ATA Trade Show Trip for DCC
Derby City Calls had a booth in the innovations zone for this year’s ATA show. The trade show is an order writing event and is geared more to Archery, however, we had many people interested in checking out our high quality turkey calls. Derby City signed up 6 dealers who will carry our calls this spring. These dealers ranged from the deep South, up into the midwestern United States. We hope to have a dealer page set up for our visitors soon. This would allow you to drop in and check out what they have to offer if they are located close to you. Read more
Stoner Strikes Again
Two Shot's Hen
Brent Stoner had a very successful fall turkey season in 2010. Here is a summary of his season in his own words-
“The first segment of the 2010 fall season ended today. I am happy to say that I filled my tags with two hens in this early segment. We opened the season on Saturday, October 23rd with a killer miss on video. I talked my good friend and Midwest Whitetail Pro Staffer, Jarrod Hedrick, into going with me and Jim Dawson to film the hunt. Thankfully, he decided to film us so I could provide some comic relief for the guys at the shop.
We arrived early to a spot on my farm that always holds birds. I started doing some soft calling using my Derby City Call. It did not take long for 7 nice toms to filter into the field. These gobblers cut in between Jim and myself. They were working away from me, so I decided to take a shot. Well, a couple of shots. Two shots and no bird. After reviewing the video, I just flat out missed.
We went back out on Sunday morning. This time a group of hens started to work up through a bottom towards the field. Yes, if you watched the video, it took me two more shots. However, I did down one this time. Everyone at the shop is calling me Two Shot Stoner now.
On Friday, Oct. 29th, I decided to try and bag another bird. This was the last day of the early segment. Jim and Jarrod had to work, so I was all by myself. I got a good shot on another hen and I dropped her with one shot. I texted Jim about the bird and one shot. He felt the need to give me a math lesson via text. His text was 5 shots @ 2 birds=40% shooting. Jim and Jarrod both work as educators. I guess they feel the need to make a lesson out of everything. 
I would like to thank Jarrod for taping the first weekend’s hunt and thank Jim for the math lesson.”
Congrats to Brent. We have a lot of fun together hunting and at the shop. It is nice to have friends who you can have fun with. Make sure you check out www.midwestwhitetail.com to see the hunt.
Fall Turkey Action
This past weekend was the first segment of Kentucky’s Fall Shotgun Turkey Season. Brent Stoner, Jarrod Hedrick, and myself went to Brent’s farm to try and bag a couple of birds. Jarrod is a Pro Staffer for Midwest Whitetail. He films hunt for their website and hunting show. Check out his videos on www.midwestwhitetail.com. Most of his videos will be posted under the Indiana section.
The first day was an eventful day. We saw a group of nice gobblers working their way through the middle of the field. Brent and Jarrod were on one end of the field and I was sitting in my Vision blind on the other end. Needless to say, Brent shot twice and missed. The best part is that we have it on film. If you remember last fall, I shot and missed. I took a little heat for that, so Brent is getting pay back. We went home empty handed that day.
The second morning was a little different. We decided to sit together in my blind and position it towards the middle of the field. Jarrod brought along the camera to capture the hunt on film. At about 8:30, we heard a lot of noise behind the blind. It sounded like scratching. Brent peaked out and could not see anything. Eventually, Jarrod peaked out the back and saw a couple of cows right behind us. Over the next few minutes, Jarrod and I kept hearing some soft yelps. I decided to look again. Definitely cows behind us, but there were some birds working there way up through the bottom as well. We made the decision to move the blind away from the cows. That decision paid off. The birds, all hens, came out and started angling away from us. Brent had to take the shot, because I had to move the mesh on the blind to allow Jarrod to film out the blind. Brent shot and missed. Hard to believe, I know. However, two of the hens stopped at the edge of the field and gave Brent one last opportunity. This time, he put one down.
We had a great time hunting this weekend. Derby City calls worked great. Brent did some fighting purrs and soft yelps that helped bring these birds in our direction. Great times with great friends. Jarrod, I really enjoyed hunting with you and look forward to more times in the field together. Brent, thanks for allowing me and Jarrod to hunt at your “Honey Hole”. Look forward to more hunts together in the near future. Congrats again on your bird, Mr. Two Shot Stoner.
Click on this link to watch the video, http://www.midwestwhitetail.com/gallery/72/media/2429/midwest-whitetails-latest-show.html.
Brent Stoner’s Opening Day Hunt for 2010
Brent Stoner had a very successful Spring opener this year in Kentucky. Brent used his Derby City Magnum aluminum call to bring in this nice gobbler. This bird ended up having 2 beards, each 10 inches in length. Luckily, this hunt was caught on tape. Sit back and enjoy Brent’s hunt. Congrats on a nice bird.
ALS- “Hunting For A Cure” Banquet
Eric Sullivan, Matt Sullivan, Brent Stoner, and myself attended the “Hunting for a Cure” banquet on March 20th, 2010. This banquet is a fundraiser for the Ky. Chapter of the ALS Association. ALS stands for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. This disease affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, eventually leading to muscle weakness, twitching, and paralysis. Mitch Ensor, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2006, wanted a way to raise money to help find a cure for this disease. With help from his family, friends, and numerous sportsmen and women, Mitch began this banquet a few years ago to raise money for the ALS Association.
What a humbling experience this banquet was for all of us. The generosity of everyone was amazing. Without a doubt, there was a lot of money raised through games, live auctions and silent auctions. However, it was the compassion and caring for others that struck me. Sportsmen and women are incredible. Whenever someone is in need, they are always the first to offer a hand. Derby City will continue to help fight ALS with donations for future banquets. The Ensor family opened our eyes to the struggles of fighting ALS, how to remain positive in times of adversity, and how to be proactive in the this fight. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mitch and his family.
I think the last line of Lou Gehrig’s speech about his diagnosis of ALS says a lot about his character. He says, “So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for.” I don’t know Mitch Ensor well, I met him for the first time at the banquet. However, watching him throughout the evening, I believe he would say the same thing.
Mitch: keep fighting, keep hunting, keep believing.
-Jim Dawson, Derby City Game Calls
You can keep up with Mitch Ensor’s “Hunt for a Cure” by checking out their Facebook page.
