TO: Pope and Young Club Members,
Standard lighted nocks and bow-mounted cameras will be exempted from the "no electronics attached to the bow or arrow" rule, as a result of changes to the Club's By-laws that had passed a vote of the Board of Directors and passed ratification by the voting membership.
Since the late 1980s, the Club has had bowhunting equipment definitions and a Rule of Fair Chase that addresses electronic devices. Among other things, those stated "no electronics attached to the bow or arrow." This is part of the Club's By-laws constitution and governs the acceptability of animals for entry into the Club's Records Program ("the record book").
The significant change, the result of much internal discussion/debate over many years, creates exemptions that read as follows:
RULES OF FAIR CHASE #7: [Not] by the use of electronic devices for attracting, locating or pursuing game, or guiding the hunter to such game, or by the use of a bow or arrow to which any electronic device is attached, with the exception of lighted nocks and recording devices that cast no light towards the target and do not aid in rangefinding, sighting or shooting the bow.
DEFINITION OF A HUNTING BOW, EXCLUSIONS #2: Electronic or battery-powered devices shall not be attached to a hunting bow, with the exception of recording devices that cast no light towards the target and do not aid in rangefinding, sighting or shooting the bow.
DEFINITION OF A HUNTING ARROW, EXCLUSIONS #1: No electronic or battery-powered devices shall be attached to the arrow, with the exception of lighted nocks.
This change will officially go into effect on August 1, 2014, as new Fair Chase Affidavits are created and distributed to our corps of volunteer official measurers. The change IS RETROACTIVE -- meaning that animals previously taken, as well as those taken from this point forward, will now be eligible to be entered into the Records, provided they meet all other conditions/criteria.
The By-law change language passed voting membership ratification by a vote of Yes-296 (75%), No-101 (25%).
Also passed as By-law changes by the Board of Directors and ratified by the voting membership:
The creation of a "Lifetime" payment option for Regular and Senior Members---a dues payment option, referred to as Lifetime Regular (or Senior) Membership, shall be available to existing Regular or Senior Members in good standing for a one-time fee of $2,500 for persons prior to age 65, or $2,000 for those persons 65 and older. This change was ratified by a vote of 345-53 (87%-13%).
Adjustment to the Lifetime General Membership fee---a dues payment option for General Members, known as Lifetime General Membership, shall be available to new or existing General Members for a one-time fee of $750 for persons prior to age 65, or $500 for those persons 65 and older. This change was ratified by a vote of 347-46 (88%-12%).
These two changes will be implemented immediately.
I was certified as a P&Y measurer last year. I have a Pronghorn to do next week.
Talk later Bill V.
