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. national team World Championships bronze to list and some cool Olympic tattoo ink to and a Senior National Championship in medalist immortalize his time on the world stage. 2008. After the 2008 Olympic Trials, Dan re- Sponsors: Hoyt, Easton, T.R.U. Brady has been featured on two TV shows, turned home to Pennsylvania and earned his Ball, Axcel, Bee-Stinger, Ameri- Myth Busters and CSI, is in the 2013 Guin- business management degree from Penn ca’s Best Bowstrings, Lancaster ness Book of World Records for most State University. He still trains hard, com- Archery Supply archery wins ever and has been featured petes regularly and serves as the assistant in such magazines as Sports Illustrated, customer service manager Men’s Health, Vibe and Tattoo. He was at Lancaster Archery Supply. rady Ellison is one of the most voted one of the 25 fittest athletes at the Dan Schuller He also coaches in Bermuda accomplished archers in U.S. his- London Olympic Games by Men’s Health Age: 26 each year to help establish tory, and after a hand injury slowed and was also featured on ESPN’s Sport Sci- Hometown: Mercer, Pa. their national archery team. B Career Highlights: 2008 him down in 2013, he came roaring ence. In the midst of all that, I love what Dan let me in on a little back in 2014. He is now more focused Alfred says of his son, “I am very proud of national outdoor champion, tip I have actually put into than ever and has his sights set on a Brady — more for his character and the individual bronze and team practice already, and it has gold medal at the Rio Games in 2016, man he has become than for his accom- gold at 2012 Pan Am Games, made me better: “I focus and which would be his third Olympics. He plishments.” 2008 Texas Shootout cham- stare as hard as I can on the told me that his goal is very clear — he Despite his laundry list of achieve- pion, 2007 bronze and 2008 center of the target. Instead wants to be the best archer who has ever ments, Brady’s advice for better shooting is silver medalist at Arizona Cup, of thinking about end results, lived. Like Wukie, hunting was Brady’s simple: “Practice, practice, practice. When placed sixth at 2005 Junior I focus on my shot process. If path into competitive archery, with a under pressure, the more practice you World Championship you can execute the shot just family hunting tradition that runs deep. have the easier it is because shooting is Sponsors: Lancaster Archery like practice, the end result will be there after Brady and his dad Alfred have a tight like second nature — automatic.” Supply, Hoyt, Easton you release the arrow.”
LANCASTER ARCHERY: THE TIE THAT BINDS ou may be wondering how a Rob also understands the work field editor for a bowhunting these guys put in and the stress they Y magazine ended up hunting deal with. So, he wanted to give them with some of the world’s elite ar- a chance to spend time together with- chers. Well, it all comes down to Rob out all the pressures of competition. Kaufhold, president of Lancaster How does Rob know what they go Archery Supply (www.lancaster through? Well, back in his day, Rob archery.com). Rob is a diehard bow- was the No. 1 archery recruit com- hunter with a love for competitive ing out of high school after winning a archery, and bringing these guys national championship his senior year. together for a hunt was basically a Archery took him to James Madison celebration of archery as a whole. University, where he earned a man- Rob wants to promote the elite target Carole and Rob Kaufhold have built agement degree and continued to excel shooters and bring attention to the Lancaster Archery Supply into one of the in his shooting. He was a member of From left, Jake Kaminski, Brady Ellison connection between the target and world’s leading retailers of both target two world teams, seven U.S. national and Jacob Wukie react to clinching silver archery and bowhunting equipment. at the 2012 London Olympics. hunting worlds. teams and in 1984 was ranked No. 4 in
44 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 www.bowhuntingmag.com
BOWP-160200-OLY.indd 44 10/21/15 2:23 PM lthough not a member of the 2012 winner! Dan grew up shooting and hunt- Olympic team, camp wouldn’t have ing with his dad and started competing acob Wukie, or just “Wukie” as every- A been the same without Dan Schuller at age 10 as part of the Junior Olympic one calls him, is a mild-mannered, and his dad, Dan Sr. Like the others, Dan Archery Development program at Gold-N- Jstandup guy through and through. is a top-notch Olympic recurve archer who Grain Archery, a pro shop and farm located He lives by faith, and I have the feeling he narrowly missed out competing in 2012 in Sharpsville, Pa. Dan Sr. later became a would give you the shirt off his back if you and is right back in the mix for a spot on certified National Archery Association (NAA) needed it. He grew up in a hunting family the 2016 squad. coach to help his son and others. and as a boy he thrived on BB gun safaris Jacob Wukie Dan comes from a big-time bowhunting In 2006, shortly after turning 17, Dan in the woods around his home. His father, Age: 29 family and was actually first on the board moved to the Olympic Training Center in Ch- who once had an article published in Out- Hometown: Massillon, Ohio on our hunt. The morning before I showed ula Vista, where he lived and trained for two door Life after being attacked by a grizzly Career Highlights: 2012 up in camp, he arrowed a huge 12-point years. During that time, he became the team bear in Montana, was the main driver be- Olympic silver medal, 2008 buck that made him the week’s gold-medal captain and traveled around the country to hind Jacob getting into hunting. Although Olympic team alternate, mem- compete in tournaments. Dan has amassed work commitments forced Wukie to leave ber of 2007 James Madison a ton of accomplishments over the years, camp early in the hunt, he certainly made University collegiate national including 10 Junior National Champion- the most of his brief stay, knocking down championship team, 2001 IBO ships, seven years on the U.S. national team a large 8-point buck that guide Jason World Champion and Triple and a Senior National Championship in Homan had named “8-Ball.” Crown Champion 2008. After the 2008 Olympic Trials, Dan re- Wukie’s path to the Olympics started Sponsors: Easton, Hoyt, T.R.U. turned home to Pennsylvania and earned his when he became interested in the target Ball, Doinker, Lancaster business management degree from Penn shooting a friend was doing, which led Archery Supply State University. He still trains hard, com- to a collegiate shooting career at James petes regularly and serves as the assistant Madison University, where he earned a customer service manager at Lancaster Archery Supply. biology degree. After school, Wukie put in Dan Schuller He also coaches in Bermuda two stints at the Olympic training center Age: 26 each year to help establish before the 2008 Beijing Games, where he Hometown: Mercer, Pa. their national archery team. was an alternate, and two and a half more Career Highlights: 2008 Dan let me in on a little years before the 2012 Olympics. national outdoor champion, tip I have actually put into Wukie embodies perseverance, as he individual bronze and team practice already, and it has had to battle through a rough illness to gold at 2012 Pan Am Games, made me better: “I focus and make the 2012 team, including storming 2008 Texas Shootout cham- stare as hard as I can on the back from a nine-point deficit on the last pion, 2007 bronze and 2008 center of the target. Instead day of trials! I asked Wukie if he had a se- silver medalist at Arizona Cup, of thinking about end results, cret to successful shooting and handling placed sixth at 2005 Junior I focus on my shot process. If pressure, and here’s what he told me: “The World Championship you can execute the shot just key to accuracy is spending enough time Olympic silver medalist Jacob Wukie Sponsors: Lancaster Archery like practice, the end result will be there after becoming familiar with your equipment. To Supply, Hoyt, Easton poses with “8-Ball,” a buck he took you release the arrow.” during a November 2014 bowhunt at make a shot under pressure, find ways to Wild Ohio Whitetails. put pressure on yourself when practicing.” LANCASTER ARCHERY: THE TIE THAT BINDS Rob also understands the work the United States as an adult! eign countries in the development of these guys put in and the stress they With a background like that, it’s not national archery teams and individu- deal with. So, he wanted to give them surprising Rob has gone on to similar ally sponsors many of the world’s top a chance to spend time together with- success with Lancaster Archery Sup- amateur and professional shooters. out all the pressures of competition. ply. He and his wife, Carole, have built Rob purchased the Wild Ohio How does Rob know what they go the company into one of the world’s Whitetails property where our hunt through? Well, back in his day, Rob leading retailers of bowhunting and took place in 2007. The 400-acre prop- was the No. 1 archery recruit com- target archery equipment. Rob has erty includes river bottom ground ing out of high school after winning a an obvious passion for archery and and numerous hardwood ridges national championship his senior year. demonstrates a deep commitment to adjacent to agricultural fields, mak- Archery took him to James Madison giving back to the sport that has given ing it ideal deer habit. Combine that University, where he earned a man- so much to him. Lancaster Archery is a with the comprehensive management Carole and Rob Kaufhold have built agement degree and continued to excel big supporter of Olympic archery and program implemented by Rob and Lancaster Archery Supply into one of the in his shooting. He was a member of a World Archery Development Fund his Lancaster Archery staff and you world’s leading retailers of both target two world teams, seven U.S. national partner. The company also donates have all the necessary ingredients for archery and bowhunting equipment. teams and in 1984 was ranked No. 4 in to countless archery clubs, assists for- world-class bowhunting!
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