow people...good clean bow...
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great broadhead. i have shot a turkey and...
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About Team DIY

Eric Welsh

It all started when I got my first BB gun; no lizard or bird was safe! I grew to love the outdoors and bow hunting. Thanks to my Dad, I got my first bow when I was fourteen, and in no time went from rabbits to hogs, and eventually to deer and other big game. There are times when I can't make it happen, but that's how we learn and eventually it all pays off.

There is nothing in the world like the feeling I get when I draw my bow on an animal, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. It's not about the kill (which is awesome), it's about being one with nature and seeing all your scouting and practice pay off. I love the animals we hunt, and I will do whatever it takes to promote conservation so that our children will be able to do the same.

 

 

 

Eddy Erautt

As long as I can remember, I have always loved spending time in the outdoors and shooting archery with my dad and two brothers. I started fishing avidly when I was younger, but when I got a couple good buddies who wanted to hunt, I shot my first big game animal and it was all over. Hunting has been an obsession since I was young, but once I turned fifteen it became an addiction.

To me, there is not a better adrenalin rush than having a bow in your hand, a tag in your pocket, and watching a big game animal inch its way closer for a shot. I have to thank my wonderful wife and daughter for putting up with all the hunting and yearlong scouting; I know it couldn't be done without their support. When you love the sport as much as I do, there is no end of season.  When one season ends, it's time to start scouting for the next, even when it's eight months down the road.

All of us as sportsmen need to do all that we can to support what we do and make sure we put back in what we take out. Bow hunters are a dying breed and we are the only ones who can make sure that the tradition lives on, so it is especially important to get the younger generation involved in what we love so much!

 

 Nathan Welsh

Many years ago, my brother and I went to the same pawn shop and got our first bows. He still has his bow, but (unfortunately for me), after a few short months my limb snapped and we were never able to replace it. So for awhile, archery took a back seat for me. Recently, my brother got me back into it and I owe him.

I lead a typical, stressful, white collar life. I work long hours in the office and weekends so, needless to say I don't get much free time. I look forward to my two weeks vacation a year that I spend hunting the West for big game. When I do get an occasional weekend off, there is nothing I love more than sitting twenty feet up in a tree, stress free, enjoying nature, and waiting for a huge black bear to cross my path. I have sky dived, bungee jumped;, cliff jumped; I have even flipped a sports car going 100+ miles per hour, and none of them give you as intense a rush as staring a black bear in the eye and letting an arrow fly. It's more than just an adrenaline high, it's also getting to share these exhilarating moments with your family and friends.

I would be hard pressed to tell you a more fun activity amongst friends than, after a long hunt, to sit around the campfire, cook some back straps, drink one too many tall boys, reminisce, bond, trash talk and B.S. about the day. None of this would have ever been possible if, twenty plus years ago, my old man hadn't dragged me out of bed by bribing me with sprinkle and bear claw donuts, to take me on my first hunt; for that, I will be forever thankful!

 

Albert Quackenbush

 My passion for bow hunting began when I was a wee lad growing up in western NY state. My dad introduced my brother and I to archery and a recurve bow when I was 9. My first compound bow, a BEAR, was a gift from my dad at age 13. The following deer season I used it to bring down my first whitetail buck at only 10 yards. From that moment on I was hooked! I am very thankful that my dad took the time to to teach me how to shoot a bow effectively.

I was taught that quality conservation and good ethics were vital for every hunter. I have always held true to those teachings. I love the outdoors and I want to be in the woods every chance I get. Hunting is part of who I am. I don't 'trophy hunt' for any animal. Any animal I can hunt is a trophy in my book. I hunt because I want meat in my freezer and I love doing it with stick and string. I want to help others by teaching them what I know and also learn more from other bow hunters. I will never claim to know it all and I am always hungry for knowledge.

I have a very understanding wife who knows my obsession with bow hunting is like a drug. I have an addiction! I love my family and will first and foremost be a family man. Hopefully, when my daughter is old enough she'll want to shoot a bow with her old man. If not, I will still be wandering the oak groves and apple orchards in search of my next trophy.

I also write an outdoor blog to share information and my experiences. You can find it at:
http://socalbowhunter.blogspot.com

David Chapman

Harvesting animals with the bow is my business, literally. Running South Dakota's SNS Outfitters of SD, an archery only outfitting business makes my personal hunting time that much more appreciated and scarce. From July through December my days are spent scouting for clients and doing everything I can to help them harvest the animal they want. If I am not scouting I am either preparing a seminar for Cabela's, magazine articles, or gear reviews for companies whose pro staff's I am on such as Badlands Packs, Gold Tip Arrows, Piranha Custom Bowstrings, and now Diybowhunter.com. It is my firm belief that our sport and industry has become saturated with icon's interested in only one thing, dollars. Although I am an outfitter, I do not merely put hunters on animals without also giving them life lessons on game that will help them for the rest of their hunting days. I believe that diybowhunter.com shares the same values as I do as far as helping folks out in order to make them more proficient in the field.

 

JUNIOR TEAM DIY

Kade Smith

Ever since I got my first bow at about age 8, I’ve been fully addicted to bow hunting. Last year, in 2008, I received a letter from azgafd , and I never felt so good as when my archery elk tag arrived. Unfortunately, I did not kill an elk, but I will never forget the feeling when there is a bull of any size screaming 15 yards away.
 
I have been around hunting all my life. My dad is a taxidermist so it is really neat to see all the nice animals come in from time to time. My brother Justin inspired me to hunt; I look up to my brother 100% and always will.
 
My favorite thing to do is be in the outdoors. I have never been the type to play videogames all day. Once you spend a day in the outdoors you will be hooked, anywhere from shooting rabbits with the buddies or taking a camping trip with my father. I will always look up to the outdoors and I hope you do too.
 

Logan Erautt

It all started when my Uncle Eddy asked me to come to Arizona and hunt foxes with him (but of course we did not see any foxes). That week I knew I liked the outdoors. I knew my Uncle Eddy was having a blast. I didn't stop asking my parents for a bow for my 11 birthday. My dad called my Uncle Eddy and set me up with a bow.
 
Logan is new to the sport. A couple months back, he received his bow on his 11th birthday and has been shooting almost every day since; he is becoming a great shooter. He has been going on all our scouting trips in Arizona and is really learning a lot. He smoked this Ram in California. This ram didn't even have a chance! He pin wheeled it at 30 yards, making it his first trophy. We are hoping to get him his first hog real soon and are sure he will only go up from there.
 
 
 
Jared Tippit
Prescott,AZ
 Thanks to my dad and mom I got my first bow for Christmas of 2010. By January 1st I had my first archery kill(javelina). It's all bow hunting from now on! My dad and mom both love the outdoors. My dad is a outfitter here in Arizona so I have been involved with hunting and the outdoors my whole life(all 12 yrs of it). They both taught me that hunting is a privilege and that I always need to respect that. Every year I look forward to helping my dad with glassing and scouting but the best is hanging out in the cedars in the gray light of September when the bulls are on fire. Only one thing better, getting to do that with a bow in my hand. I am also part of the M2D Camo team young guns.
 
 
 
Cy Weaver
Yucaipa, CA
 
I had my first hunting experience when I was two years old.
I've had my first bow since I was four. I got my second bow when I was eight, for Christmas, then I got my PSE Chaos when I turned eleven in June 2010. So thanks to my dad and mom for purchasing those bows for me. When I got the Chaos I was an unbelievable shooter, and always ranked first, second, or third place in all tournaments I entered. And I also took down my first big game animal with a bow in January 2011. I am so happy for all of the achievements I have done.

 

 

DIY FIELD STAFF

Aaron Hartley

Hello just a little about me. I'm 33 years old married with two beautiful daughters. I have been involved in archery for as long as I can remember. I spend most of my free time shooting in archery competitions or anything to be in the great outdoors. whether it is chasing bugling bulls in early September or 3/d shoots in the  summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adam Roemer

I live in west central Illinois. Being a young guy I struggle to balance work, hunting, and college time together. And spend all my available time in the timber. I was raised a turkey hunter, but through the course of the years I grew to love hunting anything with my archery equipment. I was tought that hard work pays off and I've used that to aide me in success in the whitetail woods around home especially. My favorite time of year is not fall when you chase the game, but rather springs spent scouting, shed hunting, and working food plots to improve the next year.
 
My dream is one day to harvest a bear and an archery turkey grand slam.
 
"It is not the size of the game but the size of the memory you take with you."  

 

 

Brett Burrier

I am 30 years old from Ohio. A Husband and proud Father, I cannot wait till my two boys are old enough to start hunting. I am lucky enough to do seasonal work in a family owned buisness, which has always allowed me plenty of time to do what I love. Learning everything I know from my Father and Uncle I started hunting around the age of eight and was hooked for life when I shot my first buck a few years later. My first love is Bowhunting Whitetail deer but also enjoy hunting Waterfowl, Turkey, Predators, and an occasional groundhog or two in the Summer. I proudly support organizations such as the NRA, NWTF, DU, and am also an official measurer for Ohios Buckeye Big Buck Club. When im not working or hunting I enjoy being with my family and friends, sports, golfing, and a good country music concert.

 

 

Corey Paulsen

I live on the Wetside of Washington State. Washington is not known for producing a lot of trophy animals, but we do have a variety of great animals to hunt.  I am passionate about hunting Blacktail deer, Roosevelt Elk and Mule Deer.  I have been fortunate enough to also hunt Utah and Idaho for elk and mule deer. Hunting is more than an activity or a season for me.  As soon as one season ends the next one begins.  I believe that hunting and specifically archery hunting is a form of therapy.  The is no greater rush than being successful with a bow.  Success is not measured by the antler size!  I enjoy the story just as much as the sight of a great trophy.  I am lucky to work for a company that is in the archery industry.  Everyday I learn something new and I can't wait to see what the next day has in store. 

I shoot a LimbSaver Proton at 67lbs.  I use a all LimbSaver products.  LimbSaver Fall-a-way rest.  LimbSaver Prism sight with the mover pin.  LimbSaver Modular stabilizer. TightSpot Quiver.  Victory VForce and VAP Arrows.  Trophy Taker Shuttle T broadheads. 

 

 

David Chapman

David is from North Eastern South Dakota, and lives to hunt and help people take the animal of their dreams. As owner and head guide of South Dakota's premier archery hunting outfitter, his season never ends. From turkey season, to summer scouting and right into the August archery antelope season, hunting is his life. Luckily for David, he has a supportive fiance, whom has taken up archery this year herself. With a strong upbringing and emphasis on the outdoors, he is lucky to have found his true calling and make a living doing so. 

 

 

 

 

Dustin Jones

I have been a bow hunter since I was old enough to possess a hunting license. I still remember how excited I was being woken up before sunrise knowing that my dad was taking me hunting. At a very young age my dad introduced me to hunting and I have been addicted ever since. He instilled his values on us and taught us all that I know about hunting which I plan to teach to my kids as well. I am continually seeking to be better and gain more knowledge so this is a great place to learn from others.
 
I consider myself to be a weekend warrior. I work hard throughout the week so I can play even harder on the weekend. I have a beautiful family who takes priority over everything and it is one of the greatest feelings to come home and share my hunting experiences with them. Any chance that I get to be out in the outdoors, I take full advantage of.
 
I come from a family who hunts to put meat in the freezer. There is more of a rush and sense of accomplishment harvesting an animal with archery equipment. I want these same opportunities for my children as well as the many generations to come, which is why we must strive to do our part to practice conservation so this tradition can carry on.

 

 

Eric Baler

 

When I was a kid, we only had two channels on TV, and the only hunting show available was on at 4:00 am Saturday morning. So on Saturday morning, when most other kids were sleeping in, I woke up early just to watch and became intrigued with bow hunting. For the next few years, all I ever asked for or wanted for any birthday, Christmas, or present was a bow. When I was 13 my parents finally gave into my pestering and bought me my first one; a Bear Whitetail 2 which still hangs on my bow rack. I was the first and only bow hunter in my family or circle of friends. With no one around who could share anything about archery or bow hunting, the term DIY was very real to me. I pored over every magazine, TV show, and anything else I could find. I spent countless hours with bow in hand and taught myself everything I know about archery; from being able to run a pro shop to tagging over thirty Pope and Young animals. My love of archery has grown from enjoying shooting in the backyard to hardcore backcountry hunting expeditions.
 
There is no better feeling or way to describe bow hunting. Nothing compares to shouldering a 50lb pack and heading to the backcountry to watch all your hard work scouting, practicing, exercising, and paying attention to details pay off big with a Pope and Young animal on your pack headed out with you.

 

 

Faron Hembree

I have been a hunter for as long as I can remember.  Growing up on a farm in rural SW Missouri really kept my opportunities to hunt constant. My father took myself and my 2 brothers hunting a lot and taught us to be ethical hunters as well as conservationist.  We all participated in archery shoots at our church and I shot in the state archery competition when I was in the 7th grade.  I became Hunter Education certified when I was 10 years old and my father let me start carrying a rifle to deer hunt with.  When I was 12 years old, I harvested my first whitetail doe with a 30-30 rifle.  The next year I shot a doe with my bow and I have been hooked on bow hunting every since.  Bow hunting whitetail deer is my passion and I can hardly wait for September to roll around every year. 
I believe that ethical hunters are the most vital resource available to maintain a healthy wildlife population.  I love to hunt and I enjoy teaching others the safe/ethical way to hunt. God Bless and See you in the woods!

 

 

Greg Miller

As a young boy I wasn’t exposed to hunting as much as I could have been. My father wasn’t around much when I was growing up, he spent much of his life battling drug & alcohol addictions. I’m making sure I don’t make those same mistakes. The only addictions I have are good ones, my family & bow hunting. So almost everything I’ve learned about hunting I’ve learned on my own. I’ve hunted Elk, Mule Deer, Antelope, Black Bear, Whitetail Deer and Turkey. But my main focus is on Whitetails & Turkeys. Someday I hope to have the chance to hunt in Africa.
Currently I work in the hunting department of a local sporting goods store. On the side I'm a Regional Pro Staff Member & Manager for Mossy Oak camo and a Regional Pro Staff Member & Manager for Montana Decoy. I’m also Pro Staff member for PSE Archery, Ameristep, EZ Access Gear, Dan & Guy Fitzgerald's "Team Fitzgerald" & now a proud Field Staff member for DIYbowhunting. A few of years ago I took it upon myself to get certified for the National Archery in the Schools Program (N.A.S.P.) as an instructor. Along with that I’ve been through George Chapman’s Archery Technical School & Archery Shooters School. George was one of only 10 Master Archery Instructors in the world and the former head instructor at the PSE Archery School.
I love to shoot 3-D archery with my daughter. The time we spend together whether it’s at the archery range or in the woods is simply priceless to me. When it comes to hunting I do use other weapons like shotgun, rifle & muzzleloader, but the compound bow will always be my weapon of choice.  

 

 

Joel Pile

There is nowhere on earth more peaceful than the great outdoors.  My most cherished childhood memories all surround time spent outdoors with my dad and grandpa.  Hunting, camping and fishing have always been a way of life for me.  I am blessed to spend between 180 to 200 days a year immersed in the outdoor experience.  Bow hunting is my true passion, as a young Boy Scout my favorite merit badge was archery.  At scout camp, my troop leaders always had to drag me from the archery range to participate in the other activities.  I believe we become better hunters through experience and sharing the acquired knowledge with one another.  I am certainly no expert, but I have made enough mistakes, all the time learning from those mistakes and eventually found some level of success.  My job with Team DIY is to help others learn from my experiences, so they may also find success.  I also believe it’s our responsibility to instill solid outdoor ethics and education with our youth, so this great hunting heritage may be passed to the next generation.

Today, life is all about spending time outdoors with friends and family making new memories.  The thrill of a new DIY adventure or spending time with my boy Benjamin outdoors is my “Rocky Mountain High”.  You can follow our adventures on my blog at: http://www.joelpile.blogspot.com.                  

 

 

Rusty Silva

My name is Rusty Silva and I'm a hardcore avid bowhunter . I started hunting with a bow about 8 years ago and haven't looked back ! I love to hunt, team rope, play golf and go to 3D shoots . I have a small outfitting business and welding business so being self employeed allows me to hunt as much as I can afford .
 
Ever since I can remember I have gone out hunting by myself as much as possible and love it ! Bowhunting is pretty challenging and then you throw DIY on top of that and it just doesn't get any better than that in my book . This year I have added another challenge to my DIY hunts....filming them myself . I hope in the near future to be able to share my hunts with my fellow bowhunters and look forward to getting to know everybody in the DIY Bowhunter community .
 
Good luck to everybody this bowhunting season !!