About WildTech Corporation

 

Minnesota based WildTech Corporation designs, manufactures and represents products for hunting and the outdoors. The signature FireTacks are the brainchild of inventor Linda Kistler Burch, who developed the products after several years of testing back in the early '90's, at first with hand made prototypes in Minnesota publics forests while hunting with her son, Matt.   In fact, it was Matt, now  in his late 20's, who came up with the name "FireTacks" when he was 13 - as he noted that they looked like little fires guiding people through the woods.   The first year we made our handmade prototypes and used them, Matt and I each harvested our first whitetail deer a full mile and half into the untamed forests of the Mille Lacs Wildlife Management Area in east central Minnesota.  With their beginnings in the Minnesota north woods, by real people who tested the product over several years, in severe weather conditions, hunting public land from their tent, FireTacks have a legacy.   In fact, hunting and the great outdoors has been a legacy for 4 generations in our family.   FireTacks were invented by real hunters  (no catered hunts or inhumane game farms here!) who hunt public lands... the toughest most competative hunting there is.  What this means is, you have a product that is proven by nealry 15 years of practical use by tens of thousands of consumers world wide.  We do not hire spokespersons for an untested product of nebulous value.   Our products are used not only by hunters, but by families and non hunters who participate in night time games like paint ball, geocache and other sports.  Additionally, we have a large contingency of scientific researchers who use our products because of their reliability.  No fuss, no muss, no batteries, no clips to break.  Just a simple idea that works for many years. FireTacks products were also certified by the North American Hunting Club during their first year on the market.  Thousands of sample FireTacks products were sent to field testers who not only provided their critical feedback for the NAHC certification process, but also responded to WildTech's own independent survey so we could improve our products based up the feedback of real people who used them.  FireTacks were also field tested by numerous other organizations and professional writers for honest feedback about product performance in the field.  We have never had to pay a spokesperson to promote our products because FireTacks speak for themselves.  They have stood the test of time, and they WORK. WildTech Corporation and FireTacks debuted at the Minnesota Deer Classic in March 2001, followed by their trade industry debut at the 2002 AMO Show. FireTacks were voted in the Top Ten New Products, Best of the 2002 AMO Show by Inside Archery Magazine. WildTech was in the Archery Trade Association and SHOT Shows in 2003 through 2006 and in 2003 we were recognized as one of the Show's Best by the Phalanx Media Group.  FireTacks products can be found at outdoor stores and many other archery, hunting, outdoor and sporting goods dealers and web site ins the United States and Internationally. WildTech's Prostaff were carefully chosen, not only for their dedication to hunting, but also for their role model qualities in the areas of leadership, honesty,  integrity, dedication, and reputation. WildTech's motto, "The Brightest and The Best" describes both our products and our ProStaff. We are honored to have them on board.

Mailing Address:	WildTech Corporation PO Box 807, Isle, MN 56342 (administration/shipping) PO Box 807, Isle, MN  56342 (production/office)
Telephone:	651-247-2771
Toll Free:	866-245-8518
Fax:	866-245-8518
Internet E-Mail:	lburch@firetacks.com
World Wide Web:	www.firetacks.com For More Information go to www.lindaburch.com

WildTech Staff Bios

Bio - Linda Kistler Burch
President, WildTech Corporation

Raised in a hunting family but never hunting as a child, the wild woman in me had always yearned for both the outdoors and for the hunt. I did not hunt as a child or as an adult, but when my son showed a keen interest in guns and hunting when he was six years old, I ran with our shared interest. I was 37 years old at the time. I took the NRA beginner and advanced pistol courses. My son and I also took the Firearm Safety course together and we joined a local gun club. Later, after getting certified through NRA as an instructor in rifle, shotgun, pistol, home firearm safety, and Eddie Eagle gun safety, I was asked to make a number of televised pro-gun and pro-hunting statements in the Sacramento, CA area where we lived at the time. Moving back home to Minnesota in 1993, I was befriended by a client who agreed to help my son and I get started with deer hunting. We hunt on two parcels of land that I own, and hunt public land as well.

Today, my 27 year old son and several other men and women are my main hunting partners for firearms and archery.   In 1995, I invented a number of hunting products, which my son named FireTacks, and I brought them to market in 2001 with the hopes of making the hunting industry my main career someday.  That has also evolved into being involved in the hunting sector of Christiandom.  As a Christian woman, I seek to give all glory and honor to God in my business practices and in my life.

Hunting and the outdoors are precious blessings to be savored and they are deep, all consuming and often inexplicable passions in my life which find their climax not only in the taking of prey, but also by capturing my experiences in the written word. To that end, I humbly present my writings in various publications. My desire is to place readers in the moments with me.... to feel the adrenalin, to be stirred and excited, to laugh and to dream, to lurk, shoot, climb trees and to join me in the woods as I seek the face of my soul.

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Bio - Ray Howell
Prostaff Advisor, WildTech Corporation

Ray Howell's youthful years were filled with boyhood dreams of hunting and fishing, however, these boyhood dreams were not to become a reality until after he turned 18 due to working on his foster parent's farm when he wasn't attending school. Living on the farm taught him to work hard, but he didn't have anyone to teach him about hunting or fishing. He had to learn these on his own through trial and error. A year after leaving the farm he had become totally fascinated with the sport of archery and was able to harvest his first white tail deer. Working on the farm did not allow him time to participate in school sports either and as a result, Ray's competitive nature led him to become involved with the sport of power lifting after turning 18. He has successfully broken several drug-free State and National records and continues his pursuit in this field by competing and helping area youth compete also. At the age of 23 Ray started his own welding shop because of his grandfather's influence and the work ethics he had learned while living on the farm. He persisted even through all the hardest of times and that persistence paid off. He has learned to never give up no matter what you're trying to achieve. Ray and his wife Karen have a family of 9 children and 21 grandchildren and live in Southeastern Minnesota near the borders of Wisconsin and Iowa. Through the years, the close proximity to these other states has given him the opportunity to successfully harvest several P&Y white tails in all three states. Following his boyhood dreams has taken him to the frigid cold and snow of the Arctic, the wilderness areas of Mexico, throughout the forests of Canada, the remote regions of the Yukon, and in many of the 50 states including Alaska on his quest to harvest the 28 North American animals. Travels to South Africa have allowed Ray to harvest a variety of plains game, which has also been a dream come true for him. He is currently a guest host for the American Archer TV show and is on the Pro Staff of several organizations involved with archery. Realizing his boyhood dreams has not only enhanced his love for the sport of archery and bow hunting but has also provided him the means to become a mentor to several underprivileged youths by introducing them to the outdoors and the sport of bow hunting.

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Bio - Joella Bates
Prostaff, WildTech Corporation

Joella Bates is a full time professional ambassador of the archery and hunting industries. She competes and promotes archery and bow hunting locally, nationally and internationally. Joella entertains and uses informative demonstrations and activities to introduce archery to youth, women, and many others. She promotes the hunting industry and non-endemic sponsors, through seminars, workshops, newspapers magazines, television and videos. Joella is sought out for field-testing, freelance writing and for her vast knowledge, experience and charismatic personality.

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Bio - Lynne and Jim Frady
Prostaff

Jim and Lynne Frady have proven that being married to your best friend and hunting buddy is a real combination. Their love of the outdoors is foremost in their lives. They both grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountain of North Carolina with families that knew the importance of the outdoors, hunting and fishing. Jim received his first bow at the age of 12, he read and studied all he could to help him better understand archery and bowhunting. With their daughter Leah they knew that they had to do all they could to give her the same opportunities they had. They decided to get involved in 3-D archery to help Lynne learn to judge yardage better and to spend time together outdoors. Jim coached Lynne to 5 consecutive regional Women's championships and also the 1998 State Championship, Leah placed 3rd in her class at the State Championship as well, she was the only girl in her class there. Their love for hunting has helped them harvest of 60 big game and record book exotic animals. They began doing archery programs in local middle schools in the area where they live in 1997. They are both North Carolina Hunter Education Instructors and N.A.A. Level 1 Archery instructors. They knew the certifications would help them be able to do more archery programs for young people and women wanting to get involved in the outdoors and hunting. Jim, with the advice of some very influential people in the archery industry became a machinist which has helped him better relate to his 28 year obsession with a bow. Lynne owns and operates Super Dog Obedience, she has trained dogs for 19 years which all started with a Lab named Star and hunting quail and grouse. Now Jim, Lynne and Leah devote their time doing archery programs and have developed their mobile "Outdoor Classroom" they take to schools, camps, 4-H clubs, Boy Scouts of America troops and summer camps for youth with terminal illness. They also have the privilege of instructing B.O.W. Programs (Becoming and Outdoors Woman) and are looking forward to working with the NWTF Women in the Outdoors. Team Frady Adventures - Local and National Archery and Hunting Programs Certified N.A.A. Archery Instructors Archery Coaches - Boy Scouts of America, 4-H clubs, High School & Middle School Real Tree Outdoors, featured in magazines ads and on television in 2000 Lynne Frady - Outdoor Writer, National Bowhunter Magazine, Womenhunters.com Official Scorers for Safari Club International and Record of Exotics

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