Most Productive Bowhunting Organizations

[Al Dente]

It is crucial to join your State Bowhunting organization.  The grassroots level of involvement is vital to protect and preserve your bowhunting legacy.  New York Bowhunters, Inc. acts on behalf of EVERY bowhunter within NYS, not just its' members.  When we visit legislators either in the Capitol or in their district offices, we are donating our time and energy to a cause that we feel very deeply about.  I have personally travelled to 13 different Counties to meet with Legislators to discuss bowhunting related issues and/or Bills.
We are facing a Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) that is antagonistic towards bowhunters, and in my opinion to all sportsmen throughout the state.  They have their agenda and seem not to care what anyone thinks.  It is only with numbers that things can change.  When less than 2% of all licensed bowhunters belong to the State organization, it's pretty sad.  what's sadder is that that other 98% act surprised when the DEC unleashes another debacle.

[Zbone]

dnovo - Curious if MO accepts xbows as archery equipment and allows them during MO's archery season? If not is your state organization fighting to keep them out?

[Mark Baker]

Your state org is the #1 place to belong, if you care at all about your hunting opportunities.  That is where the fight is....and the national orgs...although they are good too, offer little besides "example" for state and local fights.  

I am a life member of both my state orgs...have served on their boards and as president of each.   This is the ONE place where your membership can make a difference!  If you don't agree with the direction your state org is going, get involved and make a change!  You may have to pick a fight, make some noise, etc. but it is a place where individuals can make huge differences.  And it's not about numbers as much as being smart and having a plan.  Every bowhunter who enjoys the outdoors OWES their opportunities to those who fought hard to get them...and every bowhunter should feel responsible for maintaining and caring for those same opportunities.   The small cost of joining is less than a round of beers after work...and the investment is better!

[Jerry Gille]

I agree that the state organizations give the most direct "bang for the buck."  I've been president of the United Bowhunters of Illinois 3 times and on the board another 2 or 3 times.  We split off of Illinois' state bowhunting group back in 1995 because we didn't feel they represented our more traditional interests well.  We later became an all traditional organization.  After 20 years we are today the only organized state bowhunting group in Illinois.  We are very active in efforts to protect and continue the bowhunting traditions that are important to us.  And, yes, I really wish more trad bowhunters would join us and get involved.

If you don't have a state bowhunting group that you feel represents you well, there is nothing stopping you from creating one.  We did, and it has been very successful over the years.

[Roger Norris]

Guys....here is a link to an article Fred wrote on the subject. Guys like Fred are the reason I volunteer, and why I'm a governor for the MBH.

 


  http://gfredasbell.com/g-fred-asbell-article-1.php

[Hummer3T]

trad gang is the one, #'s, bring trad archers together, education only thing missing is lobbying which can be done as a secondary process.

[Mark Baker]

Tim, respectfully I disagree.  While it's important for all of us to "get together", and discuss among ourselves...action is where we fail.   Talk is cheap and easy.   Action is hard, takes time, takes dedication, takes money (a lot of it) and that is precisely why we need to support state organizations.

Most individuals I know involved in the meat and potatoes of "taking care" of our opportunities do it for nothing more than feeling responsible and caring for it all.   No fanfare....most are unsung heroes.  

One critique I have with big organization....and I'll say it here, especially the traditionally oriented ones - I won't name them - is that they are afraid to "rock the boat".  They want to be big touchy-feely fun places to gather.   Fraternal, they like to call it.   That's great, and there is need for that....but it doesn't tackle the chores of dealing with your opportunities at all!  And without those, we have nothing.  

Get involved in your state orgs.  Make some waves, take a stand, gather your forces and make something happen...it's easier than you think.  

One more thing, and I'll get off the soapbox, but this idea that we are all one big family of hunters fighting together for our opportunities is BUNK.   I've heard it my whole adult life and can't recall but a couple isolated instances where unity ever helped.  We are at war with ourselves....an industry of hunting....and our own selfish motives.  There are the issues that are imperative to maintaining this hunting style we enjoy for future generations (and it isn't freedom to do whatever you choose, either) and taking the right stand on these things takes guts and good knowledge...and you are likely to make some enemies doing so, but it has to be done.  And take heart, that those "big tent" folks that like to preach thusly...don't care about YOUR feelings if it infringes on their own plans.  So do what YOU feel is best and keep the future in mind.   Know that by getting involved in any way, puts you in a huge minority, as most folks will never take that first easy step.

And remember, Fraternalism is fun, but it happens regardless.  We can gather around a turd and discuss it's qualities, and we are being fraternal.   It's no reason to belong to an organization, if you are looking to find one that gives you the most "bang" for your buck.

[alligatordond]

Mark Baker nailed it. And he has the experience to back it up