"Arrows are another place where I see people goof up a lot," he said. "They want to shoot fast, so they select an arrow too light for their bow. If you want optimum flight and penetration, I recommend 9 grains of weight per inch of arrow length, and strive for an arrow/broadhead setup that weighs 400 grains or more. Today's carbon (or composite) shafts allow hunters to shoot a heavy, narrow-diameter arrow that penetrates extremely well."

Broadheads are another critical element to bowhunting success.

"Expandable or mechanical heads are very popular with bowhunters," Stubstad said. "They can work well when everything is perfect, but you have to be very selective about your shots. Someday, someone will invent the perfect mechanical broadhead and we'll all shoot it. But that day isn't here yet. For most hunters -- and I include myself -- the conventional fixed-blade broadhead with a cut-on-contact head is the best bet. It's interesting to me how this has come full circle, because this was the standard broadhead design for years, and then everyone was trying to improve it. Now they're coming back to it because nothing penetrates better. Some people complain that they don't fly well from their bows, but if you are shooting a release and have your bow tuned properly, it should be a non-issue. Five-inch feathers that are helical-fletched help, too."

Visiting a pro shop is the first step in getting outfitted with the proper equipment.

"I try to stock a pretty complete line of bows from a variety of companies and in a range of prices," Stubstad said. "I like my customers to have a choice. And I'll gladly work on a bow that someone has bought at a discount store. A lot of shop owners won't, but I consider that a huge mistake. If I refuse that person service, I lose a potential customer. More importantly, I feel I have a responsibility to get people outfitted properly and educate them on good technique."

Stubstad has spent thousands of hours as a volunteer instructor in Minnesota's Bowhunter Education program. Though the program is voluntary, Stubstad wishes all hunters would take the course.

"It goes far beyond basics and safety," he stressed. "There is so much that's different about bowhunting, and we cover a lot of important topics, such as shot selection and safety. I'm very big on both of those, especially tree stand safety. Too many guys aren't wearing a full-body safety harness when they're in a stand, and there's simply no excuse, especially with the vest systems that are out there now. Wearing one means that being safe is as simple as putting on a layer of clothing. Last year, I was offering them at dealer cost at my shop, and I'll continue that policy this fall. I had a sign by the display urging everyone to buy one that said, 'I want you back!' "

In addition to his visibility as a shop owner, Stubstad is well known in southeastern Minnesota for his devotion to advancing the sport of bowhunting. He introduced legislation for the creation of the state's archery season for turkeys, and is a regular volunteer instructor for bowhunter education classes in the region. Also, Stubstad has introduced hundreds of young and beginning archers to the sport of archery and bowhunting. His amiable personality and easy rapport with kids make him a natural when appearing before scouting groups and schoolchildren.

"I've made it a point to reach out to the community as a source for bowhunting knowledge, and I enjoy volunteering my time to hopefully make the sport accessible to more people," Stubstad said. "Once you get over 50, you've gained some knowledge and start to look for ways to give something back."

Many people say, "Thank you, Marty."