Success!

Becoming a Bowhunter Program

Hunting Benefits Live, Laugh, Love

It’s Time for the

2016 Jamboree

FEATURES Becoming a Bowhunter Program Yields Success ........................................................ 4 by George Williams 2016 Jamboree Auction and Raffle Items .................................................................... 7 The Newsmagazine of the Colorado Bowhunters Association

July/August 2016 Vol. XXII Issue 4

2016 Jamboree Schedule ............................................................................................... 9 An Open Letter to Hunting ......................................................................................... 10

CBA Chairman Mike Yeary 303-324-7486

by Erin Diegel, PGA 2016 Bowhunter Education Schedule......................................................................... 17 CBA Recipe Corner ..................................................................................................... 29

Contributing Writers: TOM BEHUNIN IVAN JAMES JoANN PETTUS GEORGE WILLIAMS

2016 Jamboree July 15-17, 2016 ................................................................................... 8

ERIN DIEGEL CURTIS MOCK ROGER TRUDELL MIKE YEARY

by JoAnn Pettus CBA Kids Corner: Competitive Archery ................................................................... 30 Success Photos .............................................................................................................. 32

If you are interested in having your Colorado Bowhunter story published in National Bowhunter magazine, please contact them at their toll-free number. 1-800-278-7728. COVER PHOTO: Professional golfer Erin Diegel after a successful hunt. Read her tribute to hunting on page 10.

EDITORIAL POLICIES

The Colorado Bowhunter is the official publication of the Colorado Bowhunter Association and is published bi-monthly.

Editorial deadlines are as follows: ISSUE Mar/Apr May/June July/Aug

DEADLINE January 20 March 20 May 20

ISSUE Sept/Oct Nov/Dec Jan/Feb

DEADLINE July 20 Sept 20 Nov 20

All material should be sent by mail or e-mail. Mailed contributions should be on diskette or typed. Typewritten contributions should be double-spaced. WordPerfect or Word format is preferred. No material will be returned. Submittal should be no more than 2,000 words. Previously published material will not be considered unless accompanied by a release or permission from the first publisher. Material appearing in this newsmagazine does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the CBA or its Board of Directors. The CBA cannot reimburse contributors for cost incurred in the preparation of material submitted, nor compensate contributors for items which are published. Any expenses must be approved in advance by the CBA Treasurer. All material will be published at the discretion of the editor. Photos of animals harvested should be in good taste. Only animals taken under the rules of fair chase will be considered. Correspondence concerning the CBA’s polcies and operations should be directed to the Colorado Bowhunters Association, PO Box 848 • Longmont, CO 80502. Contributions and correspondence pertaining to this newsmagazine should be directed to:

Jeff Anderson 3004 S. Biscay Circle Aurora, CO 80013 720-203-4477 [email protected] 2 The Colorado BOWHUNTER July-August 2016

DEPARTMENTS Editor’s Views.....................................3 by Jeff Anderson Legislative Report ..............................9 by Ivan James CPW Report .....................................13 by Tom Behunin Tips & Tricks ....................................14 by Curtis Mock Chairman’s Report ..........................16 by Mike Yeary

CBA Mission Statement...................16 Calendar of Events ...........................17 Representatives.................................18 CBA Volunteers & Club Affiliates.............................................19 Business Members............................20 Membership Application .................21 CBA Regional/Area Pro Shops ..........................................22 CBA Board of Directors ..................23

Advertising Editor/Sales Gerald Rasmussen P.O. Box 1221 Ault, CO 80610 970-834-2937 • [email protected]

Report magazine delivery problems to Kelly Roe membership@ coloradobowhunting.org

The Colorado BOWHUNTER (ISSN# 1099-8373) is published bi-monthly by the Colorado Bowhunters Association for the benefit of its members. Membership dues: $30 a year, $75 for three years. $3.75 per year is designated for newsmagazine subscription. Produced at the known office of publication, Colorado Bowhunters Association, P.O. Box 848, Longmont, Colorado 80502. Periodical Postage Approved at Morrison, CO and additional mailing offices. (USPS 022-047)

POSTMASTER: Send Address changes to: The Colorado Bowhunter, Kelly Roe: P.O. Box 848, Longmont, CO 80502 All rights reserved without permission of the publisher. Product of the U.S.A.

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My

sincere thanks to those who sent me articles in response to my plea in the last issue. I received some really great stuff. I can always use more, so keep the stories coming, but it is a big relief to no longer have an empty Bowhunter Articles folder. My father-in-law’s terminal illness recently progressed to the point that the word “hospice” is entering the conversations and family members are travelling to visit him so they don’t miss what may well be their last opportunity to see him. Born in rural Wisconsin nearly 70 years ago, he started hunting young, as most farm boys did. Shotgun, rifle, bow . . . he loved it all. He has lived in a few other states since his youth and sought out places to hunt and people to hunt with in each one of them. My father-in-law has a gift for recalling names, and I’ve always been amazed at the way he also remembers how much older or younger than he each acquaintance is, or how much longer or shorter they’ve been married, measured in months, not years. It’s an endearing quirk. In the 26 years that I’ve known this man I’ve hunted with him quite a bit, and I’m pretty sure I’ve heard all of his stories. As a tribute, though, when I visited him recently I asked him to choose one of his bowhunting stories and recount it to me in detail so I could share it in the magazine. And so, here is the tale of the time he tried using a tracking string: I was bowhunting with Ron Bouchard by Ridgeland. It was in the 80s …sometime after ’85… it might have been even that year – ’85, ’86 …and Ron showed me some stands and I said, “Oh, I’ll take this one over here.” Nice big open area with trees coming around, I could see a long way, and it was up kinda high. Not way high, maybe 14 feet up in the air, something like that. I had my fourwheeler (bow). I bought that four-wheeler in ’83, when we moved back to Pennsylvania. In fact I think it was eighty, or seventysomething bucks. Bear four-wheeler. Goes up 70 lbs. I could take it all the way down in five-pound increments. Fast as bow are now it wasn’t a fast one, but it was sure faster than the old style. So, anyways, I’m sitting up on this stand and I had outfitted myself with a string, a fluorescent arrow string so I could follow the animal. Because in our woods it’s all green up there; it’s so green you can’t even hardly see blood on it unless it’s real bright. We’d get in the woods late, we didn’t have a whole lot of time, we were working people, so by the time you’d get in the woods you’d only have less

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than two hours of hunting. Well, I had this tracking string, fluorescent orange, and it must have been an hour before dark. And all of a sudden I heard a noise and I looked and there was deer coming in. There was three of ‘em. Two little and one big and I was sure that it was fawns following their mother yet. And they set up right in front of my tree, the distance wasn’t much more than from here to the wall. I was straddling … that stand I had up there was almost like sitting on a log with a foot on each side of it. So I just tensed up and pulled myself up and pulled my bow back. And just as I pulled it back the last little bit my bow goes ‘squeak’ and you oughta have seen all them deer … right in stride they just stopped. Then I aimed (I think I hurried myself a little) and let it go. And they pffft – all three of ‘em took off. I’m watching, and all of a sudden I hear this noise and I’m going “What is it? What’s that noise?” Well, what the noise was was the string going out of the box there, hooked to the bow, and it was going out fast. Yeah, it was going out 100 miles an hour. Whatever speed she was going away it was going out twice that fast. When I realized what was happening I grabbed on to the tree with my right arm in case that thing would get jammed or something at the end, I didn’t want to get yanked out of the tree. I waited and it quit all of a sudden, and then it went a little bit and then it quit, and then it went a little bit and then it quit …the animal was either down or staggering around or something. And then nothing. So I went down out of the tree, cut my line off, and then I followed it. And the arrow was in the ground – went right through the deer, straight through the chest cavity. So wherever that thing ran to, the string was going out twice the distance – it was a thousand-footer. So I went out there, and when that animal had been moving around and all that it was cutting it off with her teeth or something, and I found three pools of blood, and we looked for that doe for hours and didn’t find her. A tracking string is not a bad deal, but once you use it you got all that mess to clean up. So that’s the last time I used one. In addition to this story my father-in-law retold me several others while I had the recorder running. His loud voice is now starting to sound weak and tired, but his storytelling style hasn’t changed. I will cherish his memories as much as I do my own, and pray for just a little more time with him. Shoot straight, Jeff July-August 2016

The Colorado BOWHUNTER 3

Becoming a Bowhunter Program Yields Success By George Williams, SE Region Director

T

he Becoming a Bowhunter (BAB) program in the Southeast Region was very successful in the 2015 big game hunting season. Students in this program must be ten years of age and have taken a regular Hunter Education course. Phase 1 teaches students how to shoot a bow and arrow. History of archery is taught as well, and the phase lasts about ten hours. Students have to pass a written test and show that they can hit a nineinch paper plate with a bow and arrow at a distance of ten yards. Participants do not have to own a bow and arrow in this phase – the program will provide them if necessary – but they can use their own equipment if they have it. Phase 1 instructors can recommend what type of archery equipment should be purchased. They also can recommend local archery businesses in the area. Phase 2 students are required to have their own archery equipment. All archery equipment must be legal to hunt big game with in Colorado. Phase 2 4 The Colorado BOWHUNTER July-August 2016

is generally 90 days in length, depending upon the location being used for teaching. Students generally meet on a weekly

basis to shoot and become proficient with their bows. There is a shooting proficncy exam given in this phase wherein students have to hit in the ten or eight ring on a 3D target eight out of ten shots. Minimum distance is 20 yards. Four students in the Southeast Region started and completed both Phase 1 and Phase 2 requirements. They are Shandrick Seagraves, Michael Hughes, Kathy Chlar, and Pam Scott. Rosa May, a student from our 2014 program, assisted. In the Phase 2 part of the class we met on a weekly basis at the 3D range at Cheyenne Mountain State Park. These four students tested successfully and were moved into Phase 3 of this program, where participants get to go on a mentored hunt for a big game animal if an opportunity can be found. Pam Scott was the only student who qualified at 30 yards. Mitch McConnell, who is the director Cheyenne Mountain State Park, donated shooting passes for all of the students and

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July-August 2016 The Colorado BOWHUNTER 5

instructors involved. During the shooting phase, students were also instructed in many different elements of becoming a bowhunter. Subjects covered included tree stand and ground blind shooting (which are required shots in the Phase 2 shooting

Lewis. I went with Steve Mitchell and Danny Lewis to meet with Harry Vold at his house and were granted permission to hunt. We scouted the ranch and found a water source and a windmill that had antelope tracks nearby. We took BAB participants

Instructors in the BAB program are bowhunters from all over Colorado. The state is divided into regions, with regional directors who are experienced bowhunters, in charge of all three phases. Instructors are also experienced Hunter Education instructors (most are Senior or Master level) who are also qualified to teach the National Bowhunter Education Program. qualification test), camouflage clothing, stalking, still hunting, game recovery and care, use of knives and other cutting tools, scouting techniques, game calling, and many other skills that they need in the field. Instructors in the BAB program are bowhunters from all over Colorado. The state is divided into regions, with regional directors who are experienced bowhunters, in charge of all three phases. Instructors are also experienced Hunter Education instructors (most are Senior or Master level) who are also qualified to teach the National Bowhunter Education Program. The completion of the NBEP Bowhunter Education Course is a requirement for students in Phase 2. They have to take this course before they can go to Phase 3 and go on a mentored hunt. Some instructors have also been certified to teach the National Archery Schools Program (NASP). The BAB program is a joint effort involving the Colorado Bowhunters Association and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), and the originator of the program, Steve Mitchell, continues to run it. In August of 2015 we learned that there might be an opportunity to hunt pronghorn on the Harry Vold ranch, southeast of Pueblo. This opportunity came from two CPW officers in the Pueblo District, Gretchen Holschuh and Danny 6 The Colorado BOWHUNTER July-August 2016

here on two weekends and hunted out of ground blinds, but no one got a shot at an antelope. It is hard, incidentally, to find mentors who are willing to give up their personal hunting time to take these students on these mentored hunts. In October Gretchen Holschuh and Danny Lewis informed us that there would be game damage permits available for doe mule deer in Beulah, Colorado. We obtained permits for all five students, Charlie Ooley, and me. These permits were specific to two properties in Beulah owned by Gary Kyte, and other properties that Art Traber had secured access to hunt on. The permits were good from November 1, 2015 to January 31, 2016. We met with the students to explain this opportunity, and they were all eager to try their newly-acquired skills. We hunted Gary Kyte’s property on the first evening and were amazed at the number of deer we saw. Rosa May was the first student to shoot a deer. We took it to Art Traber’s house and used his facilities to skin and clean the deer before putting her in his walk-in cooler. We were all very excited about the large numbers of deer we had seen and about Rosa’s success. Charlie Ooley was the next person to shoot a deer, which he and the students cleaned and processed at Art’s house. We took every opportunity to teach the students while in the field. None of them had ever

field dressed an animal, so this was a valuable learning experience. Mike Hughes was the next student to shoot a deer on Gary Kyte’s property, and Gary helped him get it out of the woods in into his car. Mike also took his deer to Art’s house, where Art helped him skin it before he took it home to process it. I shot a deer next, at another location in Beulah where I had permission to hunt, using a Black Widow TD longbow. Next, Pam Scott shot a deer on Gary Kyte’s property. She did not recover the animal by dark so she marked its last known location on her GPS and went back the next morning. When she returned she found the doe – double-lung shot at a distance of 25 yards – just 50 feet from her GPS waypoint. Shandrick Seagraves hunted numerous days and saw some deer, but he didn’t shoot any of them. One day he drove all the way to Beulah only to realize that he had forgotten his range finder his release, so he went home. This incident was a good opportunity to teach about preparation. Make sure you have all your equipment before you leave home to go hunting. Make a list and check it before leaving. Kathy Chlar hunted several days and evenings. She hunted in a ground blind, and several deer came within her 20-yard maximum shooting range, but they either didn’t present a good angle or they were bucks. She also missed opportunities due difficulty drawing her bow while wearing numerous layers of clothing to ward off the cold and snow. These students are the first BAB participants statewide to kill big game animals in the Phase 3 of this program. All successful students received First-Timer awards at the CBA Awards Banquet . This program needs more volunteers to help teach future students. We are also in desperate need of properties to take students hunting on. If you would like to volunteer your knowledge and expertise to this program in any way, contact Steve Mitchell. Information is available on the CBA website at http://coloradobowhunting. org.

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2016 CBA Jamboree

Auction and Raffle Items Quail Mountain Recreation Area   On Saturday night, July 16, 2016, at the CBA Jamboree, we will conduct a live auction and raffle drawings during our assembly. Some of the featured items will include:   · Drawing for the GOVERNOR’S ELK TAG:  Hunt elk in any unit in Colorado, using any method of take, during any season from August - December.  Raffle tickets $25 each or 5 for $100. There will be one winner; do not have to be present to win. Provided by the Colorado Parks & Wildlife · Complete Day One Camo Clothing Outfit – Donated by Day One Camo · Jerry Hill Wild Cat II Long Bow (LH, 68”,  55# draw) – Donated by Bill Pellegrino’s Archery Hut · Bryan Holley Spirit Longbow (RH, 62”, 42# draw) – Donated by Tom Behunin Construction · One Dozen Easton Axis 340 Arrows – Donated by Tom Behunin Construction · Eberlestock Transformer & Main Frame Pack System - Donated by Tom Behunin Construction · Montana Turkey Decoy w/Fox Pro Combo Call Pack – Donated by Fred & Michele Eichler · Fox Pro Electronic Game Call w/Predator Combo Pack - Donated by Fred & Michele Eichler · Limb Saver Silent Bow Quiver & Pro Hunter Stabilizer - Donated by Fred & Michele Eichler · Select CBA 3D Targets

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July-August 2016

The Colorado BOWHUNTER 7

8 The Colorado BOWHUNTER July-August 2016

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2016 CBA Jamboree Schedule of Events Thursday, July 14th Registration and Merchandise Sales

5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Friday, July 15th Registration and Merchandise Sales Adult Ranges and Sight-in Range Vendors Kid’s Range Hunting Seminar (TBA) Wing Fling Coon Shoot (Friday Only) Jamboree Fire (Tentative)

7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 7 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. 10 a.m. - Noon 8:45 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 16th Registration and Merchandise Sales Adult Ranges and Sight-in Range Vendors Kid’s Range Hunting Seminar (TBA) Long Shot Competition Bud Boker Memorial Endurance Shoot Kids’ Tent Calling Contest Kids Pop Shoot Wing Fling Chili Cook-off Contest Assembly (CBA Dream Hunt Drawing, Awards, Auction, “Hunt Blessing” & More) Dance with Live Band (10D-40 Following Assembly)

7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 7 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. 11 a.m. - Until Done Noon 3 p.m. Noon 1 p.m. 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. 5 p.m. 5:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 17th Registration and Merchandise Sales Adult Ranges and Sight-in Range Vendors Kid’s Range Target Auction (If there are available targets) Gate will be Locked - Venue Closed

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7 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 7 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. 1:30 p.m. 2 p.m.

July-August 2016 The Colorado BOWHUNTER 9

An Open I

know a lot about the game of golf and have made a career helping people enjoy it as a PGA Professional. I am a single mom of three children, enjoy everything outdoors, and before 2014, never gave hunting a second thought. I never used a bow, I never shot a gun, and I even went 14 years without eating meat! I remember it like it was yesterday. I was on my first ever online date, drinking a beer and enjoying the conversation. Eric spoke the words “I am a bowhunter” and I flinched. Unsure and completely raw, I agreed to exchange some golf lessons for some shooting lessons. #FOMO, right? Fear of Missing Out. What is this hunting stuff all about? Little did I know at the time, but my life would be changed forever. Big game draw deadlines, land access, Pope and Young, bugling, books about elk, books about deer, the rut, date nights to Cabelas, tree stands, rangefinders, grunt calls, bows, arrows, 3D targets, fletchings, guns, bullets, .243’s, shotguns, and camo …so, so much camo. After eighteen months, three arrows, two bullets and a lot of hard work, I wish to express my gratitude to the hunting industry and what it stands for. My freezer currently boasts 240 pounds of lean wild game. So I say goodbye to the city girl vegetarian and I say hello to a new way of life. Thank you, hunting, for educating me. EDUCATE yourself and try something new! If you have never decided that you are going to learn something completely new, then you are doing yourself a huge disservice. I am a firm believer in perpetual education and growth. When I decided to learn about hunting, I was pleasantly surprised at the easy-to-navigate subject of Hunter Education through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. In fact, it is a requirement for hunting in this state. It not only prevents accidents and saves lives, but provides a 10 The Colorado BOWHUNTER July-August 2016

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Letter to Hunting By Erin Diegel, PGA

realistic picture of what you are getting into. I wish they had this for golf or parenting! Hunter Education not only made me feel welcome and wanted, it taught me about a topic I believed in but never acted on: wildlife conservation. Licenses, stamps, fees and permits account for 50% of conservation funding in the state of Colorado, while donations account for 7%. What a great way to preserve the wildlife I have always enjoyed. AND fill my freezer. Trying something new can be very intimidating. As a woman in a profession that is still dominated by men, I completely understand this!! We work diligently each year trying to make the game of golf welcoming and inviting to women, and hunting is no different. I love that there are ladies-only Hunter Education classes, and ladies-only next-step programs. I also appreciate that the industry is making hunting comfortable, functional, and fashionable for women. In my search for clothing and equipment, I quickly targeted a company that believes in this. In fact, the geniuses at Prois: Technical Hunting and Field Apparel for Women, (located right here in Colorado) say it quite perfectly, “Your pursuit is your passion and the gear you choose is vital to your success. You desire a unique look but are not willing to sacrifice comfort or effectiveness in the field. You are a female and a hunter…Take Pride in NOT Being One of the Guys…” Thank you, hunting, for inspiring me. INSPIRE yourself and others to take action. Hunting possesses many benefits and qualities that parallel with life. Be decisive – Decide. Make a decision and go. In the field there is no room for waffling. In the fall of 2015 in Kansas, I was bowhunting for the first time. It was the first morning and I was alone in the treestand, learning my systems how to stay warm, how and where to hang the bow,

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how to secure the safety harness, ranging my yardage, and most importantly, how am I going to know what and when to shoot? I was alone and I had never personally even seen an arrow fly toward a live target. An hour into the hunt, two bucks strolled by at 30 yards. I couldn’t even breathe; I was shaking and wondering and doubting. While I was able to draw the bow, I decided it wasn’t right. Thirty yards was too far, I had four more days, and I had doubt.

to my treestand and I got lost. It was dark and the foliage all looked the same to me. I panicked and stumbled through a range of emotions – fear, anger, frustration – and I finally just sat down and cried. I wasted a lot of time and probably missed a huge trophy opportunity (haha) but I learned a lot that morning. I began to build myself up and speak positively in gratitude, and like a little sparkle of hope our orange ribbon marker appeared. I made it to the stand,

Trying something new can be very intimidating. As a woman in a profession that is still dominated by men, I completely understand this!! We work diligently each year trying to make the game of golf welcoming and inviting to women, and hunting is no different. I love that there are ladies-only Hunter Education classes, and ladies-only next-step programs. Conversely, the evening I shot my first buck – my first arrow at a live target – I knew it was right. I saw him from afar; he continued toward me, he was perfect. I needed him to walk to the spot that I had ranged at 15 yards and then I needed him to stop. He did. I was confident, somewhat calm, and I made a decision. Be positive – While hunting can be extremely exciting and rewarding, it can also be boring and frustrating and things sometimes go wrong. I really enjoy hunting with Eric, and because of my personality will always prefer hunting with others. However, it is my goal to become completely self-sufficient. Eric typically would walk me to the stand, make sure I was set, and then head to his stand. Due to a late start one morning, we decided we would just go our separate ways. Unfortunately, I did not pay close enough attention to the location and route

thanked God for His beautiful creation, and just relished my surroundings. I didn’t see any deer that morning, but got to watch a coyote frolic below me and saw five turkeys gobble around. Enjoy the journey; be positive and grateful. Find the lesson in your failures, and always remember why you are there. Keep your eye on the prize – Eric and I have a saying: “Rule #1 Don’t guide the guide.” I realize that my success can be widely attributed to this rule. I agreed to trust his knowledge and expertise in this field and never questioned anything. Well, except for one thing. We had to make a modification and to create Rule #5 “Get the guide to guide.” I had four tags in 2015 and I was absolutely, 100% going to put in every effort to fill them all. I had a privateland-only cow elk tag that was open from September through January. We hunted ten times through the season, and on nine July-August 2016

The Colorado BOWHUNTER 11

of those hunts we never saw a cow. With the private land set up, the elk had to be in the right spot to take a shot. It was going to take a perfect storm. It was January 23, 2016 and it was my last opportunity to make this happen. My guide needed a little prodding to crawl out of bed at 5:30 but we drove up the mountain. At first light, we were encouraged by the tracks we saw in the snow. I turned the other direction and lost my breath: 150 yards across the fence stood a herd of 40 elk. They were still going to need to take the perfect route of travel to get on our land. We parked and hiked to a point where we hoped they would come. We sat for about an hour and … nothing. Eric walked down the north slope to see if he could find them and … nothing. Where could they have gone? How do you lose 40 elk? We decided to hike around the south side and there they were! We army-crawled through the snow and got the shooting sticks set for a 150 yard shot, about a 7-iron distance for me. I was surprisingly calm and set the rifle crosshairs on the shoulder crease of this beautiful cow. She stopped and I fired. I knew it was right. It was the first time I was able to see the success of 12 The Colorado BOWHUNTER July-August 2016

the shot and watch the animal fall in clear view. I breathed a sigh of relief and we celebrated. Get the guide to guide and keep your eye on the prize. Thank you hunting for allowing me to LIVE. I crave adventure and challenge through discipline, hard work, perseverance, strategy, planning, preparation, and practice. I am an outdoor enthusiast and because of hunting I have a deeper appreciation and connection to my values. I have better relationships with the ones I love. I have new friends and I have fond memories of hunting trips. This makes me happy. Live in alignment with your purpose and what makes you happy. With life comes death. As a nonhunter I didn’t put much thought into how my meat arrived at our table. I bought it at the store in a perfect little package. I brought it home and put it in the pan. Now, however, each time I put meat into a pan I think of that creature’s life. Hunting is taking a life. If you hunt long enough you will encounter a situation where the killing lasts more than seconds. Despite your marksmanship, your patience and your knowledge of kill

zones, despite every good intention, you will shoot an animal and its death will not be immediate. If you are a hunter worthy of the name, you will suffer, too, when this occurs. I know I did. I think of this each time I put meat into a pan. Live strong and speak up for what you believe in. Hunting is a divisive thing. I was a vegetarian for 14 years so I know there are two heavy sides to this coin. Through social media outlets it is easier than ever to get crushed. It is important to remember that, while you are out there doing great things, you will attract haters. Be strong and be centered and only take in what you have energy for. Remember your purpose and don’t take things personally. So, dear hunting industry and all those in it … thank you. Thank you for being so generous and warm and allowing me the opportunity to become one of yours. Thank you for encouraging me to believe in myself and be a role model for my children. Thank you for providing us true field-totable meals together. You changed my life for the better and inspired me to share with others how great hunting really is. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

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T

here was no commission meeting held in April. The May meeting was held in Grand Junction. Steve Cassin gave a financial update regarding the loss of the severance tax from the state to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). This will result in a loss of six to eight million dollars to the CPW fund. Bob Thompson gave an update regarding the Fair Chase Policy. The CPW adopted the same protocol that Boone and Crockett follows, and also provided the following numbers regarding Big Game licenses and harvest. These numbers are for the statewide population of the following species: • Elk population at 265,000; 36,000 bull elk and 25,000 cows were harvested last season. • Deer population at 425,000; 88,000 buck and doe deer were harvested last season. • Antelope population at 79,000; 9000 were harvested. Game Management Units (GMUs) 58 and 39 will be open for moose hunting, which will result in a 7% increase in available tags. Final regulations included adoption of all limited license numbers for black bear, deer, elk, pronghorn and moose for all GMUs in the state that have limited licenses for these species for the 2016 big game seasons. The CBA along with Colorado Traditional Archers Society and BigGame Forever submitted the following Northwest Region December Pilot Whitetail Bowhunt Proposal to the CPW: Due to an ever-increasing invasion of whitetail deer onto the Western Slope and their impacts on mule deer; we are proposing a pilot December bowhunt to help curtail the expanse of whitetail

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deer into mule deer historical range of northwest Colorado. Whitetail deer are known to inhabit the following GMUs in the Northwest Region: 6,7,171,14,214,131,441,18,28, and possibly 27 and 15. We also understand the concerns that the Northwest Regional Office has about hunter target identification and the possibility of mistakenly harvesting a mule deer instead of a whitetail deer. Therfore the proposal includes a mandatory identification class to help hunters correctly indentify the target. This class shall not be an additional burden imposed onto the CPW, but shall be taught by the organizations presenting this proposal in cooperation with the CPW. The hunt dates will commence on December 1st and run through Dec. 31st. The total licenses sales to be capped at 500 for the entire region. These are additional either-sex whitetail deer archery licenses. The licenses shall not be unit specific, but encompasses all of the above-mentioned units. The hunter is allowed to harvest only one whitetail deer. Furthermore, in cooperation with the CPW’s ongoing CWD research, all harvested deer shall be brought to a CPW office for CWD testing. The cost of testing shall be at the expense of the hunter. This pilot project does allow for more recreational bowhunting opportunity and provides additional revenues to the CPW. The proposal was well received by the CPW.

July-August 2016

The Colorado BOWHUNTER 13

&Tricks

Tips

By Curtis Mock

Maximize Your It’s Success in a New Hunting Area

that time of year again. The effort you put into the next few months will help determine how successful you will be this upcoming archery season. Many of us are planning to hunt units we’ve never explored before. Below are some tips to give you the best chance in unfamiliar territory. Plan from Afar This should go without saying, but you should expect to put in many hours planning your hunt. Even if you are unable to visit your hunting area prior to the season, you should take advantage of all of the web-based tools available to hunters. As the old adage goes, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. I begin my research online using Google Earth, the resources available through the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) website, and a variety of other online mapping programs from third parties. Before I set foot in a new hunting area, I try to get a solid understanding of the terrain and habitat online. I find images such as dark timber, funnels, water sources, pinch points, saddles and other landmarks that appear to be good starting points to explore.

Talk to the Experts Once I have a better understanding of the topography and lay of the land, I will call the CPW and get contact information for CPW offices, field agents, and game wardens in the area. I talk to as many people as possible about my planned starting points, I ask their opinions and observations, and discover their recommendations based on their experience in the area. Keep in mind 144 The T e Co C Colorado olorrado adoo B BO BOWHUNTER OWHU WHUNTE NTE ER July-August Juulyy-Aug yAugust Aug u 2016 us ust 2016 20 0166

www.coloradobowhunting.org w ww w.co w. olora lora lo r do dobo boowh whun un u ntiing ng.o .oorg

that the information they share with you is the same information they have shared with others planning to hunt that area, too. Use the information they provide you combined with your online research to determine your best plan of attack. Put Boots on the Ground Once you have your starting points, you should visit the area you plan to hunt prior to season. Even though animals won’t necessarily be in the same places in July as they will be in September, you can still learn a lot about how to hunt your area by visiting it. Spend a few days with your binoculars and spotting scope. Hike all around the areas you determined should be good areas. Take lots of notes, pin everything you see on your GPS device, and determine where the elk are during the summer months. At this time you can also place a few trail cameras in the area. On public land you run the risk of someone stealing your camera, but most decent cameras can be bought for under $100. The reward of patterning animals definitely outweighs the risk of having a unit stolen. Re-configure Your Starting Points Now that you’ve seen the area, you can adjust as necessary the starting points you determined prior to visiting the area. Even though you saw animals as you explored the unit, they likely won’t be in the same area during archery season. Plot all of your points on a map and

www.coloradobowhunting.org w ww w colo w. co olo ora rado dobo bowh w un wh unti ting ng.org g

come up with a new game plan. I select half a dozen starting points on a map and draw a 1 to 2 mile circle around each point of. Then I look at all of the terrain, topography, landmarks, and aerial views on Google earth in order to determine the best spots within those circles. Again, you’ll be looking for funnels, water sources, pinch points, saddles, and other landmarks in the newly identified areas. Head Back in for Another Hike Now that you have your revised starting points, visit the hunting area again and explore those areas where you feel the animals will be during hunting season. When scouting, look for sign where the animals were last year – rubs on trees, bones from elk that were taken in previous years, dried scat, wallows, and game trails.

Pay attention to the easiest routes to your determined hunting areas, camping sites, trails, and other landmarks that will help you find your way in the dark on opening morning. You now have a plan that will give you your best opportunity for success. If you’re not a Colorado resident or you just can’t make it out to the field this summer, you’ll want to spend more time researching using the online tools and talking with area CPW reps and other hunters who have hunted the area in the past. One of the best sources of information is the CBA Facebook group found at www.facebook.com/groups/ coloradobowhunting. One last point about hunting a new unit: Remember that your first year hunting there offers the least likelihood of success. Once you hunt a unit a few years, you learn a lot about the animals in the area – where they are during season, their patterns and habits – and you’ll increase your likelihood of success in subsequent years. If you fail to fill your tag the first season you hunt in your unit, don’t immediately think you need to hunt somewhere else. Your chances for success increase every year you hunt the same area. So be patient and try to stick with a unit for at least a few years. July-August 2016 The Colorado BOWHUNTER 15 July-Aug

Mike Yeary

Hi,

fellow CBA members. I hope your early summer has gotten off to a good start. It is amazing to me how fast this year has gone by. We are only a couple of month from the beginning of archery season. Hallelujah!!! The planning of this year’s Jamboree is in full swing. For details, please see the advertisement in this issue of The Colorado Bowhunter. I hope all of you are planning to be there. If you have never been to the Jamboree, please consider coming this year. It is a great opportunity to spend some time with your family and other bowhunters. If you are interested in helping out at the Jamboree, please let us know. We can always use the help there. Recently I had the chance to visit the family property in Texas where I first learned to hunt and where I took my first deer with a bow some 32 years ago. Walking through the pastures brought back many cherished memories of successful hunts, as well as the many times that the deer gave me the slip. It is amazing how

CBA MISSION STATEMENT The Colorado Bowhunters Association proudly accepts the mission:  To encourage and perpetuate the sport of bowhunting for all legal game;  To protect, improve and increase the opportunities for hunting with the hand held, hand drawn bow;  To cooperate with and support federal and state agencies, sportsmen’s associations, and conservation organizations, which are insuring the propagation and preservation of game and its natural habitat;  To encourage and conduct educational programs designed to acquaint the public and the archer with the safe and ethical use of the bow for hunting and bowhunting as an effective method of hunting legal game;  To foster unity and perpetuate the spirit of good fellowship among bowhunters.  To develop and advocate specific policies that support and help fulfill the Mission. 16 The Colorado BOWHUNTER July-August 2016

the property has changed, but it always will remain a very special place. I have spent many special days in tree stands on that property. I climbed up into one of my stands and sat there for a long time, just enjoying the view of the world. It is a peaceful place to spend a little time in this busy world. I think that is one of the reasons we are drawn to the fall woods. I am very thankful that I have been so blessed with the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. I want to thank all of you for supporting the CBA. The Board is dedicated to serving the bowhunters of Colorado. If there is a something we can do to be more effective in achieving this goal, please share that with us. We want to provide the best support possible for Colorado bowhunters. I wish you all a great summer and look forward to seeing many of you at the Jamboree. Please have a safe summer and spend plenty of time flinging those practice arrows.

Mike Yeary, Chairman

CBA POLICY STATEMENT Bowhunting Seasons: The CBA will promote seasons and season structures that strengthen and enhance the opportunities for bowhunting with the handheld, hand-drawn bow and actively oppose seasons and season structures that diminish or degrade those opportunities without evidence of overriding wildlife management goals. Legal Bowhunting Equipment: The CBA will develop and promote bowhunting regulations with thresholds that limit hunters to using only the handheld, hand-drawn bow and that emphasize archery and bowhunting skills. Crossbows: The CBA categorically rejects crossbow technology as being legal archery equipment for use during any archery season in Colorado, and will actively oppose the use of crossbows or implementation of crossbow seasons under any circumstance, where such use will diminish or degrade the bowhunting experience, opportunity and/or quality with the handheld, hand-drawn bow. www.coloradobowhunting.org

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Please Note: Anyone wanting to include events on this calendar should contact Joel Anderson using the contact information listed below. Events sent only to the online CBA calendar coordinator are not automatically included on this calendar. July 1 CBA Board of Directors Meeting – Meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. – CPW Bighorn Room, 6060 Broadway, in Denver. CBA members are encouraged to attend monthly Board of Directors meetings. July 5, 12, 19, 26 Academy Archery Spring Field Leagues – USAF Academy, 17610 Charter Pines Dr, Monument, CO 80132. 165 forested acres with 4 14-target walking ranges, 1 25-target 3D range, a 10-80 yard “static” range, a FITA 30, 50, 60, 70, 90 meter lane, & a static broadhead lane. Day Pass: $10, Annual Membership (available Saturday only from 9-4): $90 single/ $130 family. Visit academyarcheryclub.org website and open the “access range” tab for instructions on accessing the Air Force Academy. Contact: Allan Duhon at 719.333.3557 or 719.481.4749. July 15-17 CBA’s Annual Jamboree – Held at the Quail Mountain Recreation Area between Leadville and Buena Vista, Colorado. Activities include an Endurance Shoot, swap meet, chili cookoff, Raffles, Door Prizes, and a Saturday Night Dance with a live band. There will be vendors, a sight in range, and 3D Target shooting. Compete in calling contests. For the kids – an archery range, pop shoot, and activity tent. Ranges – six 3D ranges, including a family range and an extreme range. Be sure to register for the CBA Dream Hunt. Registration starts Thursday at 5 pm to 7 pm. Then the registration booth is open from Friday 7 am to 5 pm, same hours on Saturday and Sunday 7 to noon. For information visit http://www. coloradobowhunting.org/event-2217475. July 15 Ted Nugent Kamp for Kids – 7:30 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Hosted by the Colorado Bowhunters Association and held in conjunction with the CBA’s Annual Jamboree. The Kamp provides basic instruction and information to youth in a variety of types of outdoor recreation. Must pre-register - registration is now open. To register, call Carol Ashurst 720.231.5826. July 17 Pioneer Bowmen 3D Shoot – In Beulah, Colorado at Pueblo

www.coloradobowhunting.org

Mountain Park. Shoot starts at 9:00 a.m. “Shooters can follow the signs to Pueblo Mtn. Park.” For more information call George Williams at 719.510.4770. August 5 CBA Board of Directors Meeting – Meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. – CPW Bighorn Room, 6060 Broadway, in Denver. CBA members are encouraged to attend monthly Board of Directors meetings. August 6 Before the Hunt” 3D Freedom Hunters – Helping Disabled Veterans (Benefit Shoot) – “ Serving our wounded Vets.” USAF Academy, 17610 Charter Pines Dr, Monument, CO 80132. 60 targets. We invite ALL archers to our tournaments. If you are a non-member visit our www.academyarcheryclub.org. “Access Range” tab and follow the easy instructions listed. Enter the Academy’s South Gate where your name will appear on a pre-approved list for easy access. Contact: Allan Duhon at 719.333.3557 or 719.481.4749. August 24 Pioneer Bowmen 3D Shoot – In Beulah, Colorado at Pueblo Mountain Park. Shoot starts at 9:00 a.m. “Shooters can follow the signs to Pueblo Mtn. Park.” For more information call George Williams at 719.510.4770. Bowhunter Education Classes – Registration is required. Information regarding upcoming Bowhunter Education can be found on the CBA Website at http://www.coloradobowhunting.org/Events or by calling Colorado Parks and Wildlife at 303.291.7530. Regular Hunter Education Classes: Visit the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Web page for information regarding upcoming classes - http:// cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/HunterEducation.aspx or call CPW at 303.291.7530. Contact your local archery range to participate in weekly leagues. A list of Archery Shops and Ranges that are CBA members is provided in every issue of the CBA Magazine. Additional event info – found on the CBA Calendar at http://www. coloradobowhunting.org/. **To have an event included on the calendar, please email it to me at [email protected] or send it via traditional mail to the address below so it reaches me before the deadline. I can also be reached at 720.480.6904. Joel Anderson 14901 E. Hampden Ave, Suite 260 Aurora, Colorado 80014 July-August 2016

The Colorado BOWHUNTER 17

CBA REGIONAL & AREA REPRESENTATIVES DENVER METRO REGION Jim Gilmore Carol Ashurst Don Biesecker David Blatner Ivan James Rose Long Daniel Martel John McDonald Bob O’Borne Patrick Reynolds Refugio Silva Robert Ventura

9870 City View Dr. 800 Northwoods Dr. West 575 Troy Ave. 2402 E. 148th Dr. 17174 Pony Pond Dr. 800 Northwoods Dr. West 8924 W. Cornell Place 3185 W. Monmouth Ave. 13200 East 5th Ave. 679 S. Reed Ct. #3-201 19385 E. 58th Dr 5155 Deephaven Ct.

Morrison 80465 Woodland Park 80863 Aurora 80011 Thornton 80602 Colo Sprgs 80908 Woodland Park 80863 Lakewood 80227 Englewood 80110 Aurora 80011 Lakewood 80226 Aurora 80019 Denver 80239

303-514-0254 720-231-5826 303-344-8880 303-452-5260 719-495-9336 720-936-5778 303-249-4315 303-435-1134 720-352-3109 303-710-5675 720-273-2918 303-953-1966

81639 Steamboat Spgs. Oak Creek 80467 Phippsburg 80469

970-276-2055 970-879-0953 970-736-8280 970-736-0220

Ft. Collins 80528 Windsor 80550 Ft. Collins 80524 Wellington 80549 Greeley 80634 Ft. Collins 80522 Loveland 80537 Longmont 80503 Ft. Collins 80526 Ft. Collins 80524 Loveland 80537 Pierce 80650 LaSalle 80645 La Salle 80645 Fort Collins 80525 Greeley 80631 Windsor 80550 Fort Lupton 80621 Fort Collins 80524 Fort Collins 80525 LaSalle 80645 Loveland 80538 Ft. Collins 80525 Ft. Morgan 80701 Holyoke 80734 Longmont 80504 Yuma 80759

970-342-5447 402-850-3058 970-631-6866 970-568-3446 970-353-4671 970-567-0271 970-290-800 303-702-0840 970-231-2457 970-484-5926 970-691-1972 970-834-9600 970-284-5045 970-284-5045 970-266-8410 970-420-2310 970-302-8381 303-941-3775 970-416-1791 970-226-3024 970-313-3590 970-663-4142 970-226-4678 970-867-6550 970-580-1820 720-652-9100 970-630-0028

NORTHWEST REGION Dennis Slunaker 5575 County Road 78 Cedar Beauregard Byron/Clarice Dean P. O. Box 677 Darren Ebaugh P. O. Box 32

Hayden

NORTHEAST REGION Evan Peters 8421 Never Summer Cir Jerry Hraban 6780 Crooked Stick Dr. Matt Beck 425 Sundance Circle Ryan Berg 3376 Mammoth Circle Todd Chrisman 5220 Kanawha Lane Levi Gallegos P.O. Box 1037 Tom Hanson 618 18th St. SW Cam Johnson 3594 Larkspur Dr. Ron Kammerzell 706 Rocky Mountain Way Dan Leonhardt 225 Bradley Dr. Stacey Litchfield 345 Washington Ave. Alan Mathiason P. O. Box 301 Alexis Millsap 154 S. 6th St. Randy Millsap 154 South 6th St. Mark Moore 3024 Marina Lane #5 Scott Moore 11236 Hillcrest Dr. Richard Morris 725 Walnut PO Box 356 Eric Myrick 15463 Higgins Ave. Paul Navarre 925 Cottonwood Dr. John Peters 416 Skyway Drive Jared Smith 203 Locust St. Randy Starks 3967 WCR 16H Troy Tafoya 6243 Buchanan St. Rod Washburn 305 Cheyenne Jack Wieland P. O. Box 96 Boyd Wild 1725 Vista View Dr. #E Randy Wilkens 2266 County Road 33 ** Youth Area Rep

18 The Colorado BOWHUNTER July-August 2016

SOUTHEAST REGION George Williams Dave Garrett Leonard Moore

517 N. Idledale Dr. 409 N. Commercial St. 102 W. Blakeland

Pueblo West 81007 Trinidad 81082 Pueblo West 81007

719-510-4770 719-680-2527 719-564-2571

Durango Bayfield Durango Bayfield Creede Pagosa Spgs Creede Monte Vista Mosca

81301 81122 81301 81122 81130 81147 81130 81144 81146

970-946-6730 970-884-5004 970-247-2013 970-884-4194 719-658-0926 970-731-2369 719-658-2925 719-852-5743 719-480-0626

80440 81647 81623 81416

970-406-0302 970-404-1665 719-836-9839 970-984-9783 970-948-4870 970-874-1582

Fountain 80817 Colo. Spgs. 80909 Monument 80132 Woodland Pk 80863 Green Mtn. 80819 Colo. Sprgs. 80906 Colo. Sprgs. 80919

719-229-4251 719-227-1093 719-488-3562 719-687-1918 719-375-9629 719-576-6306 719-599-0161

SOUTHWEST REGION Grant Siggins Jason Cassady John Gardner Craig Hopkins Dave Powell Mike Reid Rex Shepperd Glenn Slingerland Ken Strandberg

101 Laughing Dog Ln 250 Forest Lakes Dr. 559 E.6th Ave. 1711 N. Taylor Cicle 29280 Highway 149 P. O. Box 4592 P. O. Box 146 463 Adams St. 5315 Barker St.

WEST REGION Fred Turner Chance Berry Todd Clark Richard Davis, Jr. Tyler Pearce Mark Wollert

Eagle Fairplay New Castle Carbondale Delta

PO Box 1203 818 Ute Circle 556 Black Bear Trail 17504 B Rd.

EAST REGION Craig Kimball Dennis Hess David Iverson Randy Matthews Tom McCarley Steve Mitchell Dave Roudebush

10 Arrow H Rd. 2526 Lelary St. 380 Scrub Oak Cir. 50 Edlowe Ct. PO Box 718 2894 Tenderfoot Hill St 192 Arequa Ridge Dr.

OUT-OF-STATE MEMBER REGION Dennis Phoff Larry O. Baker Thomas Baldwin Roger Burton Daniel Halcomb Edgar Kepfer Johnnie Lujan Matt Moore Rob Musser Michael Piontkowski Bob Schwanke Jerry Woodland

26765 Bradley St. Conifer 80433 4991 E. Asbury Denver 80222 Cashmere, WA 98815 5115 Hinman Rd. 1118 Township Rd. #1704 Ashland, OH 44805 No. Salem, IN 46165 6476 N. CO. RD. 400 W. 18 Deer Pond Acres Warsaw, NY 14569 19 Martin Road Hebron, CT 06248 28400 Northwest Hwy 4 • Southfield, MI 48034 131 Edgewood Bay Dr. • Lakeview, AR 72642 4114 Pawnee Rd. Perry, KS 66073 56253 302nd St. Malvern, IA 51551 11361 N. 2000 E. • Richmond, UT 84333

970-402-8597 303-753-1143 509-782-7820 416-651-0303 765-676-5483 585-786-0511 860-402-2582 248-770-0784 720-244-8317 785-597-5137 712-824-8555 435-258-5660

www.coloradobowhunting.org

CBA CLUB AFFILIATES Academy Archery Club USAF Academy 17610 Charter Pines Dr. Monument, CO 80132 Contact: Allan Duhon Phone: 719-333-3557 Alernate Phone: 719-481-4749 Day Pass: $5 Annual Membership (available Saturday only): $60 sinngle, $100 family 165 forested acres with 4 14-target walking ranges, 1 25-target 3D range, a 10-80 yard “static” range, a FITA 30, 50, 60, 70, 90 meter lane, & a static broadhead lane Day Pass: $10 Annual Membership (available Saturday only from 9-4): $90 single/ $130 family. Visit academyarcheryclub.org and open the “access range” tab for instructions on accessing the Air Force Academy. American Bowman Club 13664 South Baird Road Conifer, CO 303-956-0437 www.americanbowmen.org Contact: Jeff Fleisher Members: Cap of 125 Rance: C-470 & Hwy 285 Approximately 22 miles to Conifer 40 target range Dues: $185 annual fee Big Thompson Bowhunters Contact: Mike Fiscus Location: Lon Hagler Range P.O. Box 1984 Loveland, CO 80539 970-667-8764 www.bigthompsonbowhunters.org Dues Per Year: $25/Family Colorado Traditional Archers Contact: Dean Derby 2693 Paradise Way Grand Juction, CO 81506 www.colotradarchers.com Columbine Bowmen Inc. 16876 Hoot Owl Ct. Parker, CO 80134 303-525-5713 [email protected] www.columbinebowmen.com Contact: Katy Luth 30-acre forested site boasts two 14-target trail courses, as well as a practice range. All ranges consist of marked yardages from 10 to 80 yards. The ranges are open to the public for a nominal fee daily from sunup to sundown. Access is through the pedestrian gate from the parking lot. During tournaments, the gates will be open, and to Club Members anytime. For tournament schedules and additional information, visit ColumbimeBowmen.com Ft. Collins Archery Assoc. Contact: Michel Magers P. O. Box 70493 Ft. Collins, CO 80527-0493 970-481-3903 [email protected] www.ftcollinsarchery.com Approx Members: 300 Outdoor range along Poudre River Open to the public Bathrooms & Picnic Shelter Targets: 15 Field, 13 Practice Broadhead Pit Location: SW Frontage Rd @ 1-25 & Prospect Rd., Exit 268 Dues Per Year: $35 Family Web site: ftcollinsarchery.com Wednesday night 3D League - May - August

Frontier Archery Club 35027 CO RD 27 Kiowa, CO 80117 303-854-4843 Contact: Chip Havens www.frontierarcheryclub.org Membership $130, we are a 3D range with 30 plus targets, mostly big game Reinharts, on 20 acres of creek bottom. Sight in range and club house. we are on the premises of Quail Run Sporting Clays so there is year round access Gamelines Archery Club Contact: Bob Radocy PO Box 19184 Boulder, CO 80308 303-444-4720 www,gamelinesarchery.com [email protected] Ranges: Private, mountain range in foothills west of Boulder, Challenging 3D field/hunting style range, 2D practice range Dues variable, individual, couple, family, working and non- working membership structure. Open year round. Golden High Country Archers Contact: Fred Seyfriend P. O. Box 16484 Golden, CO 80402 303-353-7150 [email protected] www.ghcarchers.org Greeley Archers Contact: Charlie Morgan P.O. Box 337202 Greeley, CO 80633 970-381-7350 [email protected] www.greeleyarchers.com Approx. Members: 60 Targets: 1 IN + 2 OUT-50 3-D Location: South Greeley Dues Per Year: $40 Piedra Bowhunters P. O. Box 185 Monte Vista, CO 81144 719-852-9881 www.piedrabowhunters.tripod.com Contact: Mike Shanahan Pioneer Bowman PO Box 232 Pueblo, CO 81002 George Williams 719-510-4770 Chris Fesmire 719-369-8431 Membership: $18 per month for 8 months Key deposit: $5

VOLUNTEERS & ASSOCIATES EDITOR Jeff Anderson 3004 S. Biscay Circle Aurora, CO 80013 720-203-4477 [email protected]

CPW REPRESENTATIVE Tom Behunin 6114 Utica St. Arvada, CO 80002 303-594-2147 [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES Kelly Roe [email protected]

SUPPLY CHAIRMAN

HISTORIAN Conrad Dreher 9660 City View Dr. Morrison, CO 80465 303-697-9660

RECORDS CHAIRMAN David Stone 2224 Stuart Longmont, CO 80501 303-881-8435 [email protected]

BUSINESS MEMBER CHAIRMAN Gerald Rasmussen, Jr. 310 South 1st Ave. Ault, CO 80610 970-324-5416 [email protected]

JAMBOREE CHAIRMAN Tom Behunin [email protected] CO-JAMBOREE CHAIRMAN

ADVERTISING EDITOR/SALES BOWHUNTER EDUCATION Don Biesecker 575 Troy Ave. Aurora, CO 80011 303-344-8880 [email protected]

CBA WEBMASTER Kelly Roe P.O Box 848 Longmont, CO 80502 [email protected]

CLUB AFFILIATE CHAIRMAN Rod Washburn 305 Cheyenne Fort Morgan, CO 80701 970-867-6550 [email protected]

YOUTH COORDINATOR Carol Ashurst 800 Northwoods Dr. West Woodland Park, CO 80863 720-231-5826 [email protected]

BANQUET CHAIRMAN LIFE MEMBERSHIPS Roger Trudell 2565 Tamarack Ave. Boulder, CO 80304 303-443-4093 [email protected]

CBA AMBASSADOR Fred Eichler PO Box 451 Aguilar, CO 81020 [email protected] 719-941-4392

Red Feather Bowmen Inc. 9755 3200 Road Hotchkiss, CO 81419 St. Vrain Archery & Bowhunting PO Box 92 Longmont, CO 80502 303-775-3589 www.svarchery.org Tabeguache Archers Club P. O. Box 216 Naturita, CO 81422 970-865-2856 Wapiti Bowmen P.O. Box 772048 Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 970-879-1316 [email protected] Contact: Todd Thrasher West Elk Archers PO Box 616 Gunnison, CO 81230 970-641-1845

www.coloradobowhunting.org

July-August 2016 The Colorado BOWHUNTER 19

BUSINESSES ARCHERY DEALERS Archery in the Wild 1725 Vista View Dr. #E Longmont, CO 80504 720-652-9100 www.archeryinthewild.com Archery School of the Rockies 1831 N. Circle Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80909 719-272-4379 brook@archeryschooloftherockies. com Bear Creek Archery, Inc. 3340 S. Knox Ct. Englewood, CO 80110 303-781-8733 www.bearcreekarchery.com Bowhunters Edge 3812 E. Pikes Peak Ave. Suite 217 Colorado Springs, CO 80909 719-321-7760 Gannett Ridge Hunting Equipment 264 N College Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-493-4505 Jax Outdoor Gear 1200 N. College Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-221-0544 Jax Outdoor Gear 900 S. Highway 287 Lafayette, CO 80026 720-286-6160 Loveland Archery Exchange 907 Van Buren Ave. Loveland, CO 80537 970-667-2934 No Limits Archery 3050 E. 78th Ave. Denver, CO 303-270-0185 Timberline Archery 520 Corte Amino Fountain, CO 80817 719-382-7113 Valley Traditional Archery 30 Sunrise Blvd. Silt, CO 81652 970-876-0170 www.valleytradarchery.com

Western Recreation PO Box 70 Poncha Springs, CO 81242 719-539-1295 www.westernrecreationindustriesinc.com

OTHER

GUIDES & OUTFITTERS

Arapahoe Meat Co. 12420 Arapahoe Road Lafayette, CO 80026 303-673-9165 [email protected]

Broken Spoke Game Ranch 8700 Reeder Mesa Road Whitewater, CO 81527 970-241-3949 www.brokenspokegamranch.com Dave Parri’s Outfitting P. O. Box 254 Hot Sulphur Spgs, CO 80451 970-725-3531 www.traditionalelkhunt.com J Bar H Outfitters, LLC PO Box 569 Meeker, CO 81641 800-230-HUNT (4868) www.jbarhoutfitters.com

Andersohn Law Office, PC 11971 Quay St. Broomfield, CO 80020 303-650-6414

Clark’s Processing 62 Conifer Circle • PO Box 50 Florissant, CO 80816 719-689-6427 www.clarksprocessing.com Colorado Cylinder Stoves 3867 G Road Palisade, CO 81526 970-986-0047 Ironclad Metal Effects 12435 Mead Way Littleton, CO 80125 303-996-8972 www.ironcladmetaleffects.com

Steve’s Meat Market 5751 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. Arvada, CO 80002 303-422-3487 www.stevesmeatmarket.com Stronghorse Enterprises LLC PO Box 4628 Eagle, CO 81631 970-390-0150 The Bugman Pest Control Services 719-410-4770 [email protected] WIBS EMS Billing 4090 E. Yucca Ln. Larkspur, CO 80118 719-488-6537

TAXIDERMISTS Alpine Taxidermy P. O. Box 79 Hot Sulphur Spgs, CO 80451 970-725-3534 Animal House Taxidermy 329 Kelly Lane Brighton, CO 80603 303-659-1015

Northern Colorado Llamas 996 Deer Meadow Way Livermore, CO 80536 970-482-7697 www.nllamas.com

Joseph’s Journey P.O. Box 150453 Lakewood, CO 80215 303-989-5710 www.josephsjourney.org

Sable Mountain Outfitters 5100 County Road 4 Meeker, CO 81641 970-878-4765 www.sablemountainoutfitters.com

Platte Valley Fire Protection Inc. PO Box 809 Wellington, CO 80549 970-222-6946 [email protected]

Shiloh Sharps Taxidermy 5186 S. Uraven Place Centennial, CO 80015 720-588-5080 Specializing in Fish & Birds

Reliable Big Game Processing 919 North Highway 287 Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-224-4881

Wildlife Creations Taxidermy 5531 NCR 29C Bellevue, CO 80512 970-472-8133 www.wildlifecreationstaxidermy.com

Rocky Mountain Specialty Gear 5340 Sheridan Blvd. Denver, CO 303-421-2259

Wildlife Expressions 559 E. 6th Avenue Durango, CO 81301 970-247-2013

Silver Peaks Outfitters 11461 County Road 22 Cortez, CO 81321 970-565-4778 www.silverpeaksoutfitters.com Tenderfoot Outfitters PO Box 246 Gunnison, CO 81230 970-641-0504 Turner’s Guide Service P.O. Box 955 Idaho Springs, CO 80452 303-567-4035 www.rmbga.com

Heritage Taxidermy 25500 Manning Road Pueblo, CO 81006 719-568-0176

San Juan Surveying PO Box 3730 Telluride, CO 81435 970-728-1128

MANUFACTURERS Pronghorn Custom Bows 2491 West 42nd Street Casper, WY 82604 307-234-1824 www.pronghornbows.com

20 The Colorado BOWHUNTER July-August 2016

www.coloradobowhunting.org

Colorado Bowhunters Assoc. Attn: Mike Yeary, CBA Chair 66 Burnett Street Bailey, CO 80421 [email protected] • 303-324-7486

www.coloradobowhunting.org

July-August 2016

The Colorado BOWHUNTER 21

- PRO SHOPS This section is dedicated to the FULLTIME shops that are located in the state of Colorado and are current CBA business members. Please call your Pro Shop for styles of bows sold and serviced or visit them in person. Information in this section can change without notice. Please call or write the editor with your comments or changes. Name

A W 1725 V V D S L , CO 80504 (720) 652-9100

Hours Mon.

League Tues.

10 -9

10 -9

Start Times Wed. Thurs.

10 -9

10 -9

Fri.

10 -9

Sat.

Sun.

9 -5

12 -5

Indoor Lanes Max. Dist. Other Serv.

Total

25

PL, CR, RR, BR, CI C S

18

GL, PL, RR, CI, BR T ,L , JOAD (A & JR) 3D -

.E ****CALL FOR FALL, WINTER AND YEAR ROUND LEAGUE TIMES****

A

S 11 -8 R 1831 N. C D . C S , CO 80909 719-ARCHERY (272-4379)

12 -6

11 -8

12 -6

11 -8

11 -6

B C A 3350 S . K C. E , CO 80110 (303) 781-8733

12 -9 O

12 -9 O L 6:30

12 -9 C N 7

12 -9 L 7

12 -9 10 -6 C 20 20 L JOAD 7 ****OPEN SHOOTING EVERY NIGHT****

G R H E 264 N C A . F C , CO 80524 970-493-4505

C

10 -8

10 -8

10 -8

10 -8

H A 205 N E P , CO 81003 719-924-8682

11 -7

@

11 -7

C

52

.

11 -7

11 -7

11 -7

10 -8

11 -5

12 -5

C

10

.

20

40

PL, B D PSE A F P F O

40

J A D 1200 N. C F C , CO 80524 970-221-0544 @ .

8 -9 W

J O G 900 S. H 287 L , C 80026 720-266-6160

8 -8

L A E 907 V B B-160 L , CO 80537 970-667-2934

@ 8 -9 H

M

.

8 -9 8 -9 -F 8 -8

8 -9

8 -8

9 -6 F

7 S

B A S

8 -8

C

11 -8

8 -8

11 -8

8 -8

11 -6

8 -8

11 -6

8 -7

9 -6

10

9 -6 C 9 -11 K 3D S

14 . 20 S ,R PE L —C 14

30

.

.

Q D A C 12339 N. M W H R , CO 80125 303-683-2944 :// .

11 -8

R M A 4518 I D F C , CO 80525 970-226-5900 • .

10 -9

10 -9

R M S G 4298 K S .U B W R , CO 80033 303-421-2259

10 -6

11 -8

11 -8

11 -8

11 -6

C

10 -9

10 -9

10 -7 12N-5 9 -11 K 3D S

20

30

28

25

M Y

& D

S

, R P

S

V

D L &B

, CR, CI, R S

/T M F B

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/ Q

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GL, PL, CR, DART, RR, CI

/C D

S T

S &R

RR, BR. GL, LP, R , C , CR, / C ,T P

S

,L

. 10 -9

.

PL, Y C

/3D/T , CR,

. 10 -6

10 -6

10 -6

10 -7

10 -7

C , K C

300

S P

S

.

W R 8 -5 150 P P . P S , CO 81242 (719) 539-1295

8 -6 L 7-9

22 The Colorado BOWHUNTER July-August 2016

8 -5

8 -6 L 7-9

8 -5

8 -2

O S GL: G PL: P

L L

C

10

K

:CR: C ; VR: V ;RR: R

20

R R

.

GL, PL, CR, RR, CI, BR

; CI:C ; BR: B ;

I R

www.coloradobowhunting.org

;

COLORADO BOWHUNTERS ASSOCIATION

CHAIRMAN Mike Yeary 66 Burnett St. Bailey, CO 80421 303-324-7486 [email protected]

CPW REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTOR Tom Behunin 6114 Utica St. Arvada, CO 80003 303-594-2147 [email protected]

VICE-CHAIRMAN OPERATIONS Byron Dean PO Box 677 Oak Creek, CO 80467 970-736-8280 [email protected]

DIRECTOR (AT LARGE) Ken Brown 12985 Banyon Circle Parker, CO 80134 916-202-0215 [email protected]

VICE-CHAIRMAN PUBLIC RELATIONS Mark Taylor 7984 Native Dancer Trail Evergreen, CO 80439 303-885-9008 [email protected]

DIRECTOR (AT LARGE) Curtis Mock PO Box 6719 Denver, CO 80206 573-268-2333 [email protected]

VICE-CHAIRMAN LEGISLATION Ivan James 17174 Pony Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80908 719-495-9336 [email protected]

DIRECTOR (AT LARGE) David Twinam 10542 Sandstone Run Littleton, CO 80125 720-289-3810 [email protected]

TREASURER Roger Trudell 2565 Tamarack Ave. Boulder, CO 80304 303-443-4093 [email protected]

DIRECTOR (AT LARGE) Rod Washburn 305 Cheyenne Fort Morgan, CO 80701 970-867-6550 [email protected]

SECRETARY Ed Kissam 1600 S. County Road 29 Loveland, CO 80537 970-669-5546 [email protected]

DIRECTOR (AT LARGE) Todd Flannery 25895 Lost Cabin Trail Evergreen, CO 80439 303-598-4233 [email protected]

BUSINESS MEMBER DIRECTOR Gerald Rasmussen, Jr. P.O. Box 1221 Ault, CO 80610 970-834-2937 [email protected]

DENVER METRO REGION (EAST) Chris Lueddeke 5063 W. 35th Ave. Denver, CO 80212 505-319-8548 [email protected]

DENVER METRO REGION (WEST) James Gilmore 9870 City View Dr. Morrison, CO 80465 [email protected] [email protected] NORTHWEST REGION Dennis Slunaker 5575 CO Road 78 Hayden, CO 81639 970-276-2055 [email protected] SOUTHEAST REGION George Williams 517 N. Idledale Dr. Pueblo, CO 81007 719-510-4770 [email protected] NORTHEAST REGION Jerry Hraban 6780 Crooked Stick Dr. Windsor, CO 80550 402-850-3058 [email protected] SOUTHWEST REGION Grant Siggins 101 Laughing Dog Lane Durango, CO 81301 970-946-6730 [email protected] EAST REGION Craig Kimball 10 Arrow H Rd. Fountain, CO 80817 719 229-4251 [email protected] WEST REGION Fred Turner 970-406-0302 [email protected]

OUT OF STATE REGION Dennis Pfohl 26765 Bradley St. Conifer, CO 80433 970-402-8597 [email protected]

Keeping The Legacy Alive... www.coloradobowhunting.org

July-August 2016

The Colorado BOWHUNTER 23

24 The Colorado BOWHUNTER July-August 2016

www.coloradobowhunting.org

PO Box 8320 Denver, CO 80201

720-201-3791 www.bighornsheep.org

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July-August 2016

The Colorado BOWHUNTER 25

LEGISLATIVE REPORT By Ivan James, Vice-Chairman, Legislation

T

he 2016 session of the Colorado General Assembly adjourned sine die on May 11. There is talk of a special session this summer, but only to address a financial issue and only if it seems that an agreement in principle can be reached beforehand. Thus, we have nothing facing us legislatively until 2017. We tracked quite a few bills and put varying levels of effort into them depending on several factors, including their interest to the bowhunting community, the likelihood that we could affect the outcome of the bill, and the likelihood that the bill stood a chance of moving. In January we put out a legislative questionnaire to get the membership’s perspective on issues that might be coming up in 2016 or that we should be preparing for in 2017. Thanks to the 500 members who responded to that questionnaire. Results have previously been reported here as well as by an e-mail blast. We have used these results in crafting our legislative agenda and responses where applicable. The following is a wrap up of what happened to the bills that we followed this year, more or less in order of when they active in the General Assembly. In 2015 a bill was passed to allow offhighway vehicles (OHVs) to cross county and city roads (but not state roads) subject to some regulations. HB16-1030 started off as a rather complicated bill to allow OHVs to cross all public roads and to allow county and town jurisdictions to allow OHVs on their public roads under rather detailed strictures. The bill that finally passed was much simpler: 1) allowing OHVs to make at grade crossings of all public roads to continue on their trail, and 2) authorizing towns and counties to permit OHVs to use their public roads subject only to having a driver’s license and insurance, subject to state approval of such local regulations. SB16-021 passed. It establishes

26 The Colorado BOWHUNTER July-August 2016

the fourth Monday in March as “Public Lands Day” to recognize the significant contributions that national public lands within Colorado make to wildlife, recreation, the economy, and to Coloradoans’ quality of life. This bill provides no protection from attempts that we have been seeing to pass legislation encouraging the transfer of public lands out of public ownership, but it did provide an opportunity for many public lands advocates to testify how important these lands are to the citizens of Colorado. The CBA did not take an official position on the bill but we did testify to the results of our legislative survey that found that 96 percent of our membership opposed any legislation advocating the transfer of public lands as opposed to 1.2 percent that favored such transfers. SB16-119, which would have given the Parks and Wildlife Commission (PWC) authority to include bighorn sheep, moose, desert bighorn and mountain goats in the landowner preference program was postponed indefinitely (killed) in Senate Ag. Committee. This could have been good news in a way, but Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) retains authority to allocate landowner licenses through its contractual authority, so nothing really changes on their new three-to-one Ranching for Wildlife program (e.g. three landowner licenses to one public license) replacing the old oneto-one program used in the past. Instead, SB16-137 was passed which makes explicit the authority of the PWC to enter into contracts with private landowners that may include the granting of hunting licenses. This is CPW’s preferred approach to the issues which were originally addressed by SB16-119. Sportsmen remain concerned that this might give a future Commission not friendly to sportsmen too much authority, particularly with respect to some of our most sought after big-game licenses. SB16-068 passed, which allows the

use of solid florescent pink as well as florescent orange while hunting with a firearms license. This was apparently an effort to encourage more women to get into the field. We heard both sides from women in the CBA, e.g. 1) that they had been wearing hunter orange as long as they had been firearms hunting and saw no reason to change and 2) that some really liked florescent pink. As this does not much affect us as bowhunters, the CBA was neutral on the bill. HB16-1220 would have allowed the Parks and Wildlife Commission to set bear seasons any time after August 2 instead of the current September 2. A bill last year that would have mandated a ‘general purpose’ August bear season died in committee. There was some concern among the CBA Board about having potentially thousands of bear hunters disturbing game the month before archery season opened, though we assumed that the CPW would have used their authority under this year’s bill judiciously. The bill was assigned to the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee (“kill committee”) where that happened. SB16-151 would have established hunting, trapping and fishing as the primary way for controlling and managing wildlife. It included a legislative declaration. The bill would not have protect us from subsequent citizen’s initiatives or legislation threatening these rights as would a constitutional amendment to guarantee the right to hunt and fish and as has been done is several other states. Where the bill might have been beneficial would be if there were a move to control wildlife populations with contraception, as has been suggested for urban deer herds in some other states. The bill died in House committee.

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HB16-1341 would have attempted to reduce the poaching of ‘animals threatened with extinction’ by prohibiting the sale in Colorado of animal parts from ‘elephants, rhinoceroses, tigers, lions, leopards, cheetahs, pangolins, marine turtles, sharks and rays’. It would have exempted historical parts embedded in knives, weapons and musical instruments. There were several problems with this bill. First, several of these species are already covered by CITES and Colorado legislation would be superfluous. Second, there was no exemption for legally taken elephants, leopards and lions, and these species are not threatened with extinction. Third, it made the CPW and its officers responsible for enforcement without providing any funds for such. Therefore it would be sportsmen paying the bill for this when the people pushing the legislation are not paying a dime. Several other states were considering similar legislation or legislation specifically geared to ivory. These are concerted anti-hunting efforts by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and Defenders of Wildlife. While not many of us bowhunters would be going after elephants, lions, and leopards with our archery equipment, the bill would have effectively banned your formerly legal Marv Clyncke scrimshawed belt buckles and bolo ties. We opposed this bill vigorously and were able to see it die in Senate committee. HB16-1382 would have allowed any diversion or release from storage of water for any purpose for which an appropriation is lawfully made, including piscatorial, recreational, and aesthetic purposes, to be considered as a beneficial use Colorado water law. This is in response to a Colorado Supreme Court determination in St. Jude’s Co. v. Roaring Fork Club, that such uses were not considered beneficial under current Colorado water law. This may not relate very closely to bowhunter issues, but does have implications for fishermen and duck hunters as, in some cases, benefits for big game habitat. It was killed in the House Agriculture Committee.

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We anticipated a resident hunting license fee bill this year; however, some members of the Senate Agriculture Committee were not prepared to move forward without more and better information on what would be a sustainable financial future for the CPW as well as how increased revenues would be allocated to expenditures. While the results of the CBA legislative questionnaire showed generally good support for a license fee increase if needed, we were never given any concrete proposals for what this might look like. The CPW initially was pursuing giving authority to the Parks and Wildlife Commission to set hunting license fees much as they have for parks fees. This was the least preferred alternative among the alternatives in the CBA’s legislative questionnaire. This seems to now be less strongly pursued by the CPW. At the same time, CPW is facing the expiration in 2017 of the authority of the PWC to set park fees. Thus they face the need for a resident hunting license fee bill as well as an extension of the park fee authority, if the General Assembly is in a mood to grant the latter. Further complicating this from our perspective is that the CPW has never been forthcoming on the details of their budget as was promised by the Director of the Department of Natural Resources when Parks and the Division of Wildlife were being combined several years ago. What

they have up on their web site now is totally inadequate for a thorough understanding of the financial issues that they face, as well as how they expend their current funding. At the Sportsmen’s Day at the Legislature in April, the CPW proposed a series of five meetings around the state this summer to present and discuss the financial needs, the budget, and a proposal for resident license fee increases. Sportsmen asked for both financial information and proposals that would be appropriate for our members to understand and assess as well as detailed financial information for those of us who are willing to spend the time to dig more deeply into the CPW budget. Contrary to what we were led to believe early in the year, no citizen’s initiatives have materialized relating to lion or bear hunting. This could be for several reasons. First, it may have never been a credible threat in the first place. Second, HSUS is very smart on their initiatives and they may have done surveys that showed that passage would have been difficult. Third, they must budget like everyone else and may have decided to put their funds to other initiatives like the ivory bans attempted in Colorado and other states. Still, we must be vigilant in watching for such initiatives and being prepared to defend our values. The next opportunity for such an initiative would be in 2018, an off-year-election which might be less favorable for their causes.

Share your hunting successes and experiences. Submit articles and photos to CBA Editor Jeff Anderson at [email protected]. July-August 2016

The Colorado BOWHUNTER 27

28 The Colorado BOWHUNTER July-August 2016

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CBA Recipe Corner

By JoAnn Pettus

Wild Turkey Strips

Ingredients

10 strips wild turkey breasts - (you get about ten - cut against the grain) 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 2 Tbls olive oil 2 Tbls Worcestershire sauce 2 Tbls soy sauce 3 Tbls rice vinegar 10 strips bacon

Directions:

In an airtight sealed container, combine all of the ingredients (except the bacon) and marinate the turkey overnight. Wrap each piece of turkey in a slice of bacon and place on a lightly greased sheet pan. Bake at 425 for approximately 30 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp. I topped these with sautéed jalapenos and sweet peppers.

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July-August 2016

The Colorado BOWHUNTER 29

CBA

Kids Corner

Competitive Shooting From JOAD to the XXXI Olympic Games

S

ummertime, and there’s no bowhunting in sight until fall. You’re bored with shooting at the same target in your backyard every day, and even the lanes at the local archery shop fail to hold your attention. Why not shoot competitive archery? The summer of 2016 will also bring with it the Summer Olympic Games and if you have never watched Olympic Archery, now is the time. There are several different kinds of competitive archery, both to watch as a spectator and to compete in yourself. One is FITA-style archery, which is what Olympic archers shoot. FITA stands for Federation Internationale de Tir a l’Arc, known in English as the International Archery Federation. Participants in FITAstyle archery shoot recurve bows at mats with gold bullseyes. This type of archery is popular worldwide, and is the same kind of archery that youth in the JOAD—Junior Olympic Archery Development program of the National Archery Association— shoot. Olympic shooters also participate in the FITA-style shooting targets that look impossibly far away; targets are set at distances out to 90 meters, or just over 30 The Colorado BOWHUNTER July-August 2016

100 yards. Athletes score points by shooting arrows at 10 concentric scoring zones, from the golden bullseye 10-score at the center to the one-score on the white outer ring. They have 40 seconds to release each arrow. Good concentration, balance, and eyesight are key elements. The need for a steady hand and decent equipment goes without saying. Athletes opt for bows that are strong, light, and bendy, made mainly from laminated wood, aluminium, carbon fiber, fiberglass, and either ceramic or foam. Competitors can use bowsights as long as they do not contain magnifying glasses or lenses. Length of arrows can vary, depending on the draw length of the archer, with a metal point at the front and fletchings at the back to help with steady flight. Arrows are normally made from aluminium or carbon fiber and are colorcoded and labelled to give spectators a better idea which competitor they belong to. Bows propel arrows at around 150 mph. In the individual competition the perfect score is 720, which would require the archer to find the bullseye with all 72 of their shots - a feat which has never been achieved in Olympic competition. Any score above 110

is considered competitive, while 115 and above is a formidable total. Reading wind speed and compensating for it effectively is what separates the best archers from the rest of the pack. Even reading the crosswind slightly wrong can lead archers to not only miss the inner targets, but the board altogether. In the individual and team competitions, a preliminary round consisting of 72 arrows takes place to determine seeding before the official start of the match. The seedings are used to determine who plays whom in the head-to-head elimination rounds. In the individual competition, 64 archers compete in a knock-out format, with matches comprising 12 arrows each. In Olympic competition, any country that qualifies three male or three female archers into an individual event can compete in the corresponding team event. Team events follow the same competition format as the individual events except that knockout matches consist of 24 arrows per country eight per archer. Archery was introduced for the first time at the Games of the II Olympiad in Paris in 1900. It was then included on the

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program of the 1904, 1908 and 1920 Games before disappearing for over 50 years. The Games of the XX Olympiad in Munich in 1972 saw the re-introduction of archery on the Olympic program. Women were able to compete in archery events at the 1904 and 1908 Games, then again, like the men, in 1972. Eighty-four nations have competed in the Olympic archery events, with France appearing the most often at 31 times. The most noticeable trend has been the dominance of the Korean women archers, who have won 14 out of 15 gold medals in the women’s events since 1984. The Korean men archers have been strong in the team event, winning four out of seven gold medals, but have been less distinguished in the individual event. Another type of competitive archery is NFAA—National Field Archery Association—style. In NFAA tournaments, competitors shoot targets that are at a known distance. The target is a bullseye type, and the size of the bullseye can vary according to the distance you’re shooting. You shoot a lot of arrows in this kind of archery. A regular field round is a course of 28 targets that vary in distance from 10 yards to 80 yards. You shoot four arrows at each target, so there are lots of arrows shot in a day’s time. Within field archery there are a lot of classes and divisions, depending on what kind of equipment you shoot, your gender, your age, and other factors. For instance, there’s a division for recurve bows, a division for compound bows with sights and fingers, a division for compound bows with sights and releases, and a division for both women and youth. If you’re thinking about this style of target shooting, plan to spend a lot of time practicing. You may be shooting 120 arrows a day. You have to shoot a lot to stay in shape, because you want your last arrow to be as accurate as your first arrow. This is where fatigue comes in; if you’re not

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in shape, your groups — and your score — can fall apart. Finally, a type of competitive archery that has grown in popularity in the past few years is 3D archery. Archers are shooting at 3D animal-type targets at unknown distances in courses that are set up in both outdoor and indoor ranges. Like field archery, 3D archery tournaments have a lot of divisions for many different kinds of shooters. However, in the “pro” division of the 3D game, there can be a “speed limit” on arrows. Archers can’t shoot a bow that propels an arrow more than 280 feet per second (plus ten percent to allow for differences in the chronographs that measure arrow speeds). Typically, 3D tournaments draw more participants than a lot of field archery events. This type of shooting doesn’t require you to put in the long hours of practice that you have

to for field archery. Many times in a 3D competition you shoot a round of just 20 arrows at 20 targets. This type of shooting has helped many bowhunters in their quest for harvesting an animal, as well, because it teaches you to pick a spot on the target. Unlike many sports, competitive archery is a game for the entire family and can take you all the way to representing your country in the Olympic Games. It’s a place to hone your shooting skills and to get your kids and their friends, plus your significant other, playing the game with you. Check the list of events in this magazine or on our website www.coloradobowhunting.org or http://www.coloradoarchery.org/ https://rockymountainarcheryassoc.com/ https://www.nfaausa.com/ to find an archery event near you, and have fun matching your shooting skills against other archers in your area. July-August 2016

The Colorado BOWHUNTER 31

Dennis Howell with his mountain goat.

Success Photos Roger Trudell with his Dall sheep.

Andrew Munsell with his 2015 whitetail. 32 The Colorado BOWHUNTER July-August 2016

Corey Marcella with his first turkey.

Dave Stone with his 2015 Colorado buck.

Jason Baudino with his 2013 Colorado Pronghorn.

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