Starting the year off with a full 15 team circuit this year sets the stage for an incredible year ahead. The teams, representing thirteen states, matched their skills in filming hog hunts in the Mill Creek Outdoor Productions Wild Hog Challenge as part of the 2009 Campbell Outdoor Challenge televised circuit. The event took place at Bangs Paradise Valley Hunt Club near Ehrhardt, S.C. February 28 – March 4. Winning the Challenge was Team Reign Broadheads of Philip Seng and Mark Helmer of IN and taking second place was Team American Bowhunters of Kurt Wall and Laura Santucci of NY. This event was the first event in a four event series making up the 2009 Campbell Outdoor Challenge Video circuit.
Teams competed in this four day event by submitting video footage of wild hog hunts. The video was scored based upon a copyrighted scoring system from the Campbell Outdoor Challenge where teams receive points based on required increments of video footage. Placing third in the challenge was Team North and South of Kelly Lee (Ga) and Tom Bibeau (NH). All team members were filming hunts for wild hogs in the swamps and wood lots of South Carolina.
Filming hunts for wild hogs is definitely a challenge “The wild hog is a very under estimated game animal.” stated David Peavey of Team Camo Life. “It doesn’t take much pressure to cause them to go completely nocturnal,” He continued, “One thing is for certain, Bang’s Paradise Valley Hunt Club is overrun with wild hogs!” He concluded.
The event was made possible in part with the help of Bangs Paradise Valley Hunt Club, Bang and his wife, his son Tom, all his staff, and many other local area businesses. “The competition was a lot of fun!” stated Bang Collins of Paradise Valley Hunt Club. “With this being the first event in a 4 event videoing circuit worth over $100,000 in cash and prizes, you could tell the teams wanted to get the jump on the year here.” He concluded.
The Challenge was hosted by Bang’s Paradise Valley Hunt Club near Ehrhardt, S.C. The Campbell Outdoor Challenge airs nationally on Versus at 12 Noon CST on Direct TV, Dish and cable reaching over 74 million homes. "Most of the viewers of wildlife hunting shows and videos have no idea how much of a challenge (hence the name of the competition) it is to successfully film a hunt for free-ranging animals in the wild," stated John Campbell, host of the Campbell Outdoor Challenge TV Show. "This competition highlights the skills of the cameramen who help bring the 'outdoors' indoors to millions of viewers."
Click the following links for more information on Bangs Paradise Valley Hunt Club http://www.paradisevalleyhuntingclub.com/bangspvhc/ and for information on Versus go to www.versus.com