TREASURER’S MESSAGE

Sectretary’s Message

Two days ago, I received my rejection letter from FWP to sit on the Elk Management Plan Initial Guidance Citizens Group (EMPIGCG) that is a mouthful. Though I was somewhat disappointed having not been selected I saw today that the group includes a number of individuals, including one MBA Board member, who will be looking out for Montana Sportsmen and women, and specially bowhunters. Mark may have already listed the members in his column but to ensure it is posted I will include their names here.

They are: Ali Morgan – Choteau Casey Hackathorn – Missoula Dan Vermillion – Livingston Druska Kinkie – Pray Ed Fryer – Melrose Everett Headley – Stevensville Joel LaLiberty – Belgrade Justin Schaaf – Fort Peck

Karie Decker – Missoula

Kein Koss – Malta

Marcus Strange – Helena Mark Schwomeyer – Lewistown Patrick Roth – Rexford

Ren Gardiner – Miles City

So if you know any of these people contact them and let them know you thoughts concerning the direction of the new Elk Management Plan. These individuals were selected to represent their demographic. I am pretty sure that Mark Schwomeyer, Marcus Strange, and Dan Vermillion will have sportsmen’s and women’s issues and concerns in mind. I am sure Mark will keep us informed of the EMPIGCG’s activities and discussions.

Covid 19 has affected us all. MBA, in particular, was unable to hold the MBA 2020 Convention this year but it appears that our membership still supported MBA with purchases of raffle tickets and auction items. We awarded the winners of raffle tickets and auction items at this year’s Carp Safari.

I, following my wife’s advice this year, only purchased one ticket for each bucket; she says that statistically one’s odds are not improved by more raffle tickets. Apparently she was right as I won a Yellowstone woman’s bow for my wife.

I am also including a picture of my grandson, Hudson Tripp, at this year’s Carp Safari. Thanks to Roger Licht, who outfitted him for the day with a fishing bow, he had a great time. It truly warmed my sole. Thanks again Roger. And thanks also to Al and Terry Kelly who outfitted my son-in-law, Brandon Tripp, with a fishing bow which allowed him to shot his first carp. It was a lot of fun.

I drew the 410 archery permit this year so I am looking forward to hunting with my “older than me” Army buddy, Steve Schindler this fall.

So I guess even though we are in the middle of a very nasty pandemic life has been good to me. As Bob Morgan would say enjoy your God’s blessings. Jerry Davis

Blast from the Past

With the new old copies, I received from Bob McKay the years are mixed up a bit from my other issues. We will start this article in 1977, it will be a short blast as I have only one issue.

Jerry Karsky was our current president, and the news was that the MBA was invited to join the PBS Coalition Program. The sole purpose of this coalition was to bring all Bowhunters together and by doing so provide a strong and powerful voice to combat the anti-hunting organizations. This proposal was sent out to the membership for approval. Sadly, with no other issues for 1977 we have to jump into the 1978 issues where I found a clip that we did approve the vote and at last count there were over 7000 representative memberships involved in the national coalition program. We were part of 16 major associations or organizations who signed on.

Lee Poole was elected as the MBA’s newest president. This year started with a land mark piece of legislation, after three years of hard work HB 247 was passed and signed into law by Gov. Tom Judge. This gave the Montana Fish and Game Commission the power to establish seasons for the bowhunting of moose sheep and goats by special permit. Spearheading the passage of HB 247 was Jim Wantulok of Bozeman.

Also, in the Commission meeting Bow Seasons were finalized in HD 260, 290. Area 311 and 284 will open for elk, bear archery only in that HD. Other HDs with new Archery only are 404,421, 444,450. Area 411 in the Snowy Mountains will remain archery only Sept. 8th thru Oct. 14th. The Breaks will require a special FREE permit for Bowhunters.

We lost one of our most enthusiastic supporters of Bowhunting, Richard J. Conklin 1930-1978. When the MBA was Finally formed Richard wrote our Constitution and By-Laws, as well as our Articles of Incorporation. In honor of Richard the officers of the MBA decided to establish what shall be known as the Richard J. Conklin Award which will be given from time to time to a member which has given outstanding service to the MBA.

Gene Wensel was given a Special Recognition Award to thank him for the dedication he gave to the MBA during his four years as Sec.- Treas. Actually, in fact Gene was the MBA! He did the whole job from collecting of dues and mailing out membership cards to writing the Newsletters, getting them printed, putting them in envelopes and mailing them out to each member. Gene’s wit as a writer made his Newsletters a looked forward to item amongst our members. Gene moved to Montana in 1971 and in 1972 he contacted Bob Savage about the possibility of getting a Bowhunters Association going in Montana. We the MBA formed in 1973 after much work by Gene, Bob, Jerry Karsky, Art Latta, Ed Mills and Pat Wolf.

The Second Annal MBA Convention was tentatively set for April 1st in Kalispell, with guest speaker Fred Asbell. At the previous year’s banquet 200 people attended and the MBA lost $600.00. This was not bad at all considering it was the first Convention and a great deal was learned from this experience.

Next issue we will move into a new decade, 1980. Marlon