State bowhunting organization
General Topic
Who belongs to and/or supports their state bowhunting organization. I am currently a BOD for New York Bowhunters, Inc., I have also served as Vice President, President, and a committee Chairman. I joined 30 years ago. What made you join, renew, not renew, or never join?
I do……I also try to be a member to other state organizations where I hunt as well.
I am a Senior Lifetime member of the WI Bowhunters Assoc.,...first joined in 1964,...have served as Director and Legislative Liaison. Am a member of the WI Bowhunting Heritage Foundation,...since 2006,...have served as a Director and currently am President of the group,...the WBHF discovers, catalogs, preserves, and showcases WI bowhunting history in the form of written records and presentation of various displays of vintage and historical archery and bowhunting memorabilia and tackle in a museum at the headquarters of the WI Bowhunters Assoc. in Clintonville, WI.
Lifetime member of the Indiana Bowhunter Association. Been a member for roughly 40 years and have served the organization in multiple capacities.
Also, have joined any state bowhunting organization where I intend to bowhunt as a non-resident.
I am a life member of the Colorado Bowhunter Association (coloradobowhunting.org). and also a member of the Colorado Traditional Archery Society, Served on the CBA board for 7 years, was the DOW Liaison for 6 of those years. Served as CBA banquet chair in2020. Was the CBA Becoming A Bowhunter program regional manager. Area Rep. The CBA was started in the late 1960 and is still going strong. The CBA's main mission is to increase and or maintain our bow hunting seasons, keep XBow out of the regular big game archery season. No doubt there as many challenges but the CBA tries within its capacity, to keep moving forward. My best, Paul
I would never not be a member of the state bow hunting organization as I know they represent all bowhunters in Colorado. CBA has a Legislative Liaison as well as a CPW Liaison both of which attend many of the meeting in person and report to the BOD and members their findings.
Always tell my kids to belong to their state organizations and I encourage P n Y. Now a BOW member.
Life member of IBA, as well as a couple of other states.
Life member of the Mississippi Bowhunters Assn, served over 30 years in many officer positions including President and legislative chairman.
Am a life member Al for 25 plus years.
I've been a CBH [Ca] member for about 35 years
Life member of United Bowhunters of PA. When I hunted a lot in other states I joined their state organizations.
Life member of BOW and try to be a member of other states I hunt.
I have been a paying member in multiple states. I’m not in my home state at this time and am hearing they’re supporting Xbows. If that’s true, I’m out.
Life member of Untied Bowhunters of MO. Also a lifetime Compton member and PBS regular member. I've never understood why so many guys won't join anything.
I'm not even sure if Arizona has a bowhunter organization anymore. They have pretty much ghosted us.
Been a Wisconsin bowhunter member since 1992. P and y since 1996
Member of both State Assns & NFAA; In the 70s I was a state official at various times in Bowhunting & Target divisions. Was very active in getting regs for bowhunting in the state & others too. Locally held about every position in the club. I now have FB page Iowa archery/bowhunter tournaments that I update weekly of Archery events/tournaments in Iowa & bordering states + National events. ALL associations welcome. 1800+ members & growing. No chat, no selling allowed JUST where & when. This is an example-state 300 round
I have been a member of the KS Bowhunters Assoc for over 40 years. I have been chairman of our scholarship committee for about 15 years. When I hunted other states I joined their organization.
I live in Indiana and hunt Illinois but I don’t belong to either of their state bowhunting orgs because for the last 40 years I’ve seen both be powerless to legislation that has degraded whitetail quality. I am a member of the Iowa BA because they have stones of steel, making legislation a priority and fighting off every bill attacking their deer quality. This includes such things as expanding NR tag quotas & crossgun inclusion. IL & IN crumbled to Ravin. Not so in Iowa. Ravin sends 3 lobbyists every year and IBA has sent them packin every time. All this despite I can only draw every 6 years now. I admire this bunch a lot. What use is it to support some group that has no power and can’t stop any corrupt legislation? I’m not into driving 4 hours just to socialize at picnics & 3D shoots.
Paul The CBA started in 1969. I bought the first membership the night it was finalized at Hals Archery Range and Shop.
I joined Alaskan Bowhunters when I moved north a decade ago and renewed as a life member the following year. After meeting several of the guys getting involved to revitalize a dying club I agreed to take on the role of Treasurer. As a young and upcoming impressionable bowhunter when a guy you looked up to like Frank Noska asks you to do something; you do it! Was awesome hearing stories and learning from guys I considered legends like him and Jack Frost. My daughter holds a club title that I doubt will ever be topped as the youngest ABA and P&Y member ever. She was only a few hours old when she joined both as I sat wide awake in the hospital chair bedside after birth as her and mom slept.
Fast forward several years and somehow they messed up and trusted me to captain the ship as the current President. I will always remain involved and hope to see it to continue to grow as a club beyond my time in this role. I strongly believe everyone should be a member and involved with their state orgs and P&Y. Instead of piss and moan from the sidelines like I used to, get involved and help see through the changes you want to see or better yet preserve and avoid the changes you don’t want to see.
I just renewed my NYB membership. Thanks for the reminder Al. I was a member for many years but somehow let my membership lapse.
I'm a Life Member of the Arizona Bowhunters Association, and Records Chairman/Treasurer of the Bowhunting In Arizona Record Book Committee for more than 20 years. I also lobby Game and Fish on a personal level when I feel strongly about an issue.
With the exception of a couple of years hiatus in the early nineties, I've been a member of Wisconsin Bowhunters Association since 1967.
THE REAL QUESTION;
Does your state org have any political clout? Which is what it takes for effective change.
I know from being a Bowsite member...[I don't know him personally] that Jaquomo has been active in the Colorado Org and seen reports that they are personally lobbying politicians for changes with some success.
Seems to me I've seen the same from JohnMC and a couple others.
Has your state Org actually done anything to improve hunting in your state?
Over 10 years ago when I represented our state at the North American Bowhunters Coalition meetings it became very apparent my state wasn't the only state that had numerous organizations saying they represented bowhunters.
Specifically, we had one for archery (est 1939), one for bowhunting (est. 1946). That and we had several deer hunting organizations who claimed to have bowhunters in their membership or an archery/bowhunter chapter.
Served on plenty of committees and board member, president on one I thought was leading the way. Was a speaker at the state DNR forums. Found out due to the fragmentation it was basically ineffective. Bowhunters are a minority, and we are constantly run over by the firearms deer, crossbow lobby and "all hunters need to stick together" mentality. Tough to work for a method specific harvest group when all the DNR cares about is harvest goals for specific species, not a specific method (e.g. archery). Always the same 6-8 guys doing all the work too.
If someone has had a much better experience would love to hear it. We have two more start-up organizations in 2025 saying THEY represent bowhunters. With 20K plus archers in the state always hoped for better representation.
Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Alaska.
I think your state org is only as good as you make it. To those of you that don’t think much of your state org, get involved and make it better.
I am super proud of what the CBA does in CO and that I get to be a small part of that. CO is a tough state. Several of our board members have developed important relationships with in the CPW and commission. I feel strongly that on many issue the CBA has been listened to and preserved opportunities. We don’t have x-bow, stop bowhunters from being required to wear hunter orange. Last year the CBA saved OTC elk hunting for residents when it looked they it would be 100% draw. The CBA lead the way in getting legislation passed to allow Hunter ed to be taught in schools. We put on some neat events through out the year including our jamboree and banquet. I think in year to come you will see more outreach especially with youth coming from the CBA.
If you have interest in starting something in your state or making your current state organization better reach out to us with questions I know we would be happy to help.
Lastly not specifically bowhunting but as many know banning cat hunting was put on the ballot in CO last November. Most expected that to easily win. I saw a few people take the lead and many many hunters getting involved doing simple things like talk to non hunting friends, family and coworkers. Putting signs in their yards, or giving a few bucks. We kicked ass and won that battle fairly easily at the polls. Point is get involved even if just a little - it possible to make a big difference.
Indiana Bowhunters and Colorado Bowhunters as those are the states I hunt in the most. Can't attend CBA events due to the distance, but figure the very least I can do is be a dues-paying member.
Life member/endowment member of the Untied Bowhunters of Pa. Sat on the board for I believe 7 years. Also, long time member of Bowhunters of Wyoming and Colorado Bowhunters Association
I am a Director of the Vermont Bowhunters Association ,also the secretary of same ,been a director for 8 years and a member since inception in 2011 small but effective group getting things done to improve opportunities for bowhunters in the Green Mountain State!!
Michigan has several great bow hunter and archery organizations. Michigan bow hunters is the oldest and works to promote archery interests at the legislature. Michigan longbow association and Michigan traditional bow hunters are also great.
Iowa bowhunters assn keeps it's members informed of State legislation & other things concerning State information on hunting. Very involved compared to other's..
JB, and Glen, thanks for your support of NYB, and to the others that belong to state bowhunting organizations. It is hard to have clout with legislation, when you don't have the membership. NYS has over 200,000 licensed bowhunters, but less than 2% belong to NYB. State orgs do so much on a grassroots level such as NASP, Physically Challenged, Veterans, Youth, Sportsman's Education, and Legislation. We are also called upon occasionally to act as sounding board for studies pertaining to wildlife, CWD, and other outdoor activities that may impact wildlife.
Life member of CBA (Colorado Bowhunters Association) since 1980 and severed on their BOD in various capacities for around 15 years. Now a BOD member of the CTAS (Colorado Traditional Archers Society). On and off member of many other State organizations where I usually hunt.
I am a life member of Ms Bowhunters Association. In my earlier years I served in some leadership roles.
As far as political clout- the MBA is responsible for the archery season we have in MS. The organization is not a strong with the MS Legislature of Wildlife agency today as it once was in earlier years.
Still a worthwhile organization. Lots of challenges like “herding cats!”
I use to support my organization. But after my accident, went to xbow, and was shunned. They think xbows are killing all their deer.
We don’t have one in CT. We used to have one years ago and it dissolved.
I can also tell you, the PBS, gives no support once disabeled....
“I can also tell you, the PBS, gives no support once disabeled....”
What support would one request from PBS once disabled? I’m not trying to be inflammatory but genuinely curious what they should be expected to do in this situation?
Resident elk bow hunter here in Colorado number 25,000, and non resident elk bow hunters number another 25,000. The Colorado Bowhunter Assoc has 2,000 total members. The question might be why of the 25,000 resident bow hunter, the CBA does not have 25,000 members? I ask some bow hunters are they a member of the CBA? The answer I receive is, " I am not a joiner, or I am a member of the Elk Foundation or the Mule deer Association, or I did not know there was a State Organization. Some might join for the first year, then they are gone. I am sure this is the same in most states
Lifetime member of WI Bowhunters Association since 1980 , I can’t understand why any one would not support there local association, Even if you don’t agree with everything they are doing they are the voice that keeps fighting for your rights .Also a lifetime NRA member
President of the South Dakota Bowhunters Association, also a member of numerous other state orgs. BOW, ABA, etc. I will buy a membership in every state I bowhunt in as a rule.
You guys are doing well Paul to have 2k members. Most states don't even sniff 10% participation.
I am. Also a few other states I regularly hunt in.
In 2024 I looked at where state and national organizations stood, in reference to my bowhunting values, and made the difficult decision to drop out of all state and national organizations. I decided my money was better spent supporting species specific organizations.
NDBA life member and on the board as an area rep. the last 4 years. My wife served 10 years on the board. We always hear the same question from prospective members… “what do I get with a membership?”
An honest answer would be… you already have it…do you want to keep it? Do you want your kids to have it? To us it’s a no brainer, but to the majority it’s a tough sell.
I served as Chairman for the Nebraska Bowhunters Association one term as well as a board member for three other terms. I am very active as I believe an organization is only as strong as its members. Some of my closest friends I met through the NBA and I am so thankful for this organization.
Life member of CBA have been a active board member banquet chair all around helper .life member nfaa asa ctas and I try to become a member of other state organizations where I hunt or competitive archery
Was a member of Mass. Bowhunters decades ago, they never sent me a renewal information and I dropped out. Just had to check to see if they're still active and I guess they are. With MassWildlife expanding seasons there isn't much for them to do really...
UBI is a traditional archery only organization. They don’t acknowledge me as a archer or bowhunter, so why would I send them money?
I think it’s the most important thing you can do as a bowhunter. At a minimum belong to your state organization… Being active and supporting them is even better.
I think it’s the most important thing you can do as a bowhunter. At a minimum belong to your state organization… Being active and supporting them is even better.
Mark, Congrats on your HOF award! Well deserved I suspect!
And quite a few that are on Bowsite were past "Bowhunters of the Year" in CO or WY. Many are/were life members and workers in their state organization as well.
Alaskan Bowhunters life member.
It's a given in my opinion, but that wasn't the question.
Why are people, bowhunters, not joining or supporting...that was the question. It's apathy.
Now it's all about who has more money, points, coveted tags. That's not why you started bowhunting.
I was a member of WI bowhunters back in the late 70's for a bit then lapsed till the 2000's and started back. Been a member since. I need to get into the WI Traditional Archers.
L2H - glad to see you back in the WBH, and it's a "yes" on the WTA...another great WI state bowhunting organization!
“It's a given in my opinion, but that wasn't the question. Why are people, bowhunters, not joining or supporting...that was the question. It's apathy.”
lol no, no it wasn’t. It was an open ended post about why people joined, renewed, didn’t renew, or never joined their state/local clubs.
I joined today. Got the 3 year membership. I'm long overdue membership to Colorado Bowhunters Association.
I'm excited what the CBA will bring. I hope it's not like the NRA and 10 emails a day wanting more money for the cause. Maybe that's why people don't want to join these groups or are reluctant to do so. Emails and junk mail, we can only give so much. I haven't renewed NRA in years, nor the RMEF. I think it's time to renew RMEF again. I like Trout Unlimited, membership just came due again. I stay a member in at least one group at all times.
"I think it’s the most important thing you can do as a bowhunter."
I respectfully disagree.
In my opinion, the most important thing a bowhunter can do is to vote for lawmakers (local, state and federal) that are committed to preserving what we do...and prove it by their actions.
Yes, but who will educate those legislators? The answer is the dedicated men and women of the state organizations. Legislators are bombarded with Bills being introduced every day during session. Without folks actively searching out those Bills, and what their impact will have, then taking action to speak with those legislators to inform them, you might as well call it a day. I have taken dozens of trips to our state capital, as well as countless in person meetings at district offices, phonecalls, letters, and emails. You cannot rely on simply casting a vote. you would be surprised as to how many legislators who you would not think would be in agreement with you, change their mind on a Bill after you speak with them.
I live and hunt in Pennsylvania. I am a Life member of Pope & Young and member of the Fred Bear Society. In the past, I was a member of the United Bowhunters of Pennsylvania. I was considering becoming a life member until cross bows were included in PA’s archery season. I have always supported the use of crossbows in archery season by those individuals who are legitimately disabled and unable to use a vertical bow. Otherwise, a crossbow is not a bow and they do not belong in archery season. Well, UBP has accepted crossbow hunters into their membership. That certainly is their prerogative. When they did that they can no longer advocate for keeping crossbows out of PA’s archery season and they no longer represent me. My two cents.
Unfortunately, it wasn't UBP that allowed crossbows into the archery season, it was the PGC, by a vote 5-4. I knew Muldoon, who was the UBP President, and he did all that he could to prevent it. It was a damn shame, and not just for PA, but for every state, that fell victim to DNR's, F & W's, En Con's etc... that only wanted to sell another tag and collect more from Pittman-Robertson.
His point wasn’t that legally they were made acceptable for archery season, but that the club itself changed its stance and accepted membership of crossbow hunters (inherently projecting that they are supportive of it not being a divided season).
Alaskan Bowhunters will never change the current stance as long as I’m involved, however long that may be.
I am a life member of the Colorado Bowhunters Association and sat on the board of directors for eight years. I held a few different positions during that time, including Director at Large, Public Relations and three years as Chairman.
The work done by an active organization, like the CBA often goes unnoticed by most bowhunters. That is unfortunate, because the relationships that are built with legislators, CPW personnel, and commissioners are what makes the seasons a reality.
During the last five years, we faced some big challenges; blaze orange in archery seasons, increasing allowed let off, mountain lion hunting bans x3, and ultimately nearly losing over the counter archery elk tags for residents. We managed to win all of those, as we should have.
When we were working to get the state to allow 85% let off on bows, we had a large national organization send us a list of other things that they would like us to add to our list. This list obviously included crossbows for everyone. Colorado currently allows them for those who have a medical need. This national org has a lot of pull and it took some real effort on our part to keep archery a semi-primitive weapon season.
If you are not a member of your state org, JOIN. If you are not happy with the direction or focus of your state org, get involved. It is very rewarding work. Your kids will thank you.
I'm a member of the Saskatchewan Bowhunters Association for the past 46 years. If it wasn't for the commitment of the SBA, bowhunters in Saskatchewan would not have the opportunities to bowhunt that they do! Approximately 10% of the Bowhunters in the province belong to the organization.
"Yes, but who will educate those legislators?"
In most cases, it's a lot less about "education" than it is about ideology...and of course political contributions.
My take on it is 1, a lot of bow hunters are aging out of being physically able to shoot a bow of hunting weight. 2, I think what we are seeing is a logical extension of the phenomenon of ‘bow hunters who are not and never were avid ‘archers.’ ‘ Never enjoyed target shooting or 3-D shooting, practice just enough to go out and shoot a deer. The bow is just a hunting tool, like a gun. And with _any_ weapon, they are users, not ’shooters’ who enjoy the ’shooting sports’ for their own sake. The crossbow fits these people perfectly - sight in, go hunting.
Dana, as we generally do not agree on much, you point above is right on.
One of the reasons I started and continue to bowhunt, is that a few weekends a year to deer hunt wasn't enough for me. I stuck with it , got addicted and have hunted 10x or more during the year than I ever did gun or muzzle loader hunting. Plus, I still shoot bows alot during the year, at poundage I probably shouldn't. Crossbow outings have been few and far between, usually a bridge to get past a significant injury, til I can shoot vertical bow again. Gun hunts even less than that.
I believe what we are witnessing is a rebirth of the trend we saw in going from a recurve to a compound bow. Now it is a trend of leaving the compound bow for a crossbow. Add to it the fact the youth are now starting very young with a crossbow, wives are commonly using crossbows, and grandpa has an easier choice..... the crossbow revolution is in full swing within the archery world.
