“Eric Rome and Alaska Bowhunting Supply do it again!” "Well guys, I didn’t think Eric could beat last year’s performance with the 8 yard shot he put on that nice 6x6 bull elk he took with his Silver Flame equipped bow. If you remember, at Eric’s request I had his son Dylan as my wingman. It was to be his 1st elk hunting experience and an incredible one at that, watching his father take his elk hunting passion to an extreme level with his son by his side. That hunt raised the bar to a new height, one that would be very difficult to surpass. Earlier this year when Eric told me that he wanted to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary by having his wife to join him on his hunt, I was both excited and concerned. Lynn had never been on a hunt nor seen a big game animal die, let alone with the use of archery equipment. The potential for the thrill of a lifetime was presented us but so too was the potential for disaster. This hunt would come with added responsibility. Skill, the right equipment and a bit of luck would prove to be key! Day one of the hunt went well. I called in a nice bull to close range. It was fast and furious action. Lynn was ecstatic with her first bull elk encounter. Eric did not get the shot but the hunt served as a good dress rehearsal, one that would help to prepare us for what was to occur on day two. The icy morning would test Eric’s hunting skills in a way that he could not have conditioned for. Beginning our trek well before sunrise we located a good sounding bull from a great distance. With a systematic approach we closed the gap and began the vocal dialog. What started off as a delicate exchange in elk talk slowly escalated to a heated shouting match. As the sun rose and the hour progressed I began to push the bull’s well established “hot buttons”. At the appropriate time I began trash-talking this bull’s neighborhood and even challenged his masculinity (tongue in cheek). It was when I told him that his mother was a mule deer that he came in hard and fast for the kill, literally. After checking the wind, Eric quickly chose his set-up with veteran prowess. Strategically, I directed his wife Lynn by having her take a front row seat on a fallen log just 15 yards behind her husband with myself closing the deal at five yards to her right. Continuing to vocally play the bull, I expected him work the wind and to come in to Eric’s right. Instead he charged headlong straight at the source of his aggravation, me. From his somewhat hidden position Eric was forced to draw his bow and pivot on his left foot, stepping back and rearward with his right, fluidly swinging his bow to his right as a wingshooter might maneuver his shotgun, releasing his Silver Flame tipped arrow at a distance of SIX FEET! The incredibly strong and razor-sharp broadhead busted through the shoulder bone burying the shaft to the fletching. Upon seeing the expertly placed shot I immediately knew that the bull was dead on his feet. Sounding off excitedly with numerous elk screams, bugles, chuckles, cow calls and a bunch of other unearthly sounds that I pulled out of who knows where (yeah, I was overly excited, jumping up and down, Lynn thought I was signaling for the bull to run for his life!), I slowed the running bull to a walk as he wander a distance of sixty to seventy yards. He expired quickly. It was a very, very clean kill. The long short of it, amazing memories of an intense, extreme and successful hunt and the thrill of a lifetime belong to Eric, Lynn and me! Eric and his Silver Flame tipped arrows did it again, yet raising that darn bar even higher! Next year I imagine he might bring the grand folks and shoot with the use of a mirror. “Happy 25th Anniversary Eric & Lynn Rome!” Thank you Ed, Garrett and Todd for providing the archery world with the best broadheads and arrows ever produced, period! The confidence peace of mind you give us is the added insurance of the cleanest archery kills possible. I am extremely and endlessly thankful. For archers to use lesser equipment on BIG GAME is irresponsible." Mark James (Ex-hunting guide, turned sculptor)
