Photos & Biographies
SEMINAR SPEAKERS – Michigan 2012
FRED ABBAS
Fred ranks #1 all-time in Michigan for trophy buck entries in the record books, with 49 bucks registered in CBM, Pope & Young, Buckmasters and Longhunters Society record books. Most were taken with bow. He is the only Michigan hunter to officially tag and register four trophy book bucks in one year (1990, the last year to have a four-buck limit in Michigan.) During this feat, Fred spent 88 consecutive days afield. (And still married.) He is the current record holder of Hillsdale County's non-typical bow kill, 183.5 gross.
Fred is well known for developing his own unique deer hunting tactics, all of which he readily shares in his stories and interviews. He has a large following through his informative family oriented outdoor articles and his seminars. Fred is co-host of TV's A-Way Outdoors and author of many how-to deer hunting articles.
TIM ANDRUS
Tim's passion is chasing whitetails with bow, crossbow and rifle this is a 12 month venture for him, planning trips, scouting, food plots, etc. He particularly enjoys the challenge of DIY trips across the Midwest, and West, back country or urban setting. He has hunted in 18 states and four provinces. He lives in snowy western New York State. He is a pro-staffer for several companies.
LES DAVENPORT
A lifelong resident of Illinois, Les has hunted whitetail deer for half a century. His outdoor articles have been featured regularly in the top whitetail magazines for more than 25 years. As an avid archer, he has taken animals on four continents and New Zealand. His two best archery trophies are a 13-point whitetail grossing 204 5/8 and a Kodiak brown bear that ranks top ten in the world. Les' wife, Connie, is also an avid hunter.
Les has been evaluating trail cameras since their conception in the mid-90s. As an independent tester, he pulls no punches when it comes to telling fellow sportsmen about individual brand quality and capability. "Though trail cameras can be a great scouting tool," Les says, "they can be detrimental to success if not properly placed." His seminars will give you the history, best use and future options being considered for trail cameras.
Les will try to answer all your questions about trail cameras at his booth/demo area.
BYRON FERGUSON
Byron, the archery trick shot man, is a spectacularly good archer and an excellent bowhunter. He has performed in the U.S., Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Chile and Japan for crowds up to 50,000. His most nerve-wracking shot was when he put an arrow through the finger stall of a $17,000 diamond ring on Japanese television. He makes regular appearances on outdoor television programs and ‘extreme' sports programs.
Byron proudly bears the honorary Jicarilla Apache name "Tdo-ee-cee-ee", meaning "The one who does not miss".
He has tagged more than 225 whitetails with bow and arrow, several black bear, mule deer, a record-book moose, game birds and countless rough fish. Byron has written "Become The Arrow" book and produced three videos on the same topic.
ART HELIN
What started as small game and deer hunting in his home state of Wisconsin has grown to an obsession to hunt nearly every big game species across North America. Thus far, his adventures have allowed him to take six big game species and four turkey species.
Art's hunting success and passion for hunting spills over into teaching others how to hunt wild turkeys and whitetail deer. Art and his wife, Michelle, have considerable experience in outdoor videography, having filmed for Archer's Choice Media Productions and the Double Bull Archery video series.
Art spends well over 150 days each year hunting, guiding and scouting. To assist him in scouting, he takes advantage of the tools and technology available including aerial and topographical maps and trail cameras. He has planted food plots for years, which started out small and often failing, and now just keep growing and getting better year after year! Art practices woodland management on his 40-acre property and has functioning timber stand improvement and pond projects.
TIM HOOEY
As a young boy of 16, Tim consumed every bit of information he could, in anticipation of his first turkey hunt, which along the high ridges that ran parallel to the picturesque Delaware river where, centuries before him, countless Lenape and Algonquin Indians had trekked upon the same ground in search of Americas native game bird. Back then, wild turkey numbers were great, and the native birds were not as elusive.
The novice hunter stealthily made his way up the mountain through the cloak of darkness. As morning began to peek through, the sound he had been waiting for began to echo off of the towering hemlocks. The sun had risen just above the line of tall red oaks that defined the field's edge. Everything was going as planned! The calls he had practiced for weeks were bringing the bird of his dreams ever closer. The sun now shone iridescently upon the beautiful colored feathers that now glimmered only 17 yards in front of the hedge where the novice hunter had set up.
Suddenly, unexpectedly, the bird ran away, ran away fast! What had gone wrong?
The key to successful turkey hunting is about experience! Tim Hooey will put more than 35 years of it in his seminar. Prepare to take notes.
JIM "LUCKY" MILLER
Jim began his career in companion animals in 1978 with Ralston Purina; began guiding upland hunters all over the Midwest in 1996; became full time gundog trainer in 2003, and opened Countryside Kennels in Bad Axe, MI, in 2005.
He raises six to 10 litters of labs, shorthairs, and English setters per year and has sold dogs all over America, Canada and Mexico. He trains and boards more than 150 dogs per year. His dogs and training techniques have been featured in numerous outdoor television programs, in publications and on radio shows. He raises and trains pointing labs, shed antler dogs, scent detection dogs and assistance dogs, as well as upland flushing and waterfowl dogs.
PAT REEVE
When you talk about someone who has knowledge, skill and has successfully taken more than 70 wild whitetails in his career, you could well be talking about Pat Reeve.
At the age of six he started hunting with his father Keith. His dad's love for whitetail deer hunting soon rubbed off on him and now some thirty years later his love for hunting is even stronger than what it was when he first started.
His outdoor industry career began as a whitetail guide for Tom Indrebo at Bluff Country Outfitters in Buffalo County, Wisconsin; then to freelance videography for Tom Miranda and Hunter's Specialties; then to a full-time field producer/pro-staff spot with Hunter's Specialties; then to producer and co-host of North American Whitetail TV; then to the creation of "Driven TV", his own television show.
After putting over 60 Pope and Young bucks on the wall, Pat thought his hunting career was going well until his greatest accomplishment yet, which was shooting the largest typical whitetail ever, scoring 200" Boone and Crockett, taken by hunter on professional video.
One thing he has learned so far on his journey is that everyday is a new day and life throws you curve balls. Defeat and failure is inevitable, but its how you deal with it that determines and defines success.
NICOLE JONES
Growing up in small town in Illinois, Nicole spent her days in the woods following her dad Jim and two older brothers Zach and Jared. She started going with her dad when she was old enough to walk. There was never a time she can remember that her dad left her at home. It didn't matter what Nicole was doing, whether hunting for that monster whitetail, fishing, mushroom hunting or creeping through the woods looking for squirrels.
After working on North American Whitetail TV, Nicole joined "Driven TV" in 2007. Nicole's favorite part of doing these shows and expos is meeting people. "I love seeing kids faces light up when they come to the booth, because I can see their passion coming out."
Over the last 19 years of hunting she has harvested many beautiful animals, including several Pope and Young whitetails, one Boone & Crockett, an African male lion, Red Stag, Mountain Tahr, and many African species.
TONY SMITH
Tony is a charter member and past president of the Eaton County QDMA branch, and a charter member and past vice president of the state QDMA chapter. He co-founded a local deer management cooperative in Eaton County in 2001 that has been very successful but, more importantly, has spawned the growth of other deer management cooperatives throughout Michigan. Over the last seven-plus years I have traveled the state sharing the benefits of working together with neighbors using QDM principals, and what the benefits to the hunter, land owner, habitat and the deer can be. There are thousands of acres across Michigan that are part of voluntary neighborhood deer management cooperatives. Some of the biggest and most successful co ops to date are within a one-hour drive of the Greater Lansing area.
TECH INFORMATION CENTER – Michigan 2012 |
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| • Face-to-face is a good way to get your questions answered by experts. | ||
MIKE BRUST - MIDWESTERN PREDATOR CALLING & HUNTING
Mike Brust made his first fortune in furs. As an 8-year-year old with a trapline in southeastern Wisconsin, he was the most independently wealthy third-grader in his class. A good skinned and stretched muskrat brought a dollar and mink could bring twenty.
Although a prime red fox netted only about five bucks, young Mike spent more time and effort trying to trap a crafty fox than on everything else combined. Never successful, he spent subsequent years trying to shoot one. This, too, was fruitless until one morning, after following a fox's previous night's wanderings chronicled by tracks in the snow, he came upon said fox curled up sleeping on a snow bank, not a hundred yards ahead. Scarcely able to control his excitement, the young fox hunter dropped to the snow, aligned the scope on his dad's old .222 with the red ball of fur, and squeezed the trigger. Instantly a huge plume of snow erupted in front of the muzzle, and a startled but unscathed fox rocketed to safety.
It was an inauspicious start for a predator hunter, but all those hours afield tracking, studying and trying to outwit these crafty beasts eventually paid off. The obsession continues to this day, and in the almost 50 years since, Mike has learned a lot. He travels to the Dakotas almost every winter and has hunted coyotes in Minnesota, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico, but still spends most of his time hunting the woodlots and fields of his home state of Wisconsin.
While Mike has hunted wild canines by spot-and-stalk and behind dogs, his favorite method is calling. There is little that is more satisfying and exhilarating than bringing a hungry fanged critter right into your lap. Although he started with a single ancient Weems mouth call that can still bring in predators, Mike also employs the latest electronic calls and techniques.
Eastern predators present a challenge to even the best predator hunters. Because their populations are less dense, the habitat more challenging, and they are pursued much harder, some different techniques and strategies can up your odds.
So if you're just starting out or are an experienced caller, Mike's experience and insight will help you become a better predator hunter. He also promises not to use his air-raid siren coyote caller indoors.
MIKE FAW - CLOTHES & FABRICS, FOOTWEAR / OPTICS
As a full-time professional outdoor writer and photographer, Michael D. Faw's written works and images have appeared in numerous hunting and outdoors publications, and on many hunting-focused Web sites. He has hunted big and small game across North America, and in Europe, with rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns and bows
Mike's specialty, however, is hunting gear, with a focus on clothing, rainwear and footwear. In fact, many manufacturers regularly consult Mike when they are thinking about new products, or are releasing a new product. Products range from full rain suits, to hot weather hunting clothing, to socks and boots. If you wear it hunting, chances are strong that Mike had a hand in its development—or refinement of the finished product when it reaches your local store's shelf. His tests have taken him from Mexico to Alaska.
When you look beyond camouflage at the fabric, design, features, or socks and soles for boots, you'll find the answers at Mike's "Hunting Clothing, Fabrics & Footwear" table in the expanded Tech Information Center on the exhibit floor.
DAVE HENDERSON - SLUG GUNS, MUZZLELOADERS / OPTICS
As a hunter, writer, author, hunting guide, taxidermist, gunsmith, shooting competitor and instructor, Dave Henderson has spent his entire adult life in the outdoors. Dave has hunted in 30 states and 10 Canadian provinces, worked as a guide in Idaho and served as a consultant and pro staffer for several shotgun and slug manufacturers.
As a field editor and/or columnist for nearly a dozen national magazines over the years, and a contributor to dozens more, Dave established himself as the preeminent authority on "shotgunning for deer" -- which also happens to be the title of one of his five books. His latest book, the award-winning "Modern Shotgunning", has been called the best ever written on the subject.
Dave has won national and regional awards for writing, television and radio work, taxidermy, rifle and trapshooting.
A lifelong resident of upstate New York, Dave can be reached through his website, www.HendersonOutdoors.com
GARY SEFTON - TURKEY HUNTING
Gary is an expert in deer and wild turkey vocalizations and communications. He is a frequent contributor to Turkey & Turkey Hunting, Turkey Call, Deer & Deer Hunting and other national and regional outdoor publications. He has appeared on nationally syndicated television and radio shows and is featured in several DVD's.
An accomplished competition caller, he was the ‘93/'94 World Deer Calling champion and holds several state and national titles in friction and open turkey calling contests.
He has judged the Grand National Turkey Calling Contest the past 12 years, plus the U.S. Open turkey calling contest and the NRA's $50,000 "Great American Game Calling Challenge" twice.
RON SPOMER - FIREARMS & OPTICS
Writer, photographer and television host (Winchester Whitetail Revolution and others), Ron Spomer has been pursuing, studying, photographing and hunting everything from bunnies to buffalo on six continents for 43 years. He's been published in well over a hundred magazines. You've also probably read more than a few of his articles in American Hunter, Rifle, North American Hunter, Successful Hunter, Sports Afield, Gun Hunter, Sporting Classics, Outdoor Life or dozens of other magazines. or one of his seven published books.
He usually spends 150 to 180 days afield each year. He grew up on farms and in his dad's butcher shop. He paid his way through college by trapping mink, beaver, muskrats, fox, coons, badgers and coyotes. In his early 20s he began stalking game with 35mm cameras and telephoto lenses, selling his images, as well as his stories, to a growing variety of magazines. By 1983 he was freelancing full time and traveling/hunting from Michigan to Alaska. He hasn't stopped yet.
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Spomer has worked as a professional journalist and photographer for 35 years. He has had work published in more than 120 periodicals and books, and is currently the host of Winchester's World of Whitetails and a contributor to 10 outdoor industry publications. Bill McRae is a long-time, and now retired, top quality and highly productive outdoor photo-journalist and former leader of Bushnell's field staff. |
Ron Spomer, seminar speaker and member of the Tech Information Center crew of experts at our Field & Stream Deer & Turkey Expos, was awarded the Bushnell Bill McRae Lifetime Achievement Award at the SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trades) recently. The award recognizes the vast contributions, including mentoring young writers and industry professionals, that Spomer has made to the optics and outdoors industries.
LARRY WISE - ARCHERY
Larry has been a professional competitive archer since 1979 and been on several bow manufacturers' shooting and advisory staffs, and has done design consulting. Since 1978, his professional record shows 38 individual or team 1st Place/Championship titles, 11 2nd Place finishes and nine 3rd or 4th Place. He has coached archery in New Zealand, Australia, Israel and the U.S. He has bowhunted since 1976 and put a handful of whitetails on his den walls. He has given more than 300 "Tuning Your Compound Bow" seminars in 20 states. He has written five books on bow set-up and tuning.
Since 2004, Larry has coached more than 200 individuals privately, written and edited a national archery coaches study course, taught national level coaches courses, written more than 30 magazine articles, coached the U.S. archery team at the 2005 World Indoor Championships (winning 13 medals, including seven golds).
