After saying goodbye to my peers and friends at the IBO World Championship in August, I headed home and began gnawing at my fingernails. With my contract with PSE expiring at the end of the year, the next month brought a good mixture of highs and lows as I awaited phone calls from a few different bow companies. Although I was hoping to get an offer from someone, I know the reality of the archery industry and realized I might be left on the outside looking in. If it came to that, I would be OK with it, as there are only so many positions that can be filled every year by each company.
In the end, I had a few offers, but I chose to take the offer from Randy Kitts, the owner of Darton Archery, and join the Darton team. Now, I’ll share with you what led me to pursue a place on Darton’s factory team and what ultimately led to me making the decision.
The Early '90s
My newfound success in indoor and 3D archery quickly came to a screeching halt. I couldn’t get the pin on the target, and everyone I consulted about the issue had no idea what I was talking about. The frustration grew and became an unmovable obstacle that almost made me quit archery and go back to fishing.
Then, I made my way to the other side of town to visit with the man who knew the most about competitive archery in my area, Ed DuFour. Ed owned a shop called DuFour’s Archery, and his children were excellent shooters. Ed was my last chance. If he didn’t know what was going on, nobody would know.
When I opened the door, Ed was sitting behind the counter on an old wooden stool. The bows hanging on the rack mixed in with all the other stuff in the shop. As I began discussing my issues with Ed, he placed his thumb under his chin as his index finger settled on the top of his lip. Peering through the thick, dark-rimmed glasses, he shriveled his nose, snickered, and pulled the drawer out in front of him.
Metallic items clanked against each other as he used both hands to separate the stuff in the drawer. Then, he found what he was looking for, grabbed it and threw it over the counter to me.
“Try this, kid. Figure out how to shoot it and you’ll never have another problem,” he said with a devilish grin.
Looking at it, I had no idea where to start. I had never shot with a handheld release, and I had no idea how it worked because it didn’t have a trigger. How in the world was I going to figure this thing out? I spun it around on my middle finger for the next 20 minutes on my way home. The work would start the next day.
Over the next seven months, I did everything I could to figure it out. My buddy Dave Russell, a phenomenal finger shooter, was by my side throughout the ordeal. He had to play doctor and put bandages on my neck where the string on the release kept slapping me upon releasing off the sear. Eventually, I figured it out and felt good about where I stood going into indoor winter leagues that season.
Before I knew it, spring was rolling in, and I was looking back at the work that had allowed me to become the first person in two local clubs to ever shoot a perfect score every week in league play. Ed DuFour had saved my archery career.
Moving Forward
Although I didn’t mention it earlier, Ed was a Darton dealer, and my area was loaded with Darton bows. Although not many of them made it to the indoor leagues, almost every person who hunted owned one, and the camo pattern on them made them easily identifiable.
Brett and Lisa, Ed’s kids, shot Darton bows in competition, and they were forces to reckon with, as they would both go on to have successful archery careers at the state, regional and national level before hanging it up. Brett, being the same age as me, always drove me to be better, and he shot Darton bows for most of his shooting career. However, I spent time shooting other brands due to my connection with another local dealer with whom I was very good friends, but that never kept me from wanting to shoot the bows.
As time moved along, I began helping a lot of people learn how to shoot a surprise shot. In doing so, I met a kid named Ricky Knott, who later became known as Batman when a bat landed on his back during a target auction at Snowshoe in the early 2000s. Rick shot a Darton Cyclone Express 3D with the CPS cam system on it and told me the bow wouldn’t repeat itself and it was hindering his ability to advance.
Although I was shooting a Martin Razor X with straight limbs, which was a few inches longer axle to axle than his bow, I told him to give me his bow. His draw length was the same as mine, and we both shot the same poundage indoors. I told him I would shoot it for a while to see if I could find anything wrong with it, and he could stand behind me and watch.
I quickly sighted it in, hung a new Vegas target and began shooting. As one arrow after another landed in the 10-ring, I didn’t want to stop -- so I continued. After completing the round, I peeled the target off the backstop and handed it to him. Not one arrow had left the 10-ring.
Raising one eyebrow, I said, “Rick, I think that bow has something wrong with it.”
“Really,” he questioned.
Winking, I said, “Yup, the arrows never leave the 10-ring, even when a person makes bad shots.”
Unfortunately, I was committed to Martin bows, but I wanted to lay them down and shoot Dartons after that incident. The bow simply shot.
Years Pass Quickly
That incident happened 20 years ago this winter. I’ve had a lot of bows in my hand during that time, and I was also told by three orthopedic surgeons at one time that I would never shoot a bow again after shoulder surgery.
I’ve also had the ability to tinker with Mark Myers’ bows over the years, as he graciously lent them to me to see what I thought. Unfortunately, I borrowed them at a time when I was going through major form changes, so I couldn’t get a solid feel for them, but I did know they felt great in my hand.
Shooting with Jacob Slusarz all the time, I’ve been able to see all his Dartons bring out the best in him. I’ve seen him shoot a variety of bows over the last few years, but his confidence has never been as high as it is when he shoots a Darton… and the performances he has put up prove that the bows simply perform, especially in high-pressure situations. I’ve shot his bows, too, and they have always felt good in my hand. Jacob and I have always liked the same bows over the last eight years, and we tend to favor certain types of bows. While we shoot some bows really well, we also find others that don't cooperate with us quite as well. I'm looking forward to this year because the last time Jacob and I shot the same bow during the same year, both of us were able to win the Third Leg of the National Triple Crown and the IBO World Championship in our respective classes. We will both give it our best this year to repeat what happened that year.
So going back to last season when I knew my contract with PSE was expiring, I contacted Tyler and Tom Thygesen to see if I could try Tom’s bow to make sure the bows would work well for me… and they did.
Then, before hunting season rolled in, I had a few offers on the table and needed to make the best decision for myself. The decision was not difficult at all. I chose to represent Darton Archery and help Randy Kitts grow his brands, including Black Eagle Arrows and Conquest Archery, across New England and New York. The one-on-one personal communication with Randy made me realize relationships in this industry don’t get better than dealing with the owner. Our conversations allowed me to get a good feel for working with him, and we both expressed our thoughts and concerns to each other. I’m excited to go into this coming season with Randy on my side, and I will do my best to grow Darton archery at the local, regional, and national level.
Although I will not be traveling to any national indoor tournaments this winter, my 3D schedule will remain the same as last year. I will attend ASAs and IBOs, and I will also be shooting at the National Senior Games in Pittsburgh with my dad. I’m excited to be able to participate in the National Senior Games again with Dad. There aren’t too many parents and siblings who ever have that ability, and I’m thankful for the opportunity, God willing.
While many people have reached out to me, I have reached out to others to begin building the brand, including dealers in New England whom I respect and value in our arena. I’d like to thank all the people who follow me and route for me. You guys have made all this possible. I’d also like to thank the people who route against me. You motivate me to stay sharp and keep grinding after all these years. So, thank you whether you’re a lover or a hater. I need all of you. You all play an integral part in my success… and failures.
I'd also like to thank PSE for giving me the opportunity to represent their brand as a Factory Professional. I never left anything on the range, as I gave everything I had every time I performed. The bows I used along the way allowed me to make a number of shootdowns and land on the podium a few times over the last few years, and I'm grateful for that.
If you’re reading this, and I haven’t contacted you already, please feel free to reach out to me, and I’ll put you in touch with Braden Gellenthien, as he is the regional salesman. Braden and I have begun working on getting Darton in reputable dealerships across New England so others can see what can be done in the woods or on the tournament trail while shooting some of the best bows that are currently being made. I'd love some of my friends in New Hampshire and Maine to reach out if you think you would like to see Darton in your shop.
The biggest thing that cannot and should not ever be overlooked is that Jacob Slusarz’s performances have allowed many people to have an opportunity to represent Darton Archery. Without him, the road would not have been nearly as smooth. I’d like to personally thank Jacob for myself and my peers in Senior Pro, Open Pro and Female Pro classes for making Darton a household name in tournament archery and opening the doors for us. Thank you, Jacob. I’d also like to thank Randy Kitts for taking a chance on many of us and trying to build his brand around not just good shooters but great people too. It’s always nice to be surrounded by great people who care about you as a person. I’d encourage any or all of you to give Darton a chance and hop on the train. It’s headed in the right direction, and we would be glad to save you a seat and have you as part of our team as we grow and travel to new heights.
Last night, like so many other nights, my key card unlocked the door. After it unhitched, I slowly pushed it open with my bow case and let the wheels guide me to the range. Nothing but darkness could be seen through the window, and not a sole could be found. There were no people in the meeting room, and no gunfire echoing throughout the building from the pistol range.
Before walking into the darkness to turn on the lights, I paused in the doorway, looked up, and whispered, “Thank You.”
Looking at the plaque above the door, it’s a gentle reminder of the people who paved the way in my hometown. The range is dedicated to Dick and Rita Sage. Dick taught my Bowhunter Education class when I was 13 years old, and he would give me advice along the way about being an outdoor writer, as he did a lot of outdoor writing for the top-tier bowhunting magazines. I’ll be forever thankful for Dick. Although he wasn’t much of a competitive archer, he was a good friend and a great mentor. Like the people Randy has chosen to represent his company, Dick was an incredible man.
Then, I see the names Ed and Linda DuFour. If Ed hadn’t lived in my area, I may have never been introduced to Darton bows or found a way to escape target panic. Ed saved my archery career, and I’ll be forever thankful for that. I do wish that he were still around to see me on the biggest stage with a Darton in hand and barking with – and at -- the other big dogs at the top of the mountain of competitive archery. After all, my entire club used to be full of Dartons, and I can only hope my influence brings the theme from the old days back to the surface. I’m also glad that Ed never showed me how to shoot that 4-finger Stan. Instead, he allowed me to work through it and figure it out on my own. That lesson has helped me immensely in archery – and in life. I’ve learned to never give up and to keep trying new things until I find something that works. That’s how I found my way to Darton. I simply found something that works well. You can do the same. Go to your local dealer and give the bows a try.
