Promoting our sport to the next Generation

[firehog]

We are interested in ways to promote our deerhunting sport and heritage to the next generation of future hunters in our state.
We are seeking ideas and suggestions. The youth holds the keys to our future in the sport.

Minnisota, has a great summer camp they offer to the kids of their state, in which they teach the basic's of the sport. Everything from blood trailing, hunting tactics, shooting, tree stand placement and safety. It sounds like a great thing for the kids. They only can do so many kids a year, so there is a waiting list to get into it. I would love to do this in our state, and hopefully down the road we can, its something to shoot for.

[ODC]

I think that is a great idea....that might be where the corporate side can come in.

From what I've seen I would hurt to have something for the adults too...... :eek:

[firehog]

LOL, maybe so. You know there are all kinds of different camps in todays time. From basketball to you name it. I would love to put on a event like this for the kids of Arkansas. All we need is a few dedicated hunters of this state, to volunteer a few days of their time, and a place to do this. We would need to set up some lesson plans, and give our instructors, some guide lines on the instruction along with their experince in the topic. I have talked with the director of the Minnisota Deerhunters Association and he has offered any help we might need. I feel this would be a great thing to offer to our youth thats interested in the sport of deer hunting. I know as a young kid growing up, I would die to go to a camp for 3-4 days, and camp out, and learn deer hunting.

And yes your right, I think many hunting type industry and businesses would be interested in sponsoring such a camp as well as private donations.

Once we get this alliance rolling, I feel this type project would be a outstanding event to give back to the public and promote our heritage. We are a non-profit organization, and the sole purpose is to give back to the community of sportsmen and hunting.

ADHA CAMP DEERHUNTING KIDS

[Rattle-m-up™]

i think that is a great idea firehog...i would be willing to help out..just let me know...

[reflex1]

Be careful with Leeeeetle Rattle volunteering for something like that - he's looking for something! :D

[firehog]

Yes, we might have to do a little back ground check on the some of the volunteers. graemlins/thumb.gif

[CDay]

I think Rattle was wanting to be the first to attend as a young camper, not volunteering to instruct or anything like that. :D

[Damnyankee]

I would be glad to help in any way I can, might even be able to help get some corperate sponsership.

[firehog]

Ty that would be great, thanks

[born2hunt]

From my perspective, there are two primary needs that must be met in order to get a youth involved in hunting:

1) Every youth needs a mentor. The hunting camps that are suggested are certainly a good idea, perhaps to wet a youth's appetite for hunting. But is not likely to provide a youth with everything he/she needs to get started. I grew up with a strong desire to hunt. But my dad passed away while I was young and was without a mentor (still am) and despite the desire, I didn't get stared hunting until I was in my 40s.

2) A place to hunt. A youth needs ready access to a place to hunt. With most private land being leased and/or posted, the woodlot across the road is not likely to be available to a young hunter like it was when we were young. Yes, we have a lot of public land, but getting started on a WMA is intimidating - especially if one has no mentor.

What we will have to do is find a child whose parent(s) are willing to let us adopt them as our understudy so-to-speak and take them hunting - OFTEN. Otherwise, we are a dying breed.

[Tony Harris]

Good points B2H.

[firehog]

I agree B2H your absolutely right. If every hunter made a effort to reach out to a kid who has no access, but has desire, it would help. I think sometimes folks don't realize the impact a hunt could have on a young kid. I can remember every detail of my hunts that my uncle or my grandpa came and got me, and took me hunting. Those are life long memories.

[Gooch]

Looking back through our census record, you will see a few disturbing facts. The kids growing up on farms is now around 6 percent. That is a huge change from years back. As we all know, most kids on a farm do hunt and will continue. We are losing family farms at an alarming rate in the U.S.
Our divorce rate now stands at 50 percent. When I was growing up, this was almost unheard of. Like Kenn has stated on here before, there are to many kids being raised by single mothers. These single parents are more focused on providing for their kids than on the outdoors.
I think that more land owners need to open their land back up to the small game hunters. This is where it all starts. Not many of us just started out deer hunting. We started on small game and fishing. I will never tell someone wanting to take their child hunting on my property no. I will continue this until it gets abused.
Just a few of my thoughts.

[firehog]

Wanted to update the posters here on this subject. Last night in the Jonesboro Meeting with the AGFC, there was a gentleman who asked about what the AGFC was doing to keep our youth interested in the outdoor sports. This is a key thing to the ADHA and we are very much interested in ideas you guys might have for some future events, we as a organization can do to help in this area, to maybe spark interest in kids minds. Last year we had a Family Deer Day event were we got the AGFC to bring up there Genesis Bow shooting targets and Daisy BB guns, and the hunting simulator. We recorded around 100 kids who participated in these events. This was a good event but we would like to hear other ideas, that we might could do. We do have ideas about a summer camp for deer hunting for the youth, but at this point we need more time and more volunteers, but it is still on our mind for the future. Thanks for any ideas.

[Hill Farm Hunter]

I think the Archery In Schools program is a great one. It introduces kids to a sport than all can participate in and be successfull. You do not have to be a great athlete to be a good archer. Also introducing kids to archery may spark an interest in hunting or other shooting sports. I believe we, as hunters, should support this program in every way we can.

That said, I am not even sure if the local schools here offer the program. My child will start kindergarden next fall, so hopefully as I become active in the local schools I can find out and help support or start the program. From what I have read the program has really taken off in a lot of states.

[deerhunter]

I was at the AGFC meeting in Jonesboro a couple of night ago and I brought up my displeasure that kids were not allowed to apply for the youth hunt on WMAs unless they had taken and passed the hunters ed class this season. Theres a lot of kids that may not have a parent who has the time to take thier kid for the test or who may not be able to pass the test at such a young age and this is robbing our youths of a chance to get into the woods and I just cant see taking any ooportunity to take our kids hunting.

[ODC]

As the AGFC regualtion reads.....you must have a valid hunters ed card to hunt with out the direct supervision of any adult.
The WMA's reguire fro permits for you to have a Hunters ed card. If the parent doesn't have time to take the child to classes to get a card...how will they have time to take the child hunting?

Now you can get this class on CD rom and take the course at your leasuire...if a child is to young to sit thorugh the CD rom course, then I suggest you go to the actual classes. If you can't find classes call the AGFC and complain directly to them. The AGFC recieve Robinson-Pittman federal money to hold these classes...so they have no excuse as to why there aren't more classes....I should also mention that even though AGFC recieve federal funding for Hunters Ed it is still a done mostly by volunteers who get no compesation from the AGFC.

Back to the youth taking the test : the classes are taught on a 5-6 grade level this is 11-12 year olds. If you child is younger they may have a bit of trouble, but I know most instructors help out the youth as much as possible.

If the youth has a learning disabillty....not a problem...tell the instructor(s) and I can assure you they will see to it that that youth is give every opportunity to learn the hunters saftey lessons!

Having been invloved in the Hunters Ed calsses for 5 years now. It is very important that the young ones take these classes they give very good advice on ethics, saftey, and weapondry. Its very good information.

I just wish alot of the older hunters were made to take the classes....it might help out on the high incidnet rate the older hunters have on hunitng accidents.

Getting more classes going might be something the ADHA might want to help out in! Just an idea.

*Goot points Deerhunter...thanks for mentioning it at the meeting*

[turkeyhunter]

We are interested in ways to promote our deerhunting sport and heritage to the next generation of future hunters in our state.
We are seeking ideas and suggestions. The youth holds the keys to our future in the sport.

Minnisota, has a great summer camp they offer to the kids of their state, in which they teach the basic's of the sport. Everything from blood trailing, hunting tactics, shooting, tree stand placement and safety. It sounds like a great thing for the kids. They only can do so many kids a year, so there is a waiting list to get into it. I would love to do this in our state, and hopefully down the road we can, its something to shoot for.

No money holds the key to the future in this sport. If you don't think it does I'll give you a year or two and then we will talk. If you want your kid to hunt(in my part of the state) you better fill your kids pockets with some cash.

[firehog]

TH, you saying money is going to be the key for kids in our sport in the future? If so I believe I agree with you. And I don't see a fix either. You think it will come to where only the privilaged or lucky few that might inherit hunting land that may only be hunting down the road? Course we do have lots of public ground. But cost of getting there and hunting maybe a obstacle. Thanks for the input...:thumb:

Come on guys what do you think is the key of our decline in hunters and what can one do to help the youth get interested in the sport hunting we all have enjoyed over the years.

Will it be a elite sport down the road, and if so, can that be helped somewhat, Should we lay all those problems on AGFC or maybe take some of the responsiblity upon ourselves, maybe....Just seeking interested persons on the matter.

[ODC]

Lee here what I think some of the decline maybe.

The constant, plugging by so many hunters that you must take a buck and you must take a huge buck to be a "great hunter". It seems to me that hunting is not the personal statisfaction of just being out in nature, but has truley come in to a "sport". When you add in the word "sport" it then becomes a competion, and for some competion can lead to many down falls. Failure to some is unaceptable...thus it leads them to poaching in the need to kill the biggest and the best. or it leads to I can't meassure up therefore I quit.

I think we need to strees the fun watching wildlife and the peacefulness of nature and then include in the fun and excitement of the actual kill...and the tracking of the kill. We also must strees that a legal kill of any type is very very good. Weather its a doe, a spike(for the youth) or a buck(with a basket rack) If we encourage all types of legal kills and not just those that have antlers I think this will go a long way to helping keep interest in hunting.

I am basing this on listening to many hunters over tha past 7-8 years. These are hunters who are low income, middle income, and high income folks.

I am intrested in what others think might be the problem for lower hunter numbers

[Hill Farm Hunter]

I think the biggest reasons for the decline in hunting by the younger generations are:
1. More and more single parents, moms raising kids alone.
2. Not nearly as many kids growing up on farms or in rural areas.
3. Less access to privite ground, you used to be able to hunt small game
nearly anywhere.
4. Other acitivies take up so much time. Not just video games either. Kids
are really busy now with sports and other school activities.

I grew up shooting squirrels, rabbits, quail, doves, coyotes, etc. walking from the house. Anytime I wanted to go I just got my gun and went. Heck I used to shoot squirrels in the morning before I went to school. And we owned a wopping big acre that the house set on. However, there just were not a lot of houses around and the neighboring landowners just did not mind folks hunting or fishing on their property. Dad was a hunter, but our interests were never really the same. He liked to hunt coons and squirrels with his dogs. I preferred spot and stalk and the quiet of not having dogs. We never hunted together a lot, but he always supported my habit. I always had a shotgun and a .22 and plenty of shells. I was lucky that the Grandparents had 400+ acres in Randolph county as well. This is were I got the deerhunting habit. Mostly self taught, with some help from some Uncles, Dad just did not like to deerhunt much. If I had grown up in town, did not have Grandparents with a farm, etc. I may have never gotten this hunting addiction that I have. Then again, when Grandma passes I am afraid a lot of the appeal will be lost for me. It is just not going to be the same up on the farm without her. Hopefully by then my girl will be old enough that my passion will be getting her started in the shooting sports.

[CP]

Prolly, what I think won't go very far...but anyway...

Youth deer hunters at the present time have a bird nest compared to almost any time in the past. There are (in the south part of the state) more deer to be shot and more of the total deer population is shootable by a youngster than ever before.

Some that I take hunting are...how should I put it....lazy..:wink:
Getting up early is hard work. You can sleep in and still get some TV time or game time.

To some kids it is fun to hunt, to some it is not.. We just must do as best we can and some of it may stick.

Am I just old or what...:rolleyes:

[WarblerWatcher]

Everyone has made good points in their posts so there's no way I can avoid repeating some of them.

One key to recruiting youth is to start them out on small game so they can have some fun and bring home some meat just about every hunt instead of constantly putting them on a deer stand where they very seldom get to fire their gun or take game as compared to small game hunting.

The ADHA could implement a program where they encourage and even provide incentives for members to "adopt" a youth and help them get their HE card, furnish them a gun if necessary, and teach them how to hunt and handle a firearm while having fun and hunting small game.

It can't be stressed enough in my opinion that one of the main keys to youth recruitment is to make hunting fun... not competitive.

Somebody or some organization in Arkansas had better do something to make recruitment their main focus because nationwide for every 100 hunters who leave the sport we're only recruiting 69 to take their place and I don't think Arkansas is even achieving the national average. Hunter numbers have shrunk 23% in just the last 25 years.

There's a program called "Families Afield", sponsored by the NWTF and a couple of other organizations, that's begun a nationwide attempt to make it easier to recruit more of our youth by lobbying states to make their youth regulations less restrictive. And although Arkansas' youth regulations are a lot less restrictive than a lot of other states there's always room for improvement so Families Afield is a program the ADHA might consider looking into.

If y'all wanna read some cold hard facts and figures on hunter recruitment nationwide and state by state then click on this link and read the short report therein. Scary stuff:
http://www.nwtf.org/images/Families_Afield.pdf

[Bodcau boy]

I think that if you have been successful in getting and KEEPING kids interested in hunting that you should post those ideas and experiences here. In the case of people like me who have attempted to get young folks into hunting and not been able to keep them very interested, I might be better at telling you what not to do.
#1, Don't make it too effortless for them. Very few people appreciate things that come too easy for them and hunting is no exception.
#2, Don't start them out on deer. Take them squirrel or rabbit hunting before they go deer hunting with you and try to take them to a place where there are other kids for them to interact with instead of with a bunch of OFs.
#3, Don't mention the word trophy in conjunction with big horns. When you do take them deer hunting, keep your mouth shut about expectations and aspirations of a trophy. Let that take care of itself without all the big horns bullcrap we have inundated them with in the last 10 years because to put it mildly, it ain't working.
#4, Don't waste your time on a kid that is totally uninterested. See if you can get the "not at all interested in hunting youngster" interested in plinking with a 22 or archery. I have not found a kid yet that did not like to shoot a 22 if you made the target big enough for them to hit it every now and then. If they enjoy shooting, there is hope.

These are all mistakes I have made but maybe the biggest mistake I have made it to teach kids to hunt over corn. These younguns that I take hunting would about as soon go hunting without corn as I would have liked to go without any bullets when I was a kid and that is 100% my fault. I am sure that I might put out a little corn to help get the kids a shot in the future but it will be done in a way that they will not know that there was any bait involved. (At least until I get 'em hooked good.:wink: )

[firehog]

Excellent thoughts, man we appreciate any and all ideas. I will be honest, it never occured to me about the small game idea, but I got to thinking about it, and that is how I got my start. Squirrel and rabbit hunting.

Let me kick something to you, and see what ya'll think. I live in Jonesboro, and our city, made a new ordinance to say, archery is a weapon, and there for can not be shot in the city limits. I have two issues with this new classifaction.

1. Archery is a sport that is nationally known, aside from hunting. It is in the olympics and some schools are starting to teach it, as a sport and have competition for the students. Cities banning archery shooting is a big determent for this young kids to be able to practice their sport. I see no reason, why cities can't allow archery shooting within city limits while using some form of guidelines to be able to shoot. For example, set some guide to have a back drop from your targets. Say you can't shoot a certain distance from houses. Etc. I just feel instead of cities just banning the shooting of bows, they could set some limits on safety to allow one to be able to shoot. Also maybe require a safety class, for which could be taught in the archery classes, specific to that city's guidelines.

The other issue is cities banning archery hunting, in cities. I can't speak for other cities, but the city I live in, has annexed in alot of rural area. And I am talking many miles of huntable land. Before this annexation, one could hunt there and the next day, it was illegal. I understand the gun hunting in city limits, but archery hunting, is not any where close to guns. My city is starting to see a big increase in car deer accidents. Insurance companies are really seeing the increase. Cities seem to not understand if you have all this land that has a population of deer and you stop hunting to control numbers, those number rise pretty fast in a couple of years. I guess they had rather run the risk of someone getting seriously injured from a deer hitting a car than rather a bow hunter having a accident. And we know which is more dangerous and consistant and that being deer hitting cars.

I would like to try to get my city to allow bowhunting and archery shooting. Archery is not a weapon to me at all. Its shooting limits are far less. I don't see why a city, could not set some guidelines for archery hunting to help control some of this population problem. Plus it might allow a kid to be able to hunt close to town if he had access to land within the city.

Recommendation for proposing hunting in city limits and these are just off the top of my head. But say you have land, permission or own, of 15 acres or more, one could hunt.

One couldn't shoot, within a certain distance of houses.

One couldn't hunt in housing additions that may have open land for the residents to share.

One must hunt from a elevated position of 12'.

One must follow the guidelines on archery season.

One must register with the city to prove permission of the land to be hunted.

One must take a archery safety course.

These are just a few ideas, that cities could adopt to allow hunting in the limits. I see banning archery hunting, in cities, where kids are concentrated the most as a big determent. We have land that could be hunted here. I know many young kids right now, that sneak hunt in these areas. I for one don't want a kid to feel he is doing something wrong when you can see no plausible reason to not be able to hunt. City councils are made up of some people I am sure don't realize the impact they create when banning these types of sports. They should put in a little effort to allow hunting instead of taking the easy way out, and just ban across the board.

I feel and this is just a guess, but I feel we could really have a good chance at getting archery hunting and archery shooting allowed back in the city here. But it would take more than one person complaining. I would like to set the precident here for other hunters to see they might could change things in their town. If nothing at all, maybe get a controlled permit hunt with archery.

My biggest concern is allowing kids to practice their archery shooting in the city limits, and allow some population control of the deer.

What do you think? Something like this is small, but it could surely help. Actually land access is easier in the city limits than it is outside. Owners buy land strictly for investment, and let it sit for years waiting to resale. Many hunters don't want to hunt close to the city, so they don't pursue land here to hunt. I guess if there like me, they feel they want to get away to hunt. But kids can't get away sometimes, and a evening hunt close to there home would be all it takes to hook a kid for a lifetime.

[Bodcau boy]

That is why I don't live in a town. Ordinances don't suit me unless I make them myself. And the last ordinance I passed was that any dog that peed on my collards got a BB in the sack first and if continuing education was required it would be 7 1/2s liberally applied to the end seen upon speedy departure from my garden. And I hope that every moron who helped get the no archery bologna passed has about a dozen deer take up residence in their neighborhood and has their flowers annihilated and loses their auto insurance from having their fenders, hoods, and bumpers repaired. And I hope some other stuff for them too but no need to waste my energy typing it here because FB would just zap me.

[ODC]

Lee....you have an opportunity to get a range in Jonesboro for every one to use. We have all help pay for the Nature Center...so why not get an archery range at the Nature Center? I know that one of the Ladies that is in charge has been intrested in doing this but I don't think she's gotten very far. (I'm sure I have her card somewhere: I'll get you her information)

The Nature Center can provide a safe zone for archery...schools might even find it useful to teach archery.

Everyone has provided some great thoughts and ideas!:thumb:

[firehog]

Bod :clap: Couldn't agree more...

[firehog]

Your right ODC,,,,hadn't thought about that place..Jodi the head person out there I bet would be the one your talking about, I bet..

But here is a question I have, I wonder if even they (city) would allowed it there. Course you know they (city) have their own gun range for the cops in the park there. They used to have a archery range, but I think it got done away with.

People shoot all over the city, they even shoot in some archery shops. Even seen a cop or two shoot.

One AGFC employee is trying to get one of our schools here set up in the genesis bow shooting deal for kids alst I talked with him, which is great. But with this being a weapon now, who knows if it gets approved.

Maybe someone needs to bring up golf clubs as being weapons as well:biggrin: . I just get tired of folks tying anything with hunting as dangerous, and using that excuse.

[Hill Farm Hunter]

I bet a lot more folks have been hit and injured and cars damaged by golf balls than arrows. Start a ban Golf crusade.:biggrin:

[ODC]

One of our company trucks was hit by a golf ball. It came off the course in Brookland. Scared the crap out of the driver. He almost ran off the road.


Now I can provide statisics that baseball, football and basket ball are all have more injury and deaths than archery does. But archery is considered a weapon. So is a pencil if used in the proper fashion:head: :soapbox:

Lee, no her name isn't Jodi (I don't think) When I get to work tommorrow I'll get her card and let you know!

[Bodcau boy]

So is a pencil if used in the proper fashion:
Yes ODC a pencil is indeed a weapon. I still carry the led and it is quite visible in my left knee from a vicious stabbing I took in 8th grade. To this day I can't imagine why that girl felt such drastic measures were appropriate to insure that my knee would not accidently come in contact with any part of her posterior, which was so invitingly positioned in the desk in front of me, ever again. :biggrin:

[ODC]

BB.....LOL....I bet many a young amn has pencil lead in his body left from middle school:wink:

[firehog]

Hill I hate to admit it but I have hit a car once back the military days, with a golf ball. Seen a guy walk out of the old Craighills golf shop and get smack from a 350 yard drive and knocked the guy smooth out. I didn't do it, and the ball went over the golf cart storage so the hitter didn't know if it was going to hit anything. Bad deal.

But my whole point is, folks can come up with anything to ban anything, and I happen to know a few of these folks that voted for the archery ban. There was no one there at the time of the vote speaking against this idea, and I guess hunters who were effected just thought they couldn't do anything about it. Who knows until you try, is the way I look at it.

I would like to get maybe some of the archery groups around the area and see about making a presentation, and see what happens. Maybe get a petition. I have seen 25 folks attend a meeting against something and get results here. The squeaky wheel idea, you know.

[Hill Farm Hunter]

What about the 3D course there. Is it in the city limits, or just out?

[firehog]

No its out of the city limits.

[firehog]

Here is a neat article I guess you would call it pro-hunting and kinda is what I have been stating on city deer...From USAToday


http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2005-12-19-deer-hunting-edit_x.htm

[WarblerWatcher]

.
Although admittedly I don't read the paper I'm surprised to see a pro hunting article in USA Today after occasionally reading some of their editorials. Good article.


BB.....LOL....I bet many a young amn has pencil lead in his body left from middle school:wink:Right arm... half way between my elbow and wrist. 6th grade. Defensive move with my arm in a lightning fast upwards motion to keep my favorite female classmate of that week from striking me across the face... for what I can no longer remember! :smack:

[AvidGraphix]

I don't know if you have checked into this program, but it looks very promising. I "borrowed" the post from one of the bowfishing websites I frequent.

The Bowfishers of Arkansas club has complained that there are no Arkansas venues (unless you count Texarkana, TX), but I'm sure Mr. Price would be open to doing one in Arkansas if there are enough volunteers to help out. Bowfishing is just one aspect of the program, as it is designed to introduce families to all aspects of outdoor sports.

Just thought I would throw this in the discussion. :wink:


To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to invite the North American Bowfishing Society to take part in the Trailblazer Adventure Program. Trailblazer is designed to introduce youth and family to outdoor sports. Trailblazer will be holding close to 70 event in 2006 in 30 plus state.

What would be asked is to have the NABS to provided people to put on bowfishing demos and programs at Trailblazer events. Programs could show case boats, bows, fish and other equipment. Also demostrations of the eqiupment and use of equipment of exibotor feels safe with it. Days run from about 8-4. Lunch is provided to all volunteers and workers.

Find below the list of events for 2006. You also may visit our web site at www.trailblazeradventure.org (http://www.trailblazeradventure.org/).

Council City State date
Central Florida Council BSA Orlando FL 2/25/2006
Circle Ten Council BSA Dallas TX 3/11/2006
Tukabatchee Area Council BSA Montgomery AL 4/1/2006
Lincoln Heritage Council BSA Louisville KY 4/1/2006
Choctaw Area Council Meridian MS 4/1/2006
Gulf Ridge Council Tampa FL 4/8/2006
San Gabriel Valley Council Pasadena CA 4/8/2006
Capital Area Council Austin TX 4/8/2006
North Star Council BSA St Paul MN 4/15/2006
CT Rivers Council BSA E Hartford CT 4/22/2006
Del-Mar-Va Council BSA Wilmington DE 4/22/2006
North Florida Council BSA Jacksonville FL 4/22/2006
Central Minnesota Council Sartell MN 4/22/2006
Swanee River Area Council Tallahassee FL 4/29/2006
Greater Cleveland Council BSA Cleveland OH 4/29/2006
Bucks County Council BSA Doylestown PA 4/29/2006
Mountaineer Area Council Fairmont WV 4/29/2006
Sooner Council Chicksha OK 4/29/2006
Greenwich Council Greenwich CT 5/6/2006
Keystone Council BSA Mechanicsburg PA 5/6/2006
Blue Ridge Council Greenville SC 5/6/2006
Texas Trails Council BSA Abilene TX 5/6/2006
Great Salt Lake Council BSA Salt Lake City UT 5/6/2006
National Captial Area Council BSA Bethesda MD 5/13/2006
Greater Pittsburgh Council BSA Pittsburgh PA 5/13/2006
Blue Ridge Mountine Council Roanoke VA 5/13/2006
Ohio River Valley Council Wheeling WV 5/13/2006
Quivira Council Wichita KS 5/13/2006
Southwest MI Council BSA Kalamazoo MI 5/20/2006
Mid-America Council Omaha NE 5/20/2006
Dan Beard Council BSA Cincinnati OH 5/20/2006
Western AK Council BSA Anchorage AK 5/20/2006
Denver Area Council BSA Denver CO 5/20/2006
Theodore Roosevelt Council BSA Long Island NY 6/10/2006
MSU BSA/OA event Lansing MI 8/2/2006
Northern Lights Council Fargo ND 8/19/2006
Fort Benning Columbus GA 8/26/2006
South Fl Council BSA Miami FL 9/9/2006
Mecklenburg County Council Charlotte NC 9/16/2006
Simon Kenton Council Columbus OH 9/16/2006
National Hunting and Fishing Day Kansas City MO 9/23/2006
Orange County Council Santa Ana CA 9/23/2006
Golden Spread Council Amarillo TX 9/23/2006
Glacier Edge Council Janesville WI 9/23/2006
Twin Rivers Council Albany NY 9/30/2006
Milwauke County Council Milwaukee WI 9/30/2006
Chicago Area Council Chicago IL 10/7/2006
Old Hickory Council Winston-Salem NC 10/7/2006
Inland North West Council Spokane WA 10/7/2006
Atlanta Area Council BSA Atlanta GA 10/7/2006
Pine Tree Council Portland ME 10/7/2006
Caddo Area Council Texarkana TX 10/7/2006
Clinton Valley Council Pontiac MI 10/14/2006
Black Swamp Area Council Findlay OH 10/14/2006
Hawk Mountain Council Reading PA 10/14/2006
Tri-State Area Council Huntington WV 10/14/2006
Greater Yosemite Council Modesto CA 10/14/2006
Gateway Area Council BSA La Crosse WI 10/14/2006
Scenic Trails Trailer Council Traverse City MI 10/21/2006
Conquistador Council Rosewell NM 10/21/2006
Great Western Reserve Council Warren OH 10/21/2006
Chicksaw Council Memphis TN 10/21/2006
Southern NJ Council Millville NJ 10/28/2006
Hiawatha Seaway Council Syracuse NY 10/28/2006

I look forward to your response on this. Please feel free to contact me Frank Price with any questions at (614) 888-4868 x 202 and fprice@ussportsmen.org (fprice@ussportsmen.org).

[firehog]

Avid I have some friends who do this, not on this scale but love to bowfish the rivers when the sloughs drop water back into the river, and I haven't tried it, but always wanted to. I wonder if a bowfish deal could be set up somewhere in Ark. Sounds like it would be a great thing to do off season in the summer.

[AvidGraphix]

Bowfishing is a blast. Probably the most fun and addictive thing I've ever done. :biggrin: Some guys bowfish year round, but I personally stop for hunting season and the holidays, and then I'm at it again. Unfortunately Jan. and Feb. are usually spent making repairs to the boat and other equipment that broke during the previous season. :smack:

If you guys want to do a bowfishing seminar or something, let me know and I'll see if I can get some guys together to put something together. Unfortunately, the warm months are tournament months, so it's hard to find any bowfishers with a weekend off.


Be sure and check out the trailblazers site, though. Their program covers much more than bowfishing. :thumb: