Summer Camp June 9th- July 15th

The 2012 Family Summer Camp Event is geared to offer families a way to spend an enjoyable summer together with free crafts, interactive displays and outdoor skill workshops, in an atmosphere much like the summer camps many of us attended as a kid ourselves.

Bass pro shops will be presenting the following

• FREE Shooting Gallery
• FREE Archery Shooting Range
• FREE Fishing Pole Casting Challenge
• FREE Crafts!! – like the ones you used to make in summer camp – custom leather crafting, painting a bear track mold, painting a wiggle snake, decorating a seedling pot, creating your own Catch-A-Fish game, painting a birdhouse… a different craft activity each Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday through the event dates. While supplies last
• FREE photos Saturdays and Sundays – enjoy getting a picture of the kids or the whole family made in front of an outdoors backdrop
• FREE S’mores each Saturday, 6:00 – 7:00 pm.

Workshop Schedules:

Presentations are geared for kids 8-12

Get a FREE lanyard at your child's first workshop. After completion of the workshops your child will receive a unique pin for their lanyard.

A view downrange during the 3d Archery Shoot!

We are super excited to finally give you all the details for the 704 Outdoors/Bass Pro Shops 3D Pop Up Archery Shootout Series! Here they are:

• There are 4 classes: Men’s Class, Women’s Class, Traditional Class and Youth Class
• Registration starts at 9am. Cut off for registration is 8pm, however we will shoot until the last shooter has completed their session.
• Registration is $10 per session (You can shoot as many sessions as you want to better your score)
• There are 2 rounds within each session, the first round with consist of five 3D Pop Up targets and the second will have 5 3D Pop Up targets with one stationary target. The stationary target must be shot sometime after the first 3D target pops up but before the last 3D target falls.
• It is an indoor range, all shots are within 20yds.

The prizes for each shoot will be announced before each shootout. We are getting different prizes from different sponsors so they will not be the same each shootout! Keep checking in to see what prizes are going to be awarded the Friday before each shootout! As for the Grand Prizes, you MUST attend 2 of the 3 regular Shootout Series before the Championship Shootout in order to be eligible for the Grand Prizes. The Grand Prizes for the 704 Outdoors/Bass Pro Shops 3D Pop Up Archery Shootout Series are:

Option one for Men’s, Women’s & Traditional Class:
Georgia Hog Hunt with 704 Outdoor’s Hog Dogs! We will take care of your permits, licenses, food and all! You will get to hunt with us, using our Hog Dogs. We will take care of everything you need for the trip.

Option two for Men’s, Women’s & Traditional Class:
3 Day North Carolina Archery Deer Hunt with 704 Outdoors. We’ll take care of your food and lodging while you get to hunt with us in some of our hot spots here in NC! Dates to be worked out with the winner of the Championship.

Option three for Men’s, Women’s & Traditional Class:
3 Day North Carolina Archery Hog Hunt with 704 Outdoors. We’ll take care of your food and lodging while you get to hunt with us in some of our hog sites here in NC! We will furnish all the lights, bait and gear needed to lower the boom on a nice NC Wild Hog! Dates to be worked out with the winner of the Championship.

Youth Class Grand Prize
NC Youth Turkey Hunt with 704 Outdoors. We will take you and your guardian on a youth turkey hunt. We will take care of the food, lodging and transportation to and from the places we will run & gun those thunder chickens!

Check out these great pics from the first leg of the shootout!

The crowd gathers to watch outside the range.

A nice shot on the turkey target!

For more info on the shootouts and some awesome video check out 704 Outdoors Website

Like us on Facebook for more info!

Memphis, Tennessee-(June 21, 2012)-- Bass Pro Shops representatives and officials from the City of Memphis held a “Construction Kick-Off”  ceremony, Thursday, June 21st, to mark the official beginning of construction on the new Bass Pro Shops retail store in Memphis, Tennessee.   Officials attending the event included Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, legendary angler and television host Bill Dance, Memphis Mayor AC Wharton and other city officials.

The store will be located inside the famous Memphis Pyramid-- former sports arena for the University of Memphis men’s basketball program and the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. 

At 321 feet tall (about 32 stories) it’s considered to be the seventh largest pyramid in the world.  The new  Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World retail space will be approximately 220,000 square feet.

“I remember trying to make up my mind about putting our store in the Pyramid,” said Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny Morris.  “I was on the Mississippi River fishing with my buddies Bill Dance and Jack Emmitt and said if we catch a big catfish it’s meant to be—it’s an omen.  Sure enough, with about one hour to go, Jack got a bite and caught this catfish in the shadow of the Pyramid and I said it’s a deal—we’re gonna do it!” laughed Morris.

“We are all excited to have a chance to use this incredible space to create one of the most visually unique and exciting retail stores in the world,” said Morris.  “We have assembled a team of remarkably talented artists and craftsmen to work on this project.  We believe it’ll be one of the most dramatic retail stores ever created,” he continued.

“When you’re fishing or hunting, you often have to be patient.  But the wait is almost always worth the while,” said Mayor A C Wharton, Jr. “We’re so pleased that Bass Pro Shops and Johnny Morris had a vision for what the Pyramid could be. They are taking an empty building, one that even at the height of its life wasn’t used every day, and turning it into a hunting, fishing and sporting paradise.”

Features unique to the Bass Pro Shops Memphis Pyramid store include a floating dock, an island, an aviary and zip line stations.  The company is also planning a 3-story hotel that will offer balconies allowing guests to step out and view the store, nature scapes and giant cypress trees swamp area below.

Another key feature of the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid store will be a Waterfowl Museum as a salute to Ducks Unlimited.  “We’re particularly  excited to partner with DU President Dale Hall and all the members of  Ducks Unlimited to celebrate the proud history and good work they do,” said Morris.  “We will utilize the unique retail environment we’re creating to celebrate the Delta Flyway and make this store the Waterfowl Center for the whole company.”

“I know that this is just the beginning of a long relationship with Memphis that will highlight the importance of the Mississippi River and, from our point of view, the tremendous Mississippi Flyway for migratory birds and the economy driven by hunters and bird watchers,” said Dale Hall, Ducks Unlimited CEO.  “The advancement of natural resource conservation and economic growth go hand in hand,” he continued.

Bass Pro Shops visitors will be able to purchase most everything they need while visiting and enjoying the many outdoor opportunities in the Memphis and Mississippi River area by shopping selections of fishing, hunting, camping and marine items, and visiting clothing, gift and footwear departments. 

Regarded as part museum, art gallery, education, conservation and entertainment center, the new Memphis Bass Pro Shops store will offer the same signature features of other Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World stores.  However, as typical in stores in other geographic locations, this newest Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World will be uniquely designed to pick up the local flavor of the area’s outdoor heritage and will include state record fish and wildlife exhibits as well as historical pictures and artifacts from local hunters and fishermen. 

The store will offer an archery range, shooting range, rifle tube and a fun laser arcade for kids of all ages.  A uniquely designed 24,000-gallon aquarium will showcase native fish Tennesseans love to catch while a boat showroom will featuring Tracker, Nitro, Tahoe and Mako boats all built by Tracker Marine Group—the world’s largest manufacturer of fishing boats. 

Three-dimensional, museum-quality wildlife dioramas will feature animals such as deer, wild hogs, turkeys and more that will immerse each guest in the abundant bounty of this area.  In the fishing department, murals will engulf the viewer in dramatic, historic Mississippi River scenes capturing the beauty of the area and showcasing record catches from the area.

This store will also feature the much- acclaimed Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl and Grill. This nearly 27,000-square-foot nautical-themed entity, located within the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World store, features a truly unique atmosphere and design geared for family fun and dining. 

Offering an outside as well as an in-store entrance, visitors will approach a wooden ship-like desk to obtain shoes and a lane.  Sixteen lanes, divided into two separate areas, offer customers the chance to bowl ‘in the ocean.’  Dock wood lanes feature beautiful under-water scenery of sea turtles, sharks, stingrays and other saltwater species which will also glow in the dark during cosmic bowling.  Hand-painted murals depicting oceanic life line the walls and fish hang suspended from the ceiling.  At the end of the lanes, huge TV projection screens allow viewing of sporting events.

Ball returns resemble sharks and alligators while the bowling balls themselves are custom made and bear the likeness of shark, seagulls, bobbers, octopus, leopards, mermaids, camouflage and more. 

Casual family dining will be available in the Grill where customers can select from a menu featuring a variety of appetizers, sandwiches, salads and burgers.   An island-theme bar area will feature a 750-gallon aquarium with scores of beautiful, exotic fish. 

Recognized many times for their conservation efforts and outdoor education programs, Bass Pro Shops will staff approximately 200 – 250 plus associates from the area that have a passion for the outdoors so customers will be assured of getting local skilled, knowledgeable assistance with product selections and questions.  The store will also offer free Outdoor Skills Workshops for adults, kids and families that will help maximize outdoor fun by teaching new skills and improving existing ones.

“Our company has won more awards for our conservation efforts than any other outdoor retailer in America,” commented Director of Conservation for Bass Pro Shops Martin Mac Donald.  “Bass Pro Shops’ commitment to environmental stewardship will be evident in every aspect of the Memphis site design to the interior of the store and especially in our community involvement where we will work with local conservation efforts to help preserve our outdoor traditions for future generations.”

"Its pretty cool to have this new store so close to North Carolina! For all Bass Pro enthusiast this one will be a must see!" ~ Matthew Holland

About Bass Pro Shops®:
Bass Pro Shops® operates 58 retail stores in 26 states and Canada visited by over 112 million people annually.  Bass Pro Shops® also conducts an international catalog and internet retailing operation—the American Rod & Gun® wholesale division--which sells to more than 7,000 independently owned retail stores worldwide.  Outdoor World® Incentives also sells Bass Pro Shops® gift cards through over 132,000 retail outlets across America.  The Bass Pro Shops® restaurant division has 28 locations.  The company’s Tracker Marine Group® (www.trackerboats.com) manufactures and sells Tracker®, Nitro®, SunTracker®, Tahoe®, Grizzly® and Mako® boats through Bass Pro Shops® retail stores and over 400 dealers worldwide.  The Resort Group (www.bigcedar.com) includes Big Cedar Lodge® and other resort properties including restaurants and golf courses. For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops® store locations, products or special events, please visit www.basspro.com.  To request a free catalog, call 1-800-BASS PRO.  Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/bassproshops.
 

During these very hot days of Summer, come cool off in our store and join us for our "free" Family Summer Camp! All activities are geared towards family interaction!

Tuesdays and Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 1-5pm
Shooting Arcade, Carousel, Casting Targets
Free Archery Range (1:00 pm – 5:00 pm) Soft Nerf Bows, BB/Air Gun (1:00 pm – 5:00 pm)
Free Photo - Weekends only (downloadable on your own computer)
Free S'mores - Saturday's only

Once again we will have our workshops:
Tuesdays and Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays
Workshop Schedule

Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00-5:00pm
Tuesday seminar schedule –
1:00 Dogs in the Outdoors (sponsored by SportDOG)
2:00 Archery (sponsored by Bear Archery)
3:00 Wildlife Exploration
4:00 Camping (sponsored by Coleman)
5:00 Exploring Hunting & Shooting (sponsored by Daisy)

Thursday seminar schedule –
1:00 Outdoor Discovery & Conservation (sponsored by Banana Boat)
2:00 Bird Watching (sponsored by Bushnell)
3:00 Fishing (sponsored by Shakespeare  & Berkeley)
4:00 Backyard Adventure (sponsored by Repel & Cutter)
5:00 Archery

Saturdays and Sundays 1:00-5:00pm
Saturday Seminar Schedule –
1:00 Fishing
2:00 Camping
3:00 Wildlife Exploration
4:00 Backyard Adventure
5:00 Archery

Sunday Seminar Schedule –
1:00 Outdoor Discovery & Conservation
2:00 Bird Watching
3:00 Fishing
4:00 Dogs in the Outdoors
5:00 Exploring Hunting & Shooting

This year there will be lanyards provided (while supplies last) for the Kid’s to put their pins on.

Tuesday and Thursdays during Crafts....sample Coca Cola Tum E Yummies!)

Saturday's Only - S'mores Cookout (sponsored by Kraft)
6:00-7:00pm S’mores

Crafts
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2-4pm
Saturdays, Sundays, 1-4pm
While supplies last!
June 30, July 1, 3, 5 Paint a Bear Track
July 7, 8, July 10, 12 Stamp a Leather Wristband
July 14, 15 Paint a Birdhouse

Crafts are geared for children ages 8-12, but anyone may participate.

Product Sampling & Free Food: You never know what the Bass Pro staff has in mind during this summer event!  Come try some of our spectacular snacks & treats!

The presentations are geared for kids ages 8 – 12.  At the completion of each seminar, the child will be given an activity sheet to complete. Several questions can be answered from the seminar; the rest are “scavenger hunt” questions that can only be answered by going into the appropriate department to find the sign with the answer. Once completed, the child should bring the activity sheet back to the seminar area to receive the corresponding pin.
 
Free, Field and Stream booklets!

Free Carousel rides in our childrens department!

Free Ducks Arcade!

Hours of operation are 1:00pm to 5:00pm, Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays!

Don't forget, our products sponsors for Summer Camp that help to make this event a success!

Boy Scout opportunities:     Boy Scout Month and Merit Badge Classes:
Classes are taught on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. according to the following schedule:
Tuesday, July 3 Rifle Shooting
Thursday, July 5 Fishing
Tuesday, July 10 Fishing
Thursday, July 12 Rifle Shooting
Classes are limited to 10 Scouts per session.  You must pre-register with the operator in order to attend. The age limit on the Merit Badge Classes are:  you must be 11 years old or older, or going into the 6th Grade or above to attend these classes.  Pre-registration required by calling 812-218-5500

Join us one and all for a really "cool" place to hang out this summer!  Visit us online by clicking Bass Pro!

Looking forward to seeing you this summer! Tina Tucker, Special Events Coordinator, Clarksville, Indiana.

What's your favorite camping story?!  Grilling, BBQ, camping, family vacations, beaches, and the sun...summer is finally here! I am sure most of you are really lathering up the sunscreen and putting on the shades now! These last few days have been HOT HOT HOT! The best part of summer, as we all know, is spending time with family, making memories, and GETTING OUTDOORS! Bass Pro Shops wants to help you make the most out of your summer this year. Now that school is out, what to do?! Well lucky for you, Bass Pro Shops in Gurnee is offering our FREE summer camp on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays for you and the whole family! Come get out of the heat and sit in on our cool outdoor seminars, make fun crafts, practice your aim with our outdoor archery range, get your photo taken, and even try out our fishing pond! There is so much to do! Earn a pin for every seminar you attend, and after completing a scavenger hunt in our store, get a free BPS summer camp lanyard! Remember making Smore's by the campfire when you were younger? Maybe it's a tradition you still share with your family. Well you can join us here at Bass Pro Shops on Saturday evenings from 6-7pm around the campfire making yummy Smore's! Bring the whole family!

 What else are we stirring up in the store? Every Saturday from 2-3PM you and the family can participate in our fishing workshops! These are great need to know seminars for ALL ages. Ask questions, and even try out some of the fishing gear yourself!

 So get into Bass Pro Shops in Gurnee today! Explore the awesome activities we have to offer, ALL FOR FREE!

Stephanie Crede

My daddy, he was somewhere between God and John Wayne. 
~Hank Williams, Jr. 

"I love being able to sit back and watch my son Cale cast and reel in fish all by himself. My dad and I started him fishing on his third birthday and he loves it! He practiced casting in the driveway this spring when it was still too cold to fish and, now, at age four he is a great caster. Christy and I are expecting another boy in November, so in the near future Grandpa, Cale and I can teach him how it’s done, too.  There is no other sport, hobby, or career that is more rewarding than being a dad! Thank you, God and Christy, for the wonderful gifts!"
~Chad Gebhart, Facilities Manager

" Everything I've learned about the outdoors, hunting and fishing has pretty much come from my dad. I was the oldest, so for the first few years of my life my dad took me everywhere he went, including hunting and fishing. I remember going out squirrel hunting with my dad when I was really young. He would take me out in my little red wagon and I would sit under a tree while my dad would hunt the area around there so he could keep an eye on me. My dad has been my hunting and fishing partner my whole life. Every year we go shotgun hunting for deer. He was there when I shot my first deer and was the first person I called when I got my first buck. We still go fishing, mushroom hunting, and hunting together any chance we get. He’s the first person I think of calling when I want to go do something. My mom always says that I'm just like my dad and to me that’s a huge compliment because I look up to him and because of him have learned to both love and respect the outdoors.' 
~Alicia Bricker, Hunting Associate

  
"Because of my dad, I respect the land and the tranquil enjoyment it can bring. Whether digging in the garden, watching wildlife, casting a line, or relishing in the beauty of the mountains, this six-year WWII Pacific war veteran taught me to appreciate and truly love the grandness of the outdoors and this great country; made even stronger by the service he gave to protect it."

~ Gail McMahon, Merchandising Specialist, Social Media

 "I have been lucky enough to grow up in a household of fisherman from my dad all the way down the line to his grandpa...it’s just in our blood. Fathers Day means one thing to me…TRADITIONS!  From catching giant stripers with my dad in Tennessee, reeling in little spotted bass with my Papaw in Alabama, (that's Southern talk for grandfather!) to casting Snoopy poles and watching my little girl Kesney make a mess of all my bass fishing soft plastics here in Iowa. That’s what it’s all about!  Happy Fathers Day everyone...keep our traditions rolling on!" 
~Lance Baker, Pro Staff
 

 "My dad started his career as a New York City window display specialist. He moved to Minneapolis and did a lot of freelance work and would take me and my brothers on his many trips out of town. He always stowed our fishing gear in the back of the big Ford station wagon, so we could fish on the way home. He’s now in his 90s and can no longer fish, but he got me my start in visual merchandising which brought me to Bass Pro Shop. I still have memories of catching sunfish or crappies, while learning a trade that I’m still active in today."
~Jim Spizale, Visual Merchandiser

"My dad, Tim McMaster, and I are your everyday common fishin' buddies. He taught me how to fish when I was pretty young and, boy, do we have fun.This was my first fish I caught, and from there on is when I fell in love with the sport. As I got older, we started making it a little more interesting by having our own personal competitions. Fishing has always been our little getaway to bond and just go relax. Now, as an adult, I can wholeheartedly say, "Thank you, dad, for taking me fishing...let's go again soon!"  ~Amanda McMaster, Gifts/Footwear Associate

 

"Some of my best childhood memories, when I was younger, was the time I spent outdoors with my dad. From the time I was eight-years-old, my dad taught me about hunting, fishing and trapping here in the Midwest. Spring and summer we would fish just about every chance that he and I could get; most weekends we would start fishing early in the morning, come home to take care of things around the house, then go back at night to fish more. Late summer and fall we would start practicing for the upcoming bow season and shoot competition archery leagues until late winter. He also showed me how to prepare traps for the upcoming trapping season. The time that I was able to spend with my father allowed him to become more of a brother than a father to me.

Since becoming a father of two daughters I've tried to pass on some of the things that I learned, especially the love of the outdoors. I'm glad to see they've taken that enjoyment farther...one daughter is a certified 4-H shooting sports instructor and the other is currently serving as secretary for our local NWTF chapter. I hope they continue this love of the outdoors and are able to pass it on to their children."
~Scott Sickau, White River Fly Shop Fishing Associate

Ever wanted to go on the hunt of a life time and just can't find the time or the resources to go? Look no further then here my friends. We are going to be following two guys on their hunt of a life time, an elk hunt in Colorado. We are going to be following them on every step of the trip from planning to hopefully processing a couple of monster elk.  This trip is a non-guided hunt in which they have been drawn for tags and are going to camp and hunt for two weeks. The boys are headed out to the east of Buford Colorado. These next few blogs will show what you need to do to prepare for a trip like this and will cover everything from gear to tips and tricks to hopefully make you more successful out in the field.

 BIO UPDATE;  Name - Dan Urban , Dan is a Hunting Team Lead at the Bass Pro Shops in Rossford Ohio.

Bow Of Choice for Dan -  Morrison Shawnee 50#

BIO UPDATE: Name - David Lange . David is a part time associate in the archery department at Bass Pro Shops in Rossford Ohio.

Bow of Choice for David - David Builds his own traditional bows ( Brush Creek Bows)

Keep Checking Back for updates and new topics!

By: Rees Brossia

It’s that time of year again. If you hunt Public Land in Florida you probably remember June 1^st better than you wife’s or children’s birthdays. Each year June 1^st marks the opening of the application period for a shot at one of Florida’s Phase 1 Quota/Limited Entry Hunts. http://myfwc.org/license/limited-entry-hunts/ If you hunt one of the “Big Three” in Florida (Archery/Muzzleloader/Gun) now’s the time to get out into the garage and start rummaging through all the equipment you have buried behind the weed eater and Christmas Lights.

If  Archery is your thing and your bow has been put up since last season It’s not a bad idea to bring it in for a “tune up” before you get out in the yard to work the rust out of your aim.

The same thing goes for all your accessories.  Make sure your targets, arrows, release and other gear is in good, safe working order by having a Pro look at it. Replace anything that is showing wear or not working exactly as it should.  Bow Hunting is the most technically challenging so prepare yourself now to be ready when you’re out here…

If you prefer the smell of black powder outdoors, accompanied by the flash and bang of muzzleloading, it’s again time to start preparing for this year’s hunting season. The best starting point is to get your gun out and give it a good cleaning/inspection before you start target shooting.  Make sure you’ve got plenty of powder or pellets and caps as well as loading accessories for practice as well as hunting.

Modern or General Gun is by far the most popular of the “Big Three” and requires the same prep elements as Archery and Muzzleloading. Cleaning & safety, practice, and having all the tools/accessories you need. If you have been or are planning on spending time at the gun range make sure you are sighting in your rifle and target shooting with the same rounds you plan on hunting with. A different size(grain) rounds have a different trajectory and may not impact the same point even when fired out of the same rifle.

Finally, spend some time going through the rest of you’re gear to make sure everything is in not only in good working order, but you have enough of it to get you into the season. Overlooking the smallest detail can be the difference between a successful hunt or a frustrating outing. Ever run out of butane for your Therma-cell or have a strap break on your climbing stand?Better to find out before you get out into the woods, right?  Also, try all of your camo on in case you’ve gained or lost a few pounds and spend a few hours each week before hunting getting your boots broken back in.

As we get closer to Hunting Season spend the time to get properly prepared in the comfort of your home, garage and backyard instead of trying to do without or attempting a hasty repair in the dark Opening Morning!

Good Hunting,

Have Fun & Be Safe!

James Grebey

Family Summer Camp
 

JUNE 9^TH TO JULY 15^TH

The 2012 Family Summer Camp Event is geared to offer families a way to spend an
enjoyable summer together with free crafts, interactive displays and outdoor skill
workshops, in an atmosphere much like the summer camps many of us attended as
kids ourselves.

The Event offers:
 

• -FREE Shooting Gallery

• -FREE Casting Pond and Targets

• -FREE Archery Shooting Range

• -FREE Crafts like the ones you used to make in summer camp—custom leather crafting,
  painting a bear track mold, painting a wiggle snake, decorating a seedling pot,
  creating your own Catch-A-Fish game, painting a birdhouse….a different craft activity
  each Saturday and Sunday and Tuesday and Thursday thru the event dates, while supplies last.

• -FREE photos Saturdays and Sundays (1:00pm-4:00pm)—enjoy getting a picture of the kids or the whole

• family made in front of an outdoors backdrop

• -FREE S’mores activity each Saturday night between, 6:00pm-7:00pm throughout the event

In addition, Free Family Summer Camp Workshops(no registration needed) will be held Tuesdays and

Thursdays, and Saturdays and Sundays featuring:
 

-Bird Watching: Listen and identify various bird sounds and learn about threatened species.
-Hunting and Shooting Basics: Learn about hunting seasons, clothing, ammunition and safety
-Fishing Basics: Covering different kinds of lures, bait and the fishing seasons.
-Outdoor Discovery and conservation: Learn about the importance of conserving the beauty of the Great Outdoors.
-Backyard Adventure:  Learn about the different trees, insects, animals and pests you should avoid.
-Archery: Learn about Bow Hunting and the different parts of a compound bow and important tips!
-Camping Basics: Learn what to expect when camping and what you need to bring to be comfortable.
-Wildlife Exploration: Learn how to identify more common animals that you can encounter on your outdoor adventure.
-Dogs in the Outdoors: Learn how to keep your best friend comfortable, and discuss different dog breeds and the different activities that’s dogs enjoy.

Kids will earn a collectible pin for every workshop completed and a Bass Pro Lanyard, again, while
supplies last.

Tuesdays:

1:00pm – Dogs in the Outdoors

2:00pm – Archery

3:00pm – Wildlife Exploration

4:00pm – Camping

5:00pm – Exploring Hunting & Shooting

 Saturdays:

1:00pm – Fishing

2:00pm – Camping

3:00pm – Wildlife Exploration

4:00pm – Backyard Adventure

5:00pm – Archery

Thursdays:

1:00pm – Outdoor Discovery & Conservation

2:00pm – Bird Watching

3:00pm – Fishing

4:00pm – Backyard Adventure

5:00pm – Archery

Sundays:

1:00pm – Outdoor Discovery & Conservation

2:00pm – Bird Watching

3:00pm – Fishing

4:00pm – Dogs in the Outdoors

5:00pm – Exploring Hunting & Shooting

Family Summer Camp
 

JUNE 9^TH TO JULY 15^TH

The 2012 Family Summer Camp Event is geared to offer families a way to spend an
enjoyable summer together with free crafts, interactive displays and outdoor skill
workshops, in an atmosphere much like the summer camps many of us attended as
kids ourselves. The Event offers(1:00-5:00):
 

-FREE Shooting Gallery
-FREE Casting Pond and Targets
-FREE Archery Shooting Range
-FREE Crafts like the ones you used to make in summer camp—custom leather crafting,
painting a bear track mold, painting a wiggle snake, decorating a seedling pot,
creating your own Catch-A-Fish game, painting a birdhouse….a different craft activity
each Saturday and Sunday and Tuesday and Thursday thru the event dates, while
supplies last.
-FREE photos Saturdays and Sundays (1:00pm-4:00pm)—enjoy getting a picture of the kids or the whole
family made in front of an outdoors backdrop
-FREE S’mores activity each Saturday night between, 6:00pm-7:00pm throughout the event

In addition, Free Family Summer Camp Workshops(no registration needed) will be held Tuesdays and
Thursdays, and Saturdays and Sundays featuring:
 

-Bird Watching: Listen and identify various bird sounds and learn about threatened species.
-Hunting and Shooting Basics: Learn about hunting seasons, clothing, ammunition and safety
-Fishing Basics: Covering different kinds of lures, bait and the fishing seasons.
-Outdoor Discovery and conservation: Learn about the importance of conserving the beauty of the Great Outdoors.
-Backyard Adventure:  Learn about the different trees, insects, animals and pests you should avoid.
-Archery: Learn about Bow Hunting and the different parts of a compound bow and important tips!
-Camping Basics: Learn what to expect when camping and what you need to bring to be comfortable.
-Wildlife Exploration: Learn how to identify more common animals that you can encounter on your outdoor adventure.
-Dogs in the Outdoors: Learn how to keep your best friend comfortable, and discuss different dog breeds and the different activities that’s dogs enjoy.

Kids will earn a collectible pin for every workshop completed and a Bass Pro Lanyard, again, while supplies last.

Starting on June 4 Bass Pro shops will be starting a Monday night seminar program scheduled for 6:30pm to 8:00pm for people interested in learning about various outdoor activities. For the month of June we will be beginning with a seminar “Fishing Basics,” which will be held on the first and third Monday evenings of the month and a second seminar “Archery Basics,” which will be held on the second and fourth Mondays of the month.

The ‘Fishing Basics” seminar will cover rods and reels, equipment selection, terminal tackle, rigging your gear, what to fish for, and where to fish. There will also be outdoor hands on casting demo using both spinning and bait casting tackle with the seminar.

The “Archery Basics” seminar will cover the basics of archery, from types of bows, types of arrows, bow selection, rigging your bow, shooting basics and bow safety. There will also be an opportunity to shoot a bow (a recurve model) in the archery range.

We look forward to seeing you there,

Don Nelson

Bass Pro Shops

Foxbororugh

Also be sure to keep checking our website for the addition of new seminar topics.

Ever wanted to get into archery or bowhunting but don't know much about it? Well it is now made easy for hunters like you! There is a bowhunter education course that is offered in the state of Florida and it is just as easy as the hunter's safety course to complete. 

Traditional or Distance Learning, there's a Bowhunter Education course for everyone.  Now you can take the Florida Bowhunter Education Course by completing an online, Distance Learning component, then attending an abbreviated field day. The Field Day is designed to be a hands-on, constructive learning experience that will include bow set-up and shooting, field walks, blood trail exercises, erecting and safely ascending and descending from tree stands, as well as equipment preparation and survival techniques. A small fee to take the distance learning course is payable to the National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) on their website. At least one distance learning field day will be held in Florida each month. Access the online distance learning course on the NBEF website.

The traditional bowhunter education course is still available without charge throughout the state. Emphasis is placed on bowhunter history, safety, ethics, fundamental skills, techniques and tackle. The course is based on the National Bowhunter Education Foundation text. Some states require an NBEF certified safety course in order to bow hunt.  Register online (below) or call your local FWC hunter safety office to sign up for a bowhunter education course in your area. Courses will be listed as "Bowhunting Only - Distance Learning Field Day" or "Bowhunting Only - Traditional Course." Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, and under 18 must present a signed parental release form. Download the Parental Release Form. Make sure you dress in your hunting attire! Proper footwear is required, no sandals allowed. Be sure to bring your personal archery gear, but arrows must have field tips, no broadheads.

Bowhunter Education Course Schedule

(Click on link to register)

**Please note: The bowhunter education course does not meet the requirement for an approved hunter safety course needed to purchase a Florida hunting license.

Regards,
Krizia Torres
Hunting Associate/ Gun Vault Specialist
Bass Pro Shops Miami, FL

Check out this article that www.hanovervirginia.com put out on Bass Pro Shops in Ashland, Va.

 "Hanover is a great county to have a business in. They’re always asking, ‘What can we do to help your business?’ No one has failed me yet."

Greg Bulkley, General Manager, Bass Pro Shops

"Bass Pro Shops is continually rated as one of the nation's top outdoor retailers. Since its inception in 1971, the company has expanded across the United States and Canada, serving over 75 million people each year.

In 2008, Bass Pro Shops opened its 52nd location in Hanover. The 150,000-square-foot storefront is in the Winding Brook development at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Lewistown Road.

Each Bass Pro Shops store is unique, with merchandise and décor tailored to the “flavor and atmosphere” of the region it’s located in. The Hanover store is a tribute to Virginia’s diverse landscapes, its history and its culture. “Using more than 3,500 area artifacts, antiques, pictures, mounts and memorabilia, the store becomes a living museum of Virginia’s hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor legacies” says the store’s Facebook Page.

In addition to hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, the store boasts a full-service restaurant, a general store, an archery range, an arcade and a marine and boat center.

The Hanover County retail location has quickly become one of Bass Pro Shops most successful locations, significantly outperforming projected sales for the first three years.

Location is a key factor for Bass Pro Shops' success in Hanover. “We sit at the crossroads of two of the busiest interstates in the country,” says Greg Bulkley, General Manager. The store can easily be spotted from I-95.

The business environment in Hanover is exemplary, too.

“Hanover County is known for ease of doing business. The county will help anyone to be successful. They’re always asking, ‘What can we do to help your business?’”

Hanover has pro-business county administrators and legislation, and is very supportive of businesses looking to locate or expand here. Bulkley commends Hanover’s leaders, saying that they were with Bass Pro Shops every step of the way. “In other places, there’s always someone slowing you down. But not here in Hanover.”'

Some Practical tips for hunting Hogs at night in Texas.

If you hunt with a rifle we recommend a good rifle scope or possibly even one with an illuminated reticule so you can make out the black cross-hairs against a dark colored background such as a black hog. If you hunt with a bow and don't have a bow sight light you will need get one to be able to see your pins on your sight once you get drawn. You might also want to make sure you have a medium to large peep sight to insure you have enough light and a good sight picture when you get ready to shoot. A 1/4 inch or larger peep sight will work best and a lot of bowhunters will use a string splitter type peep sight to insure they can see through their peep when the time is right. Sometimes very small peep sights make it harder to hunt at night or in low light. One thing that we have found to be very helpful when bow hunting at night is to use some high quality glow paint and paint your peep sight with it. Before you start hunting just shine a bright light on it for a couple of minutes and the paint will take a charge and glow brightly for hours. When bowhunting it is very helpful to use a lighted arrow nock to view you shot placement of your arrow. If you really want to increase your odds of success it wouldn't hurt to have the aid of a momentary target illuminator on your rifle or bow in case an animal is out of range and not visible under or around the feeder light. Utilizing a good momentary target illuminator you can get ready for the shot with a rifle by simply pressing the pressure sensitive switch to light the animal up once you get your rifle scope settled on them. If using a bow you can get to full draw on the animal and then press the pressure sensitive switch to illuminate your target. In areas with extra elusive boars or wary hogs and varmints you may want to aim your target illuminator up in the sky and turn your light on and very slowly come back down on the animal to avoid spooking them with a sudden blast of light in their face regardless of the color of light or LED you are using. We carry quality but affordable bow  mounted lights and rifle mounted momentary target illuminators for rifles and archery equipment. Before setting out on your first night hunt you may want to step outside one night a few days before your hunt to make sure all of your equipment and gear is working properly.

 For additional advise and all the equipment that you need head on down to the Bass Pro Shops in Katy Texas.  We have all the right equipment including Beaman arrows, All the name brand guns Red Head clothing and the perfect Kershaw knife to get you ready and properly outfitted.

Are all you bowhunters ready for turkey season this year? Here at Bass Pro Shops in Leeds, Al we've got the gear you will need to take down a turkey this year.

If you are looking for a new bow or just some Turkey Guillotine broadheads, we've got the merchandise you are looking for. We carry a variety of compound bows, arrows, broadheads, and just about any archery accessory you may be looking for.

Saturday March 10, 2012 at 2:00 pm; we will have David Hinkle, who is on PSE's Prostaff, here to help you determine which bow and bow accessories are right for you. He will be demonstrating the proper way to shoot a bow, how to determine what you will need to set up a bow , and he will also be here to answer any of the questions you may have about bowhunting. I have know David for almost four years now, and he really knows his stuff!

Come on out and see us, you will be glad you came!

K.Wichmann

Hunting 

In conjunction with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division we will be hosting a Hunter Safety Education Class on Saturday March 31st from 5pm to 9pm. There is no charge for this class and it will be held in our conference room in the back of our store on the first floor. Study materials will be provided in the class, but you will need to bring a pencil or pen and a highlighter. 
Your instructor will cover a range of topics, from conservation, safety, and ethics to the proper handling of shotguns, handguns, bow hunting gear, and more. You should not bring firearms or archery equipment to class - all necessary equipment will be provided. This class is limited to the first 12 people and you can register by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.

My wife once said “Walter, you never know when a really good time is going to sneak up on you.” I think this applies to a hunting trip that I had the pleasure of taking at Horse Creek Plantation in January.

This all started about five years ago. I was working in archery when a grandfather approached the archery counter with his grandson. He was frustrated because he had purchased a bow from Bass Pro and he could not shoot the bow very well. The bow was not set up right for his grandson, so I set the bow to the correct draw length and poundage. I took a considerable amount of time explaining how to sight it in as neither one had any experience. They thanked me and headed to the elevator. Two minutes later the grandson started running back and handed me a piece of paper with his grandfather’s name and phone number. He said “my Pawpaw said any time you want to hunt you call him.” Year after year passed and I never called. They would come in and shop and remind me of the invitation. Well, this year I decided to call. We lined up a three day weekend and I invited Dean Clark to come along. Dean works in hunting with me and we affectionately refer to him as Mr. Dean. We left work one Thursday evening and arrived at the so called “camp House”. These accommodations were unbelievable! This place had 4 bedrooms and fireplace, television, kitchen and a front porch with rocking chairs. It also had back decks facing a pond stocked with fish.

Camp House

Camp House (inside)

Next door was a processing building with stainless sinks grinders and saws. Behind this building was a catfish pond. They took us out on the Polaris, an ATV, to show us a couple of shooting houses and food plots to hunt in the morning. They handed us keys to two ATV’s and said we could ride them to the stand in the morning. We could not believe how nice this was as we settled into our king size beds that night.

The next morning, as I sat in the shooting house overlooking a food plot, I heard the sound of a truck coming. I peered out the back window and saw Mr. Price, the owner, coming in. I got on the ATV and met him back at the lodge. He loaded Mr. Dean and me in the Polaris and he proceeded to show us the rest of the property.

As soon as we returned to the lodge we loaded up tree stands and blinds and headed out for the evening deer hunt. We didn’t have any deer sightings that day and returned to the lodge for a good meal and watched hunting videos. Mr. Price asked if we would be interested in shooting birds tomorrow after leaving the deer stands. We of course told him that we would love to shoot some birds.

The next morning we were up early and headed for the stands. This was another slow morning for me but Mr. Dean had a visit from a doe that after a lot of head bobbing at the blind left the food plot.

We returned to the lodge where Mr. Price was waiting. This is where it really got interesting. He instructed his care taker to go get some pheasant, chucker, and quail and release them. We then got in the Polaris with a trailer behind that had seats for hunters and kennels for the dogs. We drove over to the kennels where we collared three dogs and put them in the kennels on the trailer.

Dog Kennels

After releasing the dogs they instantly went to work finding the birds. Not much time had passed before they were pointing the first bird. Our guide called us up on both sides and kicked the brush that the dogs were locked up on. A pheasant took flight and Mr. Dean dispatched him quickly. The dogs instantly retrieved the bird and went back to work. It wasn’t long before they were on point again. We repeated the previous process and a chucker flushed on my side. Much to my surprise I dispatched that bird. This was the first time I had done any kind of upland hunting. This process was repeated over and over. To say we enjoyed our selves would be an understatement. After we shot all the birds Mr. Price offered to clean the birds while we headed for the deer stands.

Mr. Dean

That evening on stand I turned to the left in time to see a flash of whitetail and hear one blowing at me. They ran up and down the hill to my left and eventually grew quiet. Later on that evening as it was getting really dark I heard deer walking into the opening but it was so dark I could not tell what they were. We returned back to camp exhausted.

The next morning we were off to the deer stands and more sightings of does. We returned to the camp where we were treated to a lunch of Tomato gravy and biscuits, venison sausage, and grits. After lunch more birds were released and we were back in the field. This was a repeat of the first day and we shot plenty of birds. We saw a pheasant that was headed across the road. We took the dogs over and could not find this bird so we returned to the other birds and finished our hunt.

Walter Andrews

We cleaned the birds from the days hunt and decided we were too exhausted to deer hunt that evening. We started packing for home and Mr. Price said that maybe we could come back in the spring for turkey season. I would be crazy not to take that invitation and told him I would love to come back. After we had loaded the last of our gear and were about to get in the trucks, we looked to the edge of the clearing and the pheasant that had crossed the road was looking back at us.  It seems a fitting end to a great trip.

For more information please call:  George L. Price (850) 537-3882 or (850) 543-0682. You can also find them online at http://horsecreekgameplantation.com.

Situated on the banks of the Ohio River, Clarksville, Indiana (www.town.clarksville.in.us/)  has a long, rich outdoors history.  Some of the oldest naturally exposed fossil beds (www.fallsoftheohio.org/) can be seen there; Native Americans set up camps along the Ohio River as it was close to the crossing of the Buffalo Trace; it was the gathering point for the Lewis and Clark Expedition of the Louisiana Purchase (www.lewisandclarktrail.com/legacy/louisclark/) and John James Audubon was only one of several naturalists to study the variety of wildlife in the area.  With such an outdoors heritage it is only natural that outdoors giant Bass Pro Shops has built a retail store in Clarksville which bills itself as the “Oldest American Town in the Northwest Territory.”  At 280,000 square-feet, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World store is the company’s second largest to date.

Located in the River Falls Mall, just off Interstate 65 and across the river from Louisville, Kentucky, the entire store is a tribute to the Kentuckiana region and its people and, like other Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World stores, takes on the flavor and atmosphere of the region in which it is located.  Using area artifacts, antiques and memorabilia the store becomes a living museum of the hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor legacies of Indiana.

The outdoor super store features two levels and is part museum, part art gallery, part education, conservation and entertainment center.  Massive log and rock work frame the Grand Entrance where inside, timber skin walls and vaulted post and beam construction ceiling make up the front lobby.   Natural daylight streams through the store through the 50,000-square-foot Hypalon roof structure.

Museum quality wildlife exhibits adorn the entire store including state record fish mounts, turkeys, native waterfowl, quail, pheasants, rams, elk, full body whitetail mounts and bears.  State record mounts are displayed alongside local historical prints depicting early Indiana residents enjoying sporting adventures.

Inside, giant, exquisitely crafted outdoor themed chandeliers, made by Bass Pro Shops own artisans, hang throughout the store.  Dinosaur fossils and wildlife tracks are imprinted in the concrete floor.  One of the store’s focal points is a rock bluff structure that showcases a dramatic 65’ waterfall (one of three) flowing into the 50,000 gallon aquarium which features two tanks.  It is stocked with more than 300 fish native to the area including large and smallmouth bass, catfish, carp, walleye, bluegill, and crappie.  A beaver pond and stream runs through the central clerestory on the main floor. 

Two elevators rise through cave-like structures near the aquarium allowing visitors to see through the aquarium on their ride up to the 2nd floor.

Murals, wildlife paintings and animal dioramas help portray local and regional scenes to lend authenticity and help capture the Indiana landscape.

On the 91,500-square foot first floor, visitors have the area’s largest selection of freshwater rods, reels and fishing accessories, all hand-picked and specially selected for the area, to choose from.  The White River Fly Shop, featuring antique and collectible fly fishing memorabilia, has a vast selection of the latest in fly fishing gear.  Experts will continue the art of hand-tying flies on site and assist customers in making the perfect selection.

More than a fishing store, visitors find items perfect for camping, hiking, outdoor cooking, bird watching or whatever your outdoor pleasures. A gift and nature center offers a variety of items from artwork to lamps, to bird feeders and furniture, home decorating items and gifts for the holidays.  Cooking accessories include cookbooks, spices, grills and jerky making items.

The attention to detail continues upstairs in the 178,600 square-foot second floor.  The hunting department features a 75’ long curved counter which stands ready to help assist customers.  Hunting cabinets are adorned with hand-carved animals.  World Class record mounts grace the walls.  Customers will find an equally impressive array of hunting clothing and gear.  The archery department offers a bow set-up shop and a 25-yard live archery range is perfect for testing that new bow or sharpening necessary skills.

Shooters of all ages will enjoy the 16,000-square foot, walk-through “African Big Game” safari-style rifle arcade with  animated targets.  There is also a theater-styled seminar room which will accommodate up to 200 people for various civic, educational or conservation functions.

A NASCAR department provides 3 car simulators plus all the clothing and items featuring your favorite driver. 

An 11,000 square-foot marine and boat center helps area residents have fun on the water with a full range of powerboats from Tracker Marine--the world’s largest manufacturer of fishing boats.  From big water boats to small fishing, canoeing and even kayaking, customers will find exactly what they need with selections from  Tracker, Nitro, Tahoe, Mako, Kenner and more.  An on-site boat service center with 4 service bays is available for customers’ convenience for boat rigging and repairs.

The store offers Outdoor Skills Workshops for adults, kids and families that will help maximize outdoor fun by teaching new skills and improving existing ones.  They also feature many youth activities throughout the year.

For more information regarding your Clarksville Bass Pro Shops store location, products or special events, please visit www.basspro.com or call 812-218-5500.
Visit us soon!
Tina Tucker, Special Events Coordinator

Ah yes! My favorite time of year is upon us. The fall leaves ablaze with hues of crimson and fire. The grass sparkles in the crisp clear full moonlight. Flocks of migratory birds fill the sky like clouds of feathers. Necks are swollen and racks are polished like royal jewels. Yes folks, the greatest sportsmen’s event of all time is underway in Upstate New York. The Whitetail season has begun. 

New York’s archery season is now in full swing with the pre-rut underway. There’s nothing in the world that compares to having a conversation with an elusive whitetail without saying a word. The Primal sounds of grunting, wheezing, and the aggressive snapping of antlers filling the solitude of the great outdoors. For those of you who understand what it is I am talking about, it is written into our DNA, it burns in our veins, it’s our second nature. It’s the experience of trying to out wit the master of the forest, the thrill of the chase, the adrenaline rush of staring old drop tine in the eye. I spend countless hours on stand every year experiencing just this. Ok maybe more like staring at a crotch horn or a beefy six who thinks he’s the king of the swamp, but the experience is still the same. 

Just a few days ago I toughed it out in one of our notorious fall showers that lasted all day. It was about 40 degrees with a 10mph northeasterly. I wasn‘t worried at all, I was decked out in my Squaltex II Rain suit, featuring Red Head’s Bone Dry system. I slipped into my stand about and hour before dawn. As daylight broke, I could see the steam rise off my Enduraskin Balaclava with every breath. I could hear the faint rustling of the thick brush just down the bank from me. I let out a series of attention grabbing grunts. Almost instantly was the reply. A nice deep series of grunts− I’ve caught his attention. The rain seemed to pick up and was pelting off my face; the cold penetrated my cheeks. I pulled out my rattle bag and methodically put together a curious rattle. The thrashing from the thicket seemed to be getting ever so louder and more deliberate. I pause so as to not overdo it and send my future trophy off in the opposite direction. All of a sudden, the snap of a twig cracked through the woods. I slowly scan the general area that the noise may have come from. There− just above the tall brush I see it, the distinct tips of what appears to be a nice eight point. I slowly knock my Red Head Carbon Supreme Lite Hunter into my Red Head Blackout. With my call still in my mouth I let out a deep angry series of grunts. The Eight pointer reveals himself in an aggressive manner, head up, neck swollen and a full on strut. He came straight in from about sixty yards out. He was on a mission to find the intruder in his backyard. My first instinct was to draw but my mind told me to wait. As he got closer I discovered that he didn’t have all eight. He had a flat thick beam on his left side. What an interesting whitetail. Trying not to get myself hung up over his rack I began to assess this magnificent animal. His back lay slightly below flat, his belly hung low and his face appeared to be long and narrow. My on-the-fly estimate put him at about three and a half to four years old. I decided that he would be a worthy trophy. I waited and waited for him to give me the slightest opportunity but like the wiley old veteran that he was, he skirted in and out along the thicket on his way to me, using the natural cover to shield himself from harm. This was a whitetail that had been there and done that. He proceeded to slightly arc his path deeper into the thicket. The gig was up and he was on his way. I wasn’t disappointed but exhilarated− where else could you have had an experience like this?

I couldn’t have experienced any of this without the right gear. At Bass Pro Shops we have experienced and skilled staff, backed with years upon years of first hand experience. They are happy to help you find the quality gear that fits the needs of your next adventure. …So stop on in and check us out.

Chris Howard
BPS Hunting Clothing Team Lead, Auburn, NY