From the late Mort Neff, creator and longtime host of the Michigan Outdoors television series, to the bow hunting rock star Ted Nugent, a number of famous sportsmen/media personalities have called the Wolverine state their home.
Oxford natives Quinn Minard and Glen Giuliani are hoping to join that distinguished list when the lifelong friends make their national television debut June 7, 8 and 12 on the Campbell Outdoor Challenge.
‘I would like to deliver a message to America about just how much fun we have (hunting),? said Minard, a 1998 graduate of Oxford High School who now resides in Davison.
The Campbell Outdoor Challenge is an outdoor reality TV show airing Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays on The Men’s Channel, Sportsman Channel, Fox Sports Network and various local networks.
The show centers around ‘the sport of filming hunts.? A series of competitions are conducted in which teams of everyday hunters and cameramen match their skills filming hunts for fun and prizes while showcasing their abilities on national television.
Portions of an eight-minute video Minard and Giuliani, of Imlay City, filmed of a successful Oct. 1, 2004 bow hunt right here in Oxford will air next week on the national program which boasts 25 million viewers.
The high quality video, filmed and produced by Minard, shows Giuliani, a 1995 OHS graduate, masterfully bagging a four-point buck.
‘Everything about it was beautiful,? Minard said. ‘The lighting was perfect. It was the right time of day. We had the deer in (the video) for 21 or 22 seconds. The minimum needed (for the contest) was 15 seconds.?
Their video represented the first time the pair had successfully filmed a hunt in five years worth of attempts. But it wasn’t shot with any competition in mind.
‘We just wanted to get some video footage for our own enjoyment,? said Minard, a computer technician and a 1999 graduate of the Specs Howard School of Broadcasting.
‘We didn’t even know about the (Campbell Outdoor Challenge) until after we took the buck,? said Giuliani, who’s a carpenter by trade.
In February, the pair, who call themselves ‘SureShot Outdoors? or the ‘SureShot Boys,? entered the video in the show’s National Whitetail and Turkey Challenge, in which teams of average hunters and cameramen are asked to send in films of their hunts.
In late April, Minard and Giuliani were informed their video won the $1,000 cash prize and the opportunity to compete on the show against 14 other two-man teams, all filming their hunts on 15,000 acres of prime whitetail deer land in Carmi, Illinois Oct. 29 through Nov. 4.
They will spend five consecutive days hunting, filming and competing for $15,000 in cash and prizes, plus an invitation to next year’s challenge.
For the two passionate sportsmen, this represents the opportunity of a lifetime.
‘I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to film hunts and maybe have an outdoor show someday,? Minard said. ‘Personally, it’s a huge accomplishment because this is what I always wanted out of my life since I was 12 and started hunting and watching hunting shows.?
Giuliani is excited about spending some quality time in the field, uninterrupted by work or other distractions.
‘We’ve never had five days in a row to do nothing, but hunt,? he said.
Right now, Minard and Giuliani are in the process of securing sponsors to finance their entry into the competition (a fee of $3,750), travel expenses, camera equipment, time off work and other costs.
‘We’re not trying to get rich, but we also don’t want to lose money,? Giuliani said.
Sponsors will be sure to get their money’s worth when Minard and Giuliani mention their names on national televison along with using their various products during the competition while wearing clothing bearing company logos.
Sponsors will also get to use the footage they shoot for their own promotional and advertising purposes.
Television, prizes, sponsors ? it all seems glamorous and exciting, but the secret to Minard and Giuliani’s success in this compeition will be a simple concept called teamwork, something they’ve been developing since their days as kids fishing together in Oxford.
Now, they’ll be looking to reel in the big one with Giuliani behind the bow and Minard behind the camera.
But Giuliani said the real pressure will be on Minard.
‘It’s not just about the hunter,? said Giuliani. ‘It’s about how you work together and the quality of the footage. The camera guy can score and does score more points than the hunter. Basically, it’s all in (Minard’s) hands. How he controls it ? the sound, lighting, the interview with the hunter.?
Minard admitted there are many challenges involved in filming a hunt.
‘Hunting is tough enough, now throw another guy into the mix with camera equipment,? he said.
From two guys up in the same tree making twice as much noise to constantly checking audio equipment, batteries and lighting to the unpredictability of wild animals, sometimes just shooting the deer becomes the easy part.
Despite the numerous challenges and stiff competition they will face, Minard and Giuliani are just hoping lots of people will want to watch two hometown boys experience their long-awaited moment in the sun.
‘It took us a long time to get here. We’re really excited and we hope people tune in,? Minard said.
Those interested in sponsoring the SureShot Outdoors team can reach Minard at (248) 921-8811 or Giuliani at (248) 343-2735.
To learn more about the show log on to www.campbelloutdoorchallenge.com.

after we took the buck,? said Giuliani, who’s a carpenter by trade.
In February, the pair, who call themselves ‘SureShot Outdoors? or the ‘SureShot Boys,? entered the video in the show’s National Whitetail and Turkey Challenge, in which teams of average hunters and cameramen are asked to send in films of their hunts.
In late April, Minard and Giuliani were informed their video won the $1,000 cash prize and the opportunity to compete on the show against 14 other two-man teams, all filming their hunts on 15,000 acres of prime whitetail deer land in Carmi, Illinois Oct. 29 through Nov. 4.
They will spend five consecutive days hunting, filming and competing for $15,000 in cash and prize. For the two passionate sportsmen, this represents the opportunity of a lifetime.
‘I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to film hunts and maybe have an outdoor show someday,? Minard said. ‘Personally, it’s a huge accomplishment because this is what I always wanted out of my life since I was 12 and started hunting and watching hunting shows.?
Giuliani is excited about spending some quality time in the field, uninterrupted by work or other distractions.
‘We’ve never had five days in a row to do nothing, but hunt,? he said.
Right now, Minard and Giuliani are in the process of securing sponsors to finance their entry into the competition (a fee of $3,750), travel expenses, camera equipment, time off work and other costs.
The pair are hoping to raise about $10,000 in sponsorships. ‘We’re not trying to get rich, but we also don’t want to lose money,? Giuliani said.
Sponsors will be sure to get their money’s worth when Minard and Giuliani mention their names on the national televison along with using their various products during the competition while wearing clothing bearing company logos.
Sponsors will also get to use the footage they shoot for their own promotional and advertising purposes.
Television, prizes, sponsors ? it all seems glamorous and exciting, but the secret to Minard and Giuliani’s success in this compeition will be a simple concept called teamwork, something they’ve been developing since their days as kids fishing together in Oxford.
Now, they’ll be looking to reel in the big one with Giuliani behind the bow and Minard behind the camera.
But Giuliani said the real pressure will be on Minard.
‘It’s not just about the hunter,? said Giuliani. ‘It’s about how you work together and the quality of the footage. The camera guy can score and does score more points than the hunter. Basically, it’s all in (Minard’s) hands. How he controls it ? the sound, lighting, the interview with the hunter.?
Minard admitted there are many challenges involved in filming a hunt.
‘Hunting is tough enough, now throw another guy into the mix with camera equipment,? he said.
From two guys up in the same tree making twice as much noise to constanting checking audio equipment, batteries and lighting to the unpredictability of wild animals, sometimes just shooting the deer becomes the easy part.
Despite the numerous challenges and stiff competition they will face, Minard and Giuliani are just hoping lots of people will want to watch two hometown boys experience their long-awaited moment in the sun.
‘It took us a long time to get here. We’re really exciting and we hope people tune in,? Minard said.
Those interested in sponsoring the SureShot Outdoors team can reach Minard at (248) 921-8811 or Giuliani at (248) 343-2735.