Kern & Company Advisory, Inc. Bowhunters' Shootoff & Party

I have been bowhunting for only 3 yrs and LOVE IT! I grew up in Montana, had a fishing pole in one hand and a rifle in the other. I've lived in Michigan since 1968 and for years I stopped gun hunting here...too many "crazies" in the woods. Many of my friends were bowhunters and after listening to their stories for so long, I decided to buy a bow.
 
Talk about faith and commitment. I was 49 yrs old and had never shot a bow until AFTER I had paid for the one I just got. It was love at first shot! I also thought the $400+ I had just shelled out was the largest of my bow hunting expenses. With a "gun mentality", I thought: "How many arrows would I have to buy. After all, they're not like bullets. These can be reused. And certainly any accessories I may need to pick up along the way can't cost much. Surprise!
 
I bought that bow in February 1994 and began practicing in my basement, I could get a 20 yard shot down there. During those first few weeks I began thinking how much fun it would be to have a few friends over after deer season, have archery contests, give them pizza & pop, acknowledge the successful hunters for that year, swap stories, etc. Little did I know what I was about to create!
 
In January 1995, I held the First Annual Kern & Company Advisory, Inc. Bowhunters' Shootoff & Party. I had 16 guys in my basement, 13 brought their bows. I passed out homemade trophies to the winners of the archery contests. I had also prepared special certificates to be passed out to the successful hunters during the 1994 Michigan archery deer season (certificates for 1st deer, 1st buck, biggest buck, any deer).
 
Guess what. No one had got a deer that year! All of that work had been in vain but we sure had a good laugh! I called on several of the fellows to relate certain funny stories that I knew had happened to them while bowhunting, gave them a special certificate and gag award. We served pizza, salad, pop. The evening was a ball! In fact, we had so much fun, I announced at the close of that evening that I would be hosting the SECOND Annual Kern & Company Advisory, Inc. Bowhunters' Shootoff & Party in January 1996. By the way, I own Kern & Company Advisory, Inc., a registered investment advisory firm, and had decided to make it the sponsor of the event.
 
The Second Annual event was a bigger success than the first with 26 guys in my basement. The local Gander Mountain store manager donated some door prizes and a cap for everyone. This time I had requested information ahead of time from the participants regarding their 1995 Michigan archery deer hunting success and prepared certificates for them. We served pizza/salad/pop and had 2 special speakers. One fellow told of his experience of being lost while hunting in Alaska. The other brought in many old stick bows and gave us a history of bowhunting in Michigan. He knew many of the "old-timers". The evening was a super success but I knew I had a problem. My basement was too small and the event was too much work for one man! So, I formed a committee the next week and we started planning for next year.
 
Last month I hosted the Third Annual event. I rented Frank's Wilderness Archery Range in Mt. Clemens, the largest indoor archery range in Michigan. We capped attendance at 75 and had to turn guys away. (Incidentally, this event was not open to the general public.) I passed out 10 trophies for the archery contests and $5000 in door prizes. Everyone got a door prize (some got 2) and a Gander Mountain cap. We had contacted local and national sporting goods merchants who graciously received us and willingly donated the majority of the door prizes. We did the usual pizza/salad/pop and added venison salami and a beautifully "landscaped bow hunting" sheet cake. The decorating was awesome! We had 2 speakers, both hosts and producers of TV outdoors shows. They each brought camera crews, filmed the event and will be broadcasting it on their shows. One of these men gave a clinic on calling & rattling, the other on selecting proper clothing and camo.
 
The evening was again a huge success. We only charged each participant $20 - what a bargain! The weather and roads were really bad the day of the event. We had TWO no-shows! Some guys fought traffic for almost 2 hrs to get there. I know they wouldn't think twice about doing it again either!
 
We have already begun planning for the Fourth Annual Kern & Company Advisory, Inc., Bowhunters' Shoot Off & Party to be held January 1998. There's no turning back now. The participants talk about this all year. It really is a special evening. Remember, this is not open to the general public. Many of these guys have known each other for years. The only negative comment I have heard is that "there was not enough time to talk to everyone I wanted to". I am really humbled to think this was just an idea I had to get a few friends together in the basement. I enjoy seeing so many guys having such great fun and fellowship.
 
Well, I certainly didn't intend for this to be so long. I enjoy your site very much. You really do a great job here! And I feel honored to be your 100,000th visitor! Best wishes for continued success. . . . . .Mike
 
| Mike Kern Home Page & List Of Articles | Return To Bowhunting.Net |