Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

These two bulls will be seen live tonight 2/26 on Outdoor Life Network (OLN). :D



Release Date: For Immediate Release

BowTech Takes Two Bulls by the Horns

Eugene, OR (February 21, 2005) – Adding to its growing association with the Professional Bull Riders, BowTech has entered into a sponsorship agreement with Berger Bucking Bulls to sponsor two bulls on the PBR tour. BowTech’s Toy Tiger and BowTech’s Vertical Force are scheduled to make their BowTech debut this weekend at the PBR Built Ford Tough event in St. Louis.

BowTech’s Toy Tiger is a rising star on the PBR tour, with a current season rating of 22.0 points (out of a possible 25). He has only been ridden three of ten times with an average buckoff time of 4.34 seconds.

BowTech’s Vertical Force is a promising rookie bull on the tour with one out this season at the Worcester, resulting in a ride of 6.10 seconds for PBR favorite, Ross Coleman.

BowTech sees a strategic alignment with Berger Bucking Bulls because fans of the PBR represent a large number of hunting and outdoor enthusiasts. BowTech also sponsors Tony Mendes, currently the #2 rider on the PBR Built Ford Tough Series, Brendon Clark, the Australian who finished in the top 10 in 2004, and five-time world champion bullfighter, Rob Smets. BowTech has also introduced the exclusive PBR Limited Edition bow, of which only 1000 will be produced.

“The Berger Bucking Bull family has gained great respect for their breeding program and has established themselves as the industry leader. Little Yellow Jacket is just one example of the championship quality that the Bergers bring to the field,” stated BowTech’s marketing director, Gene Shands. “The additional exposure of these two ‘athletes’ will continue to bring brand awareness to the PBR fan and we are blessed to have the opportunity.”

“We are real excited to have BowTech as a partner. The bull industry is a tough industry and having sponsors makes it much better. We hope this is the beginning to a long-term relationship” stated Chad Berger of Berger Bucking Bulls.


BowTech, (www.bowtecharchery.com), manufacturer and distributor of the world’s finest compound bows and archery equipment, was founded in 1999 by CEO, John Strasheim, and VP of Research and Development, Kevin Strother. BowTech is the fastest growing bow company in history, increasing in revenue every year since 2000 to become the fourth largest bow company in the world.

© 2005 BowTech

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

If there is anything i can't stand is Bull Riding Horse racing and Dog racing and the Circus.
They use these animals to entertain, make money and for gambling .
These animals get no rest and RESPECT are euantinized when they can't perform..
Gray hounds use to be put down when they could not race fast enough for the wagerers.
I have a beutiful Gray I got through the gray hound rescue .He loves the family.you can see it in his eye's, it saddens me to think what he has been thruogh.
I just can't see doing things to these animals just for our betting habit's.Totally WRONG.
Sorry i am sounding like an anti that i'm NOT.
I just have more respect for the animals.
Sorry bowtech but i just don't condone this kind of enetrtainment it's DISRESPECTFUL TO THESE ANIMALS..
MrBill

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

Yeah, I suppose sinking a hook in a fish's mouth is different huh?

Even though I don't shoot a Bowtech I think it's kind of cool and I'll be sure to watch it tonight.

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

and then it comes home to the freezer!
Not for entertainment or wagering or sale !

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

Bulls are beef and I have some in my freezer;) How bout you?

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

Yep but i didn't have to ride it to death for money or your entertainment
to put it there.

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

If you don't like it then don't watch it! Opinions and attitudes like yours is what's led to the ban of various forms of hunting and trapping, I happen to like the FREEDOM of being able to go hunting, fishing, trapping, to the circus, betting on the races or even riding a bull if I desired, how about you? Or would you rather have our government DICTATE what you can and can't do? GO BOWTECH! GO PBR!

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

Now I see. You think that being raised and slaughtered strictly for food use (shot with hormones and fed a bunch of garbage to get big fast) is o.k.

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

What about pigs? They are raised where they can barely even turn around, let alone run around and play a little. Do you think that is cruel?

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

MrBill,

You obviously don't get out of the city much. You might want to spend some time actually at a rodeo and behind the scenes before you talk about something you know nothing about.

Greyhound racing is a whole other story.

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

Why do some bows have to be advertised more than others? Just a thought

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

Yea for gods sake look at Mathews advertising budget[:o];)

Not to mention Martins T&A advertisment in every single hunting mag I read. Not that I am knocking the advertisment of Martins.... I rather enjoy the ads;)

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

Mr Bill knows nothing of bulls or bull riding.. The stock at the bull riding events are pampered pretty well, both at the events and at home in the pasture. Some of them are worth more than some big name race cars;)

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

yeah, i don't get the bull riding thing mr. bill, bulls are treated pretty dang well. after meeting some rescued greyhounds though, i completely agree with you about that. i don't understand why the dogs have to be treated like that to race. the whole pigs and chickens thing makes me sick also. we raise our own chickens and some people around here raise a few hogs a year and they are all treated very well and have ample room to exercise, play, and forage, which i believe any creature should have.

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

Well I see this thread got a little off base so let me add my .02 cents just to try to clear the air a bit.

Since I get to travel to several of the PBR events each year I've gotten to know many of the people involved with it whether it be riders, bull fighters, other sponsors, CEO's, CFO's, announcers, truck drivers, and yes, the bull stock contractors just to name a few.

I've come to learn that some (most) of these bulls are treated better than a human being in a lot of cases, heck, some of them have their own nutritionists, chiropractors, message therapists, etc.

I can assure you the bull riders get hurt worse and more often than these bulls do.

I'm all about treating animals fairly and don't you think for a minute that if these bulls weren't getting treated well that the Humane Society or such would step in and do something? I mean they are pretty high profile since they're on T.V. all the time and well, I see it on my local news from time to time where the neighborhood dog gets mistreated and the Humane Society steps in to assist the dog, good for them, I own pets too.


I've got a link and text below that explains how the bulls are treated and such and without trying to ruffle any feathers I'd like to ask MrBill, have you seen how many homeless people there are in the world?, have you tried to help one lately? ;)

http://www.pbrnow.com/about/sportinfo/bulls.cfm



The Welfare and Treatment of PBR’s Animal Athletes
Like humans, they come in an array of shapes, sizes and colors, and, also like humans, display their own personalities and menu of talents that make them unique in the world in which they are known. They are professional bull riding’s animals athletes – the incredible bucking bulls that make the sport of bull riding one of the most physically demanding contests on the planet.
The PBR and its members fully understand the value and importance of the bulls used in each PBR competition. Without these outstanding four-legged superstars, neither the PBR nor the sport of bull riding would exist. With this in mind, PBR members, staff and personnel are fully committed to ensuring the much deserved health, safety and respect of each bull that enters a PBR arena. To mistreat a bull would be a detriment to the sport upon which a bull rider’s own livelihood depends. Therefore, the care and treatment of PBR bulls is a top priority to those who govern and/or participate in PBR events.

Following are some frequently asked questions about the welfare of PBR bucking bulls and the equipment used in professional bull riding.


Q: CAN ANY BULL COMPETE IN A PBR EVENT?
A: Definitely not. Saying that any bull is suitable for PBR competition is like saying that any human athlete is fit to compete in the Olympic Games. PBR bulls are the highest caliber bucking bulls in the business. Many are products of elite breeding programs that for years have been fine-tuning the important role genetics play in producing great bucking bulls. A majority of PBR bulls are bred and born to compete in the PBR arena.

Q: WHAT IS THE AVERAGE PBR BULL WORTH?
A: The monetary value of a bucking bull depends greatly upon his proven performance in the arena, however most PBR bulls are worth $10,000 or more. As a PBR bull develops a proven record in the arena, his value increases. Chad Herrington, the 2000 PBR Stock Contractor of the Year, purchased two proven PBR bucking bulls - Blueberry Wine and Red Wolf - for $50,000 each. Berger Bucking Bulls, which owns Little Yellow Jacket, voted best bull of the 2001 Built Ford Tough Series World Championships, turned down a $100,000 offer for the second-generation bucking bull.

Q: WHAT IS THE LIFESPAN FOR A BUCKING BULL?
A: Bucking bulls often live well into their teens, which is considered geriatric for any bull. Though a bucking bull may often be in his prime as an athlete around age 5 or 6, many bulls buck past the age of 10 and, when retired from competition, are used as sires in bucking bull breeding programs. Red Wolf, long considered one of the best bucking bulls in PBR history, was retired in 2000 at age 13. He now lives on a Texas ranch where he is being used in Herrington Cattle Co.’s breeding program.

Q: WHAT MAKES A BULL BUCK?
A: The success of bucking bull breeding programs across North America has proven that genetics is the most prevalent factor is determining a bull’s desire and ability to buck. For years, finding a good bucking bull among a herd of common sale barn bovines was a frustrating matter of chance for any rodeo stock contractor. Why? Because a bull will only buck if he possesses the innate desire and natural instinct to do so. Today, that instinct is being pinpointed through genetics, and the science of breeding great bucking bulls has made the business of owning bucking bulls one that requires money and patience rather than sheer luck.

Q: WHAT IS A FLANK STRAP?
A: As its name suggests, a flank strap is a strap that goes around the flank of a bull. Its purpose is to enhance the natural bucking motion of a bull and to encourage the animal to extend its hind legs when trying to get his rider on the ground. The flank strap never covers or goes around a bull’s genitals, and no sharp or foreign objects are ever placed inside the flank strap to agitate the animal. Furthermore, a flank strap cannot be too tight around the bull’s flank or the bull will be too uncomfortable to perform. Pulling the flank strap too tight would restrict a bull’s motion, resulting in an inferior performance by the bull and quite possibly a reride for the bull rider. The flank strap is designed for quick release and is removed immediately after the bull exits the arena.

Q: WHAT IS A BULL ROPE?
A: The bull rope is what the bull rider hangs on to throughout the ride. It is wrapped around the chest of the bull directly behind the animal’s front legs. At the bottom of the rope hangs a metal bell designed to give the rope some weight so that it will fall off the bull as soon as the rider is bucked off or dismounts the animal. The bell has smooth, rounded edges and does not harm the bull in any way.

Q: DO THE SPURS WORN BY A BULL RIDER CUT OR SCRATCH A BULL?
A: Bull riders wear spurs that are required to have dull, loosely locked rowels (the ìwheel-likeî part of the spur that comes in contact with the animal). The spurs help a rider maintain his balance by giving him added grip with his feet. The spurs do not cut or scratch a bull’s hide, which is seven times thicker than a human’s skin.

Q: HOW MANY MILES DO BULLS TRAVEL ON THE PBR CIRCUIT?
A: The PBR has an extensive network of stock contractors who are located in all parts of North America. This means that in no matter what city a PBR event takes place, the bulls provided for that event will not be hauled an unreasonable distance to get there. For example, West Coast stock contractors like Don Kish (Red Bluff, Calif.) and Julio Moreno (Marysville, Calif.) are likely to provide bulls for PBR events in California and Oregon while Canadian stock contractors Bruce Sunstrom (Cessford, Alberta) and Harvey Northcott (Caroline, Alberta) are likely to supply bulls at PBR events in Canada. Furthermore, the bulls typically arrive at least 24 hours prior to an event, which helps ensure that the bulls are acclimated, rested, well fed and hydrated prior to competition.

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

Oops, I forgot to mention that BowTech's Toy Tiger got ridden for 92 points last night... He had a real good trip...:D

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

I'd like to add also that B.J.Cramps got bucked off BowTech's Verticle Force;) B.J. is one of the top 30 riders in the world also:)

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

Ridden to death??? You can't be serious. I would bet my house that more bulls were killed by lightning last year than ridden to death. You don't like rodeo? Fine. But making accusations like that is WAY out of line and couldn't be further from the truth. Please take the time to read what BowTech Shooter posted and then take up another cause, because neither bullriding nor any other rodeo event needs saving. There are plenty of other legitimate animal treatment problems out there for you to focus on.

I'm not an expert - by any means - but I grew up around livestock and I've worked with the animals at a professional rodeo. They are far from mistreated. Absolutely nothing done to them - before, after, or DURING their event - hurts them.

Your concern for animals is appreciated, but it's just not warranted in this instance.

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

Russ,

It's Kramps with a K ;)

BowTech sponsored riders Tony Mendes and Brendon Clark had good weekends with Brendon Clark coming in 2nd place after riding 3 time World Champion Little Yellow Jacket for 91 points in the short go. Tony just missed the short go by being in 16th place and only the top 15 qualify for another bull.


The BowTech bulls showed their colors this weekend. Both bulls were out Sat. and Sun. with BowTech's Toy Tiger being ridden for a 92 by PBR Rookie Everret Erickson which was the high point ride of the weekend and 87.5 points by Jody Newberry. BowTech's Vertical Force went unridden this weekend bucking off B.J. Kramps and 2004 Rookie of the year Zack Brown.

The object from the bulls perspective is to throw off every rider but when they don't, the object is to get a high point ride as it shows the bull and rider both performed excellent.

RE: Taking the Bull by the Horns...
 

OK,, it's with a K[&:]:D I've got the flue so that's prolly where the C came from[:@]
Pat,, I'll just add that I watched the PBR event last weekend and BowTech's logo was all over the tube!! There was a hand that was helping the riders get settled down on the bulls that was wearing a red shirt with BowTech across the back that was VERY noticeable!! If you watched,, BowTech could be seen at just about anytime in the background.


Great advertizement;)