RUSSELL THORNBERRY OUTDOORS

Welcome to our new site!

Welcome to the new and improved RTO website, which offers some new features, plus easier navigation. Those of you who are signed up for my monthly e-newsletter will automatically receive an overview of each month’s newsletter and feature article content.  You will notice four orange buttons on the upper left hand side of my home page that read: "Articles", "Newsletter", "Real Life" and "Field Tips". Also, please note a new category on our top menu, entitled, "RTO Trips".

Real Life is a short inspirational insight that deals with the challenges of life that we all face, concluding with God’s perspective and resolution for every situation.

Field Tips offers a helpful monthly tip for the outdoorsman, which will cover hunting, fishing, firearms, archery tackle, fishing tackle and general outdoor lore.

RTO Trips keeps readers abreast of special hosted outdoor adventures that I will offering.  Check out the Kodiak Island Cast and Blast coming up in Sept. 2009 and the Trophy Black Bear Hunt with Fawnie Mountain Outfitters in British Columbia, Canada, in May 2010.  Keep an eye on RTO Trips because new opportunities will be added regularly.

I am also very proud to announce my new website partners showcased on the right hand column of my home page.  Each one is represented with their logo, which is also a hot link button that will take you directly to their websites. I encourage you to check out their products and services. I believe in the people represented here and I am proud to use and represent their fine products.

Thank you to Aaron Deckler at www.lolight.com for making our web dreams a reality!

Western Canadian Sportsman's Rendezvous a Big Hit

Dudley Hall, Richard Culpepper and yours truly hosted the first western Canadian Sportsman’s Rendezvous June 5-7th west of Caroline, Alberta, on the beautiful campus of Living Faith Bible College located on the banks of the Clearwater River.

The sporting events were a blast even though Mother Nature did her best to add variety to our primarily outdoor weekend. We had our Bow and Arrow Golf Tournament while it snowed, trap shooting while it rained and hailed, hog tossing, pickle spitting, and knife throwing in the sunshine – all in one day.  However, the weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of our group of men who braved the elements for bragging rights and a ton of laughs at each other’s expense.

Aside from the outdoor events that entertained us, this group of men were inspiring because of their hunger for God and their desire to make a difference in this life.  Campfire conversations were honest and challenging and it was clear that these men wanted to be “real,” serving God honestly without the trappings of religiosity, dead traditions and the feminization of the North American culture.  My special thanks to Dudley Hall and Richard Culpepper for their contributions to our event.

Plans are in the making for another Rendezvous next June, 2010.  Dates will be posted on this site.  This event is not reserved for Canadians only.  You guys from south of the border who want to experience the beauty of the foothills of the Canadian Rockies are welcome to join us. There is talk about dove-tailing the Rendezvous with a wilderness fishing trip. Will keep you posted.

All Things Outdoors

Bo Finley is no stranger to the outdoor world.  He is known as a seasoned, premier outdoorsman in his home state of Texas where he has devoted a big chunk of his life to guiding deer and turkey hunters and doing hunting seminars for those who are eager to glean from his expertise.  But most recently, Bo has found a new calling in the outdoor world: to assist those who would not otherwise be able to experience the outdoors.

All Things Outdoors is dedicated to sharing an outdoor experience with children and adults who need a time of refreshing, away from tough or challenging times in their lives. Some might be battling a life threatening illness, some trying to adapt to a life altering situation, others needing time in the outdoors after a heartbreaking tragedy. Bo realizes that we can’t avoid the challenges of life, but for a few days while hunting or fishing, hearts and minds can be encouraged.  ATO is dedicated to utilizing the majesty of God’s creation as a wonderful tool of encouragement and rest.

Bo is stepping out into his calling by faith and he wishes to network with like-minded people who have a heart for assisting the disadvantaged through his outdoor ministry.To fully understand the power of Bo’s vision, you have to witness the joy of a terminally ill child who gets to see his or her dream fulfilled, or a soldier disabled by war who gets to return to the sport he loved and lost because of the compassion of God exemplified by the mission of Bo Finley.  I encourage those of you who are touched by this ministry to contact Bo Finley and get involved.

ATO Mission Statement
To bless and honor handicapped, disadvantaged or hurting children and adults by providing first class hunting or outdoor adventures in a Christian ranch environment.

www.allthingsoutdoors.org
Bo@allthingsoutdoors.org
(817) 597-5112

'Possum Creek Homecoming

I met Mac (short for MacTavish) under the ‘Possum Creek Bridge just as I was heading downstream for an evening of fly-fishing. For the first three hours I didn’t even know his name. He appeared to be a mixture of Border Collie and Lab but I couldn’t be sure.  The only thing I was sure of was the fact that the he really liked me and was not about to leave my side.

Dogs and fly-fishing don’t exactly go together but it was kind of neat to have an instant pal on my first trip back to ‘Possum Creek after being gone from Alberta for 19 years. Okay, ‘Possum Creek is not on any map.  It’s my code name for the creek. If I told you its real name I’d have to kill you.

I walked the creek for about a half mile downstream before turning to face the current and fish my way back to the bridge.  It was at this juncture that I realized that my K-9 pal was going to be a problem.  He went absolutely crazy when I put the fly line in the air and would jump off the bank trying to grab it as it sailed by him.  He sounded like a cannon ball hitting the water behind me and it scared me out of my wits the first time it happened.  For the next two hours I concentrated on my forecast and screamed at the top of my lungs on my back casts, threatening the dog if he jumped for the line.  All in all it was a disconcerting experience and anything but productive as far as the secretive brown trout were concerned.  The dog and I must have sounded like a small war coming up the creek.  In spite of the problem I did manage to catch a couple of unsuspecting Rocky Mountain Whitefish. Obviously, they aren’t wound as tightly as brown trout.

Finally I reached water too deep to wade so I headed for the right hand bank, which was extremely steep.  I laid my rod on the bank, grabbed a couple of handfuls of roots and started pulling myself out of the water on all fours.  I was about half way up the bank when I noticed that the dog was facing straight away 10 feet in front of me and standing on full point.  I thought that was curious since he had not taken his eyes off me since we met.  Stretching to the side I saw what had the dog’s attention – a very large – very irritated skunk, which was doing his tail-high dance that typically means somebody is about to get sprayed.

Several things raced through my mind at that point: 1) How could I have chosen such an ill-fated spot to crawl up the creek bank? 2) How was I going to convince the skunk that I was not the enemy? 3) Would in be better to fall over backwards into the creek and drown or try to wait out the skunk?

The answer came quickly when the skunk charged the dog, and the dog, being my best friend, ran back to me for moral support.  The skunk called off the charge at about five feet and returned to his burrow and disappeared into the bank. It was a very close call and since I was already on my knees I thanked God for not letting the skunk stink up my first trip back to my favorite creek.

Eventually I arrived back at the bridge where the adventure began. Upstream 100 yards or so there was the old bridge that crossed the creek before they put in the new road.  I decided to walk up to the old bridge and take a picture of the gorgeous sunset on the water.  As I stood in the middle of the bridge I noticed a man walking toward me.  He was the dog’s owner and had been wondering where his mutt had gone.  I explained that the dog (whose name turned out to be Mac) had joined me for an evening of fly-fishing.  The man’s name was Jerry and he owned the property on the east side of the creek. He was a cordial sort and asked me if I’d like to join him for a glass of Merlot by the little fire he had going a hundred yards further up the creek bank.  I spent an hour with Jerry and Mac, there by the fire in the glorious afterglow of a sunset on ‘Possum Creek.  As is so often the case, a simple endeavor had taken some curious turns, but that’s what life is all about.  Heck, a fly-fishing trip with no line-grabbing dog, no near miss with a skunk and no Merlot would hardly be worth mentioning.

May 2009 Newsletter

Texas Spring Sportsmen’s Retreat

There’s still time to sign up for the Annual Spring Sportsmen Retreat, May 15-17, 2009, at the beautiful new facility at the Tesoro Escondido Ranch near Mineral Wells, Texas, on the Brazos River.  Don’t miss this opportunity to hone your outdoors skills and participate in a variety of hilarious competitions, which include the Texashog toss, bow and arrow golf, knife throwing, 3-D archery, skeet shooting, fly-casting and much more.  Along with entertaining and educational outdoor events, expect legendary campfire sessions with crazy songs and even crazier tales shared by world-class story tellers.  This special men’s event, hosted by Dudley Hall and Russell Thornberry, provides a relaxed atmosphere of fellowship in which to encourage and challenge men.  Come and bring a friend!   For additional information or booking contact Successful Christian Living Ministries online at www.sclm.org or by phone at (817) 267-9224.

 

Canadian Sportsmen’s Rendezvous

Dudley Hall and Russell Thornberry will host the first western Canadian Sportsmen’s Retreat in Alberta ,  Canada , from June 5-7, 2009, on the  Living Faith Bible College campus west of Caroline, Alberta. For information and bookings contact Living Faith at www.lfbc.net or call (403) 722-2225. 

 

 

“Starting at the Top”

On May 2nd, Susan Hindbo of Caroline, Alberta,Canada, the founder Raven Wear clothing, traveled to Olsburg, Kansas, to hunt with Uwe Haendler of Broken Arrow Outfitters, and in so doing, she hit the gobbler jackpot, bagging a 6-bearded tom with 1 1/8-inch spurs. The gorgeous gobbler tipped the scales at almost 25 pounds!  Not bad for one’s first turkey, eh?  Way to go Susan!

For more information about hunting with Broken Arrow Outfitters contact:

Uwe Haendler, (913) 530-3392

For information about Raven Wear’s ultimate outdoor clothing for silent warmth contact:: Susan Hindbo, Raven Wear, P.O. Box 411, Caroline, Alberta T0M 0M0 - (403) 722-2230 www.ravenwear.ca

Kodiak Alaska Cast & Blast Bargain

The folks at Kodiak Legends Lodge on Kodiak Island Alaska, have made me an offer I can’t refuse and I am passing it on to you -- $1,500 off the regular price of an incredible 5-day fly-out salmon fishing/blacktail deer hunting combo trip on Kodiak Island. The regular price of $5,950 has been reduced to $4,450 for this special trip, which I will be personally hosting. There is maximum capacity of six adventurous outdoorsmen from September 12-16, 2009. This is the opportunity of a lifetime for those hungry for a great Alaskan adventure and a bargain price we may never see again!  This is silver salmon and blacktail deer paradise. For complete details click on RTO Trips.

The Truth about Broadhead Effectiveness

If you are wondering if your choice of broadheads is the best for you, read this month’s Field Tips. This is an in depth study of the essential characteristics of effective broadheads will enable you to select the “right” broadhead based upon real science, rather than advertising hype.

              

Home Front Happenings

 

 

 

Something Wonderfully Fishy

If there is anything more fun that taking your grandchildren fishing on a beautiful mountain lake, high in the Colorado Rockies, I haven’t discovered it -- and I hope I never do. Pictured are my daughter Michelle’s four kids (from left to right): Russell, Elliott, Sam and Ivy, with a bevy of rainbow trout. To coin an overused cliché, “It just doesn’t get any better than this!”

 

 

         

Record Snowball

My 4-year-old grandson, Sam Patterson, is making the most of the spring snowfall that buried Colorado in three feet of snow as he poses with unbridled joy atop a record-sized snowball in his front yard. Sam will undoubtedly continue to find great joy in deep snow, at least until he’s old enough to shovel the driveway.

Mule Deer Rodeo

Shar and I had just finished a long 1^st day of moving household furnishings from a storage rental unit into our new house.  Friends and family who had been helping us were gone and we were about to head back to Green Mountain Falls to the little cabin we were renting temporarily.  Just as we were locking up, we saw movement on the lawn below our deck.  There were mule deer running in every direction like a bunch of scared rabbits.  As we watched in amazement we saw that there was one buck with about 4-inch velvet antler stubs chasing the rest of the herd, all females, as if it were November in the heat of the rut.  But on the first of May?  The rodeo continued for another five minutes or so and then the procession headed downhill to a neighbor’s place.  What a welcoming committee.  Earlier I had noticed that a small pine on the property had been rubbed badly and was dying.  It looked as if a buck had rubbed his antlers on that tree.  Apparently that was exactly right.  Obviously, there would be wildlife in the neighborhood. We saw a gorgeous red fox prancing along the road below our new home as we drove away.  Wow, it was like living in a zoo!

And Now a Bear!

Okay, so now it is May 4th. We spent the afternoon moving more of our belongings into the new house at Woodland Park and we were back at the cabin watching the news.  I saw something through the window blinds in front of our cabin.  I opened the blinds for a closer look and there was a huge cinnamon colored black bear sniffing around and walking around the house like he owned the place. Sharleen was beside herself to see the huge bear so up close and personal. “We’re living in a zoo here,” she said, “but we’re the ones who have to stay in the cage.

The woman has a point, alright.  Relaxing in the hot tub after dark will never be the same.

 

Until next month's edition -- God bless you one and all.

RT