Recap of the 2023 United Bowhunters of Missouri Festival

[dhaverstick]

Woowee! Did we have fun or what?!? The UBM Festival was last weekend and if you missed it, you missed out. We had a good crowd on Saturday with lots of bidding on the silent auction items and vendors selling lots of trinkets.




The seminars that day were also well attended. We learned how to prepare your animal for taxidermy, how to prevent shoulder injuries, and how to get in shape for that next big hunt. MDC rounded out the lineup with a presentation on Missouri's turkey population.





This young man, Cole Davis, was so impressed that he signed up for a life membership!



The banquet that evening was awesome with a great keynote speaker, Bryce Olson. He's currently trying to kill the North American 29 with a traditional bow and he told us about his hair-raising polar bear hunt he did a few years ago. He had the crowd on the edges of their seats! To show our appreciation we had member, Joe Todd, paint a portrait of Bryce with his desert bighorn.




Awards were also handed out. Larry Hudson received the Bowhunter of the Year award. He had a phenomenal season with two huge whitetails and a monster elk. All were taken with a Black Widow recurve he bought at last year's auction that was signed by Ken Beck.


We started handing out a new award a couple years ago, the Member of the Year award. This is given to a person who is always there to help out but also seems to be in the background. This year's recipient went to Mike Calahan.


Our favorite award to give out, though, is the Conservation Agent of the Year award. We get candidates from each of the regions across the state and it is always hard to pick just one. This year's winner was Jeff Breuer from St. Louis County.


I was humbled and honored to take home the Fred Bear award. This one actually goes to the animal, not the hunter, and it is based on the animal being a prime representation of the species. The board of directors thought my Ocellated turkey fit the bill.



Oh, and I ordered a new custom longbow from Wild Horse Creek Bows. Yes, I know, I am weak.

Darren

[kskickapoo]

That looks like it was an awesome good time! I've been one time many years ago and got to meet and visit with the guest speaker (M.R. James) who took the time to visit with me and my young son and gave me his business card and told me to send him a picture when he killed his first deer.  Of course I didn't get around to that unfortunately but we both now have his autographed latest book.  I need to get back down there!  Thanks for sharing.

[Jesster]

How does one order from Wild Horse Creek?  I've heard a lot about them, but don't know how to contact.

[Terry Green]

Nice pics.  Thanks for sharing. Looks like a great turnout.

 BTW, that 2nd pic cracked me up this morning. 

[5deer]