Brothers-in-law help hunters find the right equipment

By Abby Morris
Star Staff
amorris@starhq.com

   If the thrill of the hunt is something you long for, then you will be able to find what you need at H&S Hunting.
   Owners Mike Manuel and Howard Craft took their own personal love of hunting and turned it into a business. "We started with our outfitting in Illinois and we decided to open a retail store," Manuel said. "It helps promote our (outfitting) business."
   Each year Manuel and Craft hunt on the week-long excursions in Illinois to track down white tail deer. "We've been outfitting for I guess about five years," Manuel said, adding that their retail store will have been open for two years this May. "We like this business. We felt this area needed something like this."
   According to Manuel, each year between 35 and 40 hunters go on the trips to Illinois between the first of October and mid-January. "We try to take no more than six hunters a week. Sometimes it's more than that but our goal is to take no more than six a week," he said.
   Now that Manuel and Craft -- who are brothers-in-law -- have a retail store, their goal is to help area hunters find the right equipment to track down whatever game they have in their sights.
   "We started out in archery alone but now we sell firearms as well," Manuel said. "They both sell pretty much equally year round."
   Now their store carries PSE and Parker bows, an overall selection of firearms, Summitt tree stands, Skyline camouflage, all archery accessories, Knight and Thompson Center muzzle loaders and accessories, ammunition, knives, binoculars, Pentax optics and scopes.
   "Sometimes we even have recurve (bows) but mainly we have compound and crossbows," Manuel said.
   According to Manuel, he and Craft have continued growth in their plans for the future of the store. "We want to keep growing and keep getting more things in and getting a better selection," Manuel said.
   In addition to the wide selection of hunting equipment and supplies in their store, they can special order items for customers.
   Currently, H&S Hunting has a Web site located at www.handshunting.com. "Right now it's for the outfitting," Manuel said. "We are in the process of getting an online store."
   H&S Hunting is located at 430 East E St. The phone number for the store is (423) 542-3477. The store is open Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.