Anyone on tradgang ever hunt with Earl Hoyt Jr.???

[John3]

In honor of Earl and Ann's lifetime commitment to archery I am hunting with my 40 year old Hoyt Pro Medalist Hunter this year.

I was hoping that someone here was lucky enough to have hunted with Earl and could give me some insight. I am needing information regarding Earl's hunting bow set up. Bow, draw weight, type of rest,,,ect...

Any information will help.

John III

[BMOELLER]

Charlie Lamb used to work at his shop if I'm not mistaken.  He might know.

[fatman]

I picked out my first "new" bow at the plant in Bridgeton;  got to meet Mr & Mrs Hoyt.

John, looking forward to your story on the tribute hunt.

Kevin

[RayMO]

I use to go over to Earl's shop from time to time got a pro medalist from him back then, early 60s. Jeffery was working for him then. Shot leagues with Tom (Jeffery) at the time. Really did not get to know Earl other than just to say hi.

Charlie and I have swapped some emails on this, I am sure that he may have some additional input for you.

I have a Sky/Hoyt/Rogue longbow signed by Earl and Ann. Hope to use it some this year.

I have been kicking myself for years for not getting a picture of the old Hoyt shop and the icon sign that was there it is all gone now.

RayMO

[Charlie Lamb]

John... The last time I hunted with Earl was back in the sixties. At that time he was shooting a Pro Hunter and then the Pro Hunter Special when he introduced that bow... the design my own recurves are based on.

While I'm not positive, I believe Earl was shooting a Sky Hawk T.D. in his last years.

He always shot off one of his Pro Flexrests as it evolved... he always said that the shooting close to the hand thing was hooey and that the eye would compensate for the raised rest! I tend to agree with him.

In his hey day, he shot 50-55# draw weight, though I'm sure he dropped to mid forties in his later years.

His favorite broadhead was a Zwickey Delta that he modified to have a straight edge and a one inch width.

[John3]

Thank you all for the information. Charlie if you ever find that pic of you and Earl from the St. Louis County Bowhunters I would love to have a copy for my Hoyt collection.

This is from this morning, my Hoyt Pro Medalist Hunter. I had a beautiful 6pt. buck come in at 6:45. Of course all my counties are included in the 4pt one side rules.. This is the eighth buck that I have had to let walk the past 4 years. I'm not upset one bit. This buck bedded 9 steps from me and stayed for three hours. Incredible!! He would curl up and tuck his nose under his hind quarters and snooze 20 minutes at a time. Chew his cud and groom himself. Then get up, stretch, walk in a circle and bed again with his nose into the wind. Just awesome. Without the point restrictions I would have shot this buck walking in and missed the "show" for three hours. One of my best mornings ever spent in the deer woods.

I will keep after these deer using my PMH until I can make it happen.
 

JDS III

[Roadkill]

I lived on Natural Bridge and Lindberg in those days-1950's.  I used to get my arrows from them at 15 cents each.  I still have a MO Bownunters patch on a Bear baack quiver he sold me for 75 cents.  My fiberglass bow was replaced by a flat bow with a minor defect in in for $1.25.  They were fine people to put up with me when I was 8 years old, but I was hooked.  I took my son back there about 15 years ago in hopes of recapturing the magic.  Went to the door and Ann greeted us-graciuously.
I wished I could have hunted with him but in 1958 I was only 10.  I remember the magic of the smells-cedar and other fine woods.  They treated people right....

[John in MO / TX]

John,
My grandpa was close friends with Earl and hunted with him alot over the years. He would probably talk your ear off about Earl if you called him. Let me know if you're interested and I'll see if my grandpa would mind if you called.

John Henning

[John3]

PM sent John.. Thank you for the offer.


Sanderlin III

[John Krause]

Jack Hoffarth, (might have botched the spelling) of Town Hall Archery in Belleville knew him very well and has a bunch of his bows. He talks about Earl and Ann all the time. It would be worth your while to go over there on a Sat morning and talk with him. He will show you all his old Hoyts, and he's got a few! Also some stories, I'm sure.

[V I Archer]

I harvested my first deer with Earl Hoyt heritage series bow.  Picked up a Sky Trophy last year, took a grouse, and placed a  follow -up shot in a gut shot mule deer last year.  I wrote an article for the Missouri Bowhunters Newsletter when Earl passed.  I received a lovely letter from Ann thanking me for the article, it is among my most treasured possesions.  Never met the man, but would have truly loved to share a campfire with him.  I love my sky bows, and hope to add a few more to them over the next few years.