The Campbell Outdoor Challenge television show was host to the second annual AMS Bowfishing Challenge on the lakes and waterways of Western Kentucky June 6-10, 2007. Eight three person teams participated from Illinois, California, Colorado, Texas, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Indiana, and Kentucky. The event was hosted out of the facilities of Ken-Bar Lodge in Gilbertsville, KY and the Woodlands Nature Center at Land between the lakes utilized the carp harvested for their animal rehabilitation program.
Each of the professional teams were allowed to submit their best three filmed bowfishing hunts for scoring. Teams coordinated their efforts with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to harvest invasive species of Carp such as Asian, Silver, and Bighead. Team Rivers Edge: Larry Sims of IA, Brian Ball of IA, and Mark Ellenberg of MN, won first place and collected $2900.00 in cash and prizes. Team Oneida: Sam Wood of WI, David Votaw of TX, and Todd Witkowski of WI won second place and collected $1600.00 in cash and prizes.Team Pokaho: Greg Pyle of IN, Bruce Bauer of KY, and Davy Hinton of KY won third place and collected $900.00 in cash and prizes.
The Campbell Outdoor Challenge features team competions in the “Sport of Filming Hunts” and is open to anyone wanting to compete, regardless of age or experience level. Teams are awarded points based upon required video footage and the maturity of the animal filmed during the hunt. All Outdoor Challenge events are for wild, free-ranging game and hunts filmed are conducted under the rules and regulations of the hosting states.
Bowfishing is a fast growing sport that is rapidly gaining in popularity. The hunter uses a special bow with a string attached in order to harvest the large carp or other invasive fish species that endanger many of the other popular fish species such as bass by devouring their food supply.
“The Campbell Outdoor Challenge is a great activity to bring the family together,” stated
Ron Pecore of Colorado. “My son, wife, brother, and nephew have competed together in video competitions for wild hog, deer, and bowfishing. Enjoying the great outdoors is made more exciting for my son by the video competition and my wife is thrilled to preserve our family memories on video.”
The Campbell Outdoor Challenge airs nationally on the Men’s Channel Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. and Thursday at 11:00 p.m. The show airs locally at 6:30 a.m. on WSIL Harrisburg.
For more information on the Campbell Outdoor Challenge and videoing competitions visit www.campbelloutdoorchallenge.com , for more information on Ken-Bar Lodge visit www.kenbarlodge.com , and for more information on the Woodlands Nature Center visit www.lbl.org