Eagle Eye competition was started about 1994 and has continued most of that time at Denton Hill, Pa. After winning it in 2008 I got interested in the history.

Supposedly Dan Mcmahon won in the years of 1994 and 1995. At least one year it was won by someone with an osage bow, one year it was won by a woman, and one year it was won by a guy with a 95# longbow. Twice it has been one by someone 64 yrs of age. Three times it has been won twice by the same person.

I find this interesting as I hope many of you will. Questions that I have are: Who was the youngest to win, and who was the oldest? Did a woman win more then once? Did anyone every win it three times?

If you know of anyone who has won this event, please help to develope this information. If you have some info but aren't sure, that's okay. Just say that you are not sure. You may jog someone else's memory. You can post here, or send a pm, or call me with any info.

Thanks, 2fletch

Is that an open to all types of bows,because when Dan Mcmahan won it the first time I seem to recall he was shooting a longbow against compounds.Congratulations on your 2008 win it's got to take great shooting to just get there.

I know one year it was a guy shooting an 85# Howard Hill longbow.My friend Charlie from Ellwood City,Pa was the first to win it with a recurve he shot a Roberstson.I don't know about 3 people having won twice seems the contest hasn't been around long enough and you have to wait 3 years before being allowed to compete for the Eagle Eye again.

4406v, What was the last name of your friend Charlie and do you remember what year he won?

Dan McMahon supposedly won it in 94 and 95. Dave Stewart supposedly won in 2001 and 2007. Ken Redding won in 2009 and again in a previous year, but not sure which one.

I was told that you had to sit out one year after winning, not 2yrs.

rd2, I'd love to have seen Dan shooting against wheelies.

In 1996, '97, and '98 it was "The McMahon Eagle Eye Challenge". The Grand Prize was the "McMahon Eagle Eye". Jack Thompson won '96, Matt Warwiki won '97, and Rich Baker Jr. won '98. All were shooting longbows, Rich shot an 85 pound Howard Hill longbow.

Dan had two goals for the Eagle Eye Challenge, to promote traditional archery, and to raise money and awareness to fight anti-hunting activists.

Rules for the Grand Prize were traditional archers only shooting recurves, longbows, or primitive bows. No sights, stabilizers, release or aiming aids of any kind. You could qualify with any arrow material, but only wood arrows were allowed for the Grand Prize Shoot Out. The Champion was not eligible to compete for the three following years.

Best

The wood arrow only thing keeps a lot of people from competing - and lowers the money raised for the charities.

Wow! Gary that's the most info that's been brought forth to date. Where was the eagle eye held during these years? When did it go to Denton Hill? Also, did Matt Warwiki shoot an osage bow? Lastly, do you know the ages of any of them or what states they came from?

SteveB, it's tradition.

E.T.A.R. and Mike & Joyce allowed McMahon to host the event at Ski Denton in 1998.

If I gave you a thousand dollars, wouldn't you at least try to shoot a wood arrow at the eagle eye? I don't like shooting wood either, but for a thousand bucks, I'll dang sure throw some together and give it a try!

I had an archery supply catlaog put out by Dan McMahon. In it was a photo of McMahon congratulating the winner of that year's Eagle Eye. I don't recall the year or the guy's name, but he won it with a Martin Bushmaster longbow.

Yes, Thompson used a Martin, and Warwiki used a selfbow.

Yes, I remember seeing a picture of the guy who won with his Martin Bushmaster. I beleive it was the first year Martin made the Bushmaster.

Anyone know how old, or from what states they came from?

If I remember the stroy right. McMahon competed against compound shooters who shot aluminum, with wood arrows and a longbow, at a shoot sponsered by Easton. It seems to me that there was a shoot off at a good distance where the shooter could only shoot one arrow. The compound shooters using their bells and whistles at the time, with aluminum arrows missed the mark. McMahon using his wood arrows and longbow hit it. Needless to say Easton wasn't the happiest. McMahon started the shoot to promote traditional archery and used ETAR as the venue to do it. The reason wood arrows are used is to show wood can be just as accurate as moderen materials and it really is the shooter. The same as it was for him. McMahon sponsered the competition at ETAR until he loss his archery business. Now the sponsers of ETAR carry on the the tradition.

There may be some who know more details than I do and may be able to add to this. I know in Ohio, OSTA has started something similar called the HAWKEYE. In any case it really does show that trad gear with wood arrows is very accurate. Back when it was started not many really knew how good shooters could be with a real stick and string. This really showed how good they can be. DANNY

Hey 2fletch,

I was at Denton last year and watched the Eagle Eye. The guy who won it seemed to have left the deer target there instead of taking it with him - that was you?

Nice shooting, by the way!

Jim

I won in 2008 but I took the deer, money, trophy, and even the dots that I had shot at. Left nothing behind. When you are 64 yrs old you don't even know if you'll get to shoot again, much less win.

Thanks, Don

Found out some new info but not conclusive. Someone said that a fellow by the name of Sean Walp from upstate NY won with a Penn Arrow Woods Bow one year. Supposedly he won it the year after the woman won, but the year is uncertain. It could be 2000, 2003, or 2006.

If you have any information that would be helpful please post, pm, or give me a call at 919 563-2682.

Thanks, 2fletch

Good read thanks. For those of us that haven't been able to see the competition what is the format? Distance? How many people compete?

I won the Eagle Eye Competition in 1997. You are correct, I was shooting a selfbow that I made myself with some homemade arrows out of hardware store dowels. My name is Matt Wirwicki. It's too bad Dan's business closed. How is he? Anyone heard from him?

Lastyear the winner, 27 yr old Hope Gillette won $1000. This was half of the total raised for the "Wounded Warrior Project".

I witnessed it two years at ETAR at Ski Denton...great shoot. Also fondly remember seeing Stacy Groscup shooting one year as well. Cant wait to get up there again one year from down here as that was a great time I had there with my buddies from Maryland camping by the light pole in front of the pond.

keep em sharp,

ron herman

Great event just to particpate in, let alone qualify and win! TLM

The impressive part of the whole thing was when Dan Qualified at a 3d in Massachusetts. He hit the quarter sized dot at 70 yards. That was the distance when they started it because it was basically for compound shooters. They laughed at him when he paid his money to shoot at that distance with the compound shooters. He is a great guy and very humble.

Any particulers on this? What`s the distance? What is the target you shoot at? etc.

Dan is still shooting 3D, this year he's competing at IBO events.

Results from Maine, July 8-9

FTRD Dion, Michele 1 176 0

LB Mc Mahon, Daniel 1 221 3 Jones, Howard Skip 2 164 0

RU Brooks, Chester L. 1 276 5

STRD O'connor, Michael 1 224 1 Guiffredo, Bill 2 223 2 Emerson, James 3 193 1

TRD Thomas, Chuck 1 230 1 Mills, John 2 200 3

Wow! I shot aluminum from a Bob Lee TD longbow, from the same stake as Dan, and beat him. However, as the score indicates, he had three 11 point hits and I only had two. I shot with Michael O and that was his finest score ever. We both had one miss on the course.

The course had some difficult shots due to target placement and footing at the stake. On Saturday we finished the open field portion in the rain.

I seem to remember Eagle Eye qualifiers at various state shoots. I would like to see the whole competition return and flourish for the good of our sport. When I shot, I remember the distance being twenty yards or slightly less.

Don; you are right. Sean did win the year after the woman won. She actually beat me in a shoot out after everyone else was out. Believe or not she just started shooting a bow that year. The year escapes me, I will have to look it up. I may have it written down somewhere. The winnings use to be big bucks when McMahon sponsored it and some big name shooters traveled pretty far to compete.

Does anyone know why the wood only rule for the finals other than that wood is more "trad" than carbon or aluminum.

I think it was mentioned above that Don wanted to show wood arrows were as accurate as any other. I see no problem with allowing just wood arrows. There are plenty of other things going on where you can use what you want. His contest, his rules. Simple enough to get some wood arrows and work with them if you want to do it.

A friend of mine saw Danny win the Eagle Eye at the IBO World shoot here in WV. When he hit the winning shot, my buddy said someone in the audience commented "Bet he couldn't do it again". Dan calmly pulled another arrow from his quiver and duplicated the shot and just turned and smiled at the detractor.

I remember the year the young lady won. She had ice water in her veins. She never missed. I was very impressed.

I can't remember the year, but I was the guy that Charlie beat to be the first to win with a recurve. It was a great time. I wanted that Howard Hill bust bad. Craig

George is correct as usual. If you don't want to play by the rules of the game, then don't play, and don't complain. DANNY

I'd like to know what shooters shot instinctively and which ones used an aiming method.

I won in 2015, I was 67. Per the rules, I could not compete in 2015 but I will be trying again this year at 69 years old.

I refused to try the event for years, because of the wood arrow rule, did not have any wood.

I finally broke down and bought six, practiced with them for a week or two before the 2014 event, qualified but missed the dot in the finals.

In 2015, I believe there were about 35 men in the finals, 5 of us hit the 2" dot in the first round, all 5 of us missed in the second round, and I was the only one lucky enough to hit it in the third round. Won the $1000 and the deer target.

2015

Still missing a bunch of years, '99, '00, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '11, '12 '13, '14, and '16...

Jim; actually she missed the deer target completely two times in a row when it was down to the two of us. I missed the dot by an inch or two. We had to keep shooting until someone hit it and she did. That's how it goes.

What ever happened to Dan? Don't hear about him anymore

See above; he's still around, competing in IBO this season. Hope to see him in two weeks at the final New England shoot.

I have close to mint 1997 Fall McMahon catalog

Page with the Bushmaster and Jack Thompson winning the Eagle Eye in 96'

Celebrating 20 years.....its interesting to note that the price of the Bear Take-Down in this catalog was $685

Calvin smock, AKA Dancingwithleaves, won it one of those years.

I went home last year sat morning . But I Understand a Chinese guy showed up Borrowed a black widow recurve and a arrow . And Wone it . Said it was easy !?

Here are the rules for the Eagle Eye as posted on their web site.

ETAR - Eagle Eye Competition What: A fun competitive shoot (Ages 13+) to test your skill against others where you can win upwards of $1,000. The winner of the Eagle Eye Competition receives half of the money raised, as well as the deer target used in the shootout. Price: It costs $2 per shot to qualify for the competition. Those who qualify will compete against all other qualifiers in a shootout on Saturday at 5pm. Benefits: LEEK Hunting & Mountain Preserve is a local organization which offers hunting, fishing, and recreational experiences to our disabled veterans. Half of all of the proceeds from the Eagle Eye Competition each year goes to benefit this worthy group. Rules: The rules are simple. Any type of arrow may be used to qualify, however when in the shootout itself, competitors MUST use a wooden arrow. Qualifying shots need only to have the arrow touch the inch and a quarter orange dot. The shootout is an elimination competition, going to sudden death if needed. Kids' : Kids are eligible to compete as well in a separate kids' competition (through age 12). The kids' target is a foam block on top of a stump which must be touched by the arrow for a qualifying shot. In the shootout itself kids compete in a shootout by age, with the target at varying distances and sizes. The winner of each age range wins a small target. Remember it’s just for fun…and it’s a good cause….so enjoy!

Spoke with Dan briefly this weekend; he's still having fun, mainly using 3D as practice for hunting season. Sorry I didn't get a picture with him.

I shot with Dan all the time in the northeast , IBO had the Northeast triple crown back then. The rules for the IBO longbow class required wood arrows and at least 125gr. points. ( I think it still does). I was there at the IBO world championship in Flatwoods ,WV. (don't remember the year ,late 90's) I was shooting against Dan , Easton sponsored the eagle eye and Dan beat all the compound shooters shooting wood arrows. Easton was a little stunned that a longbow shooter shooting wood arrows won it against the compound shooting their aluminum or carbon arrows. Easton gave him the $1000 prize. Lost touch with Dan use to see him all the time in the Northeast, miss them days.

Billstick

I shot with Dan all the time in the northeast , IBO had the Northeast triple crown back then. The rules for the IBO longbow class required wood arrows and at least 125gr. points. ( I think it still does). I was there at the IBO world championship in Flatwoods ,WV. (don't remember the year ,late 90's) I was shooting against Dan , Easton sponsored the eagle eye and Dan beat all the compound shooters shooting wood arrows. Easton was a little stunned that a longbow shooter shooting wood arrows won it against the compound shooting their aluminum or carbon arrows. Easton gave him the $1000 prize. Lost touch with Dan use to see him all the time in the Northeast, miss them days.

Billstick

Last year 2016 I was runner up. 3 of us moved to the second round. The other 2 were Aura Gonzalez from California and the winner was I think his name was Gillette, he didn't speak English well. He and I both hit the dot on the 4th round. We went 3 more rounds until he won.

This year 6 of us made it to round 2 and I won it in the second round. The prize was $1205.00 + a plaque and the deer.

My sister, Hope Gillette won it in 2010, and she did not miss a shot. There was a female who won it a few years before her, so she was not the first.

I won it in 2012.

I new I saw that name somewhere mouse1. The guy that beat me last year at the end was Asian and from California.

I believe Calvin won in 2014. Maybe Ken Redding in 2013.

If I remember correctly Dan M. Won the eagle eye at snowshoe mountain at the IBO worlds. At the time it was sponsored by Easton and you had to shoot an Easton arrow or wood. The Easton eagle eye is the small nickel size dot the whole way through the shoot. He was competing against compounds with 6 power scopes and moveable sights. Pretty crazy !

Congrats, stickhunter! Make your own woodies, or buy them?

I remember the Eagle Eye of 2010 very vividly . The winner was Hope . She is an incredible archer and was very nice. I am also quite certain she had nerves of steel and perfect focus and consistency in her shot cycle. Frankly she knew what she was doing and I am not sure how many rounds she could have gone but I am sure it was more than the three that it took to kick everyone else's butt. I also remember you blindmouse.

ttt

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