2005 Sportsman’s Warehouse Outdoor Challenge Revisited

The 2005 Sportsman’s Warehouse Outdoor Challenge, presented by Arizona Outdoorsman, was held March 18-20^th during the 2005 Bill Luke Dodge Big Bass Days Celebration.  The event handed out approximately $30K in cash and prizes, as well as good times for all.  Most of the participants brought out the camping gear and spent the weekend lakeside with their friends and families, while being treated to an Outdoor Expo, along with nightly firework shows and concerts featuring Mogollon, Carolina Rain, Harry Luge, Second Shift, Tim and Willy, and National Recording Star, Mark Chesnutt.  The Outdoor Challenge turnout was good despite the on and off rain throughout the weekend.

In the Archery Challenge, competitors were shooting for a piece of the $3K daily pot, while, at the same time, competing for the right to be crowned Class Champion, and better yet, Grand Champion.  Ernesto Moreno topped the field in the Open Class, while Brett Moran was the big winner of the Bowhunter Class.  Moran also proved to be the man to beat as he also won the coveted Grand Champion Award; a 3’ beautiful trophy provided by Pima Awards.  All participants were also treated to daily raffles, which included five bows.

In conjunction with the event, were shooting competitions that were held down the road at Ben Avery.  The top gun in the Sporting Clay competition proved to be Neil Gillespie who was awarded a Benelli Nova Pump Shotgun for his efforts.  In the rifle competition, it was Brian Zingg who shot his way to the top bringing home a Remington Model 7LS with his victory.  The handgun competition winner was William Winn, who won a Stainless Steel Rueger Vaquero 44, while Brady Dupke took home a Winchester 50 ca. muzzleloader for his top finish amongst the Black Powder shooters.

Two weeks prior to Big Bass Days, a gundog trial, which was also attached to Big Bass Days, was held at the Desert Pheasant Recreation Center.  In the Puppy Division, Russ Mellecker and Jake took top honors, while Tom Paz and Zeppelin took home bragging rights in the Juniors.  The Intermediate Division Championship went to Ken Levy and Tracker, while Robert Sexton and Whitey claimed the Senior Bracket. 

The final award of the Outdoor Challenge would determine Arizona’s 2005 Ultimate Outdoorsman.  This award was given to the individual who competed in at least three disciplines tied to this event.  When the results were tallied, Frank Glenn would take home the prestigious plaque, along with a feature appearance in a Pro-File segment of an upcoming issue of Arizona Outdoorsman Magazine.  Glenn finished 2^nd in the rifle competition, 2^nd in pistol, and 3^rd in Shotgun. 

The event also included valuable door prizes including a pair of quads for two lucky ticket holders.  In the Grand Raffle Drawing for a Crawler 250CC Quad

 while a children’s 90CC Atv from Dazon went to