Recap of the Sure-Shot 2017 Media Conference

After the hunts — to which we were arrived in style in the aforementioned Nissan trucks, we had opportunities to shoot clays and drive Polaris’s new line of off-road vehicles. One thing I love about this type of access is being privy to behind-the-scenes work of camera crews, and a host such as Mike Morgan — a seasoned pro. Hogs and Dogs Here’s the other thing about outdoor writing. The Nissans had all been spoken for and had long gone to the duck hunting blinds. What happened over the next few hours involved tracking, finding the dogs with a hog, and watching (from a safe distance) as Jon finished 3 feral hogs. Meanwhile, back at the ranch Upon our return from the hogs and dogs experience, we picked up Remington V3 and Versamax shotguns (semi-auto loaders) and headed out back to shoot some clays. One of the highlights of the trip included watching as Curtis Arnold, who is the third generation of the family that is associated with Sure-Shot Game Calls, make a duck call for me. The other cool thing about this trip, is that I met Charlie Holder, the CEO of Sure-Shot Game Calls, and who invited me to attend. Another Duck Hunt (Just one) On day #2 of hunting, we headed out to another pond — this time in Oklahoma. I have continued to wear these boots back at home in the Ozarks, and highly recommend.

It appears that many people envy outdoor writers because we get invited on simply outstanding media trips that involve shooting and hunting. True. Prepare to salivate, as we present Sure-Shot Game Calls 5th Annual Media Hunt/Conference, sponsored by Nissan, Polaris and Remington, along with MOJO, Vortex optics and Buck Knives. Can you imagine a better group of sponsors? Pair that with the setting — the Bucks and Ducks Lodge in Bellevue, Texas — where we had access to thousands of acres of hunting in Texas and Oklahoma, and that is a sure (shot) recipe for success.

Bucks and Ducks lodge-Sure-Shot

I attended the conference in early January, flew to Dallas and got whisked to the lodge, in a TITAN XD Platinum Reserve with a Cummins Diesel engine, where Kent Outdoors runs the hunting outfit.

front of bucks and ducks lodge
What a welcome site. Love this type of landscaping, and it made it oh-so-easy to empty my pockets after a day in the duck blind!

I would spend the next 2 days hunting for ducks and hogs. After the hunts — to which we were arrived in style in the aforementioned Nissan trucks, we had opportunities to shoot clays and drive Polaris’s new line of off-road vehicles.

Nissan TITAN XD Platinum Reserve
TITAN XD Platinum Reserve

In between sleeps (which amounted to very little) and eats (which amounted to very much and amazing food from Donna, the lodge cook and her sister, the supreme pie baker), the experience comes back to me in a rush, with sensory overload of an overwhelming capacity. I am grateful to have been included in the mix.

Ducks and Off-Roading

MOJO Outdoors
Here’s one of the cameramen from “MOJO Outdoors,” sitting in the field near the blind on this cold morning.

The first morning, we set up in the darkness on a large pond. Joined by Mike Morgan, host of MOJO Outdoors, and guided by JJ Kent (a character in and out of the blind). We had success and almost got our limit of 6 each. Almost. It figured out to be about 5 each for our crew. One thing I love about this type of access is being privy to behind-the-scenes work of camera crews, and a host such as Mike Morgan — a seasoned pro. For the show, he and JJ discussed the ducks’ flight patterns, the decoy set up and with the success of the morning’s volleys of our Remington shot, we had a winner of an episode for MOJO in the making. I knew it and am looking forward to watching it get recreated on next season’s show.

remington duck ammo
Remington supplied the guns and ammo for this trip.
Barb widgeons-Sure-Shot
Later, we dined on delish duck breasts, marinated and grilled back at the lodge. Fresh from the pond and the sky.
Polaris
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we put the fleet of Polaris new off-road vehicles to the test. (Shwat photo)

I own a Polaris ATV, from a few years back. Wouldn’t trade it for anything, except maybe a Sportsman XP1000. The writers in my group and a particular ammo guy from Remington might not want to admit this, since we didn’t have Polaris babysitters with us, and probably for good reason, but let’s just say we got these machines up to about as fast as they could go and this granny also jumped a decent meadow mogul.

And that ammo dude?

He may have popped a wheelie or two.

Back home on the ranch, I use my Polaris to get into difficult places and down into hollers that I wouldn’t want to attempt on foot. I live in the Ozarks. I need 4-wheel drive. We also drove the “General,” an upscale off-road vehicle. Polaris will be happy to know that we did not attempt jumps with it, but let’s say, we did put the pedal to the metal.

Polaris general
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