AHAMO ARCHERY CLUB

March 19, 2004
March 2004 Newsletter

CLUB OFFICERS

President:        Dick Sousa     (592-8045)
Vice President:   Bill Lewis     (498-9364)      
Secretary:        Lee Pereksta   (592-3856)
Treasurer:        Dave Holthouse (291-0211)
Trustees:         Ed Rebarich    (345-7608)
                  Steve Murphy   (291-7554)
Sergeant at Arms: John Terfone   (738-1692)
News Editor:      Lee Pereksta   (592-3856)
3D Coordinator:   Chuck Vincent  (733-2792)
VP of Indoor:     John Terfone   (738-1692)

Indoor range phone (734-7272)

Key Dates to Remember

    
    Tuesday Nights: Indoor leagues - 7:00
    April 4 Club Meeting - Indoor Range
    May 16  Outdoor 3D, YMCA camp 245th and Q
             watch for workparty information 
             in the next newsletter. 

March Club Meeting

There were 18 members at the March meeting. The main topic of discussion was the Wahoo shoot. It was one of the larger club meetings we have had, attendance wise, and it went really well. Kudos' to Dick for how the meetings have been running so far this year. There were two new memberships voted in at the meeting.

New members:

Our newest members are Kenneth and Tracey Butler, and Melvin and Carla butler. Welcome to the Ahamo Archery Club.

Wahoo Shoot

A lot was riding on the Wahoo shoot. We rented a building, members made bow racks (thanks Steve), cut rebar (thanks John), donated trucks and trailers (thanks Jesus, Mike, Dick, Steve, Rich, and a special thanks to Joe for the 16 foot truck to haul everything back). The thanks could go on and on... but just so I don’t continue listing names and miss someone - thanks to everyone that helped with the shoot. Thanks for cutting and hauling trees, coordinating with Canfield’s, thanks to Canfield’s for donating the awards, thanks to everyone that participated in the weekly planning meetings, thanks for handing out flyers, helping to set up and tear down, helping with registration and line judging, and for all of the support that was needed before, after, and during the shoot. There is also a special thanks to all of the wives that worked tirelessly planning for and selling the food throughout the shoot.

We ended up with 183 shooters and a number of people that shot twice. We could have handled twice that, but for our first year I think that the set-up went over well enough that all of the shooters will be back next year with friends. Our Club President wrote a special thanks that is printed later in this newsletter.

Next 3D shoot

Our next 3D shoot is our first outdoor shoot of the year. We don’t have anything planned for April, but will be organizing through that month to get ready for the outdoor season. We were given an ok to use the YMCA again this year, so our planning will revolve around that.

Dues Renewal time

If you have not yet paid your dues for 2004 you are in arrears. You will also not be receiving this newsletter. If someone asks you about what it takes to rejoin after the March meeting, rejoining members must pay the regular renewal fee plus the $10.00 initiation fee again. Contact Dave Holthouse with any questions on re-joining.

Newsletter Items

If you are a club member and have an item for sale, send me the information to put in the newsletter. Also, if you have an interesting deer story or any archery tips you would like to share with club members please send them to me for the newsletter.

My Email address is: hunterlee@MSN.com

Pig Hunt News

Some of our members went on a pig hunt to Oklahoma this past month. Since I was one of them, I can report first hand on how it went.

The ranch we went to was set up for archery hunting only. It had some special rules that we were required to follow, that at first seemed a little strict. After following and thinking about those rules though, they actually made the hunt work pretty well. Tree Stand or ground blinds were the only method of hunting permitted, and there were rules about the hours hunters are allowed to scout for stand locations.

One of the other hunters there had brought his young son. He was permitted to hunt with his father - with a blunt. He bounced his arrow off of a deer and a goat. That was a lot of fun for the young archer.

Arrows were marked by the person running the ranch, and we were only allowed 4 arrows for a 4 day hunt. One of the rules stated that a lost arrow is considered a shot pig, thus making everyone extra careful about shooting only sure shots.

At 4:00 each day, someone drove around the ranch with a spreader dropping corn. All kinds of animals came out to feed and it was kind of neat watching them all, and waiting for a chance at a good sized pig.

Jesus Gonzalez was the star hunter this trip, shooting three pigs and one buffalo. John Terfone shot a Goat and a Pig, and Dick Sousa won the award for the biggest pig. Dick Glaseman and I had fun, but are already thinking about strategy changes for next year so we don’t get skunked again.

The most exciting part of the trip was watching Jesus finishing his pig off with a knife. You had to be there to appreciate it. Other exciting moments included the tremendous thunder storm the first day of hunting that hit just as we got into our stands the first night.

Everyone got along well which made the trip very enjoyable. There were plenty of pigs to see, with getting a large pig near to your stand a little bit of a challenge. We also saw buffalo, goats, exotic and white tail deer, and even water buffalo. I was treated one night to a flock of geese landing in a pond I was hunting next to. They swam around the pond for about an hour, and all took off together.

The lodge had two living areas that each had 10 bunks, hot showers, and one main kitchen area with a stove, microwave, sink, pots, pans, silverware, and dishes.

It was a neat set-up and we all had a good time.

A note to club members:

Dick Sousa wrote the following note to club members:

A hardy thanks to all who volunteered their time and effort in helping pull off the largest solo endeavor Ahamo has ever undertaken. The outstanding efforts of all were evident by the constant praise and countless positive comments heard from both the competitors and spectators alike.

It took nearly every club member and then some, to bring this shoot together. Some gave a tremendous amount of time while others gave what they could. But whatever the contribution, it was all needed and well appreciated. Kudos to several non-club members for their help in running lines, tearing down, putting equipment away, and removal of trees. They made our job a lot quicker and easier.

Last but certainly not least, a special thanks to our wives and family members who planned, organized and ran the food concession, and helped tear down the shoot. Their participation and presence not only contributed immensely to the success of the shoot, but also added a family atmosphere that was noticed and commented on by many.

For an initial attempt at a project of this magnitude, with many unknowns and unforeseeable problems, the event was without a doubt a huge success. A success that can’t solely be measured in dollars, but also for putting Ahamo on the map for sponsoring a professional quality shoot and setting the bar at a much higher level for future shoots. Again, thanks to everyone. A job well done by all.

P.O. BOX 460945, Papillion, NE 68046-0945, USA. (402) 596-0505 . webmaster@sportsmansweb.com