Hey guys please check in on www.shonsimpson.com and offer what you can. Shon is a good, hard-working man, who was involved in a tragic construction accident. He has a beautiful wife and two young kids who love him very much. Shon’s friends and family are putting together a benefit dinner/auction to help raise money to …offset his mounting medical expenses. Shon played a big part in capturing on film a very memorable hunt for me. Me, South Cox and Shon hunted deep in the backcountry for NV mule deer and Shon caught all the action on film over the course of a real tough bowhunt. Shon himself is a passionate bowhunter, dedicated to our awesome sport. Life is precious, thanks for your time and for doing anything you can to help Shon. Sincerely, Cam

Truett Hanes, my youngest son, crushed the 26.2 mile Eugene Marathon today in 3 hours 30 minutes 41 seconds. It was his first full marathon and he hammered out 8:03 miles. Then he decided to give my dad, who is battling inoperable liver cancer, his marathon medal. He said he thought about Grandpa Bob during the race. Real proud of him. I finished in 3 hours 1 minute and Trace did the half in 1 hour 49 minutes. Tanner got in the action pacing his little brother for about 8 miles of the race. Check out race stats below.

I try to live by the crede….Win the Day! Today, the Hanes Family won the day and it feels real good. Cam

Sarah Palin: “I am similar to alot of folks from Eugene…I like organic foods. I just like to catch and shoot mine.”

Gotta love that statement. My take after an inspiring night – Sarah Palin is a great, passionate American. We need more like her!

Tracey and I felt like Eddie Murphy on the old comedy Trading Places last weekend at the Hilton for the Sarah Palin appearance on behalf of the Lane County Republicans. It was a special treat for us and a night we won’t soon forget. But initially we did feel a little out of place….I half-expected someone to come up and say, “What are you doing here? Aren’t you just some guy who bowhunts? You better get outta here you fraud.” I mean there were senators there, governor candidates, some of Eugene’s, or actually, Oregon’s most powerful business leaders, etc., and then there was me and Trace. Me with my standard issue RMEF belt buckle, fancy Under Armour shirt and boots and Trace with her easy smile, enjoying every second.

Thankfully, we didn’t get called out or booted out, instead we made small talk with many, had a great dinner and in the end couldn’t have felt more welcome. After meeting and posing for a photo with Sarah and talking with Todd, Tracey and I headed back to the VIP room (I probably need to thank Todd for helping us score those tickets) and as corny as it sounds, we were as giddy as kids on Christmas morning with excitement. I thought, worst case, even if it strikes midnight now, we got our photo and we had the honor of shaking hands with Todd and Sarah. I’d take that. But I still wanted to hear what Sarah had to say.

In the end, we loved the entire experience and I am certain no one there would argue she is a powerful speaker and sets a good example of what is possible with hard work and an unwavering vision of a strong America. Before Sarah Palin, I had a real hard time believing what I heard as a kid and what every kid probably has heard at one time or another…”You could be the President of the United States if you wanted to and worked hard.” I didn’t really ever believe that….it seemed like you needed to come from money, be a Kennedy-type or maybe come from oil then go to an Ivy League school. That was until Sarah. Regardless of your party affiliation, Republican, Democrat or something in between, in my opinion she has proven to me and every other American, dreams can come true. That paying your dues (city council to mayor to governor to vice president candidate) and standing for what is right and just means something. Thank you.

After meeting her, hearing her powerful, “One America”, constitution honoring speech and exchanging a few words with Todd, Trace and I walked away feeling a lot of pride and bleeding red, white and blue patriotism for our country. On top of all that, Sarah Palin hunts and more importantly is not afraid to say so. In this day and age of over-the-top political correctness that means something! It gets even better. Ol’ Big Roy Roth, he of the same town as Todd and Sarah, Wasilla, Alaska, gives the Palin family and the Heath family (Sarah’s mom and dad) two hearty thumbs up.

In fact, on one memorable sheep hunt up in the Brooks Range when Roy got dropped off by the pilot he realized he’d forgotten his boots. It seems he’d just slipped on some camp shoes and overlooked tossing his boots in the bush plane. As Dave the bush pilot was getting ready to take off, Roy, in a heart racing panic realized his oversight. Sheep hunting without boots is a less than ideal endeavor so Dave said he’d head back, get Roy’s boots and throw them out the plane window as he flew over. On the return trip he had company, Sarah Palin’s mom, Sally Heath, came along and was the one who actually tossed Roy his boots. From what Roy says, Sarah’s mom and dad, Sally and Chuck, spent time helping out at hunting camps up in the Brooks Range. Dave Neil, the bush pilot Roy hired that day and a good guy we’d used prior to fly us to our backcountry caribou hunt, has since died in a plane crash. Roy doesn’t think since his passing Sarah’s mom and dad work up there any longer. But, Roy does see Todd and Sarah at church and at some of the kid’s games. I asked, “So, they are pretty good people?” Roy answered, “Oh yeah, real good people. Good family.” If someone gets props from Big Roy you can take it to the bank.

I have a few more pro-Sarah factoids. She is a lifetime member of the NRA and has run a 3 hour 59 minute marathon. From what I read her favorite meal is moosemeat stew. Sounds like she and Todd are your typical hardcore Alaskans. Their lifestyle is easy for me to respect, a refreshing change that shatters the typical politician stereotype.

Cam

Sarah Palin Pics….courtesy of photog Rick Russell. Great work Rick, thank you.

Join me at RMEF’s Willamette Valley Chapter Banquet this Saturday, April 10th, at the Hilton in Eugene Oregon. I will be speaking, there will be dinner, a raffle, etc. It will be a great night for a bunch of elk hunters to get together and support the RMEF. Call 541.689.2752 for tickets. The event begins at 4:00 p.m. I am really looking forward to meeting everyone and I have a box full of goodies to give out compliments of Hoyt Archery as well as a couple of limited edition Under Armour Ridge Reaper t-shirts, a Badlands pack and maybe some more sweet gear! See you there, Cam

Cameron R. Hanes
www.cameronhanes.com

THE PERFECT OFF-SEASON WEEKEND, yes and granted, it doesn’t really compare to arrowing a big bull in the dark timber, (not much does) but the past 48 hours have been awesome and revolved around a few key elements….Family, Fitness, Focus, Fun and, of course, Bowhunting. That right there is my life!!!! I’ll never take what I have for granted.

Stay humble…stay hungry.

Read on as I share with you the last 48 hours of my life. Click on the video links (give the videos a few seconds to upload) and photos below. Cam

truett-squat

I’ll start this video/photo montage with a cool snippet of Truett tonight (Sunday), after three big basketball games this weekend, loading up 135 lbs on the squat rack and hammering out a couple reps (click on the link above). Tipping the scales at 80 lbs. my little guy has been lifting with me for a few months now and is really starting to show improvement. His heart and drive INSPIRES ME. I try to be a good role model to my kids and teach them that while in life others might doubt them….the key is that they never doubt themselves. They can achieve all their dreams. Truett has awesome focus and is not afraid to push through some pain. Stay tuned…he is running the Eugene Marathon in early May, the full 26.2. I can’t wait to see him conquer this feat. As a 7th grader, he is much tougher than I ever was. BTW…he scored 14 and helped his team to a big win tonight before we lifted. Like yesterday, I again ran to his game….hammering out another 8 or 9 miles after yesterday’s long, bloody run. Felt good.

Every bowhunter knows that there is nothing that can happen in March that will rival the feeling I had after arrowing this Wyoming bull in the backcountry. To me though, it is those September memories that keep me focused and working hard now, during the off-season. Keep your eye on the prize!!!

On Saturday I ended my long run at Truett’s game. What a game it was. This is the end of the year 7th grade championship tournament (not quite the high school state championship like Tanner just played in, but to these boys it’s a big deal), and unfortunately they (Sheldon Irish) were not doing well. With about 1:30 left they were down 10 points, 23-13, then things turned around. Truett hit a 3-pointer, Adam, another guard on his team, hit a 3-pointer, then after a steal, Truett hit another 3 with about five seconds left. All of a sudden it was a 1 point game, 23-22. On the inbounds after Truett’s last 3, he stole the ball and was fouled. With 1 second left on the clock he headed to the line, needing to make a least 1 to force OT. He did, making the first and missing the second, knotting the score at 23 all. OT started with the other team, Churchill, making their first shot. With OT being only two minutes long this was not good. Truett then came down and hit ANOTHER 3-pointer giving Sheldon a 1 point lead, 26-25. This lead held up and Sheldon won. Truett scored 10 points in a touch over three minutes helping them get the win and earn another game on Sunday. That was fun.

I love talking bowhunting as I just did at RMEF’s Elk Camp in Reno.

Tanner worked very hard this year on improving his game. Last year at the Oregon State Basketball Tournament he was overwhelmed and ineffective. This year, he did great and while his team, the Mohawk Indians, didn’t achieve their goal of winning a State Championship, they had a lot of success and won the 3rd Place trophy. Tanner averaged a touch over 11 points in the State Tournament and played inspired defense. I was very proud of him. I only had to miss one of three tournament games, the semi-final game, as I had to go to RMEF’s Elk Camp in Reno to give a seminar. He earned Qwest Player of the Game (in the state semi-final) for his effort. While I was dissapointed I missed the game, the fact that he was able to step up and play so well, with me out of state is a big deal. He is only 16, a junior in high school, but starting to turn the corner. He is #24 in the team photo I took after the 3rd place game in Baker City, Oregon. His dedication to being the best he can be INSPIRES ME.

running-with-trace

Trace ran the first few miles of my long (2.5 hour) run with me on Saturday…she is actually a very good runner. She says she is not a good runner, she just does it to keep from weighing 300 lbs. We all run for different reasons right? Regardless, I like that this is something healthy we can do together. Her heart of gold INSPIRES ME. Check out the video…hit the link above.

I have a 50K Ultra coming up in two weeks. With all the travel for shows, seminars, etc. I haven’t had the time get in those long runs I need to preparing for the Western States 100 in June. On Saturday I figured I better get busy in this regard. Hammered out about 20 miles before Truett’s basketball game. Mentally, I was good, however, my body wasn’t quite ready for the pounding. My feet usually break down before anything else early in the year and as you can see they did again. It is just something I have to deal with. Feels good to get the run in the books. As they say, you never regret the runs you do. It is the runs you don’t do that you regret.

After watching the 5A title game we still needed to fit in the gym. It was 10 p.m. but Tanner wanted to work on his jumper and Truett wanted to lift. So we went to the gym until about 11:30 p.m.

On the heels of Tanner’s State Tournament experience last weekend, we were in the mood to watch some good basketball. Saturday night we went to the 5A State Title game at Mac Court. Good game. The team we were pulling for lost.

Sunday morning, Taryn wanted me to paint her face after I shot my bow. Trace is the artist, but I gave it a go. She was happy with the results. Taryn’s innocence INSPIRES ME.

Friday night….run the hill in the rain. I ran the hill like most days after work, but today I had to hustle. I was to pick up my dad from his regular CAT scan at 5:30. He has been battling inoperable liver cancer for over a year now. His strength and courage INSPIRES ME. I often think of my dad when I don’t want to run, lift or shoot my bow. Thinking, who am I to be lazy?

I remember as a little boy looking through his athletic scrap book hundreds of times. The newspaper clippings, medals, plaques. He was my hero. Unlike me and my boys, he had awesome athletic ability. Coming out of South Eugene High he was a D-1 athlete in track & field and gymnastics. I have very little in natural physical talents and my sons are about in the same boat…all we are left with is doing the most with what we have. My dad seemed to have it all…smart, talented and everyone in this town knew him. To me, his oldest son, Bob Hanes was larger than life. It was a special moment just this past Fall when he was honored as the first inductee into the South Eugene High School Hall of Fame. He is a special man. Check out the video below!!!

cleaning-185

In the gym with Truett…you simply can’t do a better lift than a clean. Check out the video below!!!

running-the-hill-in-the-rain2

365 days a year…I shoot my bow. Check out the video below!!!

every-day2

It’s March, seemingly a lifetime from September, but by staying committed to the journey we can start now laying the ground work for a successful Fall. My goal is to do something, anything, every single day towards the goal of becoming a better bowhunter. Shooting 6 arrows, walking a mile, running 10, talking gear at The Bow Rack, reading a hunting magazine, answering emails from other passionate bowhunters….it all makes a difference. It all stokes that fire burning within….win the day!!!

I have shared with you all what inspires me….what INSPIRES YOU?