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Ohio Bow Hunter Association

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Anyone on here part of it? We spent the weekend at Deer Creek lodge for my boys birthday and these guys had a banquet going on. I was able to sit around with a few of the guys afterwards and they seemed alright.

All except this one guy...he was a bad drunk.

Some TV guy out of Ohio known for shed hunting? I met him about 75 times and still can't remember his name.
 

finelyshedded

You know what!!!
Supporting Member
31,855
260
SW Ohio
We stayed at DC last spring break for 2 nights. It was a nice getaway and not too far of a drive. Don't know much about that org Dave.
 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
260
Brock knows more about them than I do. About the time I started to become familiar with them they had the big "should we allow crossbows in the OBA " debate. They did some shady stuff to not even bring it to a vote.

Also. As much trouble as we've had with the DNR I haven't seen one peep out of the OBA. So IMO it would be a waste of money.
 

Jamie

Senior Member
5,690
177
Ohio
I'm not sure I would categorize the OBA as a bunch of elitist haters, but Jesse is entitled to his opinion. I was a member for 25 years, and there are a bunch of wonderful people still involved with the OBA. I joined the OBA before I had a drivers license. back in the 80's and 90's the OBA was politically active. they worked with the DOW fairly closely for a number of years and had a favorable rapport. ultimately, the ODNR began ignoring the OBA's input on regulations and equipment that directly affected bow and arrow hunters. very much like they are still doing today with every concerned party besides insurance companies and the Farm Bureau. The OBA was an excellent organization for many, many years. the organization has suffered greatly from a dreadful lack of solid leadership for the last 20 years, and continues to flounder to this day. I dropped my membership 5 or 6 years ago over the crossbow issue that Joe mentioned. not because I was in favor of inviting crossbow hunters into the membership(I was very much opposed to the idea), but rather how the officers and advisory council did not let the membership decide such a big issue, which was pretty much in complete violation of the clubs constitution as far as I could tell. I'm not much into supporting an oligarchy with my hard earned money or my precious time. I don't really know exactly what the state of the organization is today, but I know a number of good men and women who are still active members.

did you happen to notice if there were any squirrels running around down there?
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I did see some actually. And if you are willing to drive another 35 minutes down 62.. I'd be more than happy to let you take as many as you'd like from my place. And I've got a pretty high population of them.
 

Fullbore

Senior Member
6,439
126
South Eastern Ohio
Ric and I were members years ago! Back in the early 80's like Jamie. Bob Fick was the Pres back then. We shot the field round, 900 round and the State indoor in Portsmouth every year. As Jamie stated, lots of good people in the org. They were anti- crossbow as I recall, but that's old news. Lol
 

finelyshedded

You know what!!!
Supporting Member
31,855
260
SW Ohio
Ric and I were members years ago! Back in the early 80's like Jamie. Bob Fick was the Pres back then. We shot the field round, 900 round and the State indoor in Portsmouth every year. As Jamie stated, lots of good people in the org. They were anti- crossbow as I recall, but that's old news. Lol

Bro, that was the Ohio Archers Association we were members of not the OBA.
 

Jamie

Senior Member
5,690
177
Ohio
I did see some actually. And if you are willing to drive another 35 minutes down 62.. I'd be more than happy to let you take as many as you'd like from my place. And I've got a pretty high population of them.

not to steer this away from the original intention of your thread, but it is good to thin out the rats from time to time. thanks for the offer. have dog will travel, and will take you up on the offer.

my feeling is that the OBA needs to start selling itself as a fraternal organization rather than the voice of the Ohio bowhunter. they have not done a good job of representing Ohio bowhunters for a very long time. the crossbow issue occurred right in the middle of my stay as the President of OSTA, which put me in a rather precarious position since OSTA and the OBA has had a very long, healthy relationship as sister organizations here in Ohio. It was a bad deal all around. maybe the OBA can move past all that bullshit and attract new members again with better leadership and an updated mission.
 

Jamie

Senior Member
5,690
177
Ohio
I've heard that before, Jesse, and I'm still waiting to hear a plan. I've been in this a long time now, and I just don't think anything is going to overcome the apathy that has infected sportsmen. uniting bowhunters is a pipe dream. most simply don't give a fuck enough about the future of their sport to join anything anymore. it's disappointing. young people don't seem the least bit concerned with being part of something bigger than themselves. off my soapbox now. :smile:
 

Milo

Tatonka guide.
8,184
157
I've heard that before, Jesse, and I'm still waiting to hear a plan. I've been in this a long time now, and I just don't think anything is going to overcome the apathy that has infected sportsmen. uniting bowhunters is a pipe dream. most simply don't give a fuck enough about the future of their sport to join anything anymore. it's disappointing. young people don't seem the least bit concerned with being part of something bigger than themselves. off my soapbox now. :smile:
Bernie has their attention at the moment
 

brock ratcliff

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
24,834
247
The OBA may turn into an organization worth being a member of in time. Most of the issues I had with the OBA are likely dying with the older members. I don't mean to sound callous, but that is how it is. There are, and always have been, good members in the OBA. Unfortunately, it turned into a venue for arguments. I'm already married, don't need any more.

If I were to ever join again, it would be because of people like Greg Keaton. He's a good one, and works his tail off for the OBA. The OBA used to be set on a course to continually tick off potential members... they were more concerned with promoting what they felt bowhunting should be (Do it my way or don't do it). They were proud of their stance and spent more time demanding things stay that way than forming a fellowship. It cost them dearly...well, not really, as those that lead the charge are dying off and I suppose they went away thinking they had stood their ground and maintained their narrow-minded principles. Regardless, the goal of "promoting bowhunting" and "representing Ohio's bowhunters" was not at all accomplished from my point of view.

Like everything, I suppose the OBA will change with new membership that has no idea of the old battles the OBA waged. There is hope, I imagine. Not enough for me to re-join at this point.

Giles, the man with the big pile of sheds you mentioned is likely Wayne Bolton. I personally signed him up as a member years ago when I was a county rep for the OBA. I worked with his cousin, Mike, and knew they were bowhunters. I guilted them into membership, apparently they enjoy the organization as they are still members all these years later.

BTW, Greg Keaton, who I mentioned above, recently moved into our area. He lives between your town and mine. If you think you want to join up, give him a call. He'll be glad to talk for hours about all the good the OBA has done and is trying to do... he won't waste your time with all the in-fighting nonsense that pushed so many away.

For what it's worth; the last round of BS could have been avoided if Jamie and I would have been given the time to work out the details... the advisory board at the time deemed themselves kings and did what NONE of the membership wanted. In the process, they wasted a LOT of my time with their stupid meetings, etc. And yes, I hold a grudge!
 
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Jamie

Senior Member
5,690
177
Ohio
the Advisory Council was/is a panel of 12 appointed persons, mostly former officers and other long time members. by virtue of them being a dozen and the officers are only four, they wield more authority within the club than the Officers who are running it. that, coupled with years of inadequate leadership, is the real problem, and the power structure within the organization needs to change if there is to be any meaningful growth. I talked about this at great length with the OBA President at the time, but nothing ever came of it. it's a pretty stupid system when membership wants change and cannot even get the opportunity to try for it. I kind of hold a grudge, too, which is why I'm not a member. at the end of the day, the OBA does not represent my interest in archery hunting very well, and has not for a very long time.