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RANGE WORK DAYS

The range work day was in March.  We had about 25 people show up and got the
in good condition. 

CONTACT ROGER IF YOU NEED A PROJECT TO COMPLETE YOUR WORK DAY.
 

BOW-FISHING IN CLOLORADO
 

For information on bowfishing in Colorado go to:
http://coloradobowfishing.backpackit.com/pub/1354816

TWO UPCOMING EVENTS!
5/17 -
2nd Annual COBF Big Tourney
5/31 -
Barr Lake State Park Blast II


http://www.coloradobowfishing.com

 

2008 MEETING AGENDA

SAINT VRAIN ARCHERY AND BOWHUNTERS ASSOCIATION

January 10, 2007– MEETING – AGENDA (svarchery.org)

1. Secretary’s Report or Approval/Changes in Minutes from 2006 Meeting (Secretary - Wes Lowrie)
2. Treasurer’s Report (Dues, membership, donations, 2007 Budget) (Keith Ewald - treasurer)
    A. Finance report for 2007 – Donations for elk replacement/club funds used
     B. Budget Report for 2008 (Also what do we do with excess funds – if any are available? Donate, save, etc.?)
    C. Check your name, address, phone, and email on membership list
3. President’s Report
   Thank yous (Clifton Woolman, Wayne Long)
    Membership
      1. - Membership is down
      2.- We’ve held dues the same this year, non-working fee will go back up to $50
              * 
CBA – We should all join
           *  Targets to be ordered this year?
           *  Election of Officers: Nominations:
                a. President:
Roger Trudell or Any Volunteer (Roger will help!)
                b. Vice-President: Craig Lam
                c. Secretary: Wes Lowrie
                d. Treasurer: Tom Adjutant
 
4. Old Business
   Schedule a work day
   Email Chain, Roger will continue
(Email: doctortrudell@aol.com)
   Bylaws Changes - See Below
   Give AIW (Boyd Wild) the "shop" pass again?
   Continue with range watcher (Cliffton)
5. New Business
    Look into becoming a Longmont City Operated Club
    Range work days, split in to 3: East, West, sight-in, or leave as is? Dates: March/April
    Non-Working Dues
    This continues to be an issue, folks are not paying up after missed work days. How to deal with this
    Continue to allow the president (with the approval of other officers) to give out about five memberships for
         promotions, exchanges, and publicity.
   Dues = Any dues paid after September works for the following year.
6. Announcements
    Black flies + mosquitoes + West Nile + thieves – continued caution!
    Bring out garbage when you can (Can also leave it at the shed)
    Must have a range pass to shoot! Need the new White 2007 pass after March 1, 2007. City/members are monitoring!
    We plan to change the gate combination by March 1st... Do not give it out! Our targets are at stake!
    CBA Banquet (March 14-15)
    No broadheads on the range!
    Sponsorships (Try to get one)!!!
   Adjournment

Roger Trudell, CBA Longmont Area Rep (w) 303-651-6700 (h) 443-4093 email: doctortrudell@aol.com
Keith Ewald, Treasurer, (h) 303-776-6557 (w) 303-678-2672 email: kjewald@comcast.net (new email address)
Wes Lowrie, (h) 303-772-3524 (w) 303-651-814 email: Wes_Lowrie@ci.longmont.co.us

ARTICLE VIII:  BY-LAWS AMENDMENTS

CURRENT:   These By-laws may be amended by a two thirds (2/3) majority vote at any meeting for that purpose.   Proposed By-Law changes will be made at the annual meeting or by special vote, whereby; a mailing of the proposed changes will be sent to the membership one month prior to the proposed vote.

PROPOSED: These Bylaws may be amended by two thirds (2/3) majority of a meeting quorum. Proposed By-Laws changes can be made at the annual meeting or by special vote for that purpose.

Voting on Bylaw amendments or other club matters, may also be conducted by electronic means including via internet email communication.  If internet voting is carried out, votes will be directly submitted to the Secretary or a designee.  Internet voting will give each member at least one week (seven days) to respond and would require two thirds (2/3) majority of the votes returned.  A minimum of twenty email votes (for or against) would need to be cast for an amendment to pass.  Printouts from the returned email will be printed for verification purposes. Proposed By-Law changes will be sent to the membership one month (30 days)  prior to the proposed vote by mail or electronic means.

ARTICLE VI, DUES AND FEES

CURRENT:  The officers have the authority to make special rulings of dues payable for memberships if requested in writing by a member (i.e. personal hardship, donated memberships, etc.).

 PROPOSED: The officers have the authority to make special rulings of dues payable for memberships if requested in writing by a member. Exceptions can be made by the officers for special reasons such as:

·        Members joining late in the year may have their dues reduced

·        Members who donate equipment, targets or money may have dues waived

·        Non-working fees may be modified for special reasons

·        Other exceptional cases as agreed by the officers

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FAIR SHARE - COLORADO
R
EFERENDUM TO ALLOCATE 80% LICENSES TO RESIDENTS

 Fair Share is a committee created by Colorado Resident Hunters Equality Task Force to advance a ballot initiative to assure Colorado residents 80% of deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, and mountain lion licenses

Fair Share needs support from YOU the hunter.  Fifty or a hundred dollars will be well spent on you and your kids hunting future.  Make your check payable to Fair Share - Colorado and send your contribution to Dick Steele DVM 6897 Peach Valley Road Delta, CO 81416. 

**  SEE THE IMPORTANT AND FACTUAL POINTS BELOW!!!!

 

Thanks!

Dick Steele DVM

Resident Hunters Talking Points

1) 65/35 Split. In all actuality it means 55:30:15. And if you take out the state-wide average of 14% of the licenses that are PLO (Private Land Only that are not subject to the 65/35 cap, resident hunters are only guaranteed only 46% of the total limited license pool (15 licenses Landowner Licenses + 14 PLO licenses = 29 licenses. 100 – 29 licenses = 71 licenses x 65% = 46 licenses) By legislative action, the Landowners convinced our elected officials to pass a statute guaranteeing them 15% of all limited licenses for deer, elk, and antelope. The CDOW then designates a percentage of limited licenses as PLO (This varies by unit and species. The statewide average is 14%, but PLO licenses can run up to 90% or more for some unit/species). Also, the landowner can sell their vouchers to non-resident or resident and the PLO licenses require permission to hunt on private land – which in today’s commercial hunting atmosphere usually requires purchase of trespass privileges. So Landowners in actuality control an average of 29% of the limited licenses. The increase from 60% resident allocation to 65% allocation, passed by the Wildlife Commission in the fall of 2005, meant that about 1400 licenses out of about 312,000 total licenses sold, would actually have changed hands, based on actual allocations for resident/non-resident from the preceding year. That is an actual 0.4% increase in resident licenses (not a 5.0% increase).

2) Colorado Residents (prior to the 2005 fee bill) currently pay more in total license fee revenues that any other western state, yet they rank a distant third in the total number of big game licenses issued to residents (387,879 to 819,506 - Montana #1). This is in spite of the fact that Colorado sells unlimited over the counter elk tags. What this means is that many of the residents of other western states enjoy having more big game licenses per individual than Colorado residents do. (USFWS website 2002).

3) The current Wildlife Commission and the CDOW have done nothing to improve resident hunting opportunities in this state in the past 5 years. This is in spite of the fact that the Commission received a petition signed by 2,194 sportspeople, requesting an 80/20 split (this would be 68% of the total limited draw licenses under current allocation system) on all limited draw deer, elk, and antelope licenses. Two of the Commission seats are designated as, "Sportsman’s seats." These two seats currently are occupied by ??? and Dick Ray (a Colorado Outfitter), appointees of Governor Owens. Rick Enstrom (Candy Factory Owner) and Ray’s predecessor, Benard Black (a Denver attorney) opposed the 80/20 split, along with the other 7 Commissioners. Maybe the 2,194 signers of the petition were not considered sportspeople by Mr. Enstrom and Mr. Black.

4) One of the most important reasons as to why the CDOW, Wildlife Commission, and your elected officials have refused to budge on resident/non-resident limitations is the status granted to the CDOW by the legislature several years ago. The CDOW is one of a very few government agencies that has been given Enterprise status by the legislature. This means that the CDOW is entitled to run as a business and not a government agency. They are not subject to TABOR and raise all of their own monies to run their business. So why does any business exist? To make money! It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure which one of these widgets a business will go after. A $500 non-resident elk widget or a $45 resident elk widget. Of course the state constitution states that the Wildlife belong to the residents of the state. And you as a resident do pay taxes here. And you as a resident do support the businesses of this state year round. But remember, none of that revenue goes to the CDOW, only license fees. No wonder the residents as well as the Wildlife suffer by this state endorsed business.

5) The Wildlife Commission is not answerable to anyone for their actions. These political appointees of the governor have no one to watch or oversee their actions. They are not elected. These seats on the Wildlife Commission have become political plumbs for the power-hungry elite, and have little to do with qualifications, abilities, or inclinations to relate to or represent the people they are appointed to represent. Do a rich candy empire baron, a Denver Attorney, and a Colorado Outfitter have much in common with the average hunter of this state? Recommendations for the Commission come from the CDOW and Head of DNR (Department of Natural Resources). Recent appointments have been a large landowner/outfitter heavily financed by pay for hunting, an outfitter, and an appointee from Craig – the Outfitter capitol of Colorado. Who do you think the CDOW wants in control of making decisions that dictate what opportunities hunters will be granted?

6) Resident Hunters have the vote. Most do not have the land or the money resources (businesses). That is all we have. We don’t vote for the Wildlife Commission or the CDOW employees. That is why we have such a hard time getting them to listen to the average resident hunter. We only vote for the elected officials. That is who we can influence. If each of us chooses not to get involved and not try to influence our elected officials, we have only ourselves to blame. A recent survey on the west slope showed an almost 95% positive response by participants when asked if they would vote for a politician that would support increased resident opportunity. Meanwhile, we continue to lose ground in our hunting opportunities and experiences, as tax paying residents of Colorado.

7) Sportsman’s Advisory Group (SAG) does not represent the majority of the resident hunters of this state. The CDOW sponsored SAG’s met across the state to devise the fee bill. If you were not in support of the fee bill you were not invited to the SAG meetings. The CDOW has made the statement that the SAG represents you. Yet attendance at these periodic meetings held in different locations across the state, often times show total participation in the single digits.

8) CDOW license revenues have outstripped inflation by approximately 20 percent since 1983. The CDOW spending has also outstripped the inflation rate. Doesn’t this seem like a business out of control? (USFWS website 2002)

9) When the state of Colorado becomes completely draw for all big game species (yes, it will happen), then you as a resident hunter will have to decide if you want to hunt elk every year, or not hunt elk for several years to have a chance to gain a coveted tag in a trophy unit. These years of plentiful wildlife resources will end and where will your hunting opportunities be then? Then only the rich in this state will be able to pay to participate on a regular basis.

10) The Habitat Stamp. This caused some sportspeople to buy into the whole fee bill and garnered testimony and support from non-hunting groups such as the Sierra Club and some Denver-based hiking groups. Their testimony was instrumental in getting the whole package passed by the legislature. What isn’t well known is that you as a hunter/sportsperson are paying the lion’s share of the habitat stamp. The habitat stamp is mandatory with the purchase of your first two annual hunting/fishing licenses. A habitat stamp is also mandatory for access to State Wildlife Properties. It is an optional purchase for all others. After the first year of the habitat stamp, mandatory purchases by non-sportspeople were accounting for less than 1 percent of the total revenues. Yet the same non-sportspeople groups were given 2 of the 9 seats on the Habitat Stamp Committee (reward for their testimony), the group that makes recommendations to the Wildlife Commission on where to spend your habitat stamp money. This habitat stamp was "needed" by the CDOW because they didn’t have any funds to purchase habitat. The same CDOW which has double the next nearest western state (8 states in all) in total license fee revenues prior to this bill’s passage. When all is said and done, you still don’t have anymore opportunity.

11) If you belong to a sporting group in the state, you need to check to see how your group is representing your interests with regard to this bill and resident opportunities. A few prominent groups actively supported this bill. Other groups chose not to oppose this bill for fear of loss of CDOW granted opportunities (e.g. governor’s tags, season restrictions, seats on special committees). Maybe you belong to one of them and haven’t been made aware of your representative’s actions or lack thereof.

12) The 15% Landowner Vouchers are good on public Land as well as private. The Landowner Voucher system was set up for large landowners (minimum 160 acres). These vouchers are good anywhere in the unit that they are issued for. Until recently, these vouchers could be bought or sold an unlimited amount of times and involving any number of individuals. Frequently, individuals purchasing these vouchers were also told they could not hunt the private land where the voucher originated without paying an additional trespass fee. Individuals using the voucher system were also able to utilize the preference point system at the same time. So these privileged individuals could hunt in limited draw unit scenarios while also competing directly with "blue collar" hunters in the open preference point system.

USFWS (U.S. Fish and Wldf.) web site address: http://fa.r9.fws.gov/license%20holders/Hunting%20License%20Data%20History.pdf

 

 

2007 ANNUAL MEETING:

The minutes are posted below.
Glen Rea is our new president.
Roger Trudell is our new VP.
Keith Ewald remained treasurer.
Wes Lowrie remained as secretary.
 

SAINT VRAIN ARCHERY AND BOWHUNTERS ASSOCIATION
            MEETING – Minutes -
January 31, 2007

The Saint Vrain Archery & Bowhunters Association (SVBA) members met Wednesday January 31, 2007, in the Longmont Public Library Meeting Room B, located at the City of Longmont Library on 409 4th Avenue. President Steve Jessup called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

Secretary’s Report:

Secretary, Wes Lowrie presented the January 25, 2006 regular meeting minutes of the SVBA. Steve Herman moved to approve the minutes as submitted. The motion was seconded by Roger Trudell and passed unanimously by all members present.

Treasurer’s Report:

Treasurer, Keith Ewald presented the finance report for 2006 and budget report for 2007 respectively. Keith reminded the membership to be sure their contact information was current with the Club. Following general discussion, Roger Trudell moved to accept the treasurer’s report as submitted. The motion was seconded by Wayne Long and passed unanimously by all members present.

President’s Report:

President, Steve Jessup recognized several members for their efforts this past year including Wes Lowrie, Bob Berger, Roger Trudell, and Wayne Long.

Steve commented that access to the range currently is very difficult due to the large amount of snow along with the winds which have created drifts that are impassable with a vehicle.

Steve noted that United Power Company does have access through the first gate off of Highway 119. Last year there were some issues relative to who had access through this gate. All members are encouraged to lock the gate "lock to lock" so that no lock is being by-passed. Brief discussion followed.

Steve asked for input regarding the 2007 Club Due structure and it was determined to maintain the same structure as 2006 based upon the Treasurer’s report given.

Roger Trudell commented that there has been a change to the insurance this year. The 2007 insurance premiums will be calculated based upon where a family membership will equal two and one-half members. The result of this is a reduction in out premiums due this year.

Steve stated that new targets should be ordered, delivered, and placed late Spring early Summer 2007.

Election of Officers:

Because there was only one individual for each position, Roger Trudell made a motion to suspend the bylaws requiring a written vote for the officers and allow for a verbal vote. The motion was seconded by Steve Jessup and passed unanimously by all members present. Steve Jessup moved that Glen Rea serve as the 2007 SVBA President, Roger Trudell serve as the 2007 SVBA Vice President, Wes Lowrie serve as the 2007 SVBA Secretary, and Keith Ewald will serve as the 2007 SVBA Treasurer. The motion was seconded by Steve Herman and passed unanimously by all members present.

Old Business:

Following general discussion, the 2007 range work days was set as March 24, 2007 and a second work day scheduled for May 5, 2007. Roger Trudell commented that these dates and any others will be posted on the Club’s website.

Steve Jessup asked if there was any interest around the Club sponsoring a shoot this year. Due to lack of interest in facilitating an event such as this by those members present, it was decided that should a member wish to conduct a shoot this year this could be applied towards their "work day" requirement.

Mel Green made a motion to again give Archery in the Wild a "shop pass" as has been done during previous years. Following brief discussion, Wes Lowrie seconded the motion and passed unanimously by all members present.

Steve Jessup recognized Clifton Woolman for all of his effort as being the Club’s "eyes in the field" last year. Clifton on a weekly basis inspected the range and did a great deal to ensuring our Club property and lease was upheld. Clifton was given a gift certificate as well as a one year free membership. Clifton commented that he already paid for this year and would like his money to be donated to acquisition of future targets. Steve noted that our Club will not be in as good of condition were it not for the assistance of Clifton this year and last.

New Business:

Roger Trudell made a motion to similar to 2006, allowing the Club Officers up to 5 memberships to be donated when in doing so it would prove to be in the Club’s best interest. Following brief discussion, Wes Lowrie seconded the motion and passed unanimously by all members present.

Roger Trudell recognized Wayne Long for his effort in putting together a "new member’s pack" which includes by-law information, Club lease and history, as well as various other information important to new Club members. Wayne was also recognized for his effort in coordinating this years door prizes.

 

Roger Trudell made a motion to se the 2007 non-working dues at $30. The motion was seconded by Wes Lowrie and passed unanimously. General discussion was held concerning tracking of those individuals who actually work and those who say the will but do not. It was determined that the Board will work on the best approach to solve this issue.

Steve Jessup commented that as in previous years when a new member joins the Club after September 1st their payment will be good through the following calendar year. Steve also mentioned that this year he plans to take on as his special project the theme park area on the far southwest corner of the range.

Announcements:

Members should help to keep the range clean by bring out garbage when they can. Members must have a range pass to shoot. All members will need the new orange pass after March 1, 2007. City officials and Club members are monitoring.

Remember no broad heads on the range except white targets on the broadhead range. All members are encouraged to obtain sponsorships.

Mel Green thanked the Club for allowing him to use the Club for four 4-H shooters last year who competed Nationally and took third. Following brief discussion, it was agreed that Mel could again do it during 2007 as well.

There being no additional comments or information to be presented, Roger Trudell made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:50 p.m. The motion was seconded by Wes Lowrie and passed unamously by all members present.

********************************************************************************

NOTICES:

1.  ALL GUESTS MUST SIGN AN INSURANCE WAIVER!  THERE ARE SOME ON THE WHITE STORAGE SHED.  [CLICK HERE PRINT AN INSURANCE WAIVER].

2. The Saint Vrain River below the range is the largest winter bald eagle roost sight in northern Colorado.  At the request of the City of Longmont, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and the are Eagle Watch Group, shooting hours will be changed.  The eagles roost in the trees below the range and move off during the day to hunt for food.  New usage hours for the Saint Vrain Archery Range during the winter months:

From November 15th until March 15th range hours are:

9:00 AM until 3:00PM

For the rest of the year range hours are: 
Sunrise until Sunset

********************************************

Three essays that every bowhunter
should read, memorize and teach...

Source:  www.bowsite.com

 You pay the bills and don't know it!

Hunters contribute over $500 million a year from hunting licenses and excise taxes on hunting equipment.  All of that money goes to state wildlife agencies to run their programs.  In most states these two items pay for over 75% of the wildlife agencies budget.  In some states it pays for everything.

The fact that you pay the bills for wildlife management is one of the great leverages we have to keep hunting alive.  The antis can rage on and on, but since you pay for most or all wildlife management, even some of non-game management, purchase habitat that everyone including antihunters can use, pay for hunter education, etc., etc., it's hard to say, "we need to stop hunting."  Right?

Well, that's right, as long as the public and politicians know that we pay for wildlife management.  But they don't.  And you don't either.  What do you mean, we don't know that?  Recent studies show that most hunters do not know that hunting license money and an 11% federal excise tax on hunting equipment pays to run your state wildlife agency.

Studies show that in most states, the majority of the public and the majority of hunters think that the state wildlife agency and what they do is paid for from general tax revenues.  Yes, read that again.  The majority of hunters think that all tax payers pay for wildlife management.

It gets a lot worse.  Less than 5% of the general public knows that there is an 11% excise tax on hunting equipment that helps pay the bills.....in fact it pays for way over half of most state wildlife bills.  In my state of West Virginia, only 2 % of the general public knows that.  But, get this.  Only 5% of the hunters in West Virginia know anything about Pittman Robertson excise taxes.  They don't know that these excise taxes, that they pay when they buy equipment, pay the bills.

Before you get comfortable, know that it really isn't different in your state.  It is rare for 10% of hunters in any state to know anything about this 11% tax that pays wildlife bills.

Where are you going with this Dave?  It's simple.  How can we expect non hunters to know that hunting pays for wildlife management, keeps wildlife populations healthy, pays for law enforcement, pays for hunter education, pays for wildlife managers to do their thing, pays biologists to collect research data, etc., etc., if we hunters don't know that?  People are trying to stop hunting, but they might listen to you if they knew that without hunting there would be almost nothing left of your state wildlife agency.

Maybe that's a bit of an over statement, but really not much.  Stop hunting, stop fishing, and you would have to come up with $1.2 billion a year from general tax payers to raise the money hunters and fishermen raise by purchasing licenses and equipment.  Period.  End of argument.

Be polite, but in letters to the editor, in discussions with your neighbors, whenever someone criticizes hunting, politely let them know these facts.  It just might make the difference.  Oh yes....even better, let your hunting buddies know who pays the bills.  Most do not know.  Recent studies show that they do not know.  Scary.

Is Hunting Safe?

Every time someone proposes an urban bowhunt, the antis dredge up this myth that hunting isn't safe.  Maybe the non-hunting public buys into that argument because much of hunting involves guns, and we all know how dangerous guns are.  Not.

And new studies show that when kids of non-hunting parents want to go hunting (and by the way there are more and more kids who fit this category), the number one concern parents have about hunting is safety.

When those letters to the editor hit your local papers about how hunting isn't safe, you need to respond with facts and figures.  Thus, I've decided to put some relatively recent  facts on outdoor sports injuries, published in a new document ("Families Afield") put out by the National Wild Turkey Federation, the U. S. Sportsmen's Alliance, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation that talks about removing hunting regulation barriers at the state level so that more kids can hunt.

These hunting data are for all hunting.  When we look at the injuries per 100 participants, we find that football is listed as the # 1 most dangerous outdoor sport, with 18.8 injuries per 100 participants.  Of every 100 people playing football, 19 get hurt.  Ice hockey is second with 15.9 injuries per 100 participants.  Boxing is next (12.7), then soccer (9.3), cheerleading (9.0), basketball (7.6), and baseball (5.8).  Those are the top ten for injuries.  Touch football is # 14 at 4.4, Tennis is # 21 with 2.5, aerobics is # 25 with 1.7.  Where is the dangerous sport of hunting?

Hunting is # 29.  Of all outdoor sports, when it comes to injuries per 100 participants, hunting is # 29 with 1.3 injuries per 100 participants.  "Families Afield " also looked at firearm hunting accidents and found that .005 % of all 14.8 million hunters were involved in accidents.  Also, .0005 percent of all 14.8 million hunters were involved in fatal accidents.  What about kids and these firearm hunting accidents?

Only .0001% of all 14.8 million hunters who were in accidents involved supervised youth hunters.  And only .00002% of all 14.8 million hunters who were involved in fatal accidents were supervised youth hunters.  We need to get this information out whenever the animal rights folks come to hammer us in the press on the safety of hunting.

So, bottom line is that parents allow their children to participate in football, soccer, cheer leading, aerobics,  volleyball, tennis, basketball, etc., and all have a higher injury rate than hunting.  Many have a higher fatality rate than hunting.  Hunting is very safe, and it gets safer every year.

Recruiting Hunters

A study came out the other day that was very alarming relative to the future of hunting.  They used a "hunter replacement ratio" that compared the number of old hunters to the number of hunters 6-15 years of age.  This ratio shows the long term trend for hunter recruitment and only seven states are above 1.0, which means that as old hunters die or leave they are replaced by an equal number of  younger hunters coming into the sport.

That's fine for those seven states, but for the nation as a whole, the hunter replacement ratio is 0.69.  That means that for every 100 hunters lost, we replace them with only 69.  Over the years, that means eventual extinction.

Last March I wrote about the National Archery in the Schools Program, supported a great deal by the Archery Trade Association, wherein kids from grades 4-12 learn to shoot bows in the public schools.  A lot has happened since last year, and since this is the greatest hunter recruitment tool we have, and since we now know that unless we do something to bring in new hunters, hunting will dwindle every year, I thought I'd revisit the topic.

Here is why the National Archery in the Schools Program, now running in 25 states with 16 more states starting right now, can literally save the future of hunting.  We know from personal experience that kids love to shoot bows.  The Archery Trade Association sees the value of getting kids shooting bows, so they provided $225,000 in matching grants for 2004-2005 to jump start this program in 15 states.  Mathews, Inc. also kicked in $100,000 as did the National Wild Turkey Federation.

The Archery Trade Association also funded a study in Kentucky to assess how the program was working.  The results were extremely interesting.  Ninety-three percent of students taking the course liked it, in fact 92% though it was exciting.  Now tell me the last time you heard of 92% of public school students "excited" about any class.

In addition, 54% thought that shooting a bow was easy, 53% felt better about themselves after learning to shoot a bow, 30% looked for a store to buy archery equipment, 21% actually bought archery equipment, 77% said they would join an after school archery club if there was one, AND 22% tried to find out information on bowhunting.

Aha!!!!  Let's do the math.  We already know that if 30 states have the same success with their public school archery program as Kentucky has had, there will be 3 million kids a year taking archery in the schools.  Twenty-two percent of 3 million kids (660,000 per year) will be looking for information on bowhunting.

If that link is made, and if other programs are generated to get those kids that show an interest in bowhunting into the woods and into tree stands, the old "hunter replacement ratio" just might take a giant leap upwards.  The Archery Trade Association sees the need here and is working to create those links for kids who, after learning to shoot bows in the public schools, want to go bowhunting.

This is huge.  I know, there are those out there who distrust the archery industry for various reasons, some justified, most not justified.  But the fact is that hunter numbers are on a downward spiral.  If you are one of those guys who says, "so what, that just gives me more places to hunt where I won't see anyone in the woods," then you just don't get it.  As hunter numbers drop, license monies and federal excise taxes drop.  As licenses and taxes decrease, funding to state wildlife agencies decrease.  As funding for agencies decreases, programs and staff are reduced.  As programs and staff are reduced, wildlife suffers.

Obviously, the archery industry stands to benefit when more kids shoot bows.   They also benefit when there are more bowhunters.  But as hunter numbers dwindle, as they are, based on the declining number of kids 6-15 who are coming into hunting, then the future of hunting is also very questionable.  But the National Archery in the Schools Program appears to be making huge strides, the kind that just might save the future of hunting

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