MBA NEW OFFICER BIOS

1ST VICE PRESIDENT — BRIAN KOELZER

Hello everyone, my name is Brian Koelzer. I’m running for a second term as your 1st VP. My family and I live outside the small community of Manhattan in the southwest corner of the state. As a self-employed masonry contractor, my schedule is flexible enough for me to get many days to pursue my bowhunting passion every year. I’m equally lucky that my wife enjoys bowhunting as well, so it’s not a point of contention but a family event!

My first bow was made for me when I was born, and I’ve been bow shooting actively since the age of 6. Since my first big game archery hunt in 1992, I’ve exclusively hunted with a bow and arrow. My bowhunting adventures have taken me from the Alaskan tundra to the rolling hills of Ohio and many points in between. I’ve currently been on the MBA board for ten years now and can say, without a doubt, it has been an honor to help promote and preserve bowhunting and archery in our great state. Besides the MBA, I’m also a Pope & Young Regular member, PBS Qualified regular member, Comptons, Bowhunters Of Wyoming, Traditional Bowhunters of MT, and NRA.

“If you are not working to protect hunting, then you are working to destroy it” -Fred Bear.

Thank you for considering me for a second term. Pick a spot and keep’em sharp!!

REGION 1 — AL KELLY

Unfortunately, we’ve had to cancel another convention but the business still goes on. It’s election time once again and I would like to serve another term as a Region 1 representative. For those of you whom I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting yet, I love the sport of bowhunting and just generally enjoy any activity that will get me outdoors with family, friends, and my dogs. I’ve been bowhunting for 41 years and work hard to give back to the sport because I love it and want to share that love with others and ensure that it will be here for future generations. I started teaching bowhunter education in North Idaho when the program was first introduced in Idaho and then began teaching in Montana a few years after moving here in 1996. I enjoy hunting just about everything there is to hunt, Elk is my first love, whitetail, mule deer, carp, and turkeys. I also like to get out and fish and hunt upland game birds with my best buddy Bolt, my Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon.

If you wish to support me in my bid for another term, I would gladly continue to serve. There remains a lot of work to do and I will do what I can.

REGION 3 — LIBERTY BROWN

My name is Liberty Brown, and I’m seeking re-election as a Region 3 representative.

I moved to Bozeman, MT during the summer of 1998, after spending six years as a submariner in the United States Navy. In 2003, I graduated from Montana State with a B.S. in Business Marketing. Since then, I held a few different marketing and sales management positions until 2013, when I decided to start my own company.

My wife, Andi, and I have three children, and we are proud to be raising them in Montana. We’ve been family members of the MBA for six years, and I’ve been serving as an MBA Region 3 representative for the last two. I’m also responsible for maintaining the MBA website and social media marketing.

Since my involvement with the MBA, my passion for bow hunting has continued to grow. As a Region 3 representative, I hope to continue to be an advocate for the MBA by striving to live by the mission statement of the MBA and to be a voice for other bowhunters in Region 3 and for the state of Montana.

REGION 3 — PAUL KEMPER

I was born and raised in northwest Pennsylvania and graduated from Penn State in 2016 with a degree in broadcast journalism and Wildlife & Fisheries Science. I live in Bozeman and work for Randy Newberg and the Fresh Tracks TV crew. Hunting elk and whitetails with a stick bow are a few of my favorite pursuits. I also serve on the board of Montana Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and the Traditional Bowhunters of Montana. I am the co-host of The Bowhunting Montana Podcast.

REGION 5 — BEN BULLER

My name is Ben Buller. I would like to help the Montana Bow Hunters Association and archery clubs in Montana and support them. I have been shooting archery since I was 6 years old. I started out shooting a traditional bow and still do, but now I shoot compound as well. My dad has shown me the true meaning of archery hunting and the respect for it. I have been shooting archery for 30 years and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. I have gotten my wife actively involved and just started both my kids in archery. I hunt every year with my bow and I am active in the local archery club at the Blue Creek Sports Complex. I would like to be a representative of the Region 5 MBA. I was asked by Ken Schultz to consider the position along with him. Please consider me for the position

REGION 5 — KEN SHULTZ

Greetings Team MBA,

My name is Ken Schultz, and I have been a Montana resident for the past 28 years. I live in Billings, Montana with my lovely wife and have been the Region 5 representative for the past four years. I have been an avid archery hunter for the past 29 years. I have been blessed with the opportunity to harvest several big game animals over the past 20+ years with my bow. I truly have a passion for bow hunting and have encouraged many friends over the years to take up the sport. I have been a member of the MBA for 12+ years.

I was born and raised in Central North Dakota. I relocated to Wyoming in 1983 for my job and lived there for about ten years until moving to Montana. I was the Director of Operations for Hardee’s restaurants until my retirement. After 33 years, I felt it was time to do something different. I have been working in the agriculture industry over the past five years and have really enjoyed working with growers and ranchers in the tri-state area.

My wife and I recently had the honor of adding a new son-in-law into the family. We have five beautiful daughters and five wonderful sons-in-law. Along with that, we have 16 beautiful grandchildren from the ages of 19 years to 4 months old. We are truly blessed!!!

When I was approached concerning this adventure, I thought about the opportunity to impact the bowhunting industry and to meet many fellow archers who share the same passion. I feel I can have a positive impact and share some knowledge gained over the past 20+ years. I would be honored to be a part of an organization that I have respected for some time.

My name is Tristan Manuel. I am a 25-year-old bowhunter from Havre, MT. I appreciate the opportunity and your consideration to be a region 6 representative along with Nick Siebrasse.

A little about myself, I was born and raised in Havre, MT. Although I have lived in Bozeman and Billings for a few years in college, I have spent the majority of my life on the Hi Line. I grew up working with my dad and grandad on our family ranch south of Havre, and I’m currently employed by the Havre Fire Department. Growing up out of town I have always been immersed in the outdoors in many respects, the primary being hunting, and bow hunting more specifically. I starting shooting a recurve bow about 15 years ago and have hunted with traditional equipment for the last 5 years. I was fortunate to have several mentors that have guided me along the way. In addition to the pursuit of game with archery equipment, I also have the privilege to be a part of the bowhunter education program in Havre. I am very thankful for organizations like the MBA who have done so much to protect our way of life for both me and my family. Again I am honored to have the opportunity to get more involved in the MBA.

REGION 6 — TRISTAN MANUEL

REGION 7 — RICK MILLER

Looks like I was given a position on the board in mid-cycle of the normal election sequence, so was asked to write a quick bio to get the position back on track.

My involvement in the MBA this past year was interesting and enjoyable, with a gained respect for the very committed and active board members. These folks not only talk-the-talk, but they also make it happen wherever the organization’s presence is needed. Inspiring would be a good word to describe the current board atmosphere.

For those that do not know me: • Montana resident for 63 years • Montana bowhunter since age 14 (or was it 12?) • Colstrip Sportsmen Club board member for over 20 years • Two-term appointee to the Private Lands Public Wildlife Council • Member of the Eastern Montana Elk Archery Committee • Positions: • Crow Tribe ruling (Herrera vs Wyoming) giving them unrestricted hunting access to areas that include the Ashland Custer National Forest. This one should be a huge concern to Montana’s bowhunters as it allows a specific culture of people unrestricted hunting access to our Federally owned lands. Wyoming is challenging the ruling, but Montana is not? I believe a statewide sportsmen alliance could help Wyoming challenge the ruling. The MBA needs to be a leading presence in that movement. • Elk management. Restoring statewide population balances should be the main goal of the newly formed “elk management plan review committee.” See my Region 7 article for more on this subject. • Electronics during the archery season. With the explosion of trail camera use during the season, I have a concern about how they are negatively changing the experience. Do we really need to be electronically monitoring every aspect of our chosen quarry? Are we intentionally now claiming specific areas (waterholes, etc) with these devices? Many of us are now starting to feel that way. Bring the latest networking advances into the discussion and the situation even seems more concerning??

I am looking forward to working with each of you in 2021.

Thank you for keeping the Montana bowhunting tradition alive and the challenge inspiring!

Rick Miller – Colstrip (406) 749-0292

REGION 7 — BOB MORGAN

Hi, I’m Bob Morgan, 71 years young and still playing with sticks and strings.

I’m signing up again for Region 7 representative. It’s my pleasure to promote bow hunting in Montana.

Bowhunting is not for everyone but, it gets in your blood, that’s for sure.

I just built a couple of small self bows for my twin grandsons. I think it’s in their blood, also they are really excited. All they want to do is shoot, shoot, shoot. That’s what Fletcher keeps saying, “I want to shoot”. Archer says “thank you, grandpa, for the bow”.

Isaac says to Esau, his oldest son (Genesis 27 :3) I pray thee, take that quiver and bow and go out to the field take me some venison.

That’s what I’m about; hope to see you out there. God bless everybody

DAL — RAYMOND GROSS

• I started archery hunting when I was 15. I have been archery hunting for 55 years. I have lived and archery hunted in Southwest Montana for 39 years. • I am a Licensed Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor. I worked for the Forest Service for 31

Years. I have a Civil Engineering and Land Survey Business. • I have always been actively engaged in hunting and fishing issues. I have served on FWP Citizens

Advisory Committees: Beaverhead River Rules Committee; Working Group for Archery Elk Limited

Permits in the Missouri River breaks and other 23 HDS and a member of FWP Region 3 Citizens

Advisory Committee. I have been actively engaged in big game regulations and season setting, the

Beaverhead and Big Hole River Rules, elk management, travel management, and stream access. • I am or was a board member of Montana Bow Hunters Association, Beaverhead Hunters and Anglers, and Trout Unlimited. I am a member of the leadership team of Montana Sportsman Alliance. I am a member of Montana Bow Hunters Association, PLWA, Montana Wildlife Federation, Back County

Hunters and Anglers, Montana Wild Sheep Federation, Pheasants Forever, Trout Unlimited, Friends of the Beaverhead, Montana Stream Access Coalition, and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. • I have been a member of Beaverhead Search and Rescue for 29 years. • I joined the MBA in 1984. • I have two sons, two daughters, a son-in-law, and several grand children that I have introduced to hunting and fishing. • I live in Dillon, Beaverhead County. Beaverhead and Madison Counties have the largest elk populations in the state and the most hunting pressure. I bring this local experience to the MBA Board. • I know many bowhunters in the Dillon area and other areas in the state. I make it a point to discuss bow hunting with and pass out MBA Newsletters to fellow bowhunters. • I know the issues confronting Montana Bow Hunters. I know the history of these issues. And I have the experience and ambition to represent Montana bow hunters.

DAL —RICHARD LEWALLEN

I am a Billings, Montana native arriving on 2/27/1953. I was introduced to archery at an early age by my father who was a member of BlackOtter bowman and was the 1956 Montana Wyoming Target Champion. I started archery hunting at age 14 with my father and his friends. I harvested my first elk with archery equipment in 1971. I have been fortunate to spend many days pursuing elk and deer archery hunting in Western Montana. Highlights include time spent archery hunting with my son and close encounters with a Wolverine and wolves while hunting elk. I was fortunate enough to draw a moose tag in the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming and harvest a nice bull. I will work hard to support and preserve archery hunting in our great state.

DAL —MIKE SHEPARD

Please consider me for the Director at Large position. This is what I was elected for in the first place, and prefer that position. I’ve been bowhunting since 1961, introduced to it by my father. I have no real idea how many animals I have taken, but somewhere around 54 or 55 whitetail and mule deer bucks, plus a few does, bull elk, five bears, etc. I’ve taken most with a recurve or longbow, and my hand-made arrows. I am a life member of the MBA, a longtime PBS member, and a life member of the Traditional Bowhunters of Montana. Personally, I could care less about what bow you choose, as long as you hunt ETHICALLY. I bring a lifelong love of the sport and want it to continue long past when I go on my final hunt. At 72 you never know when the Red Gods may call me home. Please consider me for Director at Large