Taking Aim

Terry “Turk” Moore

What got you started in archery?

I got interested in high school. I got my first bow, a recurve from JC Penny, for $35, and I still have it. In 1966, I shot at my first deer with a bow – missed a mile! – and I was hooked. I was determined to get a deer with a bow. Five years later, I did, and that was the biggest rush of adrenaline I’ve ever had. Fifty-eight years later, and I still get the same feeling. Archery and bowhunting have been my life, from the time I was 15 until now.
I love it and always will.

What is your favorite aspect of the sport?

I always loved the woods. I squirrel and rabbit hunted a lot, but when I got into deer hunting it was a whole new ballgame, learning about the woods, what deer eat, and the different trees they like. I have two sons, John and Rusty, who love to bowhunt and are very successful. I always told them we’re here to enjoy the outdoors and have a good time, and if we get a deer it’s just a bonus! I now have five grandkids and always said if I live long enough to see all my grandkids get a deer, my life will be complete. Well, I made it, and they were all very special to me.

What is the challenge of bowhunting?

With archery equipment you have to get close to the game. To do that, you have to know what they eat and their habits. One of my favorite sayings is, “If you want to be successful at bowhunting, you have to get right there in the kitchen.” Deer have superior senses, and more times than not, they can tell when someone is in their kitchen. That’s the challenge that keeps you coming back.

Any advice for those getting into the sport?

I owned a bow shop for 18 years, and I always told customers you don’t have to have the best that money can buy. It’s not the bow, it’s the archer – get what you can afford. I fixed a lot of old bows for young folks that were poor at that time of their life. They never forgot me helping them get started. Some are very successful now and still bowhunt. I hope to see young people getting into archery, even if it’s just for fun.

Doc Crow

What got you started in archery?

My dad got me into archery when I was 8. I loved the challenge of hunting with a bow. I also was fascinated with how the gears worked on compound bows, the way the arrow was constructed, and how everything came together to hit the target downrange. I love how archery is a mixture of math and personality: calculated results mixed in with your own personal touch.

What is your favorite aspect of the sport?

I love setting up a bow from scratch – personalizing it while also trying to gain as much output and forgiveness as possible. Calculating everything, building it, and then seeing the arrow fly downrange is flat-out awesome. I’ve worked for a pro shop and bow manufacturer, and I’ve owned my own pro shop for nine years now. Not one day has gone by where I haven’t been excited to go to work. Plus, I get my own platform to talk about my faith and talk to others about their life journey.

What is the experience of an archery competition like?

It’s incredible. I’ve competed locally and nationally in indoor/outdoor competitions. Seeing and competing with so many diverse people is really cool. An elite shooter competing in their element is something that I think every archer should witness.

Who’s been by your side in your archery journey?

I wouldn’t be where I am without the support of my family. As a kid, I was always dragging in wild game for my mom to cook and she never complained. My dad (which I didn’t know at the time) was new to bowhunting when I got into it; I thought he was the reincarnation of Fred Bear, but he was learning just like I was. Lastly my wife – she’s the real MVP! She understands and supports the feeling I get in my bones when the temperature drops in October to go chase my dreams and wander around in the wilderness. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner to do life with and hopefully raise our son to dream big and experience the wild!

Any advice for those getting into THE SPORT?

My advice is to go to a local pro shop and talk to the crew who works there. Be honest about where you are in your journey and what you’d like to accomplish. Most crews are great!

Richard Britt

What got you started in archery?

I never knew it existed until a neighbor who never did anything all year was suddenly discovered in his backyard shooting with a compound bow, which seemed to me to be extremely out of character for him. So, I went to a pawnshop and traded a .22 magnum Marlin lever-action for a used compound bow and quiver. At the time, I didn’t know anyone who shot a bow, and my friends actually laughed at me when I told them I was going to deer hunt with a bow.

How does bowhunting differ from other hunting methods?

Archery with a vertical bow takes extreme amounts of practice to perform efficiently and effectively. Unlike firearms and crossbows where the hunter can easily shoot once or twice to make sure their scope is dialed in, vertical bowhunting takes much more practice and dedication to be able to perform under pressure.

What is your favorite aspect of the sport?

The singularity of the sport! You should only compete against yourself.

What is the Southeast archery community like?

There are some really good hunters and archers in the Southeast. It is a great community of people, male and female, to be involved with in this area. The vast majority of bowhunters I have met are some of the best friends you could ever want.

Most memorable hunting trip?

No question, it was the Tennessee elk hunt in 2022. Honestly, just to get drawn for the tag for the opportunity to bowhunt was incredible. And then I took several good friends and went to the area and managed to take a really good bull on the fourth day!

Any advice for those getting into the sport?

I suggest anyone interested in getting into the sport, if they are within two hours of Dayton, to go to Harvest Archery and meet the staff there who are very helpful and knowledgeable. They will save a newbie hours, if not days, of time and frustration to figure things out.

Brandon Lam

What got you started in archery?

I started bowhunting to spend more time in the woods. I’ve hunted deer, elk, and turkeys with my bow. Archery season opens in September, and it gives me a lot more opportunities to hunt. I like to hunt in the Midwest, as the seasons in those states are primarily archery, so it gives you more opportunities.

What is your favorite aspect of the sport?

I enjoy bowhunting for a lot of reasons, the obvious is the challenge of getting an animal that close. I also like that the deer are not pressured as hard as they are during the firearm seasons. Bowhunting has also allowed me to get my wife and kids involved in the sport. Seeing them take their first deer with bows are some great memories. It’s also allowed me to meet some great people as I’ve gotten to hunt in several different states.

Most memorable hunting trip?

I’ve had a lot of memorable hunts. I’ve taken some really nice whitetails with my bow, and just this year, I harvested a really nice elk in Utah. There’s no way to describe the adrenaline rush you have when you have a large, bugling animal 20 yards away on the ground, and you have to figure out when to draw your bow and take a shot.

What kind of gear do you prefer to use?

I’ve shot a lot of different bows through the years. I shoot a Mathews right now and really like their bows, but there are a lot of good bows out there. There have never been more tools and weapons to make hunting easier than there are today, and hunting with archery equipment that you have to practice with to make effective and ethical shots is what makes the sport what it is. You really can’t go wrong as long as you get a bow that fits you and you practice to build that muscle memory.

Ben Shuptrine

What got you started in archery?

The very beginning of my love for archery started when I was dating my wife, Meg. Her Uncle Chad had an extra bow in his closet, which he didn’t have to give me, but he did out of his own heart. It felt like it was an acceptance into the family in a way, and like God was giving me a chance to go out and focus on His creation. Ever since, archery and bowhunting have been my true passion. I’ve stuck with it because I love the challenge of challenges.

What is your favorite aspect of the sport?

It’s the “what if” factor and the strategic values that go into bowhunting that made me fall in love with it. You might think you have it all figured out, but it comes down to one shot so you better be prepared. That shot defines everything you worked for before the season. So, when you do succeed, you look back on what you did to make that happen, and that
is the beauty of it all.

What is the Southeast archery community like?

If I had to describe Southeast archery in one word it would be “grit.” I am a little biased, but I believe the Southeast is the hardest area to hunt whitetail or any game. Not just because of the mountainous hills and weather, but I believe it’s because our animals have learned a few things over the years.

Most memorable hunting trip?

The first year I started bowhunting, I had worked all summer long on a 1-acre clover plot tucked in the side of the woods. On opening week of bow season, I had pictures of a deer I called “Broadband,” named after his wide antlers. On the fifth sit, there was a major temperature drop where it got down to 60 degrees in September, so I knew he would be on his feet. Instead, a giant buck I had never seen before came in 11 yards of my bow. I remember trying to explain to everyone how big he was, but it was almost like there. wasn’t enough proof. Because of this, I decided to document all of my hunts, and I fell in love with telling a story through film and sharing it on my YouTube channel “Bear Level.”

AJ DeMatteo

What got you started in archery?

My dad was a big bowhunter when I was young and was also heavily involved in the archery industry throughout his career. This was awesome, as I was able to have a wealth of knowledge just right down the hall. He was very good at coaching me, letting me make mistakes, and teaching me why I made those after the fact.

What is your favorite aspect of the sport?

I love the process of the sport: beginning with the building of arrows, starting with a bare shaft, adding different inserts to the arrows, wrapping and fletching my arrows, as well as tuning – all the way to picking out the perfect spot in areas that allow me to get within close enough range of an animal without it spooking. I also love the family part of hunting and hope to share my love of hunting with my children, Woods and Sailor.

What is the experience of an archery competition like?

I’ve competed in a number of different bowfishing tournaments, starting locally and then going to more regional and national tournaments, such as the U.S. Open Bowfishing Championship and the Muzzy Bowfishing Classic, where my team and I have been fortunate enough to have two second-place finishes and a third-place finish over the last three years. The experience is tough, but it can be very rewarding in the end. In these scenarios, every fish counts, and this alone keeps the adrenaline up and just powers you through to keep on going.

Most memorable hunting trip?

I went down with a handful of buddies to the southern part of Louisiana along the Gulf Coast in the pursuit of alligator gar, which has always been towards the top of my bowfishing bucket list. We took our boats and equipment and spent three or four nights in the middle of the swamp, usually from dark until daylight. Experiencing all the different types of wildlife in that region was incredible. We were able to arrow a number of nice alligator gar up to six feet long.

What do you hope to see for the future of the sport in the region?

I’d love to see more of the younger generations be introduced into the sport. Whether it be bowhunting, bowfishing, or just shooting a bow in the backyard, that can have a lasting impact on someone’s life and open up different opportunities for them over the course of their life – and who knows, potentially be passed down through another generation in the future.