Vol. 47 #2 Winter 2019

MBA

Regional Representatives

Region 1

Region 2

Al Kelly PO Box 219, Libby, MT 59923

406-293-2900 alman@frontiernet.net

Mike Shephard 351 7th Ave E N, Columbia Falls, MT 59912 406-250-9806 michaelshepard7@gmail.com

Neil Maier 16200 Roman Creek Rd., Frenchtown, MT 59834 406-546-6013 nam56@yahoo.com

Kevin Robinson 2110 Wylie Ave, Missoula MT 59802 406-531-8243 kevin.robinson@technometalpost.com

Region 3 Liberty Brown 275 Vigilante Trl. Bozeman, MT 59718 406-581-7216 Brandingironmarketingllc.com

Barrett Haugan 560 Clovehitch Rd., Belgrade, MT 59714 406-539-0602 btreasurestate@aol.com

Region 4 Stephen LePage 2574 Divide Rd., Lewistown, MT 59457

406-535-5636 mbaregion4@yahoo.com

Roger Licht PO Box 189, Stanford MT 59479 406-566-2693 — Cell 406-366-1580 licht.roger@yahoo.com

Region 5

Jenn Schneider 5509 Sunny Cove Billings MT 59106

406-697-7768 jennk40@msn.com

Ken Schultz 302 Wyoming Ave., Billings, MT. 59101 406-598-8550 schultzy@iwks.net

Region 6 Nathan Veit PO Box 288, Malta, MT 59538 406-697-7760 nathanveit95@yahoo.com REP VACANCY

Region 7 Bob Morgan P.O. Box 1995, Colstrip, MT 59323

406-749-0706 robertredface@gmail.com REP VACANCY

AT LARGE DIRECTORS

EVEN YEARS

Seth Rogers 1425 Prickley Pear, Billings, MT 59105 – srogers@lamar.com

406-670-5435

Jerry Davis 725 Middlemas Road, Helena, MT 59602 – pipelinejerry@gmail.com 406-475-2226

Rich Smith PO Box 51428 Billings, MT 59105-1361 - muleybum@gmail.com 406-281-8846

Drew Steinberger 1901 Mountain View Drive, Great Falls MT 59405 - drew@prcountrycomforts.com 406-351-2152

Cliff Garness 5901 Western Drive, Great Falls MT 59404 - obsession_archery@yahoo.com 406-788-9009

Mandy Garness 5901 Western Drive, Great Falls MT 59404 - camoquilter@gmail.com 406-750-9953

ODD YEARS

Paul Martin 110 Sage Lane, Kalispell, MT 59901 - paulhmartin99@gmail.com 406-261-4456

Ray Gross 355 Antelope Drive, Dillon, MT 59725 – raygross0144@gmail.com 406-660-1019

Richard Lewallen 234 Audubon Way Drive Billings, MT 59106 – rpdlew@aol.com 406-690-0854

John Grimstad 2031 Poly Drive, Billings, MT 59102 – twingrim@bresnan.net 406-252-3620

EDITORIAL COMMENTS

The MBA Magazine is a quarterly publication of the MBA and is intended to inform, entertain and educate its members on happenings within the organization and to bowhunting in general.

PUBLICATION DATES AND DEADLINES

FALL ISSUE, DEADLINE, July 15

WINTER ISSUE, DEADLINE, October 15

SPRING ISSUE, DEADLINE, January 15

SUMMER ISSUE, DEADLINE, April 15

Stories, photos, or cartoons should be sent to Al or Teri Kelly at PO Box 426, Helena MT 59624 or email teray1979@yahoo.com. All materials are the opinion of the author unless otherwise stated, and are subject to being edited. All photos will be placed in the MBA Photo Ablum and can be viewed at the annual conventions. Any questions as to policies of MBA please write the President.

MEMBERSHIP INQURIES

Please send new memberships or renewal memberships to MBA Tresurer, PO Box 426, Helena MT 59624 or call 406-461-9618, register online at www.mtba.org or ask a member.

www.mtba.org

PRESIDENT

Marlon Clapham

4455 Hoover Lane • Stevensville, MT 59870 mbaregion2@gmail.com • 406-777-2408

1ST VICE PRESIDENT

Brian Koelzer 80 Jansma Lane • Manhattan, MT 59741 rocknrollbowhunter3@yahoo.com • 406-570-7997

2ND VICE PRESIDENT

Mark Schwomeyer 60 Hruska Ln • Lewistown, MT 59457 markschwo@gmail.com • 406-350-0173

TREASURER

Claudia Davis PO Box 426, Helena, MT. 59624 grmaclyde@gmail.com • 406-461-9618

SECRETARY

Beckie Doyle P.O. Box 136 • Conner, MT 59827 mybluewalker@yahoo.com • 406-531-4060

PAST PRESIDENT

Joelle Selk

6963 York Road • Helena, MT 59602 jselkmt@gmail.com • 406-422-6798

MAGAZINE CO-EDITORS

Teri and Al Kelly PO Box 219 • Libby, MT 59923 teray1979@yahoo.com • 406-293-2900

WEB DESIGNER

Liberty Brown Branding Iron Marketing Brandingironmarketingllc.com 406-581-7216

MAGAZINE DESIGN

K Design Marketing, Inc. 1613 South Ave. W. • Missoula, MT 59801 kim@kdesignmarketing.com 406-273-6193

Here we are in November already, the older I get, the faster the seasons seem to go. In region 1 the hot topic for us is the CWD issue. This issue has brought an additional 600 doe tags to a ten-mile radius of Libby which probably mean some extra hunters and shooting closer to home. We experienced what we suspected was an affected deer by our home. It was a sad thing to see. He was skinny, frail and obviously suffering. The little buck was eventually dispatched by law enforcement which presented its own set of problems due to the proximity of homes and people and was then sent in for testing. Please do your part to make sure you know how to handle any game taken in areas affected by CWD in order to help keep the spread in check.

Convention time will be here before we know it and you’ll see some information about reserving rooms, dates and so forth in this issue. The convention is always a great time that I look forward to every year. If you’re one of those talented folks who can make something cool or you have something to donate for the convention, please be sure to make contact with a board member in your region. All the funds generated by the convention go to supporting the MBA, so please think about lending your support by donating items for door prizes, silent auction and live auction and if you’ve never been to a convention then make this the year you show up. You won’t be disappointed!

Elections are also coming up and we continue to have several open spots on the board. We tend to take our generous archery seasons for granted without realizing the work that has gone on to get them and the ongoing work that has to be done to keep them intact. There are many ways you can be active and involved so please encourage your fellow bowhunters to join the MBA and lend their support and if you or someone you know is willing to become more involved by serving on the board please contact a current board member for more information.

Teri Kelly

MBA Committees

Legislative:

Jerry Davis, Chair

Ray Gross • Marlon Clapham

Richard Lewallen • Joelle Selk • Stephen LePage

Tentatives:

Ray Gross, Chair

Paul Martin • Mark Schwomeyer

Stephen La Page • Marlon Clapham

Financial: Chair

Claudia Davis • Jenn Schneider

Ray Gross • Neil Maier • Rich Lewallenier

Landowner/Sportsman:

Mark Schwomeyer, Chair

Neil Maier • Bob Morgan • Barrett Haugan

Nominations:

Chair

Al Kelly • Paul Martin • Cliff Garness

Awards:

Brian Koelzer, Chair

Al Kelly • Rich Lewallen • Marlon Clapham

Membership:

Marlon Clapham, Chair

Jenn Schneider • Ray Gross

Barrett Haugan • Ken Schultz

Joelle Selk – Membership Assistant

Convention 2020-Region 5

Rich Lewallen, Ken Schultz and Jenn Schneider Chairs

To be determined

Region 3- 2021 Fairmont

Region 1- 2022 Fairmont

Magazine:

Al & Teri Kelly, Co-Chairs

Joelle Selk • Brian Koelzer • Jerry Davis

Website:

Liberty Brown • Jenn Schneider

Beckie Doyle • Kevin Robinsone

Carp Shoot:

Joelle Selk, Chair

Roger Licht • Stephen LePage • Cliff Garness

Bow-Ed:

Al Kelly, Chair

Brian Koelzer • Bob Morgan • Mark Schwomeyer Ray Gross • Marlon Clapham

Youth Membership:

Becky Doyle • Roger Licht, Chairs

This is a new committee and will involve the youth from every region for their input. All area reps. will try to recruit youth from their region to get involved with the MBA’s decision making process. This will mostly be done through the e-mail contacts. They may want to attend the Board Meeting on occasion and we can get them ready for the future. We will try to keep their ages from 16 to 25 or so.

Reg. 1 – Vacant

Reg. 2 – Jackie Doyle

Reg. 3 – Vacant

Reg. 4 – Vacant

Reg. 5 – Vacant

Reg. 6 – Vacant

Reg. 7 – Vacant

Reg. 8 – Vacant

PRESIDENT - MARLON CLAPHAM

1ST

VICE PRESIDENT - BRIAN KOELZER

2ND

VICE PRESIDENT - MARK SCHWOMEYER (NO REPORT)

TREASURER

SECRETARY

- CLAUDIA DAVIS

- BECKIE DOYLE

President’s Message

Where did summer go these past few weeks. As I sit putting this together, it’s 15 degrees outside. The sun is shining so at least it is nice out there.

It has been a very busy August and September with the Tentative Session just around the corner. I have been in contact with the Commissioner’s at several meetings and the main discussion has a lot to do with the Shoulder Seasons for the upcoming seasons. The Shoulder hunts have been successful in many areas and a push has been on to stop the hunts in those HD’s. We are not out of the woods yet as there is still loads of work to do. The Ranchers still need help to push the elk back onto Public Lands, but with the harboring going on all round, the elk just shift back and forth. It has been brought up that the season needs to be shortened from both ends. The problem is some landowners need the early August time and some need the late portion of the hunt. The nonhunting public is questioning six months to harvest the elk and more and more of those folks are showing concern. The Commission is fully aware of their issue with the hunts and we are doing our best to keep the hunts on private land only and will continue to push for that. Also, there has been some discussion to hold several ranches hunts during the archery season and I’m working very hard to stop that from setting a precedent. There may be some hunts in special limited areas, but not without a fight. I still am trying to maintain a good working relationship with the Landowners and keep the MBA from looking like we won’t help with their issues. For the most part these hunts are gun hunts so I have to be very careful where and who I push.

The Breaks Permits are on the push to go back to the unlimited archery permit system. It looks like the push will come through the next Legislative Secession through the Outfitters. We need to keep our ears and eyes wide open for that.

It is time to be thinking about our own elections coming up at the next Convention. We will be voting for the even years Reps and Directors at Large, the President, 2nd Vice President and the secretary position. I have chosen not to run for president for a third term. It is time for some new blood and we have some young board members that are very qualified for the position. Brian Koelzer, the current 1ST Vice President is in charge of the reelections. If you wish to be a board member it is best to contact Brian. There are vacant positions all through the board.

Last but not least I want to mention that all the youth camps we were a part of were all very successful. Kids still love archery and is one of their favorite parts of the camps. Our own Bowhunter’s Elk Camp was another success and it got extended into the Archery Season into the Big Hole. Jerry, Beckie and Jackie Doyle took a half dozen of the campers to their elk camp for a week. It was a very special time for the kids and the Doyle family.

Well the sun is shining and time to go outside shoot my bow and get ready for the evening hunt.

Keep-Em Sharp and Shoot-Em Straight

Marlon Clapham President

First Vice President’sReport

Well, by the time you’re all reading this the 2019 archery season will be over and I do hope it was a great one! I’ve heard a lot of people say the elk rut action was a little lack luster this year but have seen plenty of pictures of happy hunters kneeling beside their critter. The elk have so far eluded me here as usual, but I did bring home another nice mule deer buck from my spot and stalk adventures down in Wyoming. Going to give elk one more try this last weekend of archery season then I’ll be happy to move on to whitetails and some laid back hunting.

CWD has been found in several mor e areas in the state and I urge everyone to keep up to date with the FWP’s efforts to try and gather more data about this mess. Shoulder seasons are hot topic right now and Marlon has been doing a great job working with the commission in preparation for the October 17 meeting. Hopefully there will be some changes coming.

We have several vacancies on our board of directors and it would be nice to see them filled at our upcoming convention in April. If anyone would like to step up and run for a position please get a hold of me and I can get you the necessary stuff. New faces and fresh ideas help keep this organization alive and it is a rewarding experience to know that you are helping to promote and preserve our archery opportunities. I know I say it in just about every newsletter, but we are so fortunate to have what we do here in Montana for big game hunting. Don’t take what we have for granted and don’t be shy about telling others about the MBA and all the hard work that so many folks have put in over the years to get what we have today!

Best of luck to you all out in the woods, be safe, and pick a spot.

Brian Koelzer

Sectretary’sMessage

ISubmitted by Beckie,

author unknown.

hunt because my father hunted, and he took me with him, and so we built a bond that I still cherish.

I do not need to hunt to eat, but I need to hunt to be fully who I am.

I hunt because it links me with the boy I used to be and with the young man my father was then.

I hunt because if I didn’t, I would have seen fewer eagles and ospreys, minks and beavers, foxes and bears, antelope and moose.

I hunt because it is never boring or disappointing to be out-of-doors with a purpose, even when no game is spotted.

I hunt for the satisfying exhaustion after a long day in the woods, for the new stories that every day of hunting gives us, and for the soft snoring and dream-whimpering and twitching of sleeping dogs on the backseat as we drive home through the darkness.

I hunt because it keeps my passions alive and my memories fresh and my senses alert even as my beard grows gray, and because I am afraid that if I stopped hunting, I would instantly become and old man, and because I believe that as long as I hunt I will remain young.

Becky Doyle

Claudia Davis

Treasurer’sMessage

I’m settling into my new roll as your treasurer and bookkeeper. I’ve spent a lot of time learning and updating our online membership program, Wild Apricot. There is a lot of information available through this program regarding membership trends. I’d like to share with you some facts I’ve learned while taking care of our memberships.

Currently we have 465 paid memberships. This breaks down to 83 family memberships, 219 Individual memberships, 3 Club memberships, 13 Business memberships, 142 Lifetime memberships, 4 Youth memberships, and 1 organization. In 2018 78 members let their memberships lapse. We celebrate that we had 27 new members join us in 2018. But that is a loss of 51 paid members. So far in 2019 we have had 43 lapsed members and 36 new members join MBA. Another decrease of 7 members.

A fact I found on the FWP website is that between 1998 and 2015 archery license sales went from more that 26,000 to more than 40,000. Not so new News Alert, we have a lot of archery hunters that do not belong to Montana Bowhunters Association. Of course, some of those licenses went to out-of-state hunters, but they certainly would like to see their opportunities in Montana continue, so why not support MBA.

I’d like to encourage all our members to be thinking of ways to increase our memberships. Please talk to your Region Representatives with ideas you might have. An organization that is consistently losing memberships will not survive into the future. And this wonderful organization is the reason Montana has the archery hunting availability we all enjoy. Let’s get that word out to all who participate in the sport. In the contentious political world that is in our state and country we need the voice of the people more now than ever. And numbers speak volumes when fighting for archery hunting availability in Montana. Let’s get our numbers up!

Thank you,

Claudia Davis MBA Treasurer