Wisconsin Bowhunters
Wisconsin
Contributors to this thread:
I am trying to decide whether or not to give this organization another try. I was a member from about 1980 'til last year and I let my membership lapse because of some issues I thought were important. They DID contact me and I let them know what the problems are (IMO). Never heard another word. I'm thinking about giving them another try.
Mike F's Link
What were the problems that you spoke to them about? Did you speak to your director or Mike Brust?
Even though you might not agree with some of the things that the WBH has done for bowhunters; they fight for a lot of things that too many bowhunters take for granted.
Here is a link to the WBH President's message and then you can take a look at the website and decide if the WBH is for you.
I am a life member and proud to say that I am!
I emailed them three different times and NEVER was accorded with an answer of any kind. Some of the issues I was concerned with were: 1. The annual meetings are all held in the southern part of the state with the N/W part of the state being ignored. Eau Claire would be a good place to have a convention. 2. There was a member that was very visible in the running of the association. In no way will he speak for me (and he is near and dear to some on this site). 3. (A minor concern) The publication is very amateurish in the layout -read a couple of paragraphs..go to page 54..read a couple of paragraphs...go to page 81 and so on. I realize that most of these are pretty trivial and these are not ALL inclusive. Communications should be answered. If my emails went to the wrong person the communication should be forwarded to the proper person. I'm not real sure who the person was that contacted me and I'm pretty sure it was via email.
I too am a life member of WBH and have never for a second regretted joining. Without the WBH and the positive contributions it has made to bowhunting in WI in the past 75 years we today would not enjoy the bowhunting seasons we do. No other group in WI has ever promoted, protected, and preserved bowhunting in WI to the extent WBH has. None. Nada. Not one.
True, the WBH has not always met the needs of every member who joined. But I firmly believe it has met the majority of the needs of the majority of it's members. I urge you to look at the WBH website and then contact the WBH Director in your area. Perhaps there are concerns here that could be addressed to your benefit and the benefit of the WBH.
I also let my membership lapse for some of the same reasons as lc, and more. I have tried to discuss my concerns with the director from my area and never heard a word back. I did however get great feedback from a Bowsite member and WBH director from a different area. That interaction alone has me strongly considering becoming a member again.
I join orgs. that preserve our hunting rights . Life member WBH , a member of NRA and NEF . I don't gun hunt or hunt elk but my money helps .
Last year I looked at the things I do in the spring and chose to keep P&Y and just buy the licenses I needed. Previously I did the Wisconsin Bowhunter Association and got the Conservation Patron license. Always felt that the NW 1/4 of Wisconsin was left out of all things WBH.
I got a very nice phone call from casekiska-very informative and attentive to the concerns that I have/had. Will definitely give this some strong thought (after I come back from down south in March).
Does anyone know if they recognize using a crossbow as archery?
Life member here and no regrets. WBH is the org that is looking out for bowhunters in this state. They are constantly on top of the issues. It is a small price to pay considering all of the resources that I put into bowhunting in a year. The information in the magazine is where the value lies and it is there. Don't focus on one person in an org. so much. Take a step or two back and get a better look at the bigger picture.
Wisc bow hunters have the
Wisc bow hunters have the
Wisc bow hunters have the
Wisc bow hunters have the
Wisc bow hunters have did a lot for the sport started. Inot 1943. Was a member for many years. No longer a member. They. Are. A southern wisc based club. With no interest. In northern wisc north of 8. Never a banquet etc. For us in the. North save your money. Give it to anybody. But them. You would get a response at least. !
I too hear the same thing about NW Wi. not being acknowledged. It would be great to have the convention in Eau Claire.
I just read what they are doing on crossbow use. I may rejoin them.
Just renewed my WTA for three more years and joined WBH again .
Pasq- what are they doing on the crossbow issue?
Go to the web. I am taking them at their word.
I don't see anything on their website.
Save your money its a dead org. Consider a crossbow org if one exists they will have a larger following soon.
The WI Bowhunters Association has quite an article regarding crossbows on their website. To find it go to the Wisconsin Bowhunters Association website, then click on "The Bowhunter" Magazine link, then look at the Bowhunter Featured Articles section, in particular the Wisconsin Crossbow Data Analysis title/listing. Click on that and I believe you will discover pretty much what you need to know regarding the WBH and their position on crossbows.
Join them. They believe in bowhunters. Not crossgunners.
You judge an org by the location of their party??? The bow season applies state wide and this is exactly what they are defending.
Life member here. I do not agree with all issues with WBH but believe in supporting them. I have not had to contact them in a while but wish they would improve communication when people make an effort to do so. In the past they have held the Convention in Eau Claire. For years there was no place large enough to hold the Convention but I beleive that has changed. Regardless of issues the Convention and Broadhead shoot are fun to attend and hang with fellow bowhunters.
I see there are vacancies on the Board and with only one Director in NW WI (District One) that places a lot on one person. There is a sportshow in Superior in March that WBH had a booth in the past but for years now they are not there. This is a place to give WBH exposure and sign up members.
It sounds like the WBH could use a few members stepping up to the plate and helping out in the NW?
If anyone here thinks for one moment that there is going to be any kind of change in the xgun law and if there is,,,,,,, it won't be without a ripple effect to other seasons as well ..........I have some ocean front property for sale in Arizona ........
BIG MONEY !!!!!
My biggest problem with WBH is their lack of effort to get out there. Every archery shop should know who they are, they don't. They should be organizing events throughout the state, not just southern WI, they don't. What they are good at is sitting around and patting themselves on the back for what "the boys" accomplished way back in the past. Complacency has made this org a shell of what it once was. People are not joiners anymore. You have to win them over, WBH does NOTHING to do this.
I find it funny how many sit and complain about this or any other non-profit organization. You do realize that almost all the work these organizations do is done by volunteers, don't you? Maybe if each of us pitched in and gave a little of our time, the organizations would be much more effective? The more I think about it, the more I see how petty many of you are. What the hell puts you above the people who do volunteer? Why should they have to put up with your whining and complaining when the work they do is done to benefit all of us? Pathetic!
Another guy from the southern part of the state....
Wow, I wouldn't join an organization with the attitude that all nonvolunteers are pathetic. Sounds like a chapter from Hillary's book.
Guess I missed the rules and legislation that single out the NW part of the state from the rest of it.
Pretty is as pretty does....no rules needed. A good scolding is just what some of us needed to join/rejoin.
Missouri, you sound like a taker, no organization needs more like you. How familiar are you with Hillary? And for the record, I am not involved with WBH other than as a dues paying member. I volunteer my services to other organizations.
Lame, glad you did!
CaptMike, your type of attitude is exactly why WBH is losing members. Although you are not a director. That is exactly the type of holier than thou attitude a lot of the directors seem to have. Not all as I have had interaction with a few really good ones. Sadly imo, those good ones are very much the minority in the WBH leadership.
Rut, because I admonish a few lazy but boisterous people, that causes WBH to lose memberships? Those guys who work hard to preserve and improve things YOU enjoy should make them "Holier than you." What a complete lack of respect and value you exhibit. Try walking in their shoes, you might have a different attitude.
I have been accused of being a lot of things in my life. But disrespectful or lacking in values have rarely if ever been on the list. I have the utmost respect for those that paved the way. But you can NEVER rest on your laurels and be complacent with what you did in the past. Especially an org. Like WBH.
I've been a WBH member for a long time and never regretted it. There have been a few organization I've joined where I had to think long and hard about whether or not to renew (some I dropped), but the WBH isn't one of them.
OK Rut, that was out of line and I apologize. And I'll agree that no one should rest on their laurels. But, when a small group of people do all the lifting, they get tired. I can easily see how some people might get an attitude when they contribute untold hours to a cause and get nothing in return but criticism. Anytime we want to truly understand another person's position, we need to be willing to see from their eyes.
In 2017 How can one organization fit or speak for all that bowhunting has become? When the WBH was formed bowhunters looked and smelled alike. This has gradually changed to where we are now. Not defining what bowhunting is , never drawing a line , never saying no , at the same time accepting every and all things has made it impossible for any one org to not offend a guy and his hunt . If you want to increase membership you would have to have little orgs within or under the WBH.
CaptMike, That is a very valid point and I understand totally. My frustration is not with what the org is, as much as what it could be. Yet the powers that be seem to be very happy with the status quo. I say seem because when I was a member I never received any feedback to anything. It's kind of hard to want to help an org that appears to not want to help itself.
LTL JimBow.......WBH has defined what bowhunting is. They have said no on key issues (cross bow). When WBH lets cross bows in the organization I will quit.
buckmaster69 , Each man picks his issue and makes a stand . Baiting, Food plotting, Farming Deer , compounds, ATVs , Shooting Condos , Cameras, many issues that make my hunt and your hunt are own . If the WBH dosent do and say what I like I'm out ?? This is exactly what is going on now .
Joined WBH as a life member, and never regretted it. I do not agree with everything they do, but I don't expect that with any group I belong to. They do fight for bow hunting in WI so I appreciate the efforts made by these volunteers. If an archery shot or archery club doesn't know about the WBH I say shame on them not the WBH. I want the WBH to focus on the craziness at the legislative level and address the biggest issues there. I also know that when I have said my opinion to a board member they don't need to follow my ideas, and I don't stop supporting the WBH because the organization went another way. What I hope for the future is more bowhunters, clubs, and archery shots join the WBH because that number is what gets the attention in Madison. I also hope the board can then spend more time on future issues rather than on increasing membership and internal issues. You are on this sight because you enjoy bow hunting. If your not a WBH member I question what can you individually do to support bow hunting in Wisconsin that would have more impact that being part of the state's archery association? You will not agree with everything they do, but the big picture is about bow hunting's future.
BHDoug, wish you would have said that before I put my foot in my mouth. Well said!
Blahh....Blahhh...Blahh...dead org move on
Man....is there anyone that is in the middle? It really seems that people either love and appreciate the organization or hold it in contemp or disdain.
Blah.... Blah .... Blah... Don't know what your talking about.
Hmm....
Far from dying organization when over 1700 new members joined in the past year. Don't forget that the WBH is the "Largest bowhunting Organization in the Nation."
OVER 75 YEARS of ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Following are just a few of the initiatives WBH has helped implement over the years:
•Approval for bear hunting with bow and arrow
•An either-sex season for archery
•A post-gun-hunt bowhunting season
•Allowing the use of camouflage in bow seasons instead of the previously required red or orange clothing
•Relaxed restrictions on strung or cased bows in vehicles or even while in the woods
•Establishment of a separate archery deer license and tag in 1965 that provided more opportunity and helped define the scope and growth of bowhunting
•Legalization of deer hunting from treestands in 1971
•Extended twilight hunting hours
•The ability to use archery equipment for hunting virtually all legally hunted species, including turkeys and small game
•An extra included antlerless archery tag in units where deer populations are adequate
•The ability for archers to also obtain bonus and hunters choice tags for use in archery seasons
•Legalize the ability to continue bowhunting during the gun season if desired
•Relaxed restrictions on strung or cased bows in motor boats, greatly improving opportunities for bowfishing
•In 1997 WBH finally was able to get most of the week before gun season - some of the best rut hunting - opened to bowhunting
•Being granted a seat on all DNR wildlife management committees
•Developing legislation that defines crossbows as separate from archery equipment and further, will allow crossbows to be regulated separately as their popularity
Its dead like Obama care. New members LOL. Worthless org that is on its death bed with no chance of revival.
"The crossbow group failed for 2 reasons. The leaders were total fools and not capable of running a statewide org. They were not very bright and ill equipped for the task. "
Yeah, they sure failed. They have equal season lengths and harvest opportunities as bowhunters. But we can feel warm and fuzzy because they dont have a barbeque every year. We showed them!!! LOL !
Well guys ... you want to get mad at someone concerning the crossbow season, Why don't you get mad at the NRA.
Hey >>>--arrow1->, great list!
To that list we can add that in the 1940s the WBH assisted the WI Cons. Dept. in creating and implementing early bowhunting regulations. Specifically some of these regs concerned broadhead designs (elimination of barbed broadheads), draw weights of bows, season dates and lengths, and selection of species allowed to hunt (i.e., black bear were legalized for bowhunting in 1942 and phesants became legal targets in 1948). And of course don't forget the WBH now sponsors a National Archery In The Schools tournament every year, the annual Broadhead Tournament in September, the membership convention in late winter every year, and a number of youth hunts. Plus the WBH publishes a magazine three times a year for all members and offers a number of reward programs for members.
With the earlier list by >>>--arrow1-> and then what's mentioned immediately above, I find it very difficult to understand how someone can say or imply the WBH is a dead organization that does not do anything for the bowhunters of the state. Such comments overlook and deny the reality of what is offered.
What about the members who have become friends over the years? I became a member many many years ago. Through the years many have come and gone for their own reasons. I don't hold it against anyone who is not a member, but I am for one sure glad that my Dad introduced me to archery and the many great people way back in the 1970's. Of course we had disagreements throughout the years, who doesn't. But I am still a proud member and very glad to say that I will continue to promote the WBH in any way that I can, especially when the youth are involved.
I second Bill on Arrow1's list. The track record of the WBH speaks for it's self. It continues to monitor changes that will affect OUR bow season. Why is this not a good thing and worth supporting? Please answer this question SPECIFICALLY upnorth and 69.
Yes I third GVS, their track record speaks for itself as does the WTA. Why isn't this a good thing and worth supporting?
Gvs don't know what your talking about. Been a member since 1973. I have not said anything bad about the WBH.
What's the NRA got against archers?
NRA was behind the push for crossbow use in archery season.
WTA is a one of a kind state hunting organization. Everybody pitches in, knows everybody and they are all in. Their annual banquets host as many or more than WBH, nothing against WBH. Banquet speakers are top notch.
The NRA is not a bowhunting organization, it is a firearm and hunting org, so they went out and pushed for what they believed in and I have no problem with that....... The state did not have to accept the xbow, but it did, but there may be adjustments in the future,,,,,,,
I am on and off again with the WBH and that is laziness. Well that will change this week. also I have been to there conventions and always found everyone to be friendly and nice,, as I always went solo...... We should also never forget, we would not have what we have now, without the hard work of the WBH......
I do not know Mike Brust, but have listened to him, through, media, and I respect that guy.........
As a trad shooter you would think I would have joined the WTA,,,,, well I am going to do that this year also.......
Razor - I agree with you. I sent in my WBH membership, but never heard anything back except why I didn't rejoin months later. Not sure if they received it as my check was never cashed. Will re-up again this year. Not sure what some of the problems are with WBH in the north country, but a few years back I put on the miles trying to distribute WBH membership applications to some sporting goods stores and was shown the door on a number of occasions. I can only assume it was the x-bow debate.
Razor - I agree with you. I sent in my WBH membership, but never heard anything back except why I didn't rejoin months later. Not sure if they received it as my check was never cashed. Will re-up again this year. Not sure what some of the problems are with WBH in the north country, but a few years back I put on the miles trying to distribute WBH membership applications to some sporting goods stores and was shown the door on a number of occasions. I can only assume it was the x-bow debate.
After reading all. The pros not considered. I'm going to become a member again. If you read. Everything they have did for our sport of Archery. It's well worth it. Maybe. Enough people. Members. Tell the directors how the north gets overlooked they will address it as Archers we need all the support we can get let's all stick together! Looking forward. To another season in the tree!
I am happy to report that I received two email responses today from an email I sent to the WBH office last Friday. Great turn around in response I think considering the Holidays.
I just received my Winter 2017 issue of "The Bowhunter", official publication of the Wisconsin Bowhunters Association. Ron has an article published in this issue of his black bear hunt with self made equipment and filmed by himself and making it home with two black bears. Cool story.
yep I agree, that is quite an accomplishment, my hat is off to him,,,,,,,,,,,
The article is good. Ron is an intelligent and talented person with much to offer to almost any group. It's too bad he made a mistake a few years ago; he and his reputation still suffer from that indiscretion. Perhaps over time this will fade into the distant background and he will be accepted again without reservation.
choke, cough, cough, I'd rather reserve the right to accept him again,..and again,..and again
The easiest way to forgive anyone who makes a mistake is when a person makes a mistake they admit it and don't fabricate a story to cover their behind.
Honesty goes a long way in repairing one's reputation. Along with respecting the view of others and not belittling others because their opinions are different....
It seems that Ron is a super guy in person. However it also seems like a computer is his tequila. It turns him into a bullying, loudmouth ass. Too bad, as I would bet the real Ron is a pretty damn decent dude.
"The easiest way to forgive anyone who makes a mistake is when a person makes a mistake they admit it and don't fabricate a story to cover their behind. Honesty goes a long way in repairing one's reputation. Along with respecting the view of others and not belittling others because their opinions are different.... "
This ^^^^
Ron is still posting right under our noses still and many don't know it. His latest inquiry is pure narcissism.
Did his story mentioned that the second bear came as a result of his inattentive driving...illegally messing with his video camera on himself while he was driving. Or did he just conveniently leave that part out?
Mike F's Link
The complete magazine is available to members. Call Jean at the office, join and ask her if there are any copies available and that you would like one.
Which is one of the benefits of being a member!
There are limited articles available on the website
"There are limited articles available on the website." Yes, at any given time. However, they will change as different issues of the magazine are published.
Send in your membership, easy as that.