Home from the ATA, my report...
 

First of all, I apologize for having only 1 picture. I left my memory card at home in the hard drive of the computer......My camera has very little internal memory.

We arrived on Friday, oh, around 1'ish I guess. We split into 2 groups and just walked around a bit. The first thing that caught my eye was the PSE booth/semi truck. They were VERY busy, I assume because of this year's Drury endorsement. Anyway, we wanted to shoot the new Limbsaver bow (which by the way, is pretty friggin sweet) and ran into our very own HNI Justin. Apparently I was easy to find w/ my orange HNI hat on.

From there I went to the Sword booth to look at their line of sights. I'm wanting one for 3D, and after looking them over I will be in contact w/ them to see about our selling them. Very high quality.

The first day was pretty overwhelming for me. It's difficult transition from consumer to consumer/retailer......I had to stop thinking in terms of what I wanted and more in terms of what we could sell at the shop.

I was surprised that ScentLok wasn't there. ScentBlocker was, but no lock. Mathews was a no show as well. For me, part of it was just the experience. I mean, we're in the Hoyt booth talking to our rep and right next to me is T-bone, aka Travis Turner. The Realtree booth was right next door, and suddenly there's Michael Wadell, giving T-bone trouble.I didn't want to bother them, so I just let them be. About then, Lee and Tiffany walked past, about 10 feet from me. Now, first of all......Lee is ONE BIG BOY! Ugh.......And, ya'll think Tiffany is good lookin on TV.......HAHAHA.......you should see her in person......

Just being in close proximity to celebrities like that was amazing for me. It's just not anything I ever figured I would have a chance to do. The first person we saw when we walked in the convention doors were Dan and Guy Fitzgerald.....I got Stan Potts autograph, and other than those already mentioned, I saw; Jackie Bushman, Brooks Johnson, Vicki and Ralph Ciancurilo, Bob Foulkrod, Tom Miranda, and a couple others I can't remember.

I did stop by and talk to Michael Hunsucker.....Dude, you are freakin quiet!! Nice guy though, I enjoyed our visit. But dude.......WHERE'S MY HAT???? LOL

Oh, I also ran into Mindy and Scott Hesterly (onestringer), and what a great bunch of people they are. I was next to the Bowtech booth hoping once again to run into Matt and Greg (never did, by the way) and this lady walks up and shakes my hand.....I'm like, "HUH?" till she said who she was...it was Mindy....VERY nice gal.

Talked to Justin and Todd some more.....We bought 2 new bow presses for the shop and Parker introduced a new Pro Shop ONLYbow, along w/ a youth model. The adult model is the Blackhawk, and I can't remember the youth model's name. But we ordered a few of each. The youth models we will sell very quickly. I shot the Blackhawk, it's pretty nice. A very smooth single cam that's quiet, but it does have some vibration.

Anyway, not much new to speak of really. But man did we have a great time! And oh, by the way...........My shop owner WON A 3 DAY WHITETAIL HUNT W/ BOB FOULKROD!! Was that ever exciting!! That's the only picture I got...Bob is a stand up guy to be sure. We talked to him for quite a while on Saturday.

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

where was this at this year?

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

Good report, Mobow. Sounds like you had a good time.

Never been too star-struck. I'm being honest when I say.....of the people you mentioned.....the one I'd like to have a beer and shoot the **** with......is Brooks Johnson.

I'd like to hear more about that sword sight, sometime.

Thanks for the report, mo....

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

Thanks for the report, I'd like to meet Foulkrod. Great hunter!

By the way, not bringing your memory card gets you .

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

I wouldn't mind meeting Dan and Guy Fitzgerald. Its been a while since I've seen there hunting shows (I don't watch any hardly anymore for good reasons) The Fitzgerald's always seemed like good people if I remember right. Thanks for the info Mobo, sounds like you had fun, thats what its all about!

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

Thought you were stopping by the booth:(

Matt, Greg and I were wondering if we just missed ya...feel like that left out prom date[8D]

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

Dude, I went by the Bowtech booth, no kidding, 6 times looking for you guys. I asked other guys there a couple of times, and ya'll were always off doing something else when I was there.....Just bad timing....I tried man, I really did. I even ran into Justin and Todd one time I was hanging around there.

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

I might have to find a way to get to one of these some day. It sounds like it could be a learning experiance.

Oh and don't EVER forget your memory card again!!

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

Great report mobow.

Like GMMAT, I'm not a star struck guy. I could ignore them completely and concentrate on the products. Meeting HNI guys would have been a higher priority than "celebs" had I been there. Maybe next year. ;)

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

I bet I didn't see half the stuff there. Spent too much time talking to friends. :)

I did get a hug from Fred Eichler. [8D]

There were some neat things there.A lot of "I want that." items. A few "I need that." items too.

I got a new front sight to put on my Hind Sight bow sight. This one has a light on it. Now I fully expect to smoke everybody at TechnoHunt. (not to mention that LadyForge said she'd be my teammate for the league.) ;)

I did pester the Bowtech guys as promised.:)

Justin only got threatened to be killed once as far as I know.