Sandy McCain
1950 --

Smiling Through


In 1992 Sandy was told by her doctor, that she would never shoot a bow again. She could have accepted retirement from archery based on her achievements since her introduction to archery by her husband, Gary, in 1972. In those twenty years she was NFAA Champion 3 times, South West Sectional Champion twice, CBH-SAA Field Champion 13 times, State Target Champion twice, State Indoor Champion twice, State Broadhead Champion 10 times. In 1991 she was the first person to capture all four state championship titles in the same year: the Indoor, Broadhead, Field, and Target and set new state records in all categories. She took first place at Fresno Safari 11 times, was elected Safari Queen in 1973, and captured a ton of trophies at novelty tournaments all over the state. When she was not shooting in tournaments she was hunting and has harvested mule deer, Pacific hybrid deer, mainland hog (CBH Record Book), merino sheep, antelope, and several small game animals. Sandy certainly has had good reason for her characteristic cheerful smile.


After her neck injury in 1992, Sandy could have settled for working behind the scenes in archery, she had enough experience: Secretary/Treasurer for Central California Bowmen Region starting in 1975 (and still going). Since 1973 she has held a variety of offices: President Secretary, Class Chairman, Board Member and Editor for Nomad Bowmen. She has been Secretary, Treasurer, Editor and Board Member for Bakersfield Bowmen, and Secretary, Treasurer, Class Chairman, Editor for Kern River Archers. She holds the woman's title for the World Elk Calling & Bugling Contest and since 1992 has served on the CBH-SAA Big Game Club committee. Sandy has organized bowhunts for women. In 1996 and 1997 she has been working with the Department of Fish and Game in a program called "Becoming an Outdoors Woman" teaching archery and bowhunting. She is an instructor for the International Bowhunter Education Program. She has done all this -- with a smile.

That should have been enough for her - right? It wasn't. After bone-graft surgery in 1992 to repair her neck injury, she came back, slowly, carefully, with determination -- and a smile. In 1995 and1996 she won two more NFAA Championship titles, was State Field Champion in 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996. In 1993, 1995 and 1997 she was State Target Champion; State Indoor Champion in 1993, 1995, 1996; and State Broadhead Champion 1993, 1994, 1997.



She says she has spent 19 out of 24 wedding anniversaries at the State Field Championships. Her first bow was a recurve borrowed from Dr. Bossenetto. She won her first tournament in 1972 at Porterville in Barebow C Class. It was a turkey shoot and she still has the trophy. Her brother, Gary Johnson, had the wishbone mounted on a plaque for a Christmas gift. She also received her very own bow that Christmas, a Wing Recurve from her husband Gary. It was late when they got home from the Christmas celebration and she shot her new bow in the yard until midnight, in the fog, using the headlight of the car. Gary has encouraged and helped her, feels proud of her achievements.

Hunting is a family activity. She has shared this time with their son, Malt, and started his hunting experience by carrying him in a backpack while she hunted. Matt is now 15 and has promised to carry her when she needs help. For Sandy it is just as satisfying to be with her family and have a picnic overlooking the canyons, or taking a nap under a tree, or just walking around and looking at tracks and identifying them. She says they can leave the forest, but the forest never leaves them. Perhaps this is why Sandy is always smiling.

Sandy McCain, archer, bowhunter, educator, and always with a smile.

Inducted 1998