TBOF 2002 Florida State Traditional Championship
By David Tetzlaff

The 2002 Traditional Bowhunters of Florida State Championship began with a traffic jam. At least it did for my wife Kelly and myself as we began our trailer toting drive to Crooked Lake on February 27th. Kelly's father called us on his way home from work in Ft. Myers to inform us that I-75 was backed up from Naples to Ft. Myers and beyond for some unknown reason. Fortunately, we had plan #2 which was to use the slow but effective US 27 route up the center of the state.

The drive was pleasant and the outside temperatures continued to drop as we neared the Ocala Forest. We finally made it to the shoot site and attempted to set up with a minimum of noise as to not disturb the officers and board members who were already encamped. I think our teeth chattering made more a disturbance than the set up process. We South Florida folks are hardly accustomed to nights in the 20's.

Thursday morning was brisk to say the least and the cold air was the perfect encouragement to motivate those there for the work. The current officers on hand, Bob Carrier, Bruce Hamlin, Wayne Carter, Nick Coullias, Cass Vickers and myself were grateful for the assistance of the previous board for their continued involvement in the many details of arranging the shoots. They have done more than their share in the past and yet continue to put forth great efforts for the club. Our thanks to Ronnie Weatherman, John McCormick, Rich Nichol and Jim Zetwick for 'above and beyond' all weekend.

In my short 5 years as a TBOF member, I am still amazed how a patch of empty ground is turned into a small city by the time most of the shooters and campers arrive. It is an almost circus type atmosphere as individuals assemble for the group cause of creating a temporary town for archers. The foremost task at hand is erecting The Big Top also known as the registration tent. The assistance from Tom VanWynen was greatly appreciated. This becomes Grand Central Station for the duration of the shoot. I refer to it as Bruce Hamlin's Office as once the tent is up, we all get evicted so Bruce can begin his personal process of organizing all the materials needed to organize the paperwork parts of the shoot. We left the organization of the registration area to Bruce and Kelly and the rest of us set to putting up the other tented pavilions, putting out the trash cans, setting and hanging signs and sorting out other needed items. The arrival of the essential port-a-lets is greeted with much enthusiasm for obvious reasons. Thanks to Jimmy Z for getting them placed in an expeditious manner.

With matters under control in the registration area, we congregated to begin the hard, yet fun, work. That is the task of setting up the competition and fun ranges. All 60 targets must be carried by hand or by wheelbarrow down the narrow trails that comprise our ranges. Assisting the board members were Roger Wilburn and Ray Johnson.

Following the placing of the competition targets we tackled the fun range. Those of you who shot the fun range this year noticed that we are trying to make the range live up to its title of "fun" with the addition of props and other ways to differentiate this range from the others. We would like to continue this trend and make the fun range more enjoyable with each passing shoot. Chris Savage has offered to help us out in the future with this range. If you have ever been to his shoots in Sebring, you'll know the best is yet to come!

On Friday morning, Bob left me to hold down the fort and the rest of the Board and officers went to the proposed new shoot site at the Hunters Education Facility just east of Silver Springs. There was still much work to be done and with the help of Tom Van Wynen, Chris Savage, Don Copeland and Mike Gray we accomplished much in their absence. We finished up the fun range, hauled and hung the coolers on the ranges, tied out the practice range and set the coon shoot. We would like to thank the fine folks from Rhinehart targets for the use of their pronghorn antelope target for our fun range. Wasn't that velociraptor an impressive sight as you rounded the corner headed to the registration area?

The fun range opened for business in the early afternoon and a major thank you goes to Ronnie's daughter, Crystal, for running the fun range all weekend for us. And we would like to thank everyone who shot the fun range, many, more than once. We realize that it's a nice warm up for the competition ranges, but your shoot fees are essential for the continuation of our club.

Friday evening found us arranging score and membership cards and attending to all the details that preclude the actual competition. Soon after, the coon shoot began with all shooters attempting to hit in the dark, what is now affectionately known as the "Bob Zone." (i.e. the ridiculously small kill zones that our beloved Bob Carrier draws around those snap lights!)

Saturday began with the usual pleasant chaos that the competition shoot brings. Questions, questions and answers to most of them. Last minute details while trying to sell raffle tickets and T-shirts. Bob scrambling his notes together for the opening comments and range rules that most of us know by heart by now. And then the human parade to our target stations. My personal thanks to Bruce and Nick for absorbing the workload at the registration area so the rest of the officers could shoot the competition range, although I honestly believe Bruce volunteered to remain behind so he could tune his new Black Widow!

Before we all headed out to the ranges Saturday, Bruce made a special presentation. An anonymous club member had donated a bow asking only that it be given to a youth that really stood out during this shoot. It just so happens that a young man had turned in some money he found on the coon shoot Friday evening. He actually left the range and came to the registration area to turn the money in. He could have easily kept the money. There are plenty of things a young fellow can do with some extra spending money, but he didn't even think about it. He handed it over hoping the rightful owner would be able to claim it. These actions caught Bruce's eye and he choose this young man to receive the donated longbow. This young mans name is James Morrow. He should be congratulated for standing out amongst his peers. Interestingly enough, James accidentally broke his bow Friday evening after the coon shoot, but this had no effect on Bruce's decision, as he didn't hear about it until Sunday. Funny how things work out. James borrowed a bow from Roger Wilburn after his broke and won the youth division and `is now our new State Champion. Way to go James!

We had a great turn out for the shoot and I know Bruce was working in overdrive before the shoot, as all the registrations seemed to arrive at once. In addition, he and Kelly were still signing folks up right until the start of the first round. I think everyone found Bruce's new one-sided scorecards very user friendly, I know my group did.

I think everyone will agree that we had a great raffle table this year. Thanks to all who donated some great items and a special thanks to Jim Zetwick for all the leg work contacting the various dealers and vendors who graciously provided raffle items for the shoot. I know Nick Coullias was selling those red tickets like hotcakes while Cass Vickers was holding down the other end of the tent with T-shirt sales. And, as always, Charlie Wheeler did a fine job with the novelty shoot during our mid-day intermission.

In between running around with my various chores it is really great to see everyone enjoying the vendors, the food tents and one another's company. It's a light-hearted festival atmosphere that I truly hope we always maintain. And I am always envious of those who get the "Martha Varney Treatment." One gets a great massage and your money goes to those great kids at the Boggy Creek Gang Camp.

At the close of the second round, the enormous job of sorting and regrouping scorecards begins. The competition was close and hot this year in all classes. As we were closing down "Bruce's Office" for the evening Bob Carrier was playing 'roadie' getting set for his 7:00 pm inspirational music service with his guitar, speakers and other gear. My request for some Led Zeppelin cover tunes was firmly declined.

As darkness settled over the shoot site, the ever-popular trade blankets began. Sam Hunter was back to orchestrate the adult trading while Steve Sefsick supervised the kids' trade blanket. Kelly Tetzlaff did a good job with buying some items for the kids to have as initial trade items in the event they did not have something of their own to bring. I was told she did almost too good of a job with the trade goods as some of the kids refused to relinquish what they were given to trade!

Sunday dawned warm and slightly humid with the threat of showers in the air. We had been fortunate enough to dodge liquid bullets so far and I made a silent wish for Mother Nature to spare us for a few more hours.

Following the third and final round of the shoot, scorecards were analyzed and we found it necessary to organize some exciting shoot offs in Women's Longbow, Men's Longbow and Men's Traditional. Please see the results in this issue for those eventual winners.

Following the awards presentations and the highly anticipated raffle, the heavens finally opened and the rains came. To those who remained in rain to assist with the clean up, you have our gratitude. They include volunteers Chris Brodeur, Chris Savage, Kent Towne and Tom Van Wynen. And the 'regulars' John McCormick, Ron Weatherman, Jim Zetwick, Cass Vickers, Nick Coullias, Wayne Carter, Bruce Hamlin, Kelly Tetzlaff and Bob Carrier.

Because of the inclement weather, the big top and tented pavilions remained standing until conditions were conducive for drying. So on Monday, Ron Weatherman, Wayne Carter, Nick Coullias, Bruce Hamlin and Bob Carrier returned and took responsibility for the task of taking down all the tents and packing them up. Gentlemen, thank you!

If the new proposed site at the Hunters' Education Camp indeed works out to the benefit of the club, the big top has possibly seen its last shoot. I know it is a lot of work taking it up and down, but it has certainly paid for itself all these years in being Command Central for our activities. It's almost like retiring an old but still useful truck.

In closing, Kelly and I would like to personally thank those who helped keep up our fuel intake (i.e. food!) during our busy schedule during the weekend. Thanks to Cliff Richardson, Nick Coullias and Tom Van Wynen for the fine vittles!

We are looking forward to conducting the Fall Shoot at the new site and hoping to see you all there.