BOU is very different from UBA

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Wednesday, 21 April 2010 07:07

Bowhunters of Utah (BOU) is a different organization than the Utah Bowman’s Association (UBA). It has come to our attention that this organization may have misrepresented some of our positions and misconstrued the facts in some cases about what BOU is and stands for. We are different in a lot of ways and would like to make sure that we set the record straight. It is our opinion that anything highlighted in blue below represents a difference between the two organizations. We feel in the spirit of fairness that you go to a UBA board member/website to see their organization, positions, and membership make-ups. We have worked alongside UBA members many times in the past and anticipate working together in the future. We want to continue working with them in a spirit of camaraderie however, it is important that the facts remain clear about what our organization stands for and seeks to accomplish. We are;

Bowhunters of Utah (BOU)

Founded in 2006

Our only focus is on Bowhunting and sound wildlife management issues for the animals that we enjoy while hunting.

501(c3) non-profit. We do not have a sister organization.

Organization: Each member of BOU is assigned to a Regional Committee base on where he/she lives in the state. Regional Committees are geographically set up to involve members on a local level with local needs/concerns. Each Committee has 2 representatives that serve on the State-wide BOU board (12 regional reps all together). Other members on the State organization level are; President/Vice-President/Project Manager/Membership/Newsletter/Finance/Bowhunter Education. All positions relate back to bowhunting or wildlife management issues as they pertain to bowhunting.

Membership: Family memberships/Corporate Memberships

Positions:

-Conservation tag: BOU is supportive of the Conservation tag system as long as it remains within the 5% allotment as set forth in the original guidelines for the program. We do not auction Conservation tags nor do we have a sister organization that participates in this activity.

-Statewide Elk Plan: BOU was one of 2 votes against the Elk Committee’s proposal for elk management in Utah. We felt that the plan would lead to less opportunity for hunters in order to maintain higher quality (inches) of bulls harvested. Our stance as supported by the Sportsman’s survey is that people would like to hunt more frequently than 1 or 2 times in their lifetime.

-Statewide Deer Plan: BOU voted in favor of the statewide opportunity. (worked with UBA on this effort)

-Bowhunter Education: BOU is strongly in favor of the Bowhunter Education effort. We do not favor a statewide mandatory participation but we do recognize the need for it’s further use in helping bowhunters becoming more ethical hunters in special circumstances. One board member is assigned to help the DWR develop this program and other bowhunter education opportunities.

-Membership numbers: In a recent survey last fall of Bowhunters by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources the DWR estimated that UBA represented about 70 more bowhunters in their organization than BOU. Each year BOU has doubled in membership numbers and in this calendar year anticipates overtaking UBA as being the largest Bowhunter organization in the state of Utah. BOU does not require membership in order to participate in competitive shoots.

-Newsletter: The BOU Newsletter is really more like a magazine. It is comprised of many articles from both the BOU leadership and from a variety of it’s members. It’s focus is on bowhunting, and wildlife issues related to bowhunting. It seeks to both educate and entertain. There are multiple corporate sponsors that advertise in the newsletter.

-Annual Convention: BOU has an annual convention. It has been customary that it be centered around a raffle, and 3d shoot. It is a statewide event that has drawn bowhunters from all parts of the state to participate. We anticipate that it will continue to grow as time goes on. This years convention will be on July 26^th at the Lee Kay Center in Salt Lake City.

-Communication: BOU seeks for 2 way communication with it's members on a regular basis. Not only do we use the newsletter to do this but we also have an interactive forums based website that is high on receiving feedback from bowhunters, we periodically put out e-mails to our membership about issues that we are facing which also invite comment, and we have regional and state activities for members to get to know one another and communicate their feelings to fellow members as well as leadership. BOU not only seeks to inform its members but also involve them in the process. We have a place for you to get your hands dirty.

As you can see there are some significant differences. BOU’s focus is on bowhunting and sound wildlife management principles. If you are a bowhunter than this is your organization and we hope that you will choose to lend your support by becoming a BOU member by clicking on the tab above.

Sincerely,

Shaun Graves

BOU President

Last Updated on Thursday, 06 May 2010 20:45

Discuss (3 posts)

finnegan

Who's this "We", Kemo Sabe?
Apr 21 2010 23:32:03

Reading the latest item on the BOU splash page, BOU is very different from UBA, I have to ask. "We" sure isn't me.

I don't see UBA and BOU in competition. Everything I've ever done with BOU has been in the spirit of cooperation. And on BOU's behalf, it's been my pleasure and honor to cooperate with a lot of great people all over the state...often with people whose opinions are very different from my own.

I suppose there may be a few who see BOU as somehow in competition.

But there are a few flaws with that point of view.

For one, a bunch of BOU's members are also members of UBA, (so vice versa), and I'm glad to have them with us.

For another, since BOU promotes bowhunting, BOU actively seeks to build collaborative relationships with archery clubs. Most of those clubs (and their members) are also UBA members. I've never once heard even a hint that co-memberships aren't desirable. I'm a proud member of several organizations myself. There's no conflict of interest in that, and certainly no competition. I sure hope there's disagreement...may the gods help us if "we" ever become unanimous in everything.

Yet another, (and maybe the biggest of all), is the simple truth that competition is always for a prize. So I have to ask, if there's some sort of competition going on, just what is that prize? Seems to me the goal is the welfare of wildlife and promotion of bowhunting as a means to that end. If that's the case, competition with other hunters won't get the job done.

The item starts out by citing misrepresentations and misconstrued facts about what BOU stands for.

Well, that's okay because in my experience, if nobody's talking trash about you, you must not be doing anything. So I expect a lot of trash to get talked about BOU in the years ahead. But I figure if BOU just walks the talk, our actions will "set the records straight".

#737

matleg801

Re:Who's this "We", Kemo Sabe?
Apr 22 2010 02:51:36

Finn I can see your point, but let me give you another point. I don't disagree that if your a member of BOU you can't be a member of another organization, but if I was a member of another organization that voted for something like less opportunity for an example, like UBA and RMEF did, why would I keep paying them to be a member of there organization when they aren't standing up for something that you thought they did. Me, I would cancel my membership and become a member of an organization that listen's to their members and to the masses of bowhunters that aren't members (survey that was taken by hunters). I don't think it's competition, it's just good COMMON SENSE. I think your just throwing your money away. I guess my question is why would you be a member of UBA and RMEF and pay them dues when they voted the way they did? Please someone explain this to me. And again I will say become a member of an organization that will listen to you and that will stand up for your right to bowhunt. The only organization I see doing that is the BOU.

#738

shaun-graves

Re:Who's this "We", Kemo Sabe?
Apr 22 2010 15:50:55

Well Tonto, I think that there will be many that have duel memberships in both BOU and UBA. I don't see a problem with that. It is possible that for your particular interests it would serve you to have both memberships as the two groups serve different purposes. But to say that the two groups are the same, well ... that is

Those that would say that UBA and BOU are basically the same would be greatly mis-informed which is the intent of the article.

I will give you that BOU and UBA may not necessarily be competing because I think each organization has it's appeal to people based on what the individual's interests are. The underlying truth is that not all competetive shooters are bowhunters and not all bowhunters are competetive shooters. Certainly there will be some crossover but we generally tend to identify ourselves with one camp or the other. However, I can clearly state that if I had to choose the best choice for representing the interests of bowhunters/bowhunting, then BOU would win hands down as it only has one focus and people that are dedicated to that purpose. It is very easy to have your goals clouded when you are trying to make more than one camp of people happy.

This has always been one of the main reasons for another Bowhunting organization being formed. When you try to serve more than one interest in a volunteer organization you lose your effectiveness. Right now I see UBA with not only the effort to represent bowhunters within their ranks but also the task of pleasing the competetive shooters as well as some of the more influential archery clubs throughout the state, but recently has formed the sister organization of UBA for habitat to try and take on a 3rd master. Because this task has been so daunting I have heard rumors of the organization having to move away from being all volunteer and provide incentive through monitary payment for those in leadership positions. In the end you don't end up being able to do the same amount that you otherwise would have if your focus been more narrow to begin with. This simple truth manifested itself back in 2006 so clearly that BOU became the natural result.

The fruits of BOU are certainly showing themselves in the representation that Bowhunters had in you (Mike) and (Gordy) on both the Mule deer and Elk Committees respectively. BOU will gladly work with any group that is willing to espouse the concepts of sound wildlife management and doing things that are good for bowhunting (our focus). There have been a great many times that UBA and BOU have worked together and there have been other times where there have been differences of opinion as manifested on the elk committee. I was glad for BOU being there as I believe posts from sportsmen throughout Utah have commented on multiple forums about which choice better represented bowhunters.

Good post Finn.

#739

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