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2007 Noc-It-Up Team Challenge Host
Steve Shedd
Hear Steve's music at steveshedd.com
I was introduced to the bow and arrow at an early age. My Dad was involved in our local archery club in Post, Texas as far back as I can remember and got my brother and I involved at a very young age. We lived within a mile of the range and I spent most of my weekends during the school year and most of my Summer days at the range shooting my bow, or chasing rabbits and ground squirrels and flinging arrows at them every chance I got. During that time I was shooting a recurve and field archery was going strong. Compound bows were a new fangled idea and were just beginning to catch on. When I was 16 or 17 years old, our archery club closed and so did that chapter in my life – for nearly 20 years. |
In 1994, I was invited to join a few family members on a deer lease. I had only been deer hunting once (in 1980 in New Mexico) so I jumped at the chance. I hunted that year in Throckmorton county, Texas with a Winchester, Model 70, .243 cal. rifle. Like most new hunters, I wanted to shoot a buck, any buck. I did shoot a buck on my third morning. I would have been perfectly happy with a spike, but the first buck to show himself was an 8 point buck, which I later had scored at 123 5/8”. He now hangs on my wall and is still my biggest buck to date.
The following year, my 12 year old son shot his first deer. After a couple years he became somewhat bored hunting with a rifle and said it was not challenging enough for him. To keep him interested I bought each of us a compound bow – my reintroduction to archery. I took my first deer with a bow that year and have been completely absorbed with it since that time. My son has taken a number of deer with both a compound bow and a recurve. My daughter shot her first deer at age 12 with a rifle then took a deer the following year with her bow. I am thankful to have been able to introduce them to the bow and arrow as my Dad did me.
Over the past 10 or 11 years I have been fortunate enough to harvest numerous whitetails, hogs, javelina, turkeys, and a bobcat with my bows. I hunt with longbows, recurves and a compound, depending on the situation. I enjoy shooting 3-D archery competitions, but I stick with the traditional bows for that. I truly feel blessed to have the opportunity to bowhunt and hope to be able to for many more years.
This summer (2006) I completed work on my first music CD. It is a compilation of 12 songs about hunting, specifically bowhunting. I have been singing since I can remember and have been writing songs for several years. I am so fortunate to be able to combine my two favorite activities, bowhunting and music, into one with this CD. I plan to continue bowhunting and making music as long as I am physically able. I hope to positively influence people with my music and by being an ethical bowhunter and a good steward of the land. I am truly thankful for the opportunity I’ve been given to share my passions with others. |
