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Chasing Whitetails with the Silver Medal-Winning U.S. Men’s Archery Team By Jon E. Silks ake Kaminski is not only one of the world’s best archers, but a master of Jmarketing. His businesslike approach to his archery career was evident as he patiently taught me all about sponsor re- tainers, contingencies, prize money and the Accomplished U.S. archer and 2016 Olympic hopeful Dan Schuller (third from left) took this great 12-point buck during other considerations that come along with a November 2014 Ohio bowhunt. Also pictured in the photo, being a professional archer. Jake is one of from left, are: Dan Schuller Sr., Rob Kaufhold, Brady Ellison, the few recurve archers in the world who Alfred Ellison, Jake Kaminski, Jason Homan and Jacob Wukie. actually makes a full-time living through shooting. Jake’s path to the Olympics went through the Olympic Training Center in Chu- HUNT la Vista, Calif., where he followed a rigorous schedule of weight lifting, running, shooting, eating a special diet and more during his with an six-year residency. He and his wife Amanda My goal during this weeklong Olympic hunt at Wild Ohio Whitetails was to get to know these guys and figure out what sets them apart from the archery pack. I hoped I’d even get Edge them to give up a secret or two that would help the rest of us become better shooters and bowhunters. Throughout the week, I was able to n November 2014, I had the privilege of sharing an Ohio spend some one-on-one time inter- whitetail camp with some of the best archers in the viewing each member of the team, world — the U.S. men’s Olympic team that won along with some other folks in Ithe silver medal at the 2012 London Games. Brady camp. Ellison, Jacob Wukie and Jake Kaminski upset top- ranked South Korea to advance to the Olympic final, Lessons Learned where they came within a single point of gold! So, what can we learn as bowhunt- Considering the rich history of the Olympics and the ers from these great shooters? Well, relatively few people on earth who can say they were I think the first lesson is that focus, From left, Brady Ellison, Jake Kaminski and Jacob Wukie on Olympians, the opportunity to hunt with these guys the podium after receiving their silver medals at the 2012 discipline, hard work and knowl- was a true honor, and the experience did not disappoint. London Olympics. edge are key ingredients in reaching 42 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 www.bowhuntingmag.com BOWP-160200-OLY.indd 42 10/21/15 2:23 PM Chasing Whitetails with the Silver Medal-Winning U.S. Men’s Archery Team By Jon E. Silks Jake Kaminski, a Jake Kaminski member of the U.S. Age: 27 men’s Olympic archery Hometown: Elma, N.Y. team that won silver Career Highlights: Team silver at the 2012 London at 2012 Olympics, individual Games, killed his first whitetail during a gold at 2014 Pan Am Games, November 2014 team gold at 2013 Outdoor bowhunt at Wild World Champsionships Ohio Whitetails. Sponsors: Lancaster Archery Supply, Hoyt, Easton, Last Chance Archery, Leupold, AAE, Axcel ake Kaminski is not only one of the met at Junior Worlds in Mexico in 2006 Guys” of 2012 by Seventeen magazine! world’s best archers, but a master of and were married in 2011. Jake travels the Prior to our hunt, Jake’s only bowhunting Jmarketing. His businesslike approach world for months on end while Amanda, experience involved wild hogs. However, to his archery career was evident as he who also trained at Chula Vista for 18 with the personal guidance of property patiently taught me all about sponsor re- months, coaches archery at the Newberry owner Rob Kaufhold, he was able to kill his tainers, contingencies, prize money and the Easton Sports Development Foundation not first whitetail — a big, healthy doe. Accomplished U.S. archer and 2016 Olympic hopeful Dan Schuller (third from left) took this great 12-point buck during other considerations that come along with far from their home in Gainesville, Fla. When Here’s Jake’s advice for accuracy and a November 2014 Ohio bowhunt. Also pictured in the photo, being a professional archer. Jake is one of not traveling, Jake is either hanging out with performance under pressure: “Make sure from left, are: Dan Schuller Sr., Rob Kaufhold, Brady Ellison, the few recurve archers in the world who Amanda or helping his sponsors develop you know your equipment is set up to Alfred Ellison, Jake Kaminski, Jason Homan and Jacob Wukie. actually makes a full-time living through new equipment. Jake is also co-producer of the best of its ability. Know that there was shooting. Jake’s path to the Olympics went Apptitune (www.jakekaminski.com), an app not anything else that could be fixed or through the Olympic Training Center in Chu- that gives great tips and detail on tuning adjusted to get you a better shooting bow. la Vista, Calif., where he followed a rigorous both recurve and compound bows. One This way, when the time comes to make schedule of weight lifting, running, shooting, thing Jake would NEVER mention, but the that shot, you have one less thing to doubt eating a special diet and more during his other guys couldn’t wait to tell me, is that or distract you and you can focus on the six-year residency. He and his wife Amanda he was voted one of “The Hottest Olympic task at hand.” My goal during this weeklong any goal. All four of these top shoot- hunt at Wild Ohio Whitetails was to ers are super dedicated individuals get to know these guys and figure who have made great sacrifices to out what sets them apart from the excel at their sport. They don’t sim- archery pack. I hoped I’d even get ply shoot a bunch of arrows to get them to give up a secret or two that better; they act with purpose, tweak- would help the rest of us become ing and refining their form, mental better shooters and bowhunters. state and physical condition. Throughout the week, I was able to The second big lesson I took away spend some one-on-one time inter- Primed for 2016 from the hunt is that if you want to viewing each member of the team, While writing this article, be a better bowhunter, it may serve along with some other folks in I received news that Kaminski, you well to venture into competi- camp. Wukie, Ellison and Schuller tive target archery. The practice and all made the top 16 cut for the equipment knowledge needed to Lessons Learned succeed will undoubtedly give you 2016 U.S. Olympic team. So, what can we learn as bowhunt- an advantage in the field. That is my ers from these great shooters? Well, Great job, gentlemen! plan, as I recently discovered high- I think the first lesson is that focus, The next Olympic trial will pressure hunting situations may not From left, Brady Ellison, Jake Kaminski and Jacob Wukie on take place in April. the podium after receiving their silver medals at the 2012 discipline, hard work and knowl- be my strong suit! But that’s another London Olympics. edge are key ingredients in reaching story for another day. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 www.bowhuntingmag.com PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 43 BOWP-160200-OLY.indd 43 10/21/15 2:23 PM lthough not a member of the 2012 winner! Dan grew up shooting and hunt- relationship and they are hunting fanat- Olympic team, camp wouldn’t have ing with his dad and started competing ics! If it is in season and in bow range, A been the same without Dan Schuller at age 10 as part of the Junior Olympic the odds of survival around these two and his dad, Dan Sr. Like the others, Dan Archery Development program at Gold-N- are slim to none! Alfred’s father guided is a top-notch Olympic recurve archer who Grain Archery, a pro shop and farm located full-time in Arizona for 63 years and still narrowly missed out competing in 2012 in Sharpsville, Pa. Dan Sr. later became a guides mountain lion hunts to this day and is right back in the mix for a spot on certified National Archery Association (NAA) Brady Ellison at 82 years old. Brady was shooting toy the 2016 squad. coach to help his son and others. Age: 26 bows while he was still in diapers, and by Dan comes from a big-time bowhunting In 2006, shortly after turning 17, Dan Hometown: Globe, Ariz. the time he was 12 he was competing in family and was actually first on the board moved to the Olympic Training Center in Ch- Career Highlights: Currently 3-D shoots. By 2005, he had found his on our hunt. The morning before I showed ula Vista, where he lived and trained for two No. 5 ranked male recurve calling shooting recurves. up in camp, he arrowed a huge 12-point years. During that time, he became the team shooter in the world, 2012 Like the others, Brady spent years at the buck that made him the week’s gold-medal captain and traveled around the country to Olympic silver medal, three- Chula Vista training center and noted the compete in tournaments. Dan has amassed time World Cup Finals Gold intense preparation involved. He is basi- a ton of accomplishments over the years, Medalist, World Field Cham- cally the rock star of the group, with victo- including 10 Junior National Champion- pion and two-time Indoor ries and accomplishments too numerous ships, seven years on the U.S.