We’re on the final days of our countdown to the Bowhunters of Utah annual convention! We’ll be getting together this year at the Lee Kay Hunter Education Center (6000 West 2100 South, Salt Lake City) on Saturday, June 26 from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. Bring the whole clan along for a day of friends, food, a great raffle and of course, plenty of opportunity for everyone to shoot.
One important item of business that we attend to each year at this time is the election of the BOU Board for the coming year. Board members volunteer to serve for two years.
First, we want to give a hearty thanks to the outgoing Board members for their service:
Shaun Graves – President, (who will continue to serve as Emeritus)
Todd Black – Project Manager
Lance Postma – Northern Committee Chair
Brandon Reynolds – Central Committee Chair
Next, the following Board members will continue for the second year of their tenure:
Michael “Finnegan” Anderson – Vice President
Damon Stone – Newsletter Editor
Frank Taylor – Bowhunter Education
Brad Griffeth – Treasurer
Brad Smith – Membership
Trev Smith – Southern Committee Chair
Randy “Pudge” O’Neil – South Central Committee Chair
Finally, the following unopposed candidates have offered to serve with your approval:
Gordy Bell – President
Tye Boulter – Project Manager
Walter Bird – Southeastern Committee Chair
Daniel Davis – Northeastern Committee Chair
Justin Mueray – Northern Committee Chair
Kelly Hicks - Northern Committee Chair
This is the first year since BOU was founded that we’ve been fortunate enough to have all of these positions filled. But there’ll be plenty of work to be done as we move ahead into the future which promises to offer new opportunities, challenges and fundamental changes to bowhunting in Utah. So if you’d like to serve by becoming a candidate, or if you’re just interested in becoming more actively involved, we certainly want to hear from you!
Please take a moment to cast your vote of confidence for these positions.
Here are some introductory statements from a few of the candidates -
Gordy Bell
My Hat is officially back in the ring!!! My name is Gordy Bell and I have decided to throw my name back in with those that Are running for President of our great Organization. Personally; I am still closer to 40 than I am to 50 ( at least for one more year ) . I have Been married to one of the loves of my life for almost two decades. I have three children (the other loves of my life) Kaila, Sean and Carlee. I love the outdoors and hunting to the point that my better half would probably tell you That I have a multiple screws loose. I also love to be around those that share this passion Whether it be hiking up a ridge or sitting in a duck blind.
I have served BOU in the past on the SITLA Committee, ATV Committee and most recently on the Elk Committee. I have always tried to stay with the philosophy that whatever we do it must first be “GOOD FOR WILDLIFE”
I would be honored to be elected as BOU President again.
Thanks Gordy Bell
Walter Bird
My name is Walter Bird and I live in Monticello, Utah with my wife Becky, three sons (Tyler (12), Ryan (10), Dylan (8)) and daughter (Adri (5)). I currently work for San Juan County as the Deputy County Attorney and the Human Resource Director. At work, I am involved in everything from criminal prosecution to employment matters to advising the County on Public Land issues. In my spare time, I have my own private law practice, serve on the Monticello City Counsel, and try to spend as much time with my family as possible. Outside those activities you'll find me running, shooting my bow and dreaming of my next hunt. Compared to many, I discovered bowhunting later in life. I dabbled in bowhunting in high school, but never really got serious until I finished law school and settled in Monticello. Since that time I have become very passionate about bowhunting with Mule Deer being my main obsession. That is one reason why I would like to become more involved in Bowhunters of Utah (BOU) - to help others to discover and cultivate the great sport of bowhunting. Another reason is more political in nature - I'd like to assist like minded archers in developing, quantifying and voicing their ideas, and when necessary, their concerns to the board members, committee members, and managers of the State's wildlife resources in order to provide more and better quality hunting opportunities for archers. I would be honored if the members of BOU would allow me to serve as the Southeast Region Chair. Thanks.
Daniel Davis
Hello fellow bowhunters my name is Daniel Davis and I am from Vernal and have been here my whole life. I am twenty-seven years old. I am married and have two beautiful daughters who are two and four. My wife accuses me of having an addiction, bowhunting. I have been one of those that have grown up hunting with my father, grandfather, family, and friends. Bowhunting has been a way of life for me for the last five years since I gotten home off my deployment. I am a member and run a league night for Split Mountain Archers her in Vernal. I have been a member with them for four years now and archery has been my life runner since my first hunting season as an Archer. In one way or another it has been deer or elk and mostly both. Bowhunters Of Utah is an awesome organization that I would love to help out in the Northeastern Region and make suggestions for the rest of the state. We haven't had any representation here with BOU and are in very dire need of some. I have been attending RAC meetings in my region for a few years since I became familiar with them. I recently represented BOU during the Elk Plan meeting of the RAC for the Northeastern Region. The reason I want to become involved is because BOU and I have the same values and ideas in mind. I am a member of several other organizations like the MDF, RMEF(committee member for thirteen years) and I still choose BOU over them for a lot of reasons. For example, they don't have them same values I have or BOU and that don't cut it for me. Here in the state of Utah we have on going problems with our wildlife and the same problem for opportunity for bowhunters. I would like to make a commitment to Bowhunters Of Utah and you as bowhunters to try and make everything possible for opportunity, success, and our wildlife. I would like to thank Bowhunters Of Utah for the chance to be a part of their leadership and would like to thank all those that help us reach our goals. Thank You
