American Mixed Team Archers Win Olympic Bronze

When the arrow from Casey Kaufhold’s recurve landed in the nine circle to secure bronze recently in Paris, France (photo above), there were tears and cheers as history was made with the USA’s first-ever mixed team medal at an Olympic Games.

Kaufhold struggled to contain her emotions following the win over India, embracing her teammate and Olympic veteran Brady Ellison. Also, Kaufhold became the first woman to win an Olympic archery medal for Team USA since Melanie Hull, Debra Ochs and Denise Parker claimed team bronze at the Seoul Games in 1988.

“We feel awesome winning bronze today,” said Kaufhold. “We worked really hard for this and put a lot of time and effort into it. At the end of the day, we knew we were shooting good, and we just had to stick to our plan and we did it.

“It’s hard to put into words what it means to win my first Olympic medal. I think my reaction on the stage said it all. That fist-bump, that screaming, that was all I was feeling … and that’s the best way I can describe it.”

Earlier, the USA pairing began the mixed team eliminations with a 6-0 win over Uzbekistan, followed by a battling 5-3 win over Japan. That put them up against second seeds Germany in the semifinals. Ellison and Kaufhold started the stronger, surging into a 2-0 lead. Germany would eventually emerge winners 5-3.

India then stood between the USA and an Olympic medal. Putting the semifinal disappointment behind them, Ellison and Kaufhold settled the soonest, taking the first two sets with scores of 38 and 37. India hit back in set number three, but the USA were not to be denied as they finished with a 37 to India’s 35 and the bronze was assured.

"We went out there with a game plan that was a little bit different to what we normally do,” said Ellison. “I felt like we executed it brilliantly. I think it helped with our nerves, and I think for the most part that we shot really well.”

He added with a broad smile, “We’re Olympic bronze medalists, it’s all there is to say!”

Team USA’s Ellison Wins Individual Archery Silver

In the men’s Olympic final in Paris, France, Team USA’s Brady Ellison claimed silver following a very tight match with Kim Woojin (Korea), to go with the mixed team bronze medal he won with Casey Kaufhold earlier in the Games.

“This is the match I’ve been dreaming of since we first shot against each other in 2009 or 2010,” said Ellison. “It’s the match I’ve always wanted. I think World Archery and the fans across the world have always wanted it, and the way we finished that match to go four 10s in a row, the both of us.”

Ellison now has a haul of three silver and two bronze medals from an impressive five Olympic Games. He has individual silver and bronze, two team silvers and one mixed team bronze. As the NBC commentary team suggested, Brady Ellison is one of the greatest the sport has ever seen.

“If you had asked me 3 weeks ago if I’d be up here today, I would have said no way," he said. “At Pan Ams last year, I had a few injuries, and I’ve been trying to let it heal and shoot through it, and I got in a bad place with it.

“I kind of sucked all year if I’m going to be honest, and then Chris Webster came in and made some changes. We lengthened out my draw length an inch and 3/8 and started shooting better already in Turkey (World Cup Stage 3).”

On his way to the gold medal match, Ellison rattled off wins over Berkim Tumer of Turkey (6-2), Kim Je-Deok of Korea (6-0) and Florian Unruh of Germany (7-3).

“We came in here with a different game plan,” Ellison said, “and when we stepped on the practice field, I peaked right here and knew if we went in the finals field and I could keep that going I’d be happy no matter what.”

The gold medal match against Kim Woojin was epic. Ellison won the first set 29-27. The Korean top seed leveled after scores of 28-24. The American responded in set three, taking it 29-27 for a 4-2 lead, only for the scores to be reversed in set four. The pair were locked at 4-4 heading into the fifth set.

Nerves? What nerves? The two giants of the sport locked horns, both shooting maximums. With the crowd going wild, a shootoff was required. Both hit 10s, with the Korean the closer.

“I’m not upset that he barely beat me in that shootoff,” admitted Ellison. “We shot like champions, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Click here to check out the 6:46-minute YouTube video with highlights of the gold medal match. Fast-forward to the 5-minute mark to get to the final few arrows. Crazy!

Hunting License Sales Remain Steady in 2022-2023

The Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports in collaboration with Southwick Associates, has released its annual report on hunting license sales, revealing a relatively steady trend for the 2022-2023 license year. According to the report, over 80% of participating states experienced a change of 5% or less in hunting license sales from the previous year.

In early 2021, the Council conducted a comprehensive survey of state wildlife agencies, which showed an overall increase in hunting license sales by 4.9% from 2019 to 2020. This rise was attributed to the surge in outdoor recreation during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as the pandemic extended into its second year, 2021 saw a dip of 1.9% in overall sales, despite the continued high demand for outdoor activities, particularly among nonresident hunters.

The Council revisited the study in early 2023 to track trends in hunting license sales for the 2022-2023 license year. The findings indicated a 3.1% decline in sales compared to 2020-2021 license year. However, the latest report for 2022-2023 showed a much smaller decrease of just 0.3% across the 47 states that participated in the Council’s study, suggesting a stabilization in participation rates.

"The 2022-2023 hunting license sales indicate that participation is likely relatively stable at the national level," said Swanny Evans, Director of Research and Partnerships for the Council. "This is a positive sign for the hunting and conservation community."

Key findings from the 2022-2023 report include:

• A 0.3% overall decrease in hunting license sales compared to 2021-2022, with resident sales down by 0.2% and nonresident sales by 0.6%.
• 51% of the 47 reporting states saw an increase in license sales.
• The Midwest region experienced a slight increase in sales by 1.0%, while the Northeast, Southeast, and Western regions saw decreases ranging from 0.6% to 2.1%.
• Monthly sales varied throughout the year, with notable increases in March, May, August, October, November, and December.

The Council's report underscores the need for continued R3 initiatives to maintain and grow the hunting community. By analyzing trends and responding to changes, the Council aims to support the hunting community and ensure a sustainable future for the activity.

The full report, "Hunting License Sales 2022-2023," is available for download on the Council website by clicking here.

The Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports mission is to facilitate the promotion and growth of hunting and the shooting sports and the education of the public on the contributions that hunters and shooters make towards wildlife conservation.

Team Mathews Shooters Win Four ATA Shooter of the Year Titles

Team Mathews finished the ASA season strong at the final Pro/Am of the year located in Cullman, Alabama, claiming seven podiums overall and adding four Shooter of the Year titles.

Dan McCarthy finished the last event of the year in third place, securing critical points to earn the Men’s Pro Shooter of the Year title for the fourth year in a row.

“Capping off my 21st professional archery season with a Shooter of the Year title is truly a blessing,” McCarthy said. “I couldn’t be more thankful for my teammates and competitors who push me to do my best, the companies that support me, the fans who are constantly giving me uplifting words of support, and for the opportunity to chase these dreams”.

Women’s Pro Shooter Cara Kelly capitalized on another great season by claiming third place in the final Pro/Am, taking home another Shooter of the Year title for Team Mathews in back-to-back seasons.

In Men’s Known Pro, Kyle Douglas’ outstanding performances throughout this year’s ASA season earned him the rights to the Men’s Known Pro Shooter of the Year for the third year in a row.

Adding onto the team’s success, Tim Gillingham produced a dominant performance at the final Pro/Am of the year, taking first place and claiming the Shooter of the Year title in Senior Known Pro.

“The Classic was a great way to close out another amazing ASA season for Team Mathews,” said Mathews Pro Staff Manager Derek Phillips. “Seeing McCarthy, Kelly, and Douglas defend the Shooter of the Year title multiple years in a row is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and the bows we’ve worked so hard on to perfect.”

Delta McKenzie Increases Payouts for Women’s Pro ASA Shooters

Delta McKenzie Targets, a leading manufacturer of archery targets and the title sponsor of the ASA Pro/Am tour, recently announced a significant enhancement in support of women's competitive archery. Effective immediately, Delta McKenzie will increase the Shooter of the Year (SOY) payouts for the Women's Pro Divisions, reinforcing its commitment to promoting and expanding opportunities within the sport.

The updated payout structure for the Women's Pro Divisions is as follows: first place, $2,500; second place, $1,500; third place, $1,000.

This increase aims to recognize the skill and dedication of female athletes in competitive archery and to encourage more women to participate at the highest levels of the sport. Delta McKenzie recognizes the growing interest and talent within the women's archery community and is dedicated to supporting their advancement and achievements.

“As women's participation in archery continues to rise, we at Delta McKenzie are proud to contribute to the growth and recognition of women in competitive archery,” said Al Perelli, president at Delta McKenzie. “We believe that by increasing the SOY payouts for the Women's Pro Divisions, we are not only rewarding excellence, but also encouraging more women to pursue their passion for archery at the professional level.”

This initiative underscores Delta McKenzie's ongoing commitment to archery excellence and its dedication to providing meaningful support for female competitors in the sport.