CollegiateCamo heats up the savings!
July 11, 2011 by CollegiateCamo · Leave a Comment
The heat has been monstrous in the Midwest. This heat has outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen begging for mercy from the 100+ degree weather and wanting fall to hurry up and get here! (We won’t mention college football season or the opening day of duck or dear season!) Quite frankly, the heat is putting a damper on my fishing and interfering with my clay shooting. We can’t change the weather, but we can offer you some relief in the wallet! Take 10% off your whole order at www.collegiatecamo.com when you use the discount code FRIEND at checkout.
Mizzou Shooting Team Fundraiser
June 28, 2011 by CollegiateCamo · Leave a Comment
Ryan Mason & Larry Houston have a very special friendship that is bound by their loyalty to the University of Missouri Tigers and their love for shooting sports. Ryan is this years reigning ACUI champ for Men’s Combined Trap Events; Larry was on the 1972 Mizzou team that won the ACUI International Trap championship.
They met this year at the Kansas State “Meet me at the Crossroads” collegiate event in which several collegiate teams traveled to Kansas City from as far away as Virginia Tech to compete for titles.
It was a match made in Heaven! They began discussing old times; reunion ideas; shooting events….and the Tiger Open concept was born. Ryan has done all the planning and logistics and Larry has contacted all his former team mates from 1971 & 72 to invite them to attend. They are both surprised at the interest and the response from former team mates that plan to travel back to Columbia for a fun weekend of camaraderie and shooting.
We asked Larry about the team back in 1971 and this is the report we got:
“In 1971 there wasn’t a shot gun team at Mizzou; I learned that other colleges were competing nationally and started recruiting my quail hunting buddies to form a team. Few of them had any experience with shooting clay targets. We all practiced regularly. At that time the ACUI tournament was held at the Lake of the Ozarks at the Missouri Trap Shooters Association grounds. Our team competed there in 1971 and won 2nd place in International Trap and placed in the top 10 teams for American Trap. The 2nd year (1972) the team won the International Trap division and I took 2nd place in Individual Trap, losing by 1 target to Steve Carmichael. That year we took 2nd place in American Trap. Due to our performance, all of the team members received an invitation to the Olympic Regional Trials in San Antonio. Bill Fretwell and I drove to San Antonio from Missouri and competed. I was the winner of the gold medal in the college division. Because of that I received an invitation to the Olympic Trials for the 1972 Munich Olympics. It was an honor to be among the approximately 75 shooters in the nation that received the invitation.
Since that time I’ve only been in contact with 1 of my former team mates. When Ryan and I began discussing a reunion event to benefit the current team we got really excited. Many of my teammates plan to attend.”
CollegiateCamo.com is very happy to announce that we will be sponsoring the first ever Tiger Open that will directly benefit the University of Missouri’s shooting team. Come out and meet present national awards winners from the MU team and members from the 1972 ACUI International Trap Team Champions will be there!
The event is being held on July 30-31st, 2011 at Prairie Grove Shotgun Sports in Columbia, MO. The event opens at 9 am on July 30 with the sporting clays event and lasts until 2 pm. The fun continues on Sunday with the trap and wobble trap event.
For the GPS-enabled folks, the address to the fund raiser is:
Prairie Grove Shotgun Sports
1420 County Road 276
Columbia, MO 65202
Awards will be presented to the top shooters and don’t forget all the great camo MU Tigers items that will be available for sale at the booth! Come have a great time supporting a great cause! We look forward to seeing you there!
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- Missouri Shooting Team Fundraiser
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- Mizzou Shooting Team Fundraiser
2011 Annual Clay Target Championships in Texas
April 18, 2011 by TannerThorfinnson · Leave a Comment
Written by Pro-Staff Team Member Tanner Thorfinnson
Texas is home of the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, and also home to the 2011 Annual Clay Target Championships. This tournament involves colleges from around the country, including Colorado State University, University of Wyoming, Kansas State University, Oklahoma State University and many others.
This tournament lasted about one week, with the competitors shooting in the following events: Five-Stand Sporting Clays, Sporting Clays, International Trap, International Skeet, American Skeet and American Trap.
A team member and I got to experience much of the great hunting that the great state of Texas has to offer. After we shot skeet on Sunday, we took off to a little town called Mason, which is about an hour and 40 minutes from San Antonio. There we each harvested a ram. He took a Texas Dahl and I took a Corsican. Not a bad way to end a Sunday!
Overall, the Annual Clay Target Championships is more than just a competition. It’s a chance to bond with other people that share the same interests, and it is a chance to experience what happens outside the walls of your college town.
College Scholarships for Outdoorsmen
April 15, 2011 by CollegiateCamo · Leave a Comment
If there are any two things close to our hearts they are colleges and outdoor sports. So it brings huge smiles to our faces to read about scholarships being given out nationwide to top notch outdoorsmen, shooters and conservationists who want to pursue successful careers anywhere in the field.
These are just of the few scholarships for outdoorsmen we have heard about. What other scholarships should outdoorsmen, hunters, fishers, shooters and conservationists apply for to pay for college?
Texas Big Game Awards Scholarship
Wildlife & Fisheries Science Scholarships
Mule Deer Conservation Scholarships
Best Season Openers
April 13, 2011 by MattTruesdale · Leave a Comment
Pittsburgh Pirates Home Opener
Written by Pro-Staff Team Member Matt Truesdale
On Thursday, April 7, I had the opportunity to continue a tradition started by my hunting buddies and me - the tradition of attending the Pittsburgh Pirates home opener. This is the 3rd consecutive year that we have been to the home opener, and regardless of whether the Buccos win or lose, it is still an extremely enjoyable time. Nothing can compare to a full day of tailgating in the parking lot with the American and Jolly Roger flags flying high, supporting our favorite ball club at one of the best ball parks in the country and throwing down a Primanti’s sandwich with an IC Light.
As the game rolled into the bottom half of the 7th and we sang “take me out to the ball game” I began to wonder what are the year’s best season openers? Here at Collegiate Camo, we not only get pumped up for the start of hunting and fishing seasons, but for athletic seasons as well! Because of the bonded love affair of outdoorsman sports and athletic sports being a common trend that we all share, I have put together what I consider to be the most anticipated opening seasons of each year from the least popular to most popular.
12) NHL and NBA: I understand that these two sports are completely different, especially during playoffs in the post season. Heck, the playoffs for both of these leagues are an entirely new season and a different more exciting game. Even though I am a fan of the NHL I just cannot get as excited for the first game of the year like I can other sports. I’ll just wait for the start of the playoffs…
11) Small Game: Have you ever felt that heart pounding, nervous, exciting feeling as a big fox squirrel slowly comes down the path toward you? Yeah, neither have I. Although I do enjoy small game hunting and the camaraderie with my friends, small game is more of a thrown together afternoon activity than anything else. Even grouse and pheasant are more annoying and frustrating than they are enjoyable to hunt. But seriously, have you ever heard of “squirrel drives”? Exactly.
10) College Basketball: How long is it until March? This year VCU proved that the college basketball regular season does not matter and the big tournament is the only excitement worth watching. Yes, the end of the season tournament may possibly be one of the most exciting post seasons in any sport, but the opening game is just a tease until all the madness.
9) Waterfowl: I will hand it to the waterfowl hunters. I have yet to get fully enveloped into the sport, but these guys are crazy. Blinds, decoys, boats, face paint, calls, you name it. This season requires a lot of attention to detail, equipment, management and site location which could only lead to excitement on the opening day. Seasons in, migration’s cancelled.
8 ) White Tail Deer, Archery: Why did I separate archery and rifle? If you have to ask this question, than you must only hunt deer with a rifle. There are not many feelings that come close to having a deer walk within yards from you, and the practice and preparation needed in order to slay a buck with a broad head. Unfortunately, the first day of archery cannot quite contend with the first day of rifle. Be sure to bring enough scent eliminator as the first of archery always seems to be too hot, sticky, and muggy.
7) NFL: The NFL opener is similar to a family reunion. Every year there is a reunion, you generally see the same people, there is usually something or someone new that brings interest and then there is something or someone that embarrasses you. The majority of NFL fans already know what they have regarding their teams. The NFL opener is exciting, but the NFL opener lacks some of the glamour and anticipation of other season openers.
6) NASCAR: Yes, NASCAR. I know you are all wondering how and why NASCAR is as high as it is on this list. The answer is that the “Super Bowl” of NASCAR is the Daytona 500, the season opener. You can disagree all you want, but you cannot argue the fact that Daytona 500 is a hugely popular event full of everything needed for a great opening day.
5) Turkey: The elusive thunder chicken is by far one of the most frustrating and fun species to hunt. Combine this birds characteristics with the preparation it takes to bag a bird and 2 opening seasons throughout the year, you can’t beat turkey hunting. No other species or sport has 2 openers in a year, and doubling proves this sport aint no turkey.
4) MLB: Our nation’s pastime. The spring weather. Smells of popcorn, hot dogs and beer. 9 innings of excitement and a packed house. The MLB season opener matches and exceeds the excitement, anticipation, and popularity of any sport. Yes, the 162 game season is long, but every game counts in the attempt of achieving one of the few post seasons spots. The fact that the MLB opener does not just bring baseball back, but also brings back the warm weather and the thought of summer heralds the MLB opener high in this list.
3) Trout: The opening day of trout season may be different for many people throughout the country. But where I come from, the trout season opener is a right of passage for children and a day long family fun event. Everyone, literally everyone comes out to the streams for the first day of trout, which does have a drawback. Although some lines may get tangled between those fishing, the trout opener continues to be a spectacle year in and year out. Each cast of the line holds suspense of the possibilities of pulling back a 24 inch brownie, or just a 8 inch rainbow.
2) College Football: Do I honestly have to make an argument for this one? College football is simply American and brings an eruption of pent in anticipation into each fall from the past season. Every year is different in college football. Unlike professional sports, lineups and rosters change on a routine basis, keeping the game fresh and new. But most importantly, with the college football comes the tailgating. Other sports have their loyal and crazy fan base that do provide a spectacle of amazement when showcasing tailgates, but college football fans do it best and on a larger scale. Every school has their traditions, their massive tailgates and their crazy fans. Walk around any college stadium on any home Saturday afternoon and you will find the most die hard and loyal fans of any sport. The fans and tailgaters could only relate to college football as having the best season opener of any athletic sport.
1) White Tail Deer, Rife: I should not have to explain why. There is no more popular, exciting, anticipated day for any outdoorsman than the first day of rifle season for deer. There is nothing more important for an outdoorsman than bringing home the venison and bragging about the previous days hunt over the water cooler at work. The first day of rifle for deer is essentially a national holiday in most areas. No other season opener is built into work and school schedules, allowing individuals the day off to continue the American tradition and to spend time with family members at camp.
NCAA Champions Bracket? Try the “Nerdy Bracket.”
March 24, 2011 by CollegiateCamo · Leave a Comment
Just when you thought the “Big Dance” was about being smart on the court, making the smart move and considering the angle of the 3-pointer before the shots taken… then there came “The Nerdy Bracket.”
We at CollegiateCamo were curious to know just how much that “Nerdy” title was worth. Remember back in high school the boy athletes were dating all the cute girls. The shocker happened years later when we learned that the “nerdy” guys often grew into much more. They were now driving hot cars and traveling the world on their big salaries with beautiful blondes on each arm. Yeah, these are the lawyers, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs… you get the drift. Isn’t it amazing how a little money (or a lot in this case) can take you from nerdy to attractive and wealthy?
Well we found out that “Nerd” may eventually lead to a stash of cash but in the NBA “brawn and athleticism “on the basketball court tops the list of some of the nation’s highest paid individuals. While the Nerds were studying for physics finals these NBA players were probably shooting hoops. Heck, some never even thought about a college final since they “skipped” that milestone straight to the NBA where the big bucks were waiting.
We were curious where these “non-Nerds” went to college so we got busy in discovery. First know that many of these players never went to college and were drafted straight out of high school. Some are from other countries and opted for the NBA draft in our beloved USA.
Take a look at the top salaries of some of the best known and best on court NBA men:
(taken from Insidehoops.com)
Top point guard salaries: 1. Jason Kidd, Dallas, $21.37million; UC Berkeley 2. Stephen Marbury, N.Y. Knicks $20.8million, , GA Tech 3. Mike Bibby, Atlanta, $14.98million,University of AZ 4. Gilbert Arenas, Washington, $14.65million.University of AZ 5. Steve Nash, Phoenix, $12.25million. Santa Clara University.
Top shooting guard salaries: 1. Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers, $21.26million drafted out of hs2. Allen Iverson, Detroit, $20.84million; Turkish Basketball League and the Eurocup. 3. Tracy McGrady, $20.37million. Drafted out of High School 4. Ray Allen, Boston, $18.39million. University of Connecticut . Joe Johnson, Atlanta, $14.23million. Arkansas Razorbacks
Top small forward salaries: 1. Paul Pierce, Boston, $18.07million. University of Kansas 2. Shawn Marion, Miami, $17.81million. University of Nevada-Las Vegas. 3. Andrei Kirilenko, $15.1million-russion-american no college. 4. LeBron James, Cleveland, $14.41million. Drafted after High School 5. Carmelo Anthony, Denver, $14.41million. Syracuse University
Top power forward salaries: 1. Kevin Garnett, Boston, $24.75million Drafted after High School. 2. Tim Duncan, San Antonio, $20.6million. Wake Forest University 3. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas, $18.08million. German professional basketball player 4. Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers, $15.11million. Spanish professional basketball 5. Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix, $15.07million. Drafted out of High School
Top center salaries: 1. Jermaine O’Neal, Toronto, $21.37million. Drafted out of High School 2. Shaquille O’Neal, Phoenix, $21million.LSU 3. Yao Ming, Houston, $15.07million. Chinese Basketball Association 4. Rasheed Wallace, $13.93million. University of North Carolina 5. Dwight Howard, Orlando, $13.76million. Drafted after High School
Obviously here at CollegiateCamo we believe higher education is very important and encourage all athletes to remain in college through their senior year. Wow, what do you think a college education would have done to these salaries? However, once you have that degree it’s yours (generally) forever and no one can take it away. There’s a lot to be said for “I graduated and I have my degree”.
Read more: http://www.insidehoops.com/nbasalaries.shtml#ixzz1HG2qzsBs
2011 Shootout at the Crossroads
March 19, 2011 by CollegiateCamo · Leave a Comment
Although shooting hoops is on everyone’s mind right now with the 2011 NCAA Tournament March Madness going on, these individuals are practicing a different kind of shooting for their own “Big Dance” – and it’s one fierce competition.
The scores are posted from the Shootout at the Crossroads, a collegiate shoot sponsored by Kansas State University and held in Lenexa, KS at the Powder Creek Shooting Range, which took place earlier this month.
This annual event is one of the largest collegiate shoots in the nation with more than 190 competitors. It was a cold, windy and blustery weekend and only the most competitive shooters could “hold up” in these conditions. Still, some of the scores were amazingly close.
Shooting sports is an obsession with some and recreation to others. The furthest distance a completive team traveled to be in the tournament was from Virginia Tech. Their spring break followed the tournament which made for a nice unhurried return home. Others traveled a good distance to compete too. For example, Purdue University and the University of Wyoming had some major windshield time.
There were two Iowa squads competing; University of Northern Iowa Panthers and Iowa State Cyclones. One team from the University of Nebraska Omaha attended. University of Missouri (Columbia) and University of Missouri Science & Technology from Rolla, University of Central Missouri and Lindenwood University represented the state of Missouri. The Oklahoma State squad and Eastern Oklahoma University team made their ways north to Kansas City, and from the west was Colorado State University. The great state of Kansas was well represented by K-State, Fort Hays State and Pratt Community College in KS.
This is an expensive sport for these students. Most generally shooting sports at the university level is a club sport and therefore they receive no university funds. These clubs do fundraisers, apply to grants and pay out-of-pocket to be a part of the team competition. Travel expenses are enormous these days with price of gas and cost of overnight accommodations. Then take into consideration the price of ammo for practice rounds and competition.
Even though these individuals are fierce competitors at the range, many of the team members are very good friends and look forward to seeing each other at collegiate shooting events throughout the school year. It wasn’t unusual to see big hugs from competitive shooters and a thrill of excitement to reunite.
Many of these students have competed since very young ages and won many awards a long the way. Some of these students search for a university where shooting comes first prior to their academic endeavors. Some are so competitive as to be Olympic hopefuls.
Big 12 Team Jokes
March 12, 2011 by JeanieWheeler · Leave a Comment
We can’t pick a favorite team for the Big 12 Tournament, but we figured these jokes that have crossed our paths would help everyone get through the wins, losses, ups and downs of the tourney. No one’s safe from being the butt of a bad joke – here’s some Big 12 team humor to lighten the mood!
University of Kansas Jayhawks
A KU fan walks into a Lawrence bar with a dachshund under his arm. The dog is wearing a Jayhawk jersey and helmet, and festooned with Kansas pom-poms.
The bartender says, “Hey! No pets are allowed in here! You’ll have to leave!”
The KU fan begs him: “Look, I’m desperate. We’re both big fans, the TV is broken, and this is the only place around where we can watch the Kansas-Nebraska football game!”
After securing a promise that the dog will behave, the bartender relents and allows them to stay in the bar to watch the game. The big game begins with the Jayhawks receiving the kickoff. They march down field, get stopped at the 30, and kick a field goal. With that the dog jumps up on the bar and begins walking up and down giving high-fives to everyone.
The bartender says, “Wow, that is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen! What does that dog do if Kansas scores a touchdown?”
The owner replies, “I don’t know, I’ve only had him for 3 years.”
Baylor University Bears
A Baylor student was visiting a relative in Boston over the holidays. He went to a large party and met a pretty co-ed. He was attempting to start up a conversation with the tired line, “Where do y’all go to school?” The co-ed, of course, was not overly impressed with his grammar or southern drawl but did answer his question.
“Yale,” she replied.
The Baylor student took a big deep breath and shouted, “WHERE DO Y’ALL GO TO SCHOOL!?”
Colorado University Buffaloes
Q: What does the average Colorado basketball player get on his SAT?
A: Drool
Iowa State University Cyclones
It’s been reported that they found a skeleton on the Iowa State campus.
It was the 1967 hide and seek champion.
Kansas State University Wildcats
The other day at the bus station, a Nebraska Cornhuskers fan approached a man and said, “I’ll bet you’re from Kansas State University.”
“Why yes, I am,” answered the Kansas State Wildcats grad. “How could you tell? Was it my good looks, my debonair charm, or my trendy taste in clothing?”
“None of those things,” replied the Husker. “I saw the KSU class ring as you were picking your nose.”
Buy K-State Camo Decals & Apparel
University of Missouri Tigers
A Missouri Tiger football player was almost killed in a tragic horseback riding accident. He fell from the horse and was nearly trampled to death. Luckily the manager of the WalMart came out and unplugged it in time!
Buy Mizzou Camo Decals & Apparel
University of Nebraska Cornhuskers
Q: How do you keep a Nebraska player out of your yard?
A: Put up a basketball goal.
Oklahoma University Sooners
A young ventriloquist is touring Oklahoma and stops to entertain at a bar in Norman, Oklahoma. He’s doing his usual stupid redneck jokes when an OU linebacker in the audience stands up and says, “I’ve heard just about enough of your smart mouth redneck jokes; we ain’t all stupid here in Oklahoma.”
Flustered, the ventriloquist begins to apologize, when the OU linebacker pipes up: “You stay out of this mister, I’m talking to the smart alec little fella on your knee!”
Oklahoma State University Cowboys
Q : How do you come to own a small business in Oklahoma?
A : Start a large business and put an OSU grad in charge of it.
University of Texas Longhorns
Hear about the Longhorn fan who lost $50 on the football game?
He lost $25 on the game and $25 on the instant replay.
Buy Hook ‘em Horns Decals & Apparel
Texas A&M University Aggies
A Texas A&M Aggie went to the Louisiana Bayou to buy a pair of genuine alligator boots.
After becoming frustrated with the high prices, the Aggie told the shopkeeper: “I’ll go catch my own alligator and get some boots without payin’ these big-city prices!”
Determined as ever, the Aggie turned and headed for the swamps. Later that day as the shopkeeper drove by, he saw the Aggie standing waist deep in the swamp with shotgun in hand. Just then, a 9-foot gator swam toward the Texan. The Aggie took aim, shot the critter and hauled it to shore. Laying nearby was a pile of dead alligators.
The Aggie flipped the gator over and shouted in frustration: “Dang it all! This alligator ain’t wearin’ any boots either!”
Texas Tech University Masked Riders
Texas Tech Computer Terminology:
- Logon – Makin the wood stove hotter
- Download – Gettin the farwood off the truck
- Floppy disk – What you get from carrying too much farwood
- Hard Drive – Gettin yer pickup home from the bar
- Windows – What to shut when it’s cold outside
- Chip – Vittles to eat when yer sitting in front of the TV
- Modem – Whatcha done to the hayfields
- Dot Matrix – Bubba Matrix’s wife
- Lapgop – Where the tom cat sleeps
- Software – Those dang plastic forks and spoons
- Mouse – The reason you put out the D-Con
- Main frame – The part that holds up the barn roof
Remember to take 10% off any order during the month of March to celebrate March Madness by entering promotional code MADMARCH at checkout!
March Madness Hits the Big 12 Region
March 11, 2011 by JeanieWheeler · Leave a Comment
Big 12 Conference in March Madness Tournament
CollegiateCamo Headquarters are located outside of Kansas City, so it is hard to ignore the Big 12 tournament at Sprint Center in the always happening Power and Light District. Everywhere you go, there are promotional materials for the tourney, it’s always on the news, billboards, commercials, and if it is a form of advertisement- it’s around town.
The first round boasts some pretty good games. In my opinion rivalry is the best part about any college game. At any given sports bar, we have KU, K-State, Mizzou, Iowa, Iowa State and Nebraska fans all in the same watering hole. I’ve never heard of an argument breaking out, so it’s nice to know we can take our passion, team pride, wins, losses, humiliation and triumphs in stride. No matter how low or high a team is ranked, fans stay loyal to their teams.
Fans around here are so rabid that they take vacation days from work so they don’t miss a single moment of it. Oftentimes, companies will even have televisions available for employees to watch the game on. It’s nice to see that the boss is a fan, too! Just make sure you hide your enthusiasm when his favorite team and your favorite team are rivals!
For four short days in March of every year, the 12 teams come in, play their best and the victors go home at the end, knowing the outcome of this tourney has changed the players’ basketball careers permanently. CollegiateCamo is very happy to have this 2011 NCAA Tournament supporting the college basketball teams within and near our headquarters in Kansas City. We know that you all will be watching, either at home, at a friend’s house, your favorite sports bar or even in a seat at the game.
The Scoop on 2011 NCAA March Madness Basketball Tournament!
March 5, 2011 by CollegiateCamo · Leave a Comment
There is a lot to mad about in March!
What’s your madness? St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras, conservation season on snow geese, shed hunting, spring turkey scouting, Sanction Duck Calling Competition, the first day of Spring, Spring Break, trout season openers, regional collegiate shooting competitions? Maybe your birthday is in March like these famous people: Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Sam Walton, Eric Clapton and Cy Young.
2011 NCAA March Madness Basketball Tournament
If none of those float your boat, how about the biggest basketball event of the year? March Madness is just around the corner, and for many of us it is one of the most highly anticipated sporting events. The 2011 NCAA Men’s Division Basketball is one of the biggest basketball events of the year, and fans drop everything for the duration of the event, scrambling to keep up with the latest excitement and scores.
Whatever your madness may be this March, there is sure to be a lot of “dancing” going on at the Big NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Tournament. National Bracket Day is coming up fast on March 14, so be sure to stay tuned and complete your NCAA bracket. The first round begins on March 15!
Here are a few interesting facts about the top past winners of the NCAA Tournament:
- UCLA has won the record for the most wins at 11 national titles.
- University of Kentucky is second with 7 wins.
- University of Indiana and University of North Carolina are tied for third place, with 5 national titles each.
- Duke University ranks fifth with four national titles.
- This year (2011) the tournament will feature 68 teams, up from 65 last year.
The 2011 NCAA Tournament Schedule is as follows:
- March 15 to 16 – First Round
- March 17 to 20 – Second and Third Rounds
- March 24 to 27 – West, Southeast, East and Southwest Regionals
- April 2 and 4 – Final Four
So get busy personalizing those 2011 NCAA Tournament brackets, get your college decals and college apparel to prove your fandom, and let’s gear up for an incredible March Madness series!
