Marty Howard - National Champion

How are you doing Marty?

I’m doing fine, thanks.

Do you still remember shooting your very first bow?

Absolutely.

When was that? What got you started?

Well, I started deer hunting back in ‘88. At the time, I was working in a machine shop and some of the guys I worked with were bow hunters. I didn’t know a great deal about it, but I knew that bow hunting would allow me to prolong the hunting season. I wasn’t much of a gun hunter anyway. I spoke to a few of the guys I worked with and went to an archery shop in Connersville and purchased my first bow, a Jennings Fork Lightning.

Are you a left or right-handed shooter?

I’m left handed. Most people would say we are a bit odd…but I like to say that lefties rule. It’s alright to be a bit odd. (smiles)

Which did you attempt first, hunting with that bow or using it in an archery competition?

Hunting. I wasn’t very good at all. It took a lot of patience and practice. I shot at several deer that first time out. I flew eight arrows and hit nothing. But there was a certain “high” from the experience. I just wanted to get better and better at it.

How about your very first bow competition?

My first tournament was a local one in the early ‘90s. I had just bought two dozen arrows. They had been on sale – I remember it was a really good deal. I took a dozen of them with me to the tournament. To be honest, I lost those 12 arrows on my first eight targets. I went back home and got the other dozen. I finished a 40-target course with just three arrows left. I’ve come a long way since then – I don’t go through as many arrows as I used to.

Have you always been a natural competitor?

I grew up with five brothers and sisters – there was competition just to eat (laughs). But yeah, I played high school sports. Our baseball team won the State Championship in 1980. I also played football and would like to think that I was pretty successful there as well. I had a fear of losing. I believe we all have the ability to overachieve and to be successful. It’s all heart, determination and desire. Everybody wants to be successful.

You’ve come a very long way in a relatively short amount of time – winning multiple I.B.O. National Championship events. Were you surprised at how quickly this all happened?

To answer your question, yes. I still remember my first big tournament. There was a sea of spectators and competitors. Competitors who are all very dedicated to the sport. Not to mention, this sport is not cheap. You can wrap up a lot of money in a hurry. It is pretty phenomenal considering all that. I never thought in a million years I would be as fortunate or as blessed as I have been. I think God blesses us all with a little bit of talent. He gave me a big heart and a passion for what I do.

Michael Jordan, a fierce competitor and a true champion from a completely different sport, has said that staying at the top is much tougher than getting there. What do you say?

I agree. I think it was easier for me to get to this point than it is or will be to maintain it. Once you get to the top of the hill, or have been really successful, it becomes harder to sustain that level of performance - or that “level of luxury” as I call it. I call it a luxury because it’s a God-given talent after all. And, there is always an abundance of competitors who want to take a notch out of your belt. With that said, archery still is an individual sport; so no one can really take it away from me except myself. My competition is with Marty Howard.

What do you love most about bow hunting?

It is what I am about. I get to go out, watch and pursue some of the most gorgeous “critters” in the world. I have a great love and compassion for these animals. This is not about killing – it is about harvesting mature animals. Hunting provides opportunities to travel to the different states and witness the various seasons. Hearing the turkeys gobble in the spring and watching the world unfold. Winters are somewhat stagnant – things die out. God builds the world back up and nourishes it each spring. I get to see it. I get the opportunity to see the world bloom each year. That is what living is all about.

What is your favorite animal to hunt with a bow?

[thinks for a moment] You could flip a coin. Really. It’s between a white-tail deer and a turkey. I’m not sure…they both have a special place in my heart.

What animal would you like to hunt – but have never had the opportunity yet?

The Red Stag. It’s a very muscular deer species that lives in Ireland. It’s like a cross between an elk and a white-tail deer.

Explain the targets that you shoot at during an IBO archery event.

The targets are either McKenzie or Rinehart targets. Both types are three dimensional animals. They might look like a life-sized deer or turkey. Some of them even look like a very miniature dinosaur. If your arrow hits within the smallest circle on the side of the target (about 1” diameter), you receive the full 11 points. The circle just outside of that gives you 10 points. Outside of that is 8 points. If you are outside all of the circles, but still hit the target, you get 5 points.

How far away are you from these targets? Are the targets moving or stationary?

The targets are placed 18 to 45 yards away from you. You step up to the stake and have one minute to make the shot. Also, you are not told the distance to the target. You can use 8x binoculars to help locate where the scoring rings are on the target, but you must judge the distance yourself. The IBO National Championship competitions that I have participated in use stationary targets. There are a couple of events - like the Buckmaster or the Summer Games - that use moving targets.

What is the single most amazing shot you have ever made with a bow and arrow?

Well, it wasn’t in a competition. We had this guy who was working for a heating and air conditioning company. He had just come back from a golf outing. He brought a ball back with him and placed it in the side of a bail of hay 38 yards away. I took one shot at it and hit it perfectly. The arrow was stuck right into the center of the golf ball – nearly splitting it in half. It sat that way in my shop at home for several years. Eventually I gave it to a guy at a local barbershop who collects golf balls. Besides being a pretty small target from that distance, it was amazing because of the fact that it is round and a very hard object to penetrate.

For someone getting interested in this sport, what might they expect to spend in order to purchase a good bow and set of arrows – the basic start up necessities?

It’s like anything else; you get what you pay for. You can spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars. For someone just starting out, I would suggest that they don’t get too extreme. Keep it basic at first. Purchase a used bow if you can, just to get the feel of things. You really don’t want to go out there spending a bunch of money at first – you don’t want that to add to any discouragement you might experience in the beginning.

You were out of competition in 2005 for a back injury and related surgery. How do you feel this year (2006)?

Yeah, I did have back surgery. I had an artificial disk put in. I was only born with four disks in my lower lumbar. I really didn’t know it until about 2 years ago. I had been going through spinal injections the last past ten years – roughly three a year. They helped lubricate my spine; it would feel good for awhile but it never fixed the problem. I don’t think I am 100% right now, but even at my best I wouldn’t tell you I was at 100%. The best excuse is no excuse. The layoff was really good – I was able to analyze myself. I’m looking forward to competition. I’ve done very well so far this year in the local tournaments and in Louisville. I went down to Alabama – but it was raining and cold and I ended up getting flu-like symptoms, possibly food poisoning. I still shot pretty well the first day.

What goals have you set for yourself this year?

I leave Wednesday (4/19/06) for Pensacola, Florida for a National Tournament. It will also help serve as preparation for the National Triple Crown which begins in a couple of months. The first leg is in Bedford, IN. Then we go to Eerie, Pennsylvania for the 2^nd Leg. The 3^rd and final leg is in Nelsonville, OH. That is where the pressure is. You are shooting with the best in the world at that point. My personal goal is to win at least two of these next four events.

You are a husband and father as well as a business owner. That is a full load. How do you balance all of that and still have time to hunt, practice and be a National Champion?

I think that you have to give God a lot of credit for what you accomplish. But next to God, you had better marry a good woman that can tolerate what you do. I am gone all the time. My wife stays home and takes care of everything, takes care of the kids. I am fortunate that I own my own business so I can get up in the morning and spend three or four hours with them, watching them grow. Then I have a few hours with them in the evening unless I am getting home really late. I try to balance things out.

Does it ever bother you that in certain sports (basketball or football for example), being a National Champion or MVP multiple times over would certainly result in fame and fortune - yet in archery such achievement receives significantly less acclaim?

Well, bow hunting has gotten some good publicity and has come a long way. You can see it on television pretty regularly. Competitions, on the other hand, are really not very fancy or “made for TV” – there are no fancy shoes, no suits, ties or vests. You don’t even have to shave if you don’t want to. The contracts that us shooters have are with the companies that are directly involved with this sport. I suppose the biggest thing that disappoints me is that not a lot of people see or understand this sport for all it really is. Archery at this level takes a lot of heart, determination, desire, drive and skill. It is probably the most skillful thing I have ever done in terms of sports. Everything has to be working together perfectly.

How would you compare the skill level of an IBO National Champion - such as yourself - to that of an Olympic gold medalist in archery?

I have been asked that a lot. People have even asked me if I am going to try out for the Olympics someday. I still have a lot to learn about this sport. Of course, there are similarities. Form and follow through is critical for us all. Probably the biggest difference is that they shoot at the same round target over and over again. Our targets have different shapes and surfaces and are placed at various distances - and we are never told those distances. It is one more factor that makes it even more difficult.

What would you say if an animal rights activist approached you and told you that hunting is evil and nothing more than cruelty to animals?

Well, we have been already. Honestly. It really depends upon how diplomatic they are. You never want to add fuel to the fire. I usually tell them that they are looking at it from one side. There is always more than one side. Sure, there are immature hunters out there who enjoy the kill. But as one gets older, the love and compassion you have for the animals is amazing. For me, it’s about harvesting food and enjoying the outdoors. I have not bought a steak or a pound of ground beef from the supermarket for years. I practice what I preach. And I am blessed with a wonderful wife who supports that. I truly believe that God put these animals on earth for man’s benefit. I share my harvest with family, friends, and even the food banks. I have helped to feed many people that way.

When people email you from this website, do you plan to take the time to respond to each person?

First of all, I want each person that visits this website to know that I appreciate them taking the time to learn about me and this sport. It would be a farce for me not to answer their questions. I am not a big “computer person” at all, so if I would happen to fail to get back to someone, I would hope that they understand. I also want people to know that if they see me at a tournament or an expo, I would be happy to speak with them and answer any of their questions.

What delay might people expect between them emailing you and a response?

I would ask them to be very, very patient. My days and weeks are pretty full. Even when it comes to my own business (Best Electric), I usually only mail out invoices once or twice a month.

What would you like to say to all of your current sponsors? And, what would you like potential sponsors to know about Marty Howard?

The most important thing is that I want to thank each of my sponsors for all that they have done for me and for the fine products that they have given to me. They have helped to make my dream come true. They are the people who make all the great products that I have had the opportunity to use. There is a tremendous amount of innovation and engineering involved in these products. They have gone above and beyond to provide these incredible products. I truly enjoy spending time with my sponsors and visiting with them in their booths. As far as your question about what I would say to potential sponsors, I would want them to know that I am a true professional and that I present myself well - with decency and with respect for others. I would hope that they would want those characteristics in the individuals who represent their company.

Finally, what would you like to say to Professor Wilson (Parkland College) and his undergraduate computer science student, William Unzicker, who has worked hard to make the Marty Howard Official Website a reality?

First of all, to Professor Wilson: Thank you from the bottom of my heart. For you to go out of your way, above and beyond, and approve this website design project for me – I really appreciate it. Thank you again for everything. To William: What can I say? I have never met you yet, but am looking forward to it. Again, I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I really appreciate what you have done. I appreciate anyone who gives of themselves for others. There are probably many more important subjects that you could have chosen to design a website for than Marty Howard. In the future, if there is anything I can do to return the favor, please don’t hesitate to ask. I have always believed that people should help one another if they can. This is a perfect example of that. Thank you so very much. Anytime either of you would like to go hunting, please feel free to come on over and spend a few days. The accommodations may not be much, but I can guarantee that you would find the experience fun and exciting.