Have you been to the grocery store lately? It’s an interesting scene. Common commodities like meat, toilet paper, and medicine have been bought up. There is a sense of uncertainty that is spreading across the country. But, in this time of chaos, as hunters, I encourage you to pause, to stay calm. Now, I’m not saying or implying are you are immune to this fast-spreading virus, what I am saying is that as a hunter you have the means to survive, even when it feels like the daily essentials are going just as fast as they are coming.
Pull out your hunting pack and what will you find? Hopefully, it includes a headlamp, a GPS, a knife, a couple of dehydrated meals, a lighter, an emergency kit, some batteries a small tarp and of course your favorite calls, some Nature’s Paint and so on. Your pack should be basically a small survival pack. Every year you head out into the wilderness in hopes of harvesting meat for yourself and your family. You face the elements and the unknown, just as we are today. And, no matter what happens you are prepared for what may come. Just as you are today. Yes, that’s right, because you are a hunter you are prepared, at least when it comes to your food source. Where’s the meat? What’s in your freezer? What opportunities do you have on the horizon? You know the answer to all of these questions. And, I don’t say this lightly because not everyone can answer these with certainty. Your meat, well it’s at your favorite hunting spot or maybe even your secret fishing hole. It’s out there being organic, running free, eating a diet it was designed to eat and living the kind of life it was designed to live. Your freezer, I hope that it’s full from last year’s big game season and the recent waterfowl season. If it’s not, fear not, opportunity is around the corner with Spring bear, turkey and more. You have the answers, you have the skills, you have the equipment...you have access to the highest quality meat available, even when the store shelves are empty. Of course, that’s not the whole story in this case, but its a big part of it. You still need to care for yourself, care for your health and do what you can to stay well and healthy. But the meat, don’t worry about the meat because as hunters we have access to truly organic, free-range, lean protein, even when it can’t be found at the grocery store. With today’s events, I can’t help but be proud of and grateful for this way of life. So, today, I encourage you to be proud of yourself. Be proud that you have embraced a lifestyle that allows you to provide for yourself. A lifestyle that requires you to practice the most basic survival techniques throughout the year. A lifestyle that brings you a sense of calm during chaos. Live the #NaturesPaintLife So go ahead, harvest your meat, know your food, and stay calm while we weather this storm, it’s what we call living the #NaturesPaintLife. At Nature’s Paint, we are dedicated to providing 100 percent natural hunting face paint and that you can depend on to keep you concealed throughout your day’s hunt and come off with the swipe of a towellet at the end of the day. Learn more about Nature’s Paint.
0 Comments
Ask a hunter why he or she hunts and you will get a variety of answers—I love being outside, the thrill of the chase, the challenge both mentally and physically, connecting with nature and so on. However, one reason you will hear time and time again is for food...I want to feed myself and my family with high-quality meat.
Take a walk through the grocery store and what do you see when it comes to meat? A variety of cuts and options, bright red, sitting on styrofoam and wrapped in plastic. What was once mass-produced in a factory farm, in tight living quarters, pumped with a variety of medications and vaccines is now sitting on a shelf ready to be consumed. Sure, there are other options like visiting your local butcher or opting for organic, hormone-free, grass-fed options. But, at the end of the day, we still don’t know how “free-range” those animals really were, that is unless we were the rancher taking care of them. The only way to be sure is to know your food and where it comes from. It’s no wonder high-quality meat is at the top of every hunter’s list. So what do we get when we hunt? While the best meat on this planet makes the top of the list time and time again, hunting provides so much more than that. It provides a deep connection with nature and with the animals we hunt. And, with that, it tends to make us so much more appreciative of our food and the meals we share. It helps to provide an understanding that we are not entitled to any meal and that nothing is guaranteed. Tag soup is surely the best example of this. But best of all, it’s an experience that cannot be duplicated. From the lowest of lows to the highest of highs all in one day it teaches us to practice patience, to be mentally and physically tough and to always be a student. I suppose that leads us to the big question, when it comes to hunting, what is on your plate? It’s one of those activities that no matter the outcome leaves you with a full plate. Hours in the backwoods help to improve your strength and agility, the mental and physical demands help you to be resilient, the stalk and blown opportunities teach you to be patient, and the harvest teaches you to be grateful. At the end of the day, at the end of the season, no matter the outcome, hunting provides a rich experience and a plate filled with life lessons. So get out there, explore the woods, ditch the path, enjoy the highs, endure the lows, and know that no matter how your hunt ends that you will leave with a full plate. Live the #NaturesPaintLife Embracing nature, the hunt and all that it provides, it’s what we call living the #NaturesPaintLife. At Nature’s Paint, we are dedicated to providing 100 percent natural face paint that you can depend on to keep you concealed throughout your day’s hunt and come off with the swipe of a towellet at the end of the day. Learn more about Nature’s Paint. Summer is coming to an end which means our favorite season is right around the corner. In less than two weeks (in Oregon) we will be hitting the woods in hopes of being lucky enough to harvest some big game! With that, its time to open up the hunting pack and make our final effort to gear up before the season opens.
Before we dive into our checklist of hunting pack essentials, we have a giveaway opportunity for you! We have teamed up with several brands to bring you the opportunity to win gear packs ranging from a value of $500 to $1,750! Entering is simple, all you have to do is click here and fill out the form. You have until August 22nd to enter and can gain up to six entries. We will be drawing three lucky winners on August 23rd! Ok, now that you’re in the running for some pretty awesome gear, let's talk about hunting pack essentials.
Happy prepping and best of luck this season! Calm, soothing, and still...vibrant, colorful, and alive...exhilarating, action-packed, and edgy...these terms all describe the great outdoors and the emotions that an avid outdoorsman experiences in a single adventure.
Down to our core, we were made to experience all that nature has to offer. No matter our age, there is a sense of self, satisfaction, and achievement the great outdoors provides that can’t be found anywhere else. Not to mention the values and life lessons that one takes away from time in nature. With the distractions of technology, video games, and TV shows it’s important, now more than ever, to get the youth outside, in tune with nature, and learning valuable skills and lessons they will carry through life. Simply put, kids are meant to be outdoors, and every child deserves the opportunity to experience and embrace all that mother nature provides. For this reason, and many more, Nature’s Paint is teaming up with Raise ’Em Outdoors to remove barriers and help kids from all walks of life get outside through our “Experience the Outdoors” campaign. “Raise ‘Em Outdoors is dedicated to helping kids from any background get outdoors, learn all about hunting, fishing, bringing food to the table, and the outdoors as a lifestyle.” And, through their nationwide outdoor camps are teaching kids lifelong skills. Like any camp, there is a cost of entry and of course a sponsorship program in place for families that can't necessarily afford the camp. At Nature’s Paint, we have made it our goal to provide a minimum of 10 scholarships to families who need assistance with the entry fee and we are doing this by contributing a portion of our sales. For one month, April 15th through May 13th we are donating 30% of our sales to Raise ‘Em Outdoors with the goal of providing a minimum of 10 scholarships, a value of $750 to this amazing camp. With that, we encourage you to head over to naturespaint.org and grab a set of paint for yourself and your hunting partner. And, feel good about doing your part to enhance a life through the outdoor lifestyle we all know and love. Help us blow this goal out of the water and get as many kids as possible outside and experiencing the great outdoors! Nature’s Paint is an all natural camo face paint. Formulated for ultimate comfort, our natural camo paint is easy on/easy off, sweat and water resistant, 100% natural, USA made, and free of harmful chemicals. Our “lip balm” style packaging allows for a mess-free, easy on application while our 100% natural ingredients allow for removal with ease: no scrubbing, no irritation, no breakouts. Nature’s paint was designed by hunters for hunters. I have had the privilege of attending the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo in Salt Lake City Utah, the last two years. During both of those trips the majority of my time was spent working in the Nature’s Paint booth, showing people of all walks of life what an awesome face paint it truly is. The attendance is as diverse as any other around, you have your professional hunters, the elderly who go out and duck hunt 3 or 4 times a year, families who hunt together and everyone in between. No matter where they came from, what they like to hunt or how they hunt, they all have one thing in common, they are all there to support the hunting industry and conservation. I remember 4 years ago when I attended Ladies Hunting Camp, I met Sereena Thompson and the night of the camp’s fashion show she had announced the birth of Nature’s Paint. The models that evening were giddy with excitement to be able to wear this brand new product. I remember how big of a deal it was and how excited everyone was about it. That was the first year that I archery hunted and remember the day that Nature’s Paint was released for sale, I was online and hitting the purchase button. It has been fun to watch the company grow over the past few years, and attending the hunt expo two consecutive years has been really exciting. At a show like the Hunt Expo there are larger companies looking to add new products to their inventory line, as well as the everyday outdoor/hunting consumer. Not only is it a great opportunity to expand a business but it is an amazing opportunity to talk to the consumer. Last year we sold Nature’s Paint to several hunters who came back by the booth this year, some just to say hi and tell us about there hunts and others to pick up some more paint for this hunting season. This year about 90% of the new customers who stopped by the booth said “ oh this is the face paint that Born and Raised uses.” How cool is that? If you are not familiar with Born and Raised I highly recommend that you check out Land of the Free and Land of the Free 2.0. I have to be honest I don’t have a lot of time to watch TV, or videos, but I took the time to watch these. To be able to follow this group of hunters through the good, bad and ugly of these DYI hunts was inspirational for me. From the Nature’s Paint side of things it is great to see the paint in action. Another fun aspect of the show was having the husbands/boyfriends come up to the booth and holler back at their wife/girlfriend. “ Honey this is the face paint that won’t make your face break out”. There were several people who made that exact comment or comments similar. That is always a fun way to start a conversation as to how exactly Nature’s Paint was born. When you tell people that it was formulated because an avid hunter tried face paints but all of the ones on the market would either make her face break out, stain clothing or wouldn’t come off for a week. So she took it upon herself in her kitchen to make her own. People really enjoy knowing exactly how a company starts and I think it surprises most people. As we had time we packaged up the paint in the booth, not that it is an exciting process by any means but people appreciate seeing what goes into what they are buying. Knowing that each package that they purchase was put together by someone who has the same interests in the outdoors as they do. One new story that we heard was of a dog that got ahold of the paint, in his attempt to put on the paint or eat it the carpet got a new camo look. What could have been a huge disaster was easily cleaned up with a little warm soapy water. That scenario wasn’t in the original testing, but it is always good to know, incase some other dog who is worried about concealment gets his paws on Nature's Paint in the future.
As I reflect back on the show and my experience of using Nature’s Paint I can’t help but feel a sense of pride. To be able to work at a show and interact with thousands of people each day and not hear one negative comment about a product is pretty amazing. Knowing that people had Nature’s Paint on there must go to booth list because the product is that important to them. Nicole and Sereena have really built something special with the Nature’s Paint product, and there hard work and integrity shines in every concealed face in the mountains, valley’s and blinds. It’s 3:00 am, and the alarm goes off. The day begins with a quick shower and hot cup of coffee. The bows and packs are in the truck ready to go. The camo is on, and boots are tied. The last thing she needs to do is tie up her hair and throw on a hat. That’s right; mom is headed out hunting. A woman's place is no longer in the home; it's out in the woods enjoying the great outdoors and taking part in providing the best source of meat possible for her family.
Being a mom is so much more than carrying your growing baby and giving birth. It’s caring for a human that is completely dependent on you. It’s a constant worry, sleepless nights and ultimate joy. It’s taking on the hardest and most rewarding job you will ever have in this life. You have the task of teaching hard lessons and the pleasure of raising a human that will make a difference in this world. With that comes the responsibility and opportunity pass down this amazing hunting lifestyle we know and love. We are seeing more and more women take on hunting. Some are adopting this lifestyle to know where their food comes from while others simply want a little more time with their significant other. Regardless of the reason, we are seeing an upward trend in women hunters that is trickling down to our youth. Hunting is no longer an activity to enjoy with just dad, its very much a family affair and that's a good thing. Together, we are teaching our youth the importance of conservation and respect for the great outdoors and animals we harvest. Together, we are passing along a lifestyle that is challenged day in and out. Being a mother is a gift that is unexplainable. It's the ultimate blessing, a love that is always growing and a relationship that never ends. This Mother's Day we celebrate all of you, the hunting moms who are passing down the values we know and love to the next generation of hunters. It’s time to celebrate and thank the women who made us who we are today. Take advantage of our Mother's Day Package and celebrate the woman who gave you the confidence to accomplish your goals, nursed your scrapes and bruises, introduced you to the great outdoors and helped teach you to hunt. It’s no secret why we created Nature’s Paint: for practicality, ease of use, and safety. We are hunters who are deeply passionate about the overall hunting experience. We are not models nor do we hit the woods to spend our day taking selfies. We hit the woods to get away from the daily clutter, to push ourselves physically and mentally, and to experience all that nature has to offer. We are practical hunters who demand practical products that allow us the most time doing what we love, hunting.
Two of the most precious commodities in this life are time and money, and it seems we are always trading one for the other and never have enough of either. When it comes to maximizing your time in the woods every second counts. This is where practical hunting gear comes into play. Nature’s Paint was carefully designed and packaged to conceal you quickly and with ease. You may have noticed our paint is like no other, you may have even mistaken it for lip balm a time or two. So what is this all about? Why didn’t we throw it in a compact like everyone else? The simple answer is time and practicality. However, the detailed answer is quite complex. So let’s dive in. Ease of Use A majority of hunting face paints come in a standard camo compact with three colors. To apply, you must vigorously rub your finger on a color until you have enough to wipe on your face. This is both time-consuming and messy. Nature’s Paint was carefully crafted with 100% natural ingredients and poured into lip balm tubes (Just like the tubes you use every day to keep your lips from being chapped). Our “lip balm” style packaging allows for a quick, mess-free application. Unlike common compacts, you can simply remove the lid and apply the paint directly to your face allowing an “easy on” application. Many of these standard camo paints are made with low quality, synthetic and harmful ingredients. These ingredients are known to cause skin irritations and breakouts. To top it off, many of these paints are next to impossible to remove from the skin leaving you with remnants of black, green and brown in your pores after hours of scrubbing. Nature’s Paint beneficial butter based formula allows your pores to breathe and removal with ease. This all natural hunting face paint includes safe, natural ingredients making it irritant free and easy off. Time We have all said it before, there is not enough time in the day, especially during our favorite hunting seasons. Many of us are trying to juggle full-time careers, family, and our passions. We don't have spare time to waste. Nature’s Paint perfectly sized tubes allow for just a few strokes of each color to achieve complete concealment. In fact, you can apply Nature’s Paint and be ready for your hunt in less than 30 seconds. We have eliminated the extra step of washing or wiping off your hands, saving you even more time. Not only do we need to save time before a hunt but we could all use a little extra time after a hunt, especially after a long day of packing out. Sticking with an all natural camo face paint eliminates the time and difficulty associated with removing the paint. Nature’s Paint hunting face paint can be removed in seconds with a towelette, face wipe, or baby wipe. Reflection It’s good to take a little time for reflection, in the mirror that is, and only to be sure your concealment is on point. Nature’s Paint camo combo pack comes with a mirror cut to precise dimensions ensuring you able to apply your paint from anywhere and be confident you are concealed and ready to hunt. Keeping it all Together There is nothing worse than purchasing a face paint that is difficult to locate in your pack. The last thing you need to spend your time doing is digging around in your pack to try and find your paint. Nature’s Paint eliminates the time and hassle of finding your paint with a paracord lanyard. This paracord lanyard not only keeps your paint and mirror together but it also makes the paint simple to find. All you have to do is loop your finger through the paracord and pull the paint out of the clutter in your pack. Not a fan of lanyards? No problem. We have upgraded our packaging to a standard cap that fits into a "lanyard cap" allowing you to take individual tubes and place them in your pocket or carry around the whole set on a lanyard. The choice is yours. Conclusion From our ingredients to our packaging we crafted Nature’s Paint to be the best camo face paint. With carefully selected ingredients and packaging, our natural camo face paint eliminates the complaints often associated with hunting face paint. Interested in learning more about Nature’s Paint? Check out the benefits here. You’ve spent countless hours tuning your bow, perfecting your shot and preparing to call in a nice tom this spring but have you thought about how you will get close enough for a shot? In just a few days you will be sitting at eye level with a creature that has telescopic vision and the ability to flee the scene in upwards of 25-55 mph. You will be in his territory where he has every advantage over you and without proper concealment your odds of harvesting a nice tom this season go down.
Your camo clothing will cover your body but what will you do to conceal your face? Many turkey hunters are turning to camo face paint for one simple reason, stealth. No one has time to deal with the fidgeting that comes with the bulk and discomfort of face masks. One small movement could be the difference between the perfect shot and a missed opportunity. You see, turkeys have telescopic vision and can detect motion over 100 yards away. They can see roughly 270 degrees wide and up to three times greater than a human’s 20/20 vision. You can see why concealment is a top priority when turkey hunting. When thinking about concealment and selecting your gear this season, you must have the eye of the turkey. So what will make the difference and help you disappear with nature this spring turkey season? Nature’s Paint 100% natural face paint. Concealment is the whole point of camo face paint. It is used to break up your face, darken your highlighted features and help you disappear with nature. To accomplish this, you need a minimum of three colors: black, green and brown. These three colors will provide coverage in every turkey hunting situation. You will want to use all three colors to create a break-up pattern on your face and hands (if you don't wear gloves). We are not talking about a cool design or the “perfect pattern” for your selfie; we are talking about a pattern that is a bit messy and a little sloppy, one that truly blends you with nature and gets you closer to your harvest. The beautiful thing about turkey hunting is it allows hunters to sneak off a couple of hours before or after work to get a quick hunt in. Selecting an all natural face paint that is easy on and easy off like Nature’s Paint keeps your comfortable while hunting, allows you to remove your paint on the way to work and breeze in the door on time. So where can you find such a paint? You can get your camo combo pack here! Nature’s Paint camo face paint is the best camo face paint for turkey hunting and just about any other type of hunting that requires camo face paint. This all-natural camo face paint includes safe, natural ingredients making it irritant free, easy on and easy off. The beneficial butter based formula allows pores to breathe while keeping the paint water resistant. Nature’s Paint comes in “lip balm” style tubes, it is mess free, unlike common compacts. This natural camo face paint is available in three dark colors: Ash Black, Buck Brown and Moss Green making it effective for almost any terrain and camo pattern. All factors considered, in our opinion Nature’s Paint is the best camo face paint for turkey hunting. Tags: natural camo face paint, natural camo paint, camo face paint, hunting face paint, easy off face paint, turkey hunting face paint A year ago we launched Nature’s Paint with one of the industry’s first all-natural camo face paints. Prior to launching, we spent countless hours formulating, testing and retesting. Over this last year we took an already great product and made it even better and we have you, our loyal customers to thank for that! With help and feedback from customers like you, we made some very exciting changes and can say with confidence you are going to love the new Nature’s Paint. It's this simple, you spoke, we listened and took action. The best part is, we are finally ready to share the brand new face paint with you! The new paint has all of the benefits you know and love with a few bonuses.
So what’s so new and special? Functionality You can say goodbye to paint sticking in the tubes. The new paint rolls up and down like a champ. Scent With a few formula tweaks, we were able to eliminate the slight scent while using 100% natural ingredients. Crumbles We ran into some paint starting to crumble after time. It still worked just fine but did not provide the smooth finish we were after. The new formula starts smooth and stays smooth. Shelf Life With our new, all natural preservative formula we are happy to announce Nature’s Paint has a two-year shelf life! Safety With all of these outstanding benefits and upgrades, we were not only able to keep Nature’s Paint 100% natural, but we have increased the organic ingredients to 60%. Versatility Lanyard or no lanyard, it's all a matter of preference which is why we have changed our packaging. We have upgraded to a standard cap that fits into a "lanyard cap" allowing you to take individual tubes and place them in your pocket or carry around the whole set on a lanyard. The choice is yours. What’s more, we have accomplished all of this without increasing the price! We invite you to try the updated and improved Nature’s Paint camo face paint.
Available for Pre-Order NOW! Guaranteed delivery before archery season (August 26, 2017). Our very own Team NP Brooke Smith killed it at her very first train to hunt competition on June 3rd in Gilchrist, Oregon. She will be competing amongst the best train to hunt athletes in the nation on July 8th and 9th in Grand Junction, CO. This is no easy feat for anyone. It takes months of preparation, a strong body, a strong mind and a tremendous amount of willpower. We took a moment to chat with Brooke about where she started, how she got where she is and how she is preparing for the competition of a lifetime. Here is what Brooke had to say: What inspired you to compete? I heard of Train to Hunt last summer, and don't really know why it lit a spark inside of me. I had never competed in anything like this before. I am new to archery, so really I am a complete rookie in every aspect. In the past, I have shown cattle and taken my rat rod to car shows, most anything that I have ever competed in I was judged. In a world where I think to many people are judged, I liked that I had control of the outcome. I was going to get out of Train to Hunt (TTH) what I put into it. There are no participation awards, if you work hard and want it bad enough then you will find your spot on the podium. This was also the case in the kid's division which I think is awesome! I thought if I can manage to pull this off, I can probably do anything! What is your fitness level now compared to when you first started? I am probably the strongest that I have ever been in my life. I have always been an active person, but not by definition of fitness. I grew up and spent most of my life logging and ranching, so my workouts were changing pipes, bucking hay bales and piling brush. I have never been to a gym or been involved in CrossFit. My workouts were just what was involved in a day's work. How did you prepare? October 2016 was when I truly decided that I was going to compete in TTH in 2017. My plan at that time was to train at home. I had a rough idea of what was going to be asked of me at the competition so I was going to use that information to train. I have a friend who competed last year and he gave me some tips on what he felt were important things to focus on. In November and December, I did a lot of running, leg work and shooting. Sometime in January, a friend added me to a Facebook group, the members were either training for TTH or trying to get into better shape for hunting season. I almost left the group because I was intimidated by what these guys were posting. I didn't understand what most of these exercises were, and it seemed like it was way over my head. I played along with the group and went ahead and introduced myself to everyone, explaining my goals and lack of experience in the fitness world. Soon I had a message from Steven Dahn who had seen my post and suggested that I get in touch with Courtney Levesque who had not only competed in 2016 but also won Nationals. I knew who Courtney was through social media and I had watched several of her videos, she is a total badass. We connected and she offered me some great advice on how to prepare and what to expect. It turned out that Steven and Courtney operate a business called Elevation Fitness Training (EFT), after several emails, and text messages I decided to do something I had never done and joined their fitness family. With a full-time job and my own business, I don't have a lot of extra time. The program fit perfectly with my schedule being that I could work out at home with things that I have. The app clearly explained and demonstrated the exercises that I didn't know so I could do them properly. In February I took what for me was a big step and joined EFT. My only regret was not joining sooner. Not only have both Courtney and Steven competed in TTH they are both hunters and fitness instructors. My workouts from day one were based upon my goals. At the beginning, my workouts were focused on building strength and stamina. Burpee's and more burpees I still don't like them but I am a lot better at them. My workouts range from an hour to an hour and a half four days a week, with a lot of shooting in between and hiking. A lot of my workouts include shooting with an elevated heart rate and from different positions. For example, I may perform 15 get up's, run 400 yards then draw back at a kneeling position stand and shoot. I gathered up enough items that I could simulate the challenge course in my backyard. I spent a lot of time running 45 lbs in my pack (I am currently running with 60lbs). I wore holes in a couple of sandbags. At times when I needed to add weight, I put a bag of sugar or a kettlebell in my pack. How are you training for Nationals? Currently as I prepare for Nationals I am doing a lot of high-intensity workouts. There is going to be quite a big change in elevation in Colorado and I am trying to prepare for that as best I can. I am trying to get to some high elevations around home to workout, I have also invested in an elevation training mask to use to get used to the thinner air. With nationals, I don't know what to expect, which makes training challenging. There will be three events July 8-9th 2017 but we don't find out what they are until the morning of the 8th for that day and then the evening of the 8th we find out what we have to do on the 9th. So I will just continue to train as hard as I can and not let the unknown get in my head. How many have you competed in? Oregon 2017 was my first Train to Hunt, however, it won't be my last one, I am hooked. My husband has also caught the bug and plans to compete next year. What was your favorite part of the competition? The comradery has to be at the top of my list. So many like-minded people together to support and cheer each other on. We all have a passion for the outdoors and a love for hunting. At one point someone's release failed during the event and someone else was there to loan him a release so that he could get through. We are all competing, but we are all there for one another. I heard stories of how Train to Hunt saved marriages and even lives. It is hard to explain what an amazing thing this is and how it impacts each person in its own special way. What was your least favorite part of the competition? There was nothing about the competition that I didn't like, but one thing I learned at Oregon was that I need to work on my mental game. A couple of times I let things get into my head and it affected my shooting. This competition is just as much mental as physical and you need to be strong in both areas to succeed. What have you learned about hunting during this process? I have learned a lot about myself during this process. Mostly that I can do anything and that 40 isn't too old to try new things. If you don't try you will never know if you can be successful. I have never been an overly confident person or outgoing. Maybe that is why I enjoy hunting so much, it is just you and the animal, no one judging you or pointing out faults. Train to Hunt has brought me out of my shell and I want to share that with everyone. How do you think this competition will impact your 2017 hunting season? I look forward to hunting season this year. I am so much stronger than I was last hunting season. My stamina is much greater than it has ever been. I feel like a can do anything. I am a lot more confident in my shooting. I have only been shooting archery for a year, so last year I was still pretty insecure about it. Bring on September and the mountains, I am looking forward to it. What advice would you give those who are interested in competing for the first time? Do It! I don't care what kind of shape that you are in or how much experience that you have shooting a bow, you need to do it. There was a woman at the Oregon TTH who picked up a bow for the very first time the day before the competition, she got frustrated a few times, but she never gave up and she finished the day with her head held high and a huge amount of respect from every single person who was there. If you are interested feel free to contact me, I would love to talk to you. The feeling that you get when you cross the finish line is like no other. The friends that you meet will be ones that you will have for a lifetime and I think it is safe to say that if you do it once you are going to do it a second time. It is empowering, motivating and for some a life changing experience. There are not a lot of women who compete in Train to Hunt and I would love to see that change next year. I think it would be awesome to have a large group of women show up and just do it! You can compete in women's or co-ed team or as an individual. Don't be scared of the unknown or that you won't measure up. You just have to go and do it for yourself. Set a goal for you and only focus on you. Can you give a little recap of the course and the types of activities you completed? What did the competition consist of? At Oregon TTH the day started out with a 20 target 3D shoot. We were grouped with the other people that we would be competing against the rest of the day. There were 100 pts possible from the shoot and for every point there would be time added to your run at the end of the day, so the better you shot the better your time would be. Rangefinders were allowed on some targets, but not others. Some of the tricky shots were two shots in 10 seconds, draw back and hold for 30 seconds and shooting from a kneeling position. Once the shoot was over then we broke into heats for the challenge course and mountain course. On average there were four people in each heat. We loaded our packs before the event started, for me and my class I had a 30 lbs sandbag in my pack and then I had a 30 lb bag to use for my challenges. Here is how the course played out: 100-foot tire drag Run 600 yards Shoot a target @ 30 yards 10-box overs with sandbag Run 600 yards Shoot a target @ 30 yards 10-get ups with sandbag Run 600 yards Shoot a target @ 30 yards 10-sandbag over the Shoulder Run 600 yards Shoot a target @ 30 yards 10-burpees Put on weighted pack and run 1.2 miles with bow and shoot the two targets along the course. If at any point during the course a shot was missed you had to do burpees before you could continue on. My husband was waiting for me at the last target, and when I could see the finish line there were people cheering me on, yelling my name and telling me that I could do it. As I crossed the line strangers were there to take my pack off and take my bow, they handed me a cold bottle of water and congratulated me. I wanted to cry, I was a bundle of emotions, my best friends made it there to watch me, my family was there cheering me on, my trainers changed their schedule to stay and took turns running with me and giving me pep talks. My husband who put up with my workouts and scheduling things around them was right there by my side before, during and as I finished the race. As soon as I caught my breath, we spent the rest of the day cheering for everyone else who crossed the finish line, as they did for me. I showed up that morning only knowing a couple of people, and by the end of the day, I felt like I had a huge loving Train to Hunt family. We are proud to have Brooke as part of our TeamNP family and wish her the best of luck at Nationals! Way to go, Brooke!
|