Bowsite.com

Iowa details?

If I had a criticism, it would only be one. If the aim of the video is to get every average bowhunter to become a part of the groundswell (as I believe it was) I would want to make it easier for those people to picture themselves as a part of the solution. The video was 90% made up of "elite" sitka/kuiu clad bowhunters. Lots of really expensive game being hunted on there, and not too much "average" for the avg American/Canadian hunter to identify with. I would fear the average blue collar bowhunter might see that video and not assume they belong.

I am sure P&Y marketing staff are much smarter than myself and thought about that and dismissed that in favour of their traditional audience, but for my gut that would be my only concern. What is the main purpose of the video and build around that purpose. Maybe I misidentified the main purpose as well. I know I feel like I have worked very hard in my life and although I feel very "blue collar" I know I have opportunities most do not. Having said that, I felt like the people in the video are from a level "beyond me."

All in all, very well done, and does want to make me get behind them. I do believe when it comes to scoring organizations etc there is an inherent "aristocratic" nature there that you're fighting and whether that comes over from Europe I don't know, but there is some of that built-in-bias that I think you'll always be combatting to get at the avg guy. So if that is the goal it needs to be in every vein of marketing efforts.

Rick, that is the best question, and I feel like the board is working very hard to address that. My personal feeling is that it needs to be done at a grass roots level. The absolute best thing about PnY is the people in it. Everyone that was at convention last week will attest to that I'm sure. What we need to do as a club is bring that convention feel to bowhunters everywhere. We have the members that will do it, they have told me they are willing to do it. We just need to make it happen.

And I’m guessing a very high percentage of blue collar hunters would agree that the club appears snobby or elitist.

There is also a real problem with a high percentage of hunters having low hunting standards with regards to fair chase and most other hunting ethics.

Unfortunately the fact is we have a lot of slob hunters. I hope someone proves me wrong in that observation.

Most hard core fly fishers likely started fishing with a worm under a bobber on a lake shore.

"Slob hunters" are certainly out there but often a product of what they were taught and what they perceive as normal. In those ranks are plenty of smart folks who transition out of that as they learn and grow

Not that there's anything wrong with a worm under a bobber, I down a few myself sometimes.

Jim - nearly every Canadian kid dreams of playing in the NHL (OK I am broad brushing here I know), but if I was starting a club for all hockey players to be a part of I would want my video to include a lot of beer league, and kids league type stuff because that's where the majority of hockey players are at this point in time. If all they see is NHL players on the video they assume this is a club for hockey players, but not the kind of player they are. I'd want the timbits kids in there that don't pay to go, and I'd want the juniors players, the NHL boys and the beer leaguers showing that everyone belongs. The whole journey.

But please don't let this detract from a really great video.

I would be great to have a "shorter version" for the masses on Social Media because as we know, their attention span is about 5 seconds!

Great job

If we are doling out constructive criticism, however, I agree it’s a bit too long. Attention needs to be captured in the first minute, not the 5 1/2 more afterwards. Especially among the younger set raised on the internet. I also felt like it was catering more to the existing Pope and Young demographic. The over 40-50-+ crowd and maybe their young kids. The vid has an older, more traditional, feel to it. Nothing wrong with that, but I think it could use some fresher characters more relevant to the Millennial generation. While I understand and appreciate our bowhunting forefathers greatly, the younger crowd may not. They want to see someone who looks like them. Perhaps even someone they identify with from Social Media. Unfortunately not some black and white clips of some old guy with a stick in his hand. If the intent is to foster new membership, I think the clip could also use some modernization and a more “hip” feel to it. I didn’t see one flat brim! (Refreshing to me! But maybe not what sells these days).

We know some of bowhunting heroes and current P & Y members take female big game (when allowed) small game, fish, birds with archery equipment. P &Y has no records program for those. Perhaps they should. Also think about partnerships with the other hunting(species specific), bowfishing groups who have similar methods of take among their members.

P &Y has been around as long as I have , hope they are still around long after I am gone.

It's a sad situation. Most bowhunters whom I try to recruit into P&Y or state organizations don't see a direct link to what they value most. They just want to go hunting. They don't see the holistic, interconnected web that makes bowhunting possible, and possible for the future. I wish I had answers, but I don't. Great video, reinforces to us members why we value the Club. But it seems like it was made for the members, as in, preaching to the choir.

As true as that is, good luck building a membership drive on that premise. I loved the video. These people believe in what I believe in. The video alone has reminded me I should renew my membership I let lapse since the last time Ed Franchin made a drive on here that inspired me to join. I see literally nothing about P&Y in Canada. Zippo, nada in Manitoba. The only mentions I ever hear about P&Y are on bowsite. Most bowhunters in Manitoba don't even know what Pope and Young is.

If what Lou says is true, then there's $189 million of annual membership fees out there ripe for the picking on people that just may not feel like P&Y is relatable to them. Not including Canada. But hey, you can remarket to your current base so you don't lose them, or try and branch out. But they'll probably require different strategies.

I mean if all you focused on was whitetails, whitetails, whitetails and you got 1/2 the whitetail bowhunters to join, you'd probably have a bigger base than you do now, plus you don't need to worry about the non-whitetailers like Muche because he already gets it. The current members already know whats up. Just food for thought. Not saying that's what needs to happen.

Akin to my reaction. I thought it was excellent inreach. Outreach, not so much. Until the Club puts the record book in its place, the record book will keep the Club in its place. JMHO.

The constructive criticism is helpful. To those providing it, what would trigger you to join?

Thanks Matt

Matt

Matt

One in 700 are in the club.