June 2010 Calendar

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July Calendar

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New Archery Class, Sign Up NOW Before It's To Late

Note: you can double click on the picture for a larger view.
The next class will be starting on June 14^th and ends August 9^th. It runs from 6pm to 8pm. The class is open to youth (age 10 to 15) with their parent or guardian. If you are interested in participating please click on this link to sign up.

Centershot Ministries has been a blessing to both parents and kids of many ages. This course has developed many fine archers and they learn many things spiritually along with the class.

No where else in this area will you get such an opportunity as this. Plus, it's real fun to shoot an arrow and hit a bulls eye......try it and sign up now as these classes traditionally fill up quickly.

A Colonital Tribute to the Vets

I know that this doesn't have anything to do with Colonial Outdoors directly, but many of the best in the military were hunters or outdoorsman who knew how to take care of themselves and how to complete the job.

Special Hats off to those who made the ultimate Sacrifice.

The last verse of My Country Tis of Thee gets overlooked. Here it is:
Our Father's God! To Thee,
Author Of Liberty,
To Thee We Sing;
Long May Our Land Be Bright
With Freedom's Holy Light;
Protect Us By Thy Might,
Great God, Our King!

Here's the video of the Military being honored by Branch.

Pond Fishing, But with a twist and a Happy Ending

I wanted to let you know the young man with the nice big bass is John Knight. John and his parents came out to Kid's Day at Harris Saturday with the Colonial Cub Scout pack and fished a little then. He and his dad went and bought some fishing gear to come out Tuesday night with Colonial Outdoors Pond Fishing night. John caught a few small crappie. He kept chunking and winding and working on his casting technique when I heard a splash. When I looked down toward where he was fishing I saw his rod tip bent over and I knew he had hooked a nice fish. I went down to help him and saw the fish "WOW John, hang on buddy that's a huge fish". He landed it like a pro, and well the rest is history. (Editor: chunking and Winding is a David Fritts Technique).

When I saw the pride on his face as well as Johns Dad William, I was reminded again how special fishing can be for all of us young and old. And I was also encouraged at Johns attitude and spirit as he never gave up. He just kept fishing and His reward was that beautiful fish. (Editor: I asked Ed how big it was and he said around 5 lbs. note: that means when you tell the story, it could go 8 or so ;-))

I have a feeling that will not be Johns last big fish. I am just thankful we have a ministry at Colonial that can help foster the passion in a young man like we all have for the outdoors. I must confess, sometimes I get a little discouraged that we don't have better participation for some of our events like this one. But on this night, John was there and so was the fish and we all got to enjoy that special meeting between them two.

John! You keep chunking and winding,

Ed

John 21; 2-8

Here are some other pictures, they speak for themselves I think.

Turkey Hunting 2010, Chris Crum

Turkey hunting has got to be my favorite type of hunting. It can seem so easy and yet some days can be very frustrating. I am fortunate to be able to hunt them in two states.

My hunting in NC has not resulted in any birds in my bag, even though I went after them on 12 different mornings. However, I was able to help a friend (Ed Strickland) bag his first bird on his first turkey hunt. If you haven’t had the opportunity to call in a bird for someone, you need to. It is just as exciting as pulling the trigger yourself. It was starting to look like I may not bag a bird this year, but on the last two days I planned to go hunting in WV, the Lord blessed me with a nice bird on each day.

– Chris Crum 5-3-2010

More Than Just a First Turkey

Well, as you can see I shot my first Tom, and yes it was a spot on right in the head shot.
It was early Tuesday morning and Chris Crum went out with me to some property I hunt in Orange County. Chris has bagged his share of long beards, so he agreed to go along with me and help me out.

You see folks I bass fish, and when it’s turkey time it’s bass time, so I just have never made the time to turkey hunt although I always wanted to. This year I was committed to get it done.
We arrived before the sun came up and made a thirty minute walk to the side of the land that turkey’s had been reported. At just the right time, Chris hit the ole hoot call and….nothing. I always heard what was supposed to happen, but it was silent. He hit it again five minutes later and BAM, there he was and close. As we decided how we were going to hunt this bird, he just gobbled his head off.

Chris located what he thought would be a good spot to set up; we got in place, a little noisy but got in position. Bird still gobbling and I got all my mess ready and Chris hit ever so lightly on his call he said “Ed be still, I can see the bird in the tree” As I looked it was right there less than a hundred yards from us.

About ten minutes later we saw another bird fly down, then the one in our sight joined it.
We could hear a hen just off in the distance and we thought that bird was heading off in her direction, but we watched and waited. Just over the hill I saw some movement and sure enough here he came.

Chris said “take him if when you get a shot” As I got him in my sights and he was getting close, all of a sudden popped up another tom, and he was closer, real close and still coming. I gently moved the sight on him and boom, big bird down. I guess I watch to many hunting shows because I have always seen these guy’s jump up and run toward the downed bird, so that’s what I did and in doing so I forgot that Chris could have shot the second bird. Chalk that up for a rookie mistake. As you can see in the picture I was a happy boy.

As Chris and I walked back to the truck, we talked about the day, praised the Lord for the opportunity to take that bird and have a great hunt.

As I put as a header, this was more than just a first turkey. This was a milestone, a living testimony to what Colonial Outdoors is about. We discussed how just a little over a year and a half ago we didn’t know each other and here we were sharing a hunt. We also talked about some of the other guy’s who have begun hunting and fishing together that are relationships from Colonial Outdoors. Fruits of the labor, fruits from commitment to the ministry.

What makes this first turkey special is that Chris is not just a hunting buddy; he’s a brother in Christ. He’s a co-laborer in ministry and servant of our Lord.

If you have not been to any of the Colonial Outdoors your missing out on great opportunities to forge friendships and grow not only has outdoor sportsmen, but as followers of Christ.
I will always remember taking this wonderful bird and for the rest of my life when I think about it I will remember that Chris helped me get my first tom, and when he thinks about it he can enjoy the memory as well.

Thank you Lord for this bird and thank you Lord for Chris.