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10:31 am
Here are a few of my notes from the August Board Meeting. A more comprehensive list will be posted in the meeting minutes.
– There will be an IBEP course on 9/7 at Oak Mountain State Park(cabin area) from 8:00 – 12:00 with lunch being provided from 12:00 – 1:00. Remember that you must complete the online portion prior to this.
– There are 2 Explore Bowhunting certification courses being taught in the coming weeks/months. One is in the north zone and another in the central zone at the Tuscaloosa archery park. More details are(will be) posted in the forum.
– The Master Bowhunter Program was adopted. More details will be coming soon.
– We may soon be able to purchase BHA products online.
– A new Tournament Director position was approved and filled.
– Life memberships are now non-transferable and non-refundable
– A new Crossbow class for 3D tournaments was approved.
– The motion to create a rules committee failed.
– The motion to allow movable sights in bowhunter classes failed.
– A new known distance class shooting from the green stake was approved.
– The motion to remove the 280 fps speed limit from the known distance class failed.
11:44 am
Life Member
October 30, 2012
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Sounds like some good solid changes were adopted.
I do wish BHA would make an adjustment for the speed in the future. I think it is by far the largest obstacle to bowhunters coming out and shooting with us. Bows are just faster now. My brother bought a Hoyt Element last night. He has a 27 in draw and is shooting Gold Tip 5575’s. His bow was shooting 297 fps. I am willing to bet that 80+ pecent of male bowhunters are shooting over 280 fps with their hunting setups and have no interest in changing anything just to compete. I am not saying they would all start shooting tourneys by any means…but some would.
12:22 pm
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November 6, 2012
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Elk Hunter said
I do wish BHA would make an adjustment for the speed in the future. I think it is by far the largest obstacle to bowhunters coming out and shooting with us. Bows are just faster now. My brother bought a Hoyt Element last night. He has a 27 in draw and is shooting Gold Tip 5575’s. His bow was shooting 297 fps. I am willing to bet that 80+ pecent of male bowhunters are shooting over 280 fps with their hunting setups and have no interest in changing anything just to compete. I am not saying they would all start shooting tourneys by any means…but some would.
That was the thinking behind the speed change for the Known Class. It was ment to allow the use of range finders and unlimited speed of hunting bows. it would have also given the ASA shooters that don’t want to slow their bows down a class to compete in.what really chaps my hide is that most of the people who voted against it were not at the May board meeting when it was discussed. not only did it cut out alot of Bow hunters, It also limits the CrossBow Class to 280. i’m guessing the board will need to figure that one out.
12:30 pm
Barry, I agree. This was very frustrating to me. We tried to have an unlimited speed limit in just *one* class and it did not pass. This class could have been the catch all class that would include almost every bowhunter in our state. Instead we still have barriers that keep people from coming to shoot our tournaments. If you remember, I posted a poll in the forum concerning speed limit and at least 90% of voters wanted some sort of increase. It is one of the biggest issues, if not the biggest, issue facing us and we do *NOTHING*. Same ‘ol 280 fps.
12:32 pm
headshot said
It also limits the CrossBow Class to 280. i’m guessing the board will need to figure that one out.
This is going to be addressed at the Feb. board meeting. 280 is not doable for crossbow.
12:43 pm
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November 6, 2012
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Moose24 said
headshot said
It also limits the CrossBow Class to 280. i’m guessing the board will need to figure that one out.This is going to be addressed at the Feb. board meeting. 280 is not doable for crossbow.
i understand , but we start shooting the first week of February. my point is, that people should think before they Vote. I’m 100% sure that some of the” NO Votes” in that room were from people that thought we were just pushing this for ASA. when in fact they coused more harm than Good. We have been talking about how to Bring the attendance numbers up for years. Why would you Vote down A simple rule to allow more people to come shoot. Any Thoughts? and don’t give me this garbage about target damage! we had just voted to allow Crossbows,Which we all know can’t shoot 280 and carry a much heavier Bolt.
12:51 pm
Our first shoot is the week after the board meeting.
I agree with you 100% except that I do believe we passed a few good things, just not enough. I would also like to hear from people who voted against this motion. There are a few simple changes that could be made to our 3D rules and the world would be great but now we are at least a year away from that happening. We are not a very proactive(hell, we are not even reactive) organization!
1:50 pm
Life Member
October 30, 2012
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Moose24 said
Our first shoot is the week after the board meeting.
I agree with you 100% except that I do believe we passed a few good things, just not enough. I would also like to hear from people who voted against this motion. There are a few simple changes that could be made to our 3D rules and the world would be great but now we are at least a year away from that happening. We are not a very proactive(hell, we are not even reactive) organization!
I have never understood the EXTREME resistance to change that many within BHA hold so tightly. The strenght of bows has improved tons. The old safety issue of blowing one up is mainly a thing of the past. Bows shoot faster, smoother, and more safely. Yet, BHA is still holding on to the old fears. Most organizations will grow smaller and probably die if they continue to exclude 72.4% to 98.5% (69,000 of 70,000 bowhunters with an estimate of 80% shooting over 280 fps with their hunting setups) of their potential membership. Not very proactive.
2:50 pm
Member
October 24, 2012
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I am so disappointed in how these rules are a cluster every year. We have installed a 40 yard known distance class and crossbow class with unlimited and Open A shooting at 50 yards still and at 280. What did we accomplish except to make all the Open A and Unlimited folks leave? We saw they are already leaving by the turnout this wekend. The people that want things to continue are going to wake up and they will be the only ones left. Consistancy has to be installed and a fair atmosphere for competition. We lost the traditional people and now we are fixing to lose the top shooters if we have not already lost them. I have tried to convey sentiment and have been labeled a complainer ; well I am tired of complaining!
3:25 pm
Member
October 24, 2012
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I want to make sure the above comments are not interpreted as negative. Our process is negative. We work all year and do good things and then crap on or step on shooters that support and make the organization. The only way to clean this up is to let someone else or an a national organzation make the rules. A group of 75 people at a board meeting is not working. Most people don’t even know what they voted on. We did get the lock removed and that was positive! We did get a tournament director and that is positive. We did get a known class and a crossbow class, which should be positive. We did some great things this year but failed short on others. Now we have to wait another year and I am afraid that will be too long because of the numbers.
4:40 pm
Life Member
October 30, 2012
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Leldon,
I don’t see your comments as complaining. I think they are very accurate and on point. BHA rises on good ideas and falls on lack of vision. I treasure tradition as much as the next person, but an organization does have to grow with the times. I find it amazing that many still want to hold on to the old 280 fps. Let me demostrate just how out of date this is. If you take the top 10 Hoyt and Mathews bows and look at their IBO speeds you will see why holding on to the speed limit is a horrible idea.
The top 10 Hoyt models have an average IBO speed of 317.7 FPs. The top 10 Mathews models have an average IBO speed of 335.9. I seriously doubt these two companies would be making bows that fast if there were not safe. And yes I know IBO is at 70 lbs, with an 350 gr arrow, and a 30 inch draw. But, like I said earlier, my brother bought a new bow last night and he shoots a 27 inch draw and he got 297 fps. And I assure you he wouldn’t dream of turning his bow down to shoot a 3D tourney.
BHA was pulled from the jaws of death about 10 years ago. There was actually a vote to close it down and it failed. Then came good ideas like family memberships, trail shoots, changing the banquet to the evening of the state championship, the UDCP and several other things. We grew as a family and were getting stronger and then the power struggles started. BHA will start to grow again when it starts to make decisions based on what is best for the bow hunters of Alabama and not to protect turf or to maintain power.
6:39 pm
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October 24, 2012
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Barry, it was a long shot and I understand there were obstacles that had to be worked around. Our leaders can only do so much. Several hands were tied with the 3 year lock and I am just disappointed with how this turned out. We had low turn outs this year at the trail and state shoots. The sky is not falling yet. Those of us that get out and shoot every weekend are not being heard. Don’t sit back and not voice your opinion. Most folks do not even know we have a problem.
10:16 pm
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October 24, 2012
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The vote to go to ASA rules was voted down. I have yet to hear anyone say why. WHY???????
Life Member #130
10:19 pm
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September 19, 2012
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For those of you that have never shot in a major 3D tournament, I encourage you to shoot in the ASA Pro/Am’s next year. ASA is going to have three of them in our state alone next year! Fort Benning(Eufaula area) is one of the best shoots I have ever attended. The area is a great place to host a 3D shoot. The sheer number of shooters will amaze you. I understand that they are adding a senior hunter class next year so that will be a large addition of shooters for them I think. Tuscaloosa is going to host another Pro/Am as well and I can’t wait to see how great the turnout will be. I can already imagine a lot of shooters making the trip to western Alabama for this one! As always, Cullman hosts one of the best shoots of the year even with the heat in August! I have competed in IBO,ASA and BHA events over the past 12 years and the BHA trail shoots are as difficult to compete in as any of the national events. ASA is working on some new formats for next year that I think will see their numbers skyrocket for number of shooters. IBO seems to be having the same growing pains that BHA does in that they are stuck on some monetary (payout) issues that I don’t see being resolved in the near future. They did not have a southern triple crown this year and have not posted anything on one for next year. I competed in the IBO world championships this past weekend and my bow shot 330fps with a 350 grain easton arrow and my bow set at 70 pounds. There were some setups that were shooting even faster than that. The scores were not any better in the senior hunter class than what we see in BHA. Taking into account that it is a 35 yard class and they count elevens instead of twelves for the center ring you can see that speed is not a great advantage over what BHA does but it does allow the competitor to shoot the same setups as they hunt with..ASA seems to dominate in the south and it is because they are very organized, payout good money to the competitors, and put a lot of money back into the communities that host the pro/ams. I think that BHA needs to seriously look at adopting ASA rules ASAP. I know that we can’t provide all of the classes that they do on our local levels but we can adopt their rules as they are very well thought out and researched and provide very specific details on what is expected of the shooter and the host organization to provide a truly good experience by all of the competitors involved in this sport. We can either adapt our way of thinking or be left behind wondering where all of our members went….
10:23 pm
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October 24, 2012
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It seems like a kick in the balls to bowhunters to vote in a known 40 class and not vote in the no speed limit rule for it. The unknown yardage doesn’t bother these guys as much as turning their bows down does. Just seems stupid if you ask me.
10:34 pm
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October 24, 2012
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Hoytshooter said
For those of you that have never shot in a major 3D tournament, I encourage you to shoot in the ASA Pro/Am’s next year. ASA is going to have three of them in our state alone next year! Fort Benning(Eufaula area) is one of the best shoots I have ever attended. The area is a great place to host a 3D shoot. The sheer number of shooters will amaze you. I understand that they are adding a senior hunter class next year so that will be a large addition of shooters for them I think. Tuscaloosa is going to host another Pro/Am as well and I can’t wait to see how great the turnout will be. I can already imagine a lot of shooters making the trip to western Alabama for this one! As always, Cullman hosts one of the best shoots of the year even with the heat in August! I have competed in IBO,ASA and BHA events over the past 12 years and the BHA trail shoots are as difficult to compete in as any of the national events. ASA is working on some new formats for next year that I think will see their numbers skyrocket for number of shooters. IBO seems to be having the same growing pains that BHA does in that they are stuck on some monetary (payout) issues that I don’t see being resolved in the near future. They did not have a southern triple crown this year and have not posted anything on one for next year. I competed in the IBO world championships this past weekend and my bow shot 330fps with a 350 grain easton arrow and my bow set at 70 pounds. There were some setups that were shooting even faster than that. The scores were not any better in the senior hunter class than what we see in BHA. Taking into account that it is a 35 yard class and they count elevens instead of twelves for the center ring you can see that speed is not a great advantage over what BHA does but it does allow the competitor to shoot the same setups as they hunt with..ASA seems to dominate in the south and it is because they are very organized, payout good money to the competitors, and put a lot of money back into the communities that host the pro/ams. I think that BHA needs to seriously look at adopting ASA rules ASAP. I know that we can’t provide all of the classes that they do on our local levels but we can adopt their rules as they are very well thought out and researched and provide very specific details on what is expected of the shooter and the host organization to provide a truly good experience by all of the competitors involved in this sport. We can either adapt our way of thinking or be left behind wondering where all of our members went….
Aaaaaaamen Bro!!!! What Hoytshooter said!!!
Life Member #130
10:43 pm
Member
October 24, 2012
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From an outsider looking in……BHA does not have a real identity . Is it a bow hunting organization or is it a 3D organization? It seems to me that most of the people want it to be a 3D organization. BHA should, in my humble opinion, take the 3D aspect and run with it like ASA has. ADOPT ASA RULES!!!!
Life Member #130
11:08 pm
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November 28, 2012
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The main purpose of the Tournament Committee I proposed was to take the weight of 3D off the shoulders of the Executive Board. 3D rules we have today are not perfect and the rules adopted by a tournament committee would not be perfect either. But it would allow for a governing body to make changes as needed.
We needed a ruling to allow movable sights in the bowhunter classes but not allow the shooter to adjust the sight on the range. That issue needs to be addressed and a committee could quickly rule on this issue. Tie breakers, we have nothing on the books to say who wins if both users shoot the same score with the same number of 12s. The tournament committee could make a decision and it would be law.
I suggested before we should adopt ASA rules, but I feel i may have been wrong. We really have two groups of 3D shooters, our Open shooters and our bowhunters. I think we should adopt ASA rules for our Open shooters because they want it. However, ASA does not allow for no speed limit in their bowhunting classes. Many feel we are alienating the average bowhunter because they are unable to shoot our events with their hunting setup.
I have my doubts we will see an influx of shooters who are waiting on the sidelines for us to change our speed limit. It only takes a couple turns on their limb bolts or a dollars worth of heavy field points to get legal. But I hope I am wrong. I hope we allow for the average shooter to shoot his hunting equipment in a BHA class and we go to 200+ shooters every weekend.
Alabama really is the meca of 3D archery. We have ASA, IBO, R100, and BHA. Many of best shooters from Alabama got their start in BHA. But in order for BHA to hang in there we have to be progressive. The main reason the 3D rules were voted down two years ago was because they included a Known class. Two years later approve a Known class. BHA was dead set against crossbows, now we have a class and will work to get them legalized for turkey season.
I would like to see the CZ create a class to allow for the average bowhunter to shoot their hunting bow as is. Let’s keep track of this class and see if it brings in the average bowhunter who is sitting on the sidelines. I hope it does. Then due to success or failure, we can adopt this class next year at the BHA State meeting. Pilot program!!
And let’s touch base with our Open shooters and see what we can do to ensure they continue to participate at BHA events.
11:20 pm
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Life Member
November 28, 2012
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Maxie Kizzire said
From an outsider looking in……BHA does not have a real identity . Is it a bow hunting organization or is it a 3D organization? It seems to me that most of the people want it to be a 3D organization. BHA should, in my humble opinion, take the 3D aspect and run with it like ASA has. ADOPT ASA RULES!!!!
Mazie, you are not an outsider anymore…haha!
7:22 am
Maxie Kizzire said
The vote to go to ASA rules was voted down. I have yet to hear anyone say why. WHY???????
There was no motion on the table to vote on concerning ASA at this meeting. We would have had to vote in the rules committee and then let them adopt ASA rules. THe Rules Committee motion failed.
Everyone has to remember that it is a process. The process start at the Feb. and May board meetings that’s where motions are made for the August meeting voting. That is why it is so important to attend the Feb and May meetings. The May meeting was very poorly attended because everyone wanted to be shooting 3D that day.
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