Whether they’re in the woods or on the podium, Hoyt’s Pro Shooters represent Hoyt to the fullest. And Hoyt.com is the only place where you’ll find behind-the-scenes info about their recent success stories, their travels, their favorite Hoyt bows and accessories, and other details that any true Hoyt fan needs to know.
HOYT: How long have you been a member of Hoyt's Pro Staff?
TRAVIS: I have been on Hoyt’s Pro Staff since 1996.
HOYT: You've had a very successful target archery career. Tell us about your accomplishments. Do you still shoot competitively?
TRAVIS: I love archery and bowhunting period, but I actually shot tournaments before I ever bowhunted. When I was 19, some buddies of mine talked me into buying a bow. We went to our local pro shop and I got a bow set up and met a guy there at the store who ran a 3-D range. He invited us out that weekend to compete. Nervously, we went and I was lucky enough to win first place after only owning a bow for a few days. Needless to say, I was hooked like a fish to archery.
Two years later, I was able to win my first of four state championships, and then in the next year - 1991 - I won the ASA World Championship. From 1988 through 2000 there were very few 3-D tournaments locally and nationally that I missed. I just couldn't get enough, and I was fortunate to have several top five finishes in the Men’s Pro division. Then in 2000 I began working more with Realtree and I switched gears toward the bowhunting side and I slowed down on competitive archery. But yes, I still shoot several tournaments each year. I love it. It's too bad there's not more time to do it all.
HOYT: You're also a well-known personality in the hunting industry. Tell us how your "T-Bone" personality came to be.
TRAVIS: We came up with the idea to have a sidekick character that could shoot well (an archery shark, so to speak!) to play alongside Jeff Foxworthy on the Realtree Monster Bucks videos. And we literally thought of the name five minutes before we began shooting. I'd never been called T-Bone before that day. We weren’t sure how people were going to enjoy the new skits, but people really liked them - especially the kids. I guess the T-Bone character is like the "Barney" of the hunting industry. WOW, what a comparison!!
HOYT: What Hoyt bow are you currently shooting? What do you like best about it?
TRAVIS: I'm shooting the 737 this year. I'm a long draw - 29.5" - and like a longer axle-to-axle bow. I guess that’s the tournament shooter in me that likes that. The draw on the bows this year is really smooth. People ask me all the time which Hoyt model is the best, and I tell them that they all are equal as far as quality. You're not choosing up and down on quality; you're choosing side to side based on the geometry of the bow and the features it offers for your specific needs .
HOYT: Your new Website - www.TBoneOutdoors.com - went live recently. What can your fans expect to find there?
TRAVIS: You can find all-things-T-Bone!! We just wanted an online home. I'm very grateful for the success we've had in the industry, and we just wanted our Website to be a home for T-Bone and everyone involved. We'll be celebrating our projects our partners in the hunting industry. And heck, we'll just celebrating what all of us love about the outdoors. Plus, we'll have an online store for goodies.
HOYT: You're a regular on Realtree Outdoors, Realtree Road Trips, Realtree Whitetail Country, and other popular outdoor shows. Are you living your dream? Did you ever think you'd get to make a living doing what you love to do?
TRAVIS: I'm very fortunate, and I'm very grateful. It has been a lot of hard work and a lot of years in the trenches, but what an enjoyable journey! I keep waiting for someone to say, "OK, the ride's over. Time for you to go get a job."
HOYT: You're co-hosting an exciting new-for-2009 show on The Outdoor Channel with Michael Waddell and Nick Mundt called "Bone Collectors". What kinds of hunts do you guys have in the works and how will the show be different from any other hunting show out there?
TRAVIS: We're really excited about "Bone Collectors", and we have a busy fall ahead of us. We just got back last week from Florida, where I shot a big alligator with a tricked-out Hoyt Katera. That’s gonna be a different show!
We want "Bone Collectors" to be about the hunting culture and lifestyle all across the country. Yes, Michael Waddell, Nick Mundt, and I, are the hosts but the public and folks we run into are the stars. As hunters, we should all want to celebrate hunting and be proud of it - no matter where or what you hunt. That's the point we want to make. And with Michael, Nick and me, a good time will be had. That’s for sure!
HOYT: Looking back on all your bowhunts, does one stand out as your all-time favorite?
TRAVIS: T-I've enjoyed the whole ride pretty well. But there is one hunt that I'm especially proud of ... I have the only doe kill in Realtree Monster Bucks video history! Well, T-Bone does. It was one of the few times a "slick head" was a star. She bit the dust from T-Bone's old bow "Sadie" with the fishing pole on the front.
HOYT: Logging as many miles as you do, you no doubt have all kinds of great stories. Can you tell us about a funny incident, prank, etc. that you've witnessed or been a part of?
TRAVIS: Last year Waddell and I were headed up to hog hunt at Ken Moody’s place in Tennessee, and we were meeting our buddy Pete Crawford there. We were about half way there and called Pete to see if he had done any good that morning, as he got there a day ahead of us. When he answered he said he was at the hospital and that Ken had been attacked by a hog and had broken his leg and had several real deep cuts - and that they were sewing him up. Well we thought he was pulling our leg, and just trying to scare us on our drive up.
Well, for the next few hours of driving my mind got to thinking about getting attacked by a hog. And when you’re my size and know that you're going to be the slowest in the group, you start to think about what kind of mess you could be getting yourself into! Whether the attack was for real or not, it had me thinking. We got to camp and sure enough, it was true. He had been attacked and they had videoed it! You talk about pucker factor for the next morning's hunt. This Fat Boy was a little nervous!. But everything turned out fine. We had a good, exciting hunt. Ken was in the hospital for three days, and he has made a full recovery.
HOYT: What hunts are you most looking forward to this fall?
TRAVIS: I'm excited for the whole season, but by far I'm most excited about the Iowa archery tag. I finally drew after three years of applying. I hope I can cash it in. Plus, I get to go back to the Milk River. It should be a BONE-A-FIED good year!
HOYT: Anything else you'd like Hoyt.com readers to know about you?
TRAVIS: No, that’s all I want them to know. LOL!! Just kidding. I’d like to tell folks to stay in touch. We love to hear from ya’ll through our Websites and emails, and we love to visit with folks at the consumer shows we do. That to me is the highlight. It's great to hang out and talk archery and bowhunting with fellow arrow flingers. And for those of you who are on the fence about booking a hunts - or if you keep saying, "Next year I’m going on that trip", life is too short. Go on those hunts now. It's sooooo worth it. Life is a journey - not a destination. Bet ya’ll didn’t know T-Bone was a philosopher! Thanks for everyone’s support!