BUCKS & BULLS
We’re hunting Bucks & Bulls so tune in to The Revolution with Jim and Trav this week as they zero in on how to hunt pre-rut elk, early season mule deer, whitetail and antelope. Joining us will be Jim Shockey, co-host of “Jim Shockey's Hunting Adventures”, Joe Kenney, owner operator of KOVE in Lander, Wyoming and David Blanton from “Realtree Outdoors”. Jim and Trav’s “Bucks & Bulls”broadcast is presented by Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network and MyOutdoorTV.

Hunting Whitetail and Elk with David Blanton of Realtree

Few North American big game animals are as sought after as whitetail deer and elk, and few brands are more widely known in the outdoor industry than Realtree. Millions of camo clad hunters go afield each year wearing Realtree camouflage in pursuit of these beloved game animals. David Blanton is a widely recognized face at Realtree and, truly, may be one of the nicest guys in the outdoors. He is the Executive Producer and co-host of Realtree Outdoors and Realtree RoadTrips on Outdoor Channel and Realtree’s Monster Bucks TV on Sportsman Channel.
Listen in as David joins The Revolution, via phone, from his whitetail hunt in Wyoming. While Wyoming isn’t at the top of the list of typical trophy whitetail states, there is a lot of potential there. With an estimated population of 60,000, Wyoming’s whitetails can be found throughout the state but are concentrated the heaviest in the Black Hills, Bighorn Basin and Riverton areas. David says that for the last 24 years he has hunted with Seven J Outfitters and notes the changes in Wyoming whitetail hunting over the last couple of decades. He says that in the mid 90’s the quality of the whitetails may have been a little better as there wasn’t the pressure from hunters that there is today. However, David says he keeps going back year after year because it’s fun. While many hunters are focused strictly on the trophy potential of their hunt, David says that this particular hunt is one where he and fellow hunters are able to have a lot of fun, fellowship and laugh. In that vein, David says that this atmosphere is what is lacking right now and what we need to see more of on television – a focus on the love of the hunt, the comradery and having fun, not just hunting trophies.

When it comes to close encounters with elk, David is a seasoned pro and he will highlight a few of his most memorable elk hunting moments. David says that hunting the peak of the rut can be challenging from a calling perspective because many herd bulls have all of their cows with them and it’s difficult to call them away. On an archery elk hunt in the Big Horn Mountains during the rut he says he encountered this challenge and decided he had to be more aggressive if he wanted to get within bow range of a big herd bull. As the hunt progressed, David says he found himself positioned between two herds where the herd bulls began to compete for cows. Cashing in on the frenzy, David says he used the distraction to slip within bow range to arrow one of the herd bulls. He’ll also talk about an elk hunt in New Mexico with an unexpected twist. After covering a lot of ground throughout the day and coming back to camp, David says a big bull began to bugle right outside the camp. You can cover a lot of ground and be in the best places, David says, but when the bulls are rutting, there is just no telling where a hot cow might lead them. Hunting big bull elk with a bow during the rut is exciting and a challenge both physically and emotionally, David admits. Based on years of experience, David says it is crucial to come to full draw before you see the eyes of a bull that is coming in. Waiting until you see his eyes to draw your bow is waiting too long, and your time and shot opportunity maybe be gone by then. So, being prepared, ready to draw early, and able to hold your bow at full draw for a few minutes could mean the difference between wrapping your tag around a bull and watching it walk away. David will also talk about the importance of understanding your shooting setup, becoming familiar with how your arrow shoots out of your bow at the set poundage you use and the kind of arc you have on your arrow at different distances. All of these factors will be used in the field to determine whether or not you should take a shot and the ultimate outcome of the shots you take.

Tune in as David Blanton, Executive Producer and host of Realtree Outdoors and Realtree RoadTrips on Outdoor Channel and Realtree’s Monster Bucks TV on Sportsman Channel, joins us to talk whitetails and elk. Realtree Outdoors airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET, again on Outdoor Channel.

Jim Shockey: Hand of Man Museum and the Jim Shockey Classic

At 10 years old, Jim Shockey hadn’t yet become the legendary outdoorsman he is today. He was just a kid that liked collecting things, not animals at that point, but things like rifle cartridges – always with the intention of having them displayed someday. For 45 years, Jim has continued to collect things like wildlife, literature, ancient artifacts and more, and now his lifelong ambition of displaying these collectibles has been realized. The “Hand of Man – Museum of Natural History, Cultural Arts and Conservation” is Jim Shockey’s private museum that is now open for the public to come explore and experience. This week, Jim joins The Revolution to talk about the launch of his museum and the role it plays in preserving history, advancing conservation and educating the population about our origins. Jim references one of the very first natural history books ever written that is on display at his museum and explains how early natural historians became explorers and then international hunter travelers, all in a natural progression. He says that hunters, explorers and scientists are one in the same and that’s what his museum is all about. While we may wear different clothes, speak different languages and subscribe to different religions, there is a tie that binds the human race which is the fact that we came from the same source, from the same hunting and gathering background.
Jim has an incredibly extensive collection on display at the Hand of Man Museum, like the tusks of a Mastodon found in the Yukon; the skeleton of an Alaska Yukon Moose – the largest moose species in the world; and a pristinely taxidermied Muskox – the fourth largest known to man. While everything there is interesting and has important historical value, he highlights some of the pieces that stand out the most to him, personally. One of those happens to be the moose rack from his father’s last hunt, a hunt they went on together which was featured on Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures on Outdoor Channel about 10 years ago. A bullet hole is visible through one tines of the moose rack, a missed shot the first time around before his dad made the lethal second shot. Jim says that by definition, “trophy” is a memory of an event or an accomplishment and items like his dad’s moose rack are real trophies for him – they bring back and elicit those memories. Jim says that there is nothing better or more important than that. Jim’s first whitetail, his children Branlin and Eva’s first whitetails, his father in law Len’s last whitetail – all on display at the museum, Jim says anything to do with family are the items he finds most important and valuable. Tours of the Hand of Man Museum are free and can be booked online at HandofManMuseum.com – if you happen to be in the area, be sure to make the trip, it will be well worth it!
Jim Shockey is a man of many passions and that includes being actively involved in efforts that support both former and current military personnel. In fact, many people may not be aware that he is an active member of the Canadian Armed Forces, serving the rank of Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel (HLCol) of the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group. Jim will highlight the therapeutic effect that the great outdoors can have on service members and their families and says when it comes to thanking them in a meaningful way, it’s hard to ever do enough. However, always seeking to do more for them, Jim is a part of an upcoming event with these service members in mind. December 2nd and 3rd in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Jim will be hosting the first ever Jim Shockey Classic. Teaming up with the Freedom Hunters, a Colorado-based non-profit group dedicated to reuniting veterans and military families with the great outdoors, “The Jim Shockey Classic.” will be a two-day gathering honoring those who protect our freedoms, and aiding in providing USA and Canadian military personnel with once in a lifetime hunts. This event will include a Jim Shockey meet & greet, a military presentation, a fundraiser auction, a military tribute golf tournament on a private 18-hole facility and a post-golf awards BBQ banquet dinner. Jim says that he picked up the sport of golf at 40 years old after being skunked on the course and has been working on his game since. He likens golf to archery, requiring the same mental strength and patience required.
Tune in to this fun and incredibly informative interview with hunter and conservationist, Jim Shockey. Be sure to catch episodes of “Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures” on Outdoor Channel Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.

Wyoming Pronghorns: The One Shot Antelope Hunt

Wyoming is a big game mecca, with endless opportunities for hunters. If it’s Pronghorns that you’re after, then you’ve definitely come to the right place. More commonly referred to as antelope, Wyoming has a larger concentration of them than the rest of the continent and success rates are commonly more than 85%. The fastest North American land animal, the Pronghorn can run up to 60 miles per hour and it has incredible vision equal to eight-power binoculars allowing them to detect motion up to three miles away and making them challenging to hunt.

Every year, a unique sporting event celebrating both history and the antelope takes place. The Annual One Shot Antelope Hunt in Lander, Wyoming began in 1940. Each member of a three-man team has the assistance of a guide to help them locate antelope. From there, it is up to the individual to shoot and kill an antelope with just one shot. At the conclusion of the contest, the team with the most kills wins. Tune in as Joe Kenney, owner and General Manager of KOVE in Lander, Wyoming joins us to talk about the 78th Annual One Shot Antelope Hunt, September 13th through the 16th. He’ll talk about the teams, rules, customs, and history of the hunt. He’ll also talk about the purpose of the hunt in promoting the ideals of good sportsmanship, game conservation and other things such as comradery, hunting ability and accuracy with a rifle. He’ll also highlight the Past Shooters Club and Water For Wildlife Foundation – both organizations were created as a result of this contest. Joe will detail how they have contributed to western wildlife with more than one-million dollars spent on water projects like the installation of 104 water wells in 11 western states. Tune in for a look at this unique contest that is steeped in history and tradition.

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About The Revolution with Jim & Trav

Airing on more than 515 radio and cable stations in the U.S., as well as on American Forces Radio Network, The Revolution with Jim & Trav is a popular radio show and podcast geared towards outdoor enthusiasts. The award-winning program is heard by a projected audience of more than 7.2 million listeners in 35 states in the U.S., in addition to all Canadian provinces. In 2013, The Revolution became the official radio show of Outdoor Channel, and has since expanded to be the official radio show for Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network. For program times, stations and other information, visit www.jimandtrav.com or www.OutdoorChannel.com/Revolution. Follow The Revolution on Facebook and Twitter and also listen on iTunes. #TheRevolution