Join Marc in Farmington New Mexico, Saturday June 13th at Xpert Archery. Xpert Archery is the premier full line archery and bowhuntingheadquarters of the Four Corners region. They are located at 5925 E. Main Street in Farmington, NM. Start the day shooting 3-D's at the Flora Vista Range and then join Marc atXpertArchery for an informative and entertaining seminar on BowhuntingWestern Big Game on public lands.Learn tips on hunting, calling and research. There will be Awesome gear give aways from sponsors suchas Hoyt, FUSE, Badlands Packs, Primos Calls, Goldtip arrows, Rocket Broadheads, Eastmans' Bowhunting and Hunting Journals, Montana Decoys, and much, much more.Check back for 3-D shoot details. With questions email us at wildcountrymarc@aol.com or call the folks at Xpert Archery (505) 325-5544.
We'll see you there!
April 28, 2009
After a seemingly endless journey, my good buddy Lane Farris downed his first long beard with a bow! Lane has put the time in the blind with his father Danny for the past few years. Though there have been a few close calls he just never had that perfect shot. Well last week it all came together and a big old Colorado Tom bit the dust. Lane's Brothers; Casey and Austin had their chances early and made good with their trusty .20 gauge. But for O'l Lane, it was a bow-kill or nothing! This level of determination is that of a seasoned Veteran, Lane is only 11 but he is one savvy turkey hunter and archer, keep your eye on this little guy!
Lane.... I commend you, you are my hero bud!
On another note, my buddies over at www.Outbackoutdoors.net are steadily "bringing it" every month to their on-line Video series. Catch the latest action as Adam Wells chase a Colorado mountain lion, this one ends pretty dang cool! The Outback team catches the true essence of the hunt, quality footage, careful editing and stellar content is what seperates these guys from the rest. Webasode 3 will be up soon and the turkey action is well wort the wait!
Good hunting
Marc
April 20, 2009
TURKEY SEASON!
What used to be a "hunt when convenient" outing has turned out to be a year long anticipation. I take turkey hunting quite serious these days, matter of a fact an example of this was the Colorado season opener this year. My good friend; Jace Bauserman and I left the trail head at 3:00 AM. The two and a half hour hike in the dark to the remote canyonlands put plenty of distance between us and the weekend warriors. At daybreak we discovered our set-up was near perfect as the gobblers were sounding off just a hundred yards up river. As we glassed the huge ancient cottonwoods, we counted more than 20 Merriam's turkeys on their roost. Just after Sun-up the birds were on the ground and headed our way. I connected on a long beard at 8:00 AM and Jace connected later in the evening as we intercepted birds headed back to their roost. For the rest of this story go to http://www.hoytalphamax.com/ ,Video will be up soon!
Good luck this turkey season and stay safe!
Marc
March 19th 2009
Man I am getting pumped for the upcomiong 2009 season. I have been shooting my new Hoyt AlphaMax 32 "Lights Out"!! Also shooting like a champ is my son Travis. He has struggled for years with his archery but it's all coming together for him now. Just last week he was out shooting his target rig, Hoyt Pro Elite and shot a Robinhood in the bulls-eye at 40 yards. He is solid as a rock and shooting great form. As a result of his new found confidence, Travis has opted to hunt the High Country with me this year. I can't wait to get above the clouds in Colorado Backcountry in September and watch T-Bone smoke down his first bow buck with his trusty Hoyt Ultratec.
I'll keep you posted!
Marc
Feb 7 ,2009
I am pleased to announce two additions to my sponsors in 2009. I am now shooting Gold Tip arrows and Vane-Tec vanes. So far I am shooting lights out with the Gold Tip Pro Hunters 55/75. In my opinion these are finest all carbon/graphite shafts available. The straightness and weight tolerances are amazing, resulting in the tightest down range groups I have ever shot. In addition to Gold Tip I am shooting Vane-Tec 2" HP vanes and the 3 inch Super Spine. Amazingly quiet and durable, check them out at www.goldtip.com and http://www.vmaxvanes.com/
I am very excited to announce that I am back with Rocket Aeroheads! Since the acquisition of Rocket back in 2004 by Trophy Ridge I have been shooting different brands and styles of broadheads. I have since made good pals with Rocket Marketing Manager; Ross Rinehart. Ross and I hit it off right away and now have a great working relationship. I cant wait to put the already proven 3 blade Meat Seeker and the new 2" two blade 100 grain Meat Seeker to good use this coming season. Check them out at http://www.trophyridge.com/broadheads/
Good shooting! Marc
Jan 13,2009
Marc's friends Darin Cooper and John Dudley have launched their new web ( www.DDbowhunting.com) Double D Bowhunting is a team of cutting edge, top shelf archers out getting it done in the back country. Their DVD is already a huge hit with western hunters and is swiftly making it's way back east. This is not just another "Whack-em and Stack'em" video. You will hear great tips on shooting, tree-stands, hunting, fitness, nutrition and judging distance from legendary bowhunter Randy Ulmer, world class target archer Danny McCarthy, and others. Buy the video that will change the industry, DD - The Cutting Edge.
November 13 2008
Hey everyone, I'm sorry it's been so long since an update. The season here has been Crazy! As many of you know I had a Bighorn Sheep tag. I hunted my butt off nearly the entire month of August. Though I came close a couple of times I never had a good opportunity so I ended up eating the tag. I was certain that if I did not kill a sheep the world would stop turning! I was wrong, the day after season I woke up and I was still alive. I want to thank Dennis Howell and Todd Brickell for their shared info and time spent helping me. I also want to give a shout out to my buddy Jace Bauserman and my son Travis for helping me the first week, you made it an enjoyable one.
I was able to connect on a Utah Muley, Colorado Muley, elk and Antelope though. It was a long and trying September but I managed to fill tags and put meat in the freezer. I have to shout out to Jace one more time for taking me to his "honey hole", my antelope season consisted of three stalks and one launched arrow. The whole ordeal was about two hours. I stalked a bedded buck with two does and made a perfect heart shot. My 2008 Hoyt 737 was a fantastic performer.
Lastly I wrapped up the season with an awesome week with my Homie "The Muley GURU" form the Four Corners; Jeremy- J-Bone Dugger! J-Train laid down some serious boot leather tracking and bird dogging on this hunt. In the final hours we were able to track down and slay a beautiful New Mexico 166 inch 5x5 muley. One shot from my trusty High Tech Customs .270 Wby took the buck down. I used Weatherby factory ammo loaded with the devastating Barnes TSX 130. This set up is lethal muley poision.
Another successful season of many filled tags and cherished memories made with my closest friends, truly a season to remember!
I hope your season is going well. Drop me a line at wildcountrymarc@aol.com I'd love to hear how your 2008 season is going.
Until Next time, Marc
Gobblers of the Great Plains
Join Pro Staffer Marc Smith & company on a Nebraska bowhunt
by Marc Smith / photos by Danny Farris
Hoyt Hunting Pro Staff member Marc Smith recently experienced a turkey hunt that will be forever etched in his mind. The ‘08 season opener found Marc and his long time friend Danny Farris – Associate Publisher of Petersen’s Bowhunting magazine – on the road to Nebraska, where they encountered plenty of gobblers, met up with good friends and made some great memories. Here’s their story …
To see the rest of this story go to www.hoyt.com and check out the Prostaff Corner, while there, make sure you check out the video of me pounding all three birds on the Hoyt videos!
Nov 2nd 2007
My son Travis and I just returned from an awesome youth hunt in unit 2B New Mexico. Travis drew a special youth tag in one of the best migration units anywhere. Typically the snow begins to fly in late September and early October getting the deer migration in full swing. That was not the case this year. The deer movement was slow and we resorted to hunting resident deer. Travis and I took full advantage of some of the gated roads and hiked several miles into remote canyons to find small localized pockets of deer. On the second evening of season we glassed up two bucks, Travis got into position and made a perfect 210 yard shot with his 30-06 that Papa Bill handed down to him on his 16th Birthday this year. A proud moment for both Trav and I, a sons first buck is a special moment in any hunters life. Sharing that kill and that special moment with my son shadows any accomplishments I have ever achieved while hunting.
Marc
Leave Nothing
This is the term created by the Marketing Folks at Nike. While watching NFL yesterday I saw this commercial.
It reminded me of my own determination and exhaustion of my recent back country public land elk hunt. Each year I hear unsuccessful bowhunters say things like, "I was just glad to get out in the elk woods with my bow" or "Being in the mountains is enough for me"... BLA BLA BLA! I say no way! Do you think you would ever hear a Pro Football player say "I'm just glad to get to the Super Bowl" "Win or lose at least I was here"! NO WAY...The seaon, the games, the hype, none of it means squat without that final "W" the big win. That is how I feel about my own backcountry hunts. Without a punched tag around the antlers of my quarry at the end of season, it's all for nothing. I can camp and smell the flowers and enjoy the beauty of the mountains anytime, I am a western boy and a mountain man. I expect results, it's what I do, bowhunting is who I am. On my recent back country hunt, I Left Nothing. I slept on the ground nine nights in a row, freezing temps pouring rain, up before the sun, bedding down late into the night. Most of the time near starvation, dehydration was constantly nagging at my lips but I stayed dilligent. Wearing the same crustry socks and wet clothes day in and day out. At times it was nearly impossible to talk myself into going any further... but further I went.
Chasing each bugle, investigating every ridge. On day six I was out of food but too far in to turn back. I ate birds, I even melted one of my Wilderness Athlete chocolate energy bars to create a chocolate sauce and dipped grub worms and beetles in it. I drank iodine purified creek water everyday. I was beyond roughing it...I Left Nothing! On day nine in the 11th hour of the hunt when there was little hope of punching my tag, a faint bugle rang out in the timber above me. I found the strength to forge ahead. I collected my thoughts and sent a few sweet soft cow calls in the direction of the bugling bull. The bull came crashing in, jumping over blow downs and smashing through the timber the bull came in looking for what he thought was a ready cow. What he found was a determined, exhausted predator that had stayed the course and Left Nothing!
What about you? Did you leave anything on the mountin this year? Will you be ready next year? Send me an email at marc@wildcountryoutdoors.com I would love to talk backcountry bowhunting with anyone willing to do what ever it takes to make the most of your season.
I'll see you on the Mountain,
Marc
For more information about Jackson please click here->
PURE HUNTING
This term defines this past weekend, as it was the Colorado early season opener. I spent three days with my daughter Casey-Marie as she is home for a visit before heading off to boot camp for the NAVY. I outfitted Casey with some extra gear and the two of us headed off to the Weminuche wilderness of southern Colorado. On Sunday evening August 26th Casey and I were still hunting along a ridge through an old burn area. Casey spotted three bucks above us through the fog and rain. I made a perfect 65 yard heart shot and the dandy 4x3 was ours. On the drive down to our hunting area Casey and I discussed what bow hunting really means to us and how special it is to harvest any animal with a bow and arrow. Just to keep things amped up we decided that the first opportunity we had a buck with four points on a side would suffice. This buck is not a record trophy but a true treasure that I hold in high regard. Just my little girl and me spending time alone with our camp on our back and stopping and camping when and where we felt like it... I love PURE HUNTING!
Warm Regards,
Marc
How did the Kalispell event go? Here's what some had to say...
"Marc's heart for hunting and for Christ shine through in his presentation. He makes it plain that he is a Christian hunter and that God is responsible for getting him where he is today. I would highly recommend Marc to speak at your next hunting event."
Jeremy Taylor Men's Ministry Coordinator Easthaven Baptist Church Kalispell, MT
"Marc's passion for the gifts that we have received from God, are as true as the flight of an arrow. He will make you laugh, and enjoy what the hunt is all about."
Justin Taylor, Owner Packer Creek Archery www.packercreek.com
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And the sons of Ulam were Mighty men of valor, Archers, and had many sons, and son's sons, an hundred and fifty. All these are the sons of Benjamin.
Chronicles 8:40 KJV
and shooting great form. As a result of his new found confidence, Travis has opted to hunt the High Country with me this year. I can't wait to get above the clouds in Colorado Backcountry in September and watch T-Bone smoke down his first bow buck with his trusty Hoyt Ultratec. 
tag in one of the best migration units anywhere. Typically the snow begins to fly in late September and early October getting the deer migration in full swing. That was not the case this year. The deer movement was slow and we resorted to hunting resident deer. Travis and I took full advantage of some of the gated roads and hiked several miles into remote canyons to find small localized pockets of deer. On the second evening of season we glassed up two bucks, Travis got into position and made a perfect 210 yard shot with his 30-06 that Papa Bill handed down to him on his 16th Birthday this year. A proud moment for both Trav and I, a sons first buck is a special moment in any hunters life. Sharing that kill and that special moment with my son shadows any accomplishments I have ever achieved while hunting.
