Syracuse.com - Well-known bowhunter speaks about his love for the outdoors at Sportsmen's Dinner at Driver's Village

[HuntingNY-News]

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Randy McPherson, an outdoors TV sports celebrity, is the brother of Matt McPherson, who owns Matthews Bows, which touts itself as the world's largest archery manufacturer.

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<div id="asset-13484771" class="entry_widget_large entry_widget_right"><span class="adv-photo-large"><img src="/static/common/img/blank.gif" class="lazy" data-original="http://media.syracuse.com/outdoors/photo/13484771-large.jpg" class="adv-photo" alt="randy.JPG" /><span class="photo-data"><span class="caption"></span><span class="byline">David Figura | [email protected]</span></span></span> </div>

<p>With the bowhunting season kicking off Wednesday in the Southern Zone, I went this week to the annual Sportsmen's Dinner Tuesday to hear a well-known, bowhunter speak.</p>

<p>The guest speaker was Randy McPherson, of Minnesota, an outdoors TV sports celebrity whose brother, Matt, owns Mathews Bows, which touts itself as the world's largest archery manufacturer.</p>

<p>The dinner, which has been held for the past seven years, is an evangelical outreach effort for men put on each year by the North Syracuse Baptist Church. It always features an impressive outdoors personality, a ton of free prizes given away in a raffle (this year's top items were a $500 gift card and a $1,000 Mathews bow) - and always ending with a strong Christian message.</p>

<p>The turnout is always impressive. This year's dinner attracted more than 370 men and young boys.</p>

<p>McPherson started off by pitching the Centershot program, an archery program for kids that's being promoted in a number churches across the country. He ended with a talk about life lessons learned from the outdoors while hunting.</p>

<p>He talked about how in today's world, there's a growing need for individuals to have quiet time. Time to just sit and listen and become more aware of the outdoors and the world in general. Hunting provides a perfect opportunity for that, he said.</p>

<p>Second, he mentioned how hunting is an opportunity for many "to spend extended periods of time with family and friends you love dearly."</p>

<p>"It enables you to take time to know them," he said, whether it be your son or daughter, a sibling or a friend.</p>

<p>And finally, he said, "It's a time when me and God have some real good talks."</p>

<p>Some may disagree with McPherson's message. </p>

<p>One thing's for certain. The peace of the woods is a powerful thing.</p>

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View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog