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.

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

Don - it was great seeing you again. Sounds like you had a blast. I remember my first ATA show and I had the same "star struck" thing going on. After awhile the novelty wears off, trust me. Now I just worry more about checking out new products and talking to the people that I know on a more personal level. Guys like Matt, Frank, Greg, Phil, and Pat all over at the Bowtech booth and of course Hunsucker. :D

In any case, I got a few photos of some products posted tonight. I'll get some more photos from Todd and post them up tomorrow. Check them out at http://www.atashowreview.com

If anyone else who was there wants to e-mail me photos and info on any cool new stuff that I don't have, shoot me a PM and we'll talk.

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

Cool Pictures! There is some pretty cool stuff for this year! That turkey skinz is a pretty cool concept.

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

Yeah, and the HNI folks are the ones I really enjoyed talking to. I didn't think the celebs werea "priority" but an inevitable occurance that I, a mere farm boy who in a MILLION years would NEVER had thought would have the opportunity to attend that show, found to be very cool. I didn't even talk to most of them, I understood they were "at work" and didn't need to be bothered.

GMMAT, I will be ordering one of those sights this week, so when I get it in I'll be able to tell you much more about it.

Maybe some of you guys that were there can help me remember the name of the stands, but there was a new fixed position tree stand and climbing sticks there, made out of injection molded poly resin plastic......You have to get over the "plastic tree stand" mentality, but it was actually very cool. Just the way the ladder segments joined together for transport, come in packs of six 3 foot sections, and weighs.....oh man......I can't remember, but not very much. I want to say it was under 10 pounds, and the stand was like.....11 or 12 I think......shoot, i can't remember, but it was light. Anyway, I thought that was a rather nifty idea, but I remember thinking it would be noisy when it gets cold....

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

Did you see Alpine Archery, any thing new and exciting from them?

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

I did see them, but to be honest, I didn't look at them very closely, sorry.

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

Cool, thanks for the report.

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

Thanks for sharing. Sounds like you had a great time.

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

great review, ecspecially the last pic. My smile does not look any more fake than yours ;) Great seeing you again.

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

My co-workers sister is married to Guy Fitzgerald, they live about 12 miles from me. I see that dude all the time.

We were in a bar in Dundee making fun of Dan and his antics about 5 years ago. We were sitting next to his daughter and wife. Big woman boys, I was scared for my life.

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

Really? I was actually thinking he was much smaller than I had him pictured as.

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Ahhemmm...he surely isn't the bestlooking guy that you got a hug from.:D

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I had hired Hunsucker to rough you up, he let me down [&o][8D]

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

No, I got a hug from Keith Riehn too. (heh heh heh) ;););)

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

Haha i have to apologise i was dragging some major ass...

Greg stopped by the first day and i was like a zombie! Im still trying to catch up on my sleep. Maybe next time ill be more into it!

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

Hey mobow,,, Rich sure doesnt look to thrilled about winning a hunt...:D I havent seen him afew years now. I bet it was a great time, Id love to make it to the show sometime.

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

Same thing I was thinking. Looks like he forgot how to smile.

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

LOL, yeah, sometimes I don't know about that guy! When they called his number, he threw me his ticket and told me to go take it, he didn't want it! I was like, DUDE! Go take your hunt man!!

That's just how he rolls, he doesn't like attention. He wasn't real happy about my taking his picture, but Bob and I didn't give him much option....:D

After I started talking about the exposure the shop would get from it, he perked up a little.....He still wants me to go in his place though....

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

Yeah, I remember that about Rich,,,, Id take him up on that,,, heck its a free hunt! In glad you had a good time,, Ill make it someday.

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Dude! Go in his place!!!

OK, now... There's NO WAY you could have come by our booth that many times and not caught either Matt or me!!! [8D]Unless you kept coming by at lunch... ;)That was the only time we were gone, well... except the time our chief design guru asked if I wanted to walk around with him and look at all the new bows. :)

Sorry I missed ya! Make sure you come by ourbooth at either the Illinois or the St. Louis Deer Classics!

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

never heard of him...

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Dude, I SWEAR I walked back there at least 6 times looking for you guys....When I returned home, and looked on HNI, Doug had posted a picture of he and you shaking hands.......I then realized that I DID see you once, I just didn't recognize you w/out the go-tee.... Didn't see Matt or Frank at all.....The last time I was there was Saturday afternoon, and I ran into Justin. He said that Frank and Matt had left already, but he thought you were still there.

I dunno how in the world we missed each other, I had my orange HNI hat on and everything....

Bummer, but I do plan on attending the Illinois classic, tentatively I'll be there Sunday. The guy I was with was getting upset with me for walking ALL THE WAY back to that corner so many times.....LOL........I was a little disappointed, I really wanted to meet up with you guys.....Oh well, hopefully I'll see you next month.

RE: Home from the ATA, my report...
 

yeah, the goatee is an on-again, off-again thing... depending upon my particular mood. I stayed all day Saturday and helped break down the booth. Sorry I didn't spot the hat, but I think I talked to 1,000 people or so, so it was sorta hard to stay on the lookout for anyone... Matt and I did talk about it several times that we were wondering when you were going to come by.