atha

ATHA-Fayetteville, AR

I traveled to Fayetteville, AR this past weekend to attend the first ever Arkansas Trophy Hunters Association Hunters Extravaganza. I was there representing Brazos Archery Outfitters and Bowhunting North America.

I’m sure by now you realize this is a spin off of the Texas Trophy Hunters Assoc. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this show with it being the first of this newly organized association, but understandably the show was a much smaller version of the TTHA show in Ft Worth, TX.

There was however a decent size crowd and we had a lot of interest from folks looking to book a bowhunt in Texas and we sold a good number of our DVD – “The Obsession” from Bowhunting North America. One thing I did notice is that there seems to be a higher percentage of bowhunters than in our state.

We spent the weekend next door to a booth manned by Frank Broyles, athletic director for the University of Arkansas - a very interesting and classy guy.

I also had a chance to meet Michael Waddell and David Blanton from Realtree and had the chance to hear them both speak in one of the many seminars. These two guys are just super individuals! Very sincere and very entertaining. Make it a point to see them if you’re ever near an event they attend.

We traveled through some beautiful country between Fayetteville and Ft Smith. It was such a busy weekend that we had very little time for sight-seeing, but I’d sure like to travel back up there sometime when I have a little more time to look around.

What I saw of the University of Arkansas campus was beautiful too.

I feel sure the show was enough of a success that it will be held again next year and should be even bigger and better. Make plans to attend if you can – the scenery alone is worth the trip.

John Shelley

Pro Staff

Bowhunting North America, LLC