TenPoint Takes 2011 Field & Stream Best of the Best Award and 2011 Outdoor Life's Editor's Choice Award

Mogadore, OH.  TenPoint is pleased to announce their Carbon Fusion CLS crossbow has been awarded the 2011 Field & Stream Best New Crossbow award.  In addition, the company's Stealth XLT crossbow has been awarded the 2011 Outdoor Life Editor's Choice Award.  Click on the links below to read the reviews online of both publications.

Carbon Fusion CLS:

2011 Field & Stream Best of the Best

Stealth XLT:

2011 Outdoor Life Editor's Choice Award

Small but Mighty



Drake with TenPoint's VP of Sales
Randy Wood

Drake Taylor, or “Little D”, might be small in size, but he is a giant when it comes to enthusiasm, ambition, and spirit.  He was born with a rare form of dwarfism, called Osteodysplastic Primordial Dwarfism (MOPDII) and stands just 39-inches tall at seventeen years of age.  Recently, he was also diagnosed with MoyaMoya, a rare blood vessel disorder of the brain. He has under gone three re-vascular brain surgeries and recovered with amazing grace.   Despite his size and disorders, Drake is passionate about many things in life, including fishing, painting, participating in Special Olympic sports, and designing jewelry.  Most of all, though, he is passionate about hunting!

At only 40-pounds, however, he had become frustrated with the recoil of his 20-gauge shotgun and knew he needed a different piece of equipment to enjoy his hunting opportunities.  After talking with TenPoint and learning about their crossbows at the ATA and SHOT Show, Drake knew what he wanted and TenPoint’s Engineering Department agreed to custom-fit a stock to him.

Drake with TenPoint's Mike Shaffer
and Director of Business Development
Chuck Jordan

Mike Shaffer, TenPoint’s Engineering Manager, used a number of critical measurements to create a mock-up computer model of an existing 6 Point Series stock.  This model was used to estimate where material could be removed from the butt stock to fit Drake.  Shortening it required cutting it into four sections and machining three of the sections flat for better fit-up.  Then, the butt plate and comb were attached to the remaining section.  The completed stock measured 4-5/8" shorter than the original 6 Point stock and the re-positioned comb allowed for a forward cheek position. The position of the scope only changed slightly because the crossbow was fitted with a 40mm multi-dot scope with no eye relief requirements.

Drake with TenPoint's Barb Terry
and Missy Sharrone

After receiving the crossbow, Drake, his mom, Beverly, and his dad, Randy, had a one-hour private training session with TenPoint’s Barb Terry at the IL Deer and Turkey Classic in March.  Barb provided Drake with instructions on how to safely use a crossbow, properly sight one in and shoot it, how to choose the correct arrow/broadhead combination, and select the right target.  The entire family also learned how to use TenPoint’s ACUrope and SteddyEddy.  With some practice, Drake consistently hit the bull's-eye.  Later that afternoon, he even provided crossbow shooting advice to his neighbor who stopped by the show!

With the help of TenPoint, Drake has accomplished many of his hunting goals.  Since January 2011, he has harvested a turkey, a wild hog, and a Texas Dahl ram – all with his custom-fit TenPoint crossbow.

 

Drake with his
Texas Dahl Ram



 The new crossbow has given him opportunities that he never thought would be possible.  The time and support the TenPoint staff gave to him forever changed his life.

In between his hunting trips, Drake designs and creates jewelry for his company, Little “D” Designs.  The company features unique wildlife beaded jewelry that can be viewed at www.littleddesigns.com.

Drake is also a member of the Dunlap Dynamite 4-H Club and the Dunlap Eagles Special Olympics team. 

His desire to explore and seek new adventures has helped him overcome his physical and cognitive challenges.  His determination and spirit helps him excel and accomplish his many goals and dreams.

Drake with his turkey

To learn more about TenPoint, visit www.tenpointcrossbows.com.

Be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter.

"A Hunting Partner for Life" by Dave Nebraska of Mossy Oak

It was a memorable Christmas break for Mossy Oak’s Dave Nebraska and his son, Daulton.  After months of preparation, Daulton finally took his first buck ever on a hunt last weekend in Ohio.  With his TenPoint Defender CLS, Daulton created a lifelong memory that he will share with his father for years to come.  It was a special moment for the team at Mossy Oak, but it was even more special for Dave, who was fortunate enough to witness his son’s once-in-a-lifetime experience.  We asked Dave to share some thoughts about the hunt and what it meant to the two of them.

“I just wanted to extend a serious thank you to the folks at TenPoint!  Before Ten Point, Daulton “liked” to hunt.  Now, Daulton “loves” to hunt.  Getting a TenPoint Defender CLS crossbow in his hands has allowed Daulton to experience more of the deer season and get closer to deer.  He went through the early season, pre-rut, rut, post rut, and cold/late season.  He studied thousands of trail cam photos, helped fill feeders, and set stands.  He even passed on quite a few bucks.  Too many for my liking, but he was committed to taking a true trophy whitetail.

“The other night, Daulton just missed seeing this buck.  He left his stand to head home and moments later the buck showed up on the trail cam.  So, I told Daulton to hit the same stand the next night and stay as long as possible.  This time, however, Daulton did not need to wait as long.  This brute came into range early with a harem of does and Daulton was able put a solid blow into his vitals.

“When I came to help Daulton track the deer, it was apparent this buck was dead walking.  He only went 75 yards before piling up in a little stretch of woods.

“Daulton could not have been more pumped up and excited.  He was determined to make something happen while he was on Christmas break.  Fortunately, it all came into play and worked out great for him!

“Thank you, TenPoint, for giving me a hunting partner for life!”

Congratulations, Daulton, from all of us here at TenPoint Crossbows!

"A Good Morning in the Woods" by Gary Smith Jr.

On November 6^th my alarm sounded at 4:30 a.m. and I awoke ready and eager to get into the woods.  This crisp morning started out much like many others during the season, but it would prove to be a truly memorable morning.  My dad had shot a buck the prior weekend, which I personally taped out (green scored) at 158 inches.  If this didn’t stoke my desire to get into a treestand, then nothing would!  Not only that, but I had only been able to hunt on the weekends because of my schedule.  Needless to say, this was a highly anticipated day!

Gary Smith Sr. with his 158''

As I threw on my ScentLok suit, I began feeling like it would be a good morning.  To my surprise, I opened the door to a crisp, snow-covered lawn that added to my excitement.  I jumped in my Dodge and drove to the spot I had dreamed of being at all week.  The spot is a little sapling thicket that I had overlooked the first year I had hunted this particular farm.  Following a gut feeling, I scouted it the weekend before and was amazed at all the buck sign for such a small area of woods.  It appeared that every buck in the county had been through it.  It was a no brainier where I would be hanging my new Lone Wolf climber on this day.

As I slipped through the woods and inched closer to the tree that I had picked out the weekend before, my adrenaline began to rise.  I felt like a child the night before Christmas because I was worried that I wouldn’t make it to the tree before daylight.  Even though I arrived an hour-and-a-half early, I was stressed because I felt like I was an hour late.  Finally, I strapped the belts of my Lone Wolf around the tree, ascended to my usual 30-foot mark, strapped my Hunter Safety System harness to the tree, and patiently waited for daylight to appear.

Soon enough daylight was upon me and it was like a switch had been flipped inside of me.  I was now in predator mode, awaiting my prey.  After being fooled numerous times by the elusive squirrel, making sounds of what I thought to be hoofs headed towards me, I saw distinctive movement through the brush up ahead.  It was deer and they were headed my way! After watching them come out of the thick brushy bottom, I saw that it was a mature doe and a button buck.  They fed on the opposite side of the tree at about 30-yards. I had numerous shot opportunities at the two of them, but they weren’t going to fill my hunger on this day.  I had planned on sitting all day, anticipating a buck, so I let them pass. Little to my surprise, they got about 40-yards directly behind me and bedded down.

As I waited on other deer to funnel through the woods, I decided to pull out my Primos “Can” bleat call to see how it would affect the deer bedded 40-yards behind me.  As I watched them through my binoculars, I turned the call making two to three long bleats and nothing appeared to happen…or did it?

Gary Smith Jr. with his nine-point buck

As I was watched through my binoculars, I heard some corn stalks snap from the standing cornfield that was 50-yards in front of me, but I had my back turned to it as I was watching the bedded deer behind me.  Ever so slightly, I lowered my binoculars and slowly peered my head around to see a nice buck exiting the cornfield in front of me.  He was oblivious to me being there, so I grabbed my Hoyt Maxxis 35 off the hook.  After that, my instincts took over. I predicted which trail the buck would take past me and ranged a tree in an opening with my Nikon rangefinder at 33-yards.  I lowered my rangefinder and looked back at the buck that had never stopped coming down the trail.  He was approaching my opening in a hurry! With little time to gamble, I took one last look at the buck and decided he was mine.  I quickly drew back my bow to my anchor and the adrenaline started pumping as the buck steady walked into my opening.  As his vitals cleared the last tree I put my G-5 site pin directly behind his front shoulder and grunted with my mouth.  The buck stopped dead and looked up at me.  I focused on a spot and pulled through my Carter release, executing a perfect shot.  As the bow broke over, I knew the arrow was in route to my focus point.  I saw my green Nockturnal nock illuminate and my two-blade Rage broadhead bury behind the buck’s front shoulder with a loud wallop. The buck dropped to the ground and jumped back up, only to make it ten yards to its demise.

Gary Smith Jr. with his late-season doe
taken with a TenPoint

The minute after the buck dropped I got the feeling that every hunter can relate to.  I was on cloud nine! My wishful plan had connected with a big ten point that was lying 40-yards from me.  As every other hunter would do, I started making phone calls and shared my blessed day with everyone, including my father who rushed down to the farm to help me drag him out of the woods. It truly was a morning to remember!

To learn more about TenPoint Crossbows view www.tenpointcrossbows.com

"My 18-point Buck" by Gary Smith Sr.

With our hunting trip already scheduled, my good friend Ray and I visited the property, in Medina County, Ohio, a week earlier to scout the premises.  Like many hunters, we set up a game camera to hopefully get an indication of what was lurking in the woods.  We knew there was a long week of anticipation ahead, but we left with a good feeling that next weekend would be filled with excitement.

Gary Smith Sr. with his 18-point buck

A week later, on October 30^th, we returned to the property for what we hoped would be a successful weekend.  The excitement that I took with me the first morning was soon lost, as I didn’t see anything for quite some time.  As lunch-time approached, we retreated from our stands and checked the camera.  The camera revealed eight events, each of them included the same 4-point buck and a few does roaming at night.  We were disappointed in the findings, but they would not deter us from having a successful weekend.  We returned to the woods that evening bound and determined to find us a trophy buck.            

After returning to my stand, I sat patiently for a few hours before two does came out of the thicket behind me.  Shortly after, I could hear what sounded like a much larger deer rustling and thrashing around in a thicket.   It was difficult to make out its rack, though, because it blended in with the thick brush surrounding him.  Then, all of a sudden, he ran off.

No more than 20 minutes passed before I again saw movement in the same thicket.  Once again, though, I couldn’t make out the size of the buck, but I knew by the sounds that it was a good size.  The next thing I knew a large bodied deer with antlers is running straight at me! When he reached 15 yards of my stand I pulled back the string of my Hoyt Ultratec and tried my best to place the pin behind his shoulder.  After taking the shot, I waited about 30 minutes to get out of my stand.  By this time it was getting dark, so we decided to leave him and come back in the morning.



Scored a 158''



The next morning, my buddy Ray, my son Gary Jr., my wife Cheryl and I went back to look.  After struggling to find a blood trail for quite some time, I decided to go off on my own and search for the buck.  As it turns out, the arrow had passed through the buck and the intestines had plugged a hole, preventing us from seeing any type of blood trail.  When I finally found the buck, roughly 50-yards from my stand, I could not believe it!  An 18-point buck that my son, Gary Jr, scored at 158''!

To learn more about TenPoint Crossbows view www.tenpointcrossbows.com

Mogadore, OH.  TenPoint Crossbows’ CEO & Chairman Rick Bednar has been named one of the 25 most influention people in the hunting and fishing industry by Outdoor Life.

           

The Outdoor Life 25, now in its fourth year, recognizes men and women who have had a significant positive impact on hunting and fishing, moving the sports forward and making them more enjoyable.

“The Outdoor Life 25 is one of the highest honors our magazine bestows,” said Todd Smith, Editor-in-Chief of Outdoor Life. “We look for people whose work has had a real and lasting effect on the outdoor community, and this year’s list of honorees is an unbelievable example of the innovation, hard work, and good deeds that are taking place in the world of hunting and fishing. The contributions of this group are immeasurable and we’re proud to honor their work.”

In recognizing Bednar, Outdoor Life focuses on his leadership and contributions he has made to the crossbow industry, stating, "Largely thanks to Bednar's innovations, the crossbow industry has boomed recently, with more states (and sportsmen) recognizing the crossbow as a legitimate hunting tool."

“I’m happy to receive this honor on behalf of my entire staff.  It’s not possible to run a successful company without great people working together to make good things happen,” Bednar said. “My father, who was a part of all this for so many years, would have been elated.”

This year's honorees will be highlighted in the magazine's December-January issue.  For a complete list of the honorees please visit www.outdoorlife.com/ol25.

"Colby`s First Deer" by Colby Simon

Colby Simon is the 7-year old son of TenPoint Customer Service Manager Sabrina Simon.  Here is the story of his first deer ever, told through his own words...

"I started practicing with my Wicked Ridge crossbow like late September this year.  I practiced in my back yard.  I shot at a bag target first, and then I shot at a foam deer target.  I shot at the bag a few times, and it was like the bottom left, the bottom right, and then the top too.  Then I was shooting at the deer target and I shot high.  Then I shot it at the kill zone.  I practiced a lot of times before I went hunting.

                  

Colby Simon with his first deer.
Taken in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.

It wasn’t my first time, it was like my thirteenth, but this was my first deer!  The first time I went out I went with my dad in a blind and it was really cold out.  I saw a couple squirrels and chipmunks then we went back to the cabin.   Then I went out with my mom in her tree stand.  I saw a lot of birds and squirrels and no deer.  That was it for that day.

Then on the last day I went hunting I  was  in  a  tripod  stand when  there  was  two  deer  coming  in. Me  and  my dad  waited  15min  for  the  deer  to  come  in.  There was a tree branch in the way.  One deer was in front of the other one.  Then one went right and one went left.  I took the shot at the right one.  It was a button buck.  He ran up the hill and died.  Me, my mom, my dad, my brother, my papa Denny, and friends tracked him down.  Then we field dressed him.  We carried him to the field and took lots of pictures.  We got it checked in and then hung it on a hanger thingy.  Then I went to my aunt`s to go trick-or-treating.  The next day my brother got an 8 point.

The End"

The Simon brothers after a successful Halloween weekend hunt.
(Colby on left, Casey on right)

To learn more about TenPoint Crossbows view www.tenpointcrossbows.com