Shooter Profile

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Shooter Profile Tom Crowe

TTA: What equipment do you shoot currently? Currently I shoot a Mathews Apex-7 set at 80 pounds. I use Easton 2613 Cobalt 27 inch arrows with 200 grain points for ASA, NFAA competition. When shooting an IBO event I use the same arrow but with a 90 grain point. I do this to keep the total arrow weight at just over 400 grains and that gets me my approximate 320 feet per second. For hunting I shoot a Mathews Drenalin set at 70 pounds with Easton 2219 XX78 arrows with Muzzy MX-4 100 grain broadheads. For both competition and hunting I rely on the Tru-Ball Accu-Touch release. TTA: How long have you been shooting? I have been hunting with a bow for 29 years and competing in archery for 27 years.

TTA: How did you get started in archery? I started hunting with a rifle back in 1965. Every year in August and September I would set out to scout for deer and while doing so would run in to a lot of nice bucks. Being it was not rifle season yet I had to let them walk and wish I had only had a bow (Bow season is open during this time). Unfortunately I didn’t know anyone that bow hunted, so I bought a few bow hunting magazines and tried to learn everything I could about bow hunting. TTA: What equipment did you start shooting at the beginning? In 1980 when I first began bow hunting I ordered a compound bow from a discount bow hunting catalog. I also ordered a dozen Easton Gamegetter Arrows. I had read about a mechanical release with a trigger, which snapped on the bow string, the advertisement stated it would help you shoot more accurately, so naturally, I ordered one of those as well.

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TTA: What is it about archery that grabbed you at first? Having the opportunity to go after the big bucks I would see while scouting before rifle season. TTA: What about the sport keeps you interested? The challenge, I am a competitive person by nature, well even in grade school I won the all city marble championship and the regional yo-yo championship which qualified me to go to the state championships in California. In archery competition I always challenge myself to shoot better. With there being so many talented archers out there I understand that to stay in the game I need to be up for the challenge and that I am indeed. TTA: What are the biggest challenges during tournaments and what do you do to overcome them? My biggest challenge is keeping focus on every shot. In the senior pro division we are all good friends and we tend to tell lots of jokes and talk hunting. When it is time for me to make my shot nothing else exists, it’s

got to be just me, my bow and the target. TTA: What do you consider your greatest archery achievement(s) and why? I don’t have one particular achievement or title that I can set apart from the rest, in all honesty it is the privilege of being physically and mentally able to participate and to do well enough to make a living at it that gives me the most gratification. TTA: Shooting tips: What advice can you give readers? The best tip I can give a new archer is not to buy a bow because your friend likes it. You should really visit a few archery pro-shops in your area and try several bows and find the one that meets your personal needs and is the most comfortable to you. Most bows manufactures build very good dependable, accurate and fast bows. It has been my experience that finding the bow that feels best for you is ideal.

that time Tim was one of the top professional archers in the country. He worked with me for a while, and then invited me to shoot at an indoor tournament in Portland. I thought to myself why not. At this tournament Tim introduced me to Mel Stanislaski, who gave me a new release to try. Tim and I soon became good friends and started going to tournaments together and even did a little blacktail hunting as well. TTA: Who is your favorite hunting or archery partner? I have had a few really special hunting partners over the years. My wife Francine is my number one hunting partner naturally. I have hunted many years with an old buddy of mine, Russ Barney. In resent years I have acquired two more hunting partners, Keola Camacho and Randy Spanfellner.

TTA: How do you physically prepare yourself for the tournament season? Since Archery is my livelihood, I strive to stay in excellent physical and mental shooting condition. I make it a point to shoot my bow all year round, whether it is for practice, competition or hunting. When I am not physically shooting my bow I stay busy with judging 3-D targets. TTA: Who is your role model or someone you look up to? I don’t have a real role model but there is one person that I will always be grateful to know. That is Tim Strickland. I met Tim at an archery pro shop back in the early 1980’s. I was shooting in their 20 yard indoor range when Tim, A guy that I have never seen before, walked up to me and said “would you like to learn how to shoot that release right?” Well the first thing I thought was who the heck does he think he is? It didn’t take long to find out that he really knew his stuff. At

TTA: Who do you travel with when you go to tournaments? Currently I have been traveling alone but do share rooms with some of my top competitors, Derry Null, George Dixon and Ben Rogers. In past years my wife, Francine would travel and compete with me. She has taken a leave of absence to fulfill her dream of become a registered nurse. TTA: What organizations and class do you

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shoot in when you participate? I participate in all of the ASA, IBO and NFAA National tournaments as a Senior Pro. TTA: What is your practice schedule and routine? Being that I am a full time archer and don’t have another career I have a lot of time on my hands to practice. I usually spend 2-4 hours a day 3-4 times a week during the off season devoted to practice. During the regular season I increase that to 4-6 hours per day 5-7 days of the week. TTA: What have been your greatest rewards from participating in tournament archery? My greatest reward from participating in tournament archery has to be the great friends I have meet along the way. You would be amazed at all of the wonderful people you will find enjoying the sport of archery. I have met some of the most loyal friends a guy could ask for on the archery range. But most of all, I met my wife on the archery range and that is the best reward of all. TTA: What other hobbies interests you other than Archery? Other than archery, is there such a thing?

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Besides archery and bow hunting I would have to say scrolling through my 5 deer cams that I have set up in hopes for some more awesome pictures to add to my collection. I also enjoy raising and training German Shepherds. TTA: What competitions do you plan to attend in 2009? As usual I plan to attend all the national ASA, IBO and NFAA tournaments as well as any other major tournament that fits in to my travel schedule. TTA: Where do you see yourself going in the sport of Archery? I have been and always will be striving to be the best archer I can be. TTA: How has your family helped you in the sport of Archery? My family has helped me in the sport of archery by being very supportive and by working around my tournament schedule when planning special events. What is your occupation? Professional Archer TTA: What else do you want the readers to know about yourself? I am married to my beautiful wife Francine and together we have six children: Jennifer, Melinda, Keoki, Brian, Kayla and Demi-Alyse and three grandchildren: Lauren and the twins Jazzlyn and Ivylyn.