Gusting winds raced through the Nebraska plains at 40-50mph last week as ten teams from nine different states matched their skills in filming hunts for wild merriam turkeys. Over $7000 in prizes was at stake April 18-20 in the 2006 Turkey Challenge for the Campbell Outdoor Challenge TV Show, hosted by Prairie Ridge Outfitters in Paxton, NE.

Team Hoyt of Jim Wiseman and Clint Player, UT, videoed their way to victory by successfully filming two muzzleloading turkey hunts for a final score of 388. Second place went to the IL duo of Team Consolidated Grain and Barge (CGB), Ken Landingham and Jason Shaw, as they filmed two shotgun hunts, earning 381 points. The Virginia entry of team Rut N' Strut, Brian White and Chad Lancaster, gained 320 points and finished third by also filming two shotgun hunts.

"As the final hours of the challenge grew nearer and the blowing winds got fiercer, we realized that we had to re-think our strategy," commented Wiseman. "On Sunday afternoon we had only one filmed hunt and knew that if we were going to win, we would have to make a change. In an effort to gain five extra points, we switched to our Knight muzzleloader. Our strategy proved a success and we were able to film another hunt and gain several points. We would have liked to use our Hoyt bows, but due to the weather conditions and time restraints it simply didn't work out."

The Campbell Outdoor Challenge features 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 being filmed are conducted under the rules and regulations of the hosting states.

"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 Campbell, host of the Campbell Illinois Outdoors TV Show. "This competition highlights the skills of the cameramen who help bring the 'outdoors' indoors to millions of viewers."

Many exciting events are yet to come for 2006. Teams can participate in the fist ever bowfishing challenge to be held at Barkley Lake, June 1-4. Also, several events for whitetail enthusiast are scheduled for this Fall. In the spring of 2007 The Campbell Outdoor Challenge will feature two turkey events where filming crews will once again return to Prairie Ridge Outfitters in Paxton, NE and will re-visit the former site of the 2005 Turkey Championship, All American Outfitters in Clarendon, TX.

The Campbell Outdoor Challenge airs nationally on The Sportsman Channel Monday at 7 p.m., Thursday at 12 p.m. and Saturday at 2 a.m. and on the Men's Channel Sunday at 9 p.m., Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Wednesday at 5 p.m. The show airs locally on WFIE Evansville channel 14 on Saturday and Sunday at 5:30 a.m. and WSIL Harrisburg channel 3 on Saturday at 6:30 a.m. For more information on "The Sport of Filming Hunts" visit www.campbelloutdoorchallenge.com,