Like Sam, I've never heard much of the OBA outside of the internet forums. And from what I'm reading here, it doesn't look good for the future of the OBA. I'm an IBO member, though, and have been pretty happy thus far with that organization.
DOW attends OBA Banquet..
- Thread starter Jackalope
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JOHNROHIO
Participation Trophy Winner
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I would agree that it is time for a new organization, that is willing to stand beside there hunters. Instead of pushing there members or potential away. I have never known much of the leadership of the OBA, but what I do know is that I have been around some of the active members since I was a kid, and they were like dinosaurs twenty years ago and I lost interest then. As a kid I would get knocked for using a release and not finger tabs or if you do use a compound now. Better not be any newer than a bear whitetail. I am sure somethings have changed but the impression that was left on me at such a young age left me with a bad taste in my mouth ant never cared for them.
"Time for a new organization"! I don't know how many times I have heard that statement since I joined the OBA in 1971. While the OBA fought the crossbow movement the leadership at that time in the OBA OFFERED to help the crossbow faction to form their OWN organization. NOTHING happened! No interest and no one took the bull by the horns and ran with it. Brock you know after the last fight a few years back about the OBA and crossbow being in the OBA there was a a fluke movement to "form a new organization". It fell flat on its face, AGAIN! Unless/until some one steps forward a MOVES their asses the OBA is the only organization, allbeit small, in Ohio speaking for "some" bowhunters. You find a organization that speaks for "ALL BOWHUNTERS IN OHIO" and I will be first in line to join!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After 41 years the same ole story wares a little thin!
The DOW seminar at last weeks Buckeye Big Buck Club Banquet was well attended. We set up 200 chairs in the seminar room and I didn’t see many empties during their presentation. Mike Tonkovich and his boss Dave Scott gave an excellent “state of the state” presentation and spent over an hour answering questions from those in the audience. As usual, (or at least since I started attending this event 20+ years ago), the presentation started with several slides that illustrated where we were, where we are and where they would like to see us go from a management perspective.
I’m guessing at the start of their seminar, the room was evenly divided between those who are happy with the current direction of our states deer management program and those who are not. There was one gentleman from Lorain County representing the farm bureau who voiced a concern over the 60 deer feeding in his 20 acre winter wheat field every night…he was immediately asked by several in the audience for permission to hunt. Several hunters voiced similar concerns to those that some of you on this forum have, although everyone was respectful, which is what you would expect in a face to face conversation. To the best of my knowledge, nobody left the room angry and all had a better understanding of the juggling act that the DOW must do to keep everyone happy.
I’m guessing at the start of their seminar, the room was evenly divided between those who are happy with the current direction of our states deer management program and those who are not. There was one gentleman from Lorain County representing the farm bureau who voiced a concern over the 60 deer feeding in his 20 acre winter wheat field every night…he was immediately asked by several in the audience for permission to hunt. Several hunters voiced similar concerns to those that some of you on this forum have, although everyone was respectful, which is what you would expect in a face to face conversation. To the best of my knowledge, nobody left the room angry and all had a better understanding of the juggling act that the DOW must do to keep everyone happy.
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You are incorrect Ted. I DO NOT know about any movement to form a new organization after the OBA advisory board decided to throw away the ammendment without allowing membership to vote on it. Personally, I was a little more than upset about it since I had wasted my time going to three seperate meetings to present the ammendment (as was prescribed), and then having the almighty fools decide to simply pitch it aside. I know for a fact the boost in membership the OBA saw that year was the largest it had seen in at least a decade, and each person that wasted their money on a membership wanted the chance to vote. Those were people that wanted a viable organization to represent bowhunters in Ohio...The OBA again failed in epic fashion. The level of stupidity demonstrated there is mind-boggling.
An organization to represent Ohio's bowhunters is a great idea! I haven't the organizational skills to put that together or I would. The OBA should really stop announcing they are representing Ohio's bowhunters...I think it is obvious by the membership decline they do not! Heck, when I served as a county rep I asked John Hobbs if it were possible to take the NO CROSSBOW sign off the front of the membership application. He told me I needed to present the idea in writing, attend an advisory board meeting, and jump through a bunch of hoops to get that done.... I told him I thought we just needed a simple fix to a simple problem that demonstrated simple-minds. As far as I know the symbol is probably still there, but no one wants to fill out that application anyway.
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Mrex. What was the end result to you informal telephone survey with OBBC members. If I remember correct you had asked over 100 people?
I'm happy to see people voicing their concerns, and I'm happy Tonk had the time to address some of them. The problem is more and more people hear what he's saying but just aren't seeing that talk as viable in their areas. 50/50 should speak volumes enough. What was the mix last year? I bet it wasn't even close to that.. What do you think it's going to be next year? This isn't going away with pretty graphs and jaw jabbin educational seminars. The only thing that will stop this from growing is more guys seeing deer. Not less than they were the year before. Tell them don't put away that top-hat and cane just yet. There's a bunch more tap dancing that needs done as IMO this is just getting started.
I'm happy to see people voicing their concerns, and I'm happy Tonk had the time to address some of them. The problem is more and more people hear what he's saying but just aren't seeing that talk as viable in their areas. 50/50 should speak volumes enough. What was the mix last year? I bet it wasn't even close to that.. What do you think it's going to be next year? This isn't going away with pretty graphs and jaw jabbin educational seminars. The only thing that will stop this from growing is more guys seeing deer. Not less than they were the year before. Tell them don't put away that top-hat and cane just yet. There's a bunch more tap dancing that needs done as IMO this is just getting started.
I was one of those idiots that joined because I thought I might have a chance to help the OBA pull their head of out of their own ass. I was wrong. Can I get a refund?!?
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Wish I could get a refund too...for all the years I was a paid member, and for all the gas I wasted going to all their meetings to present the ammendment. What a waste of time.
Jesse, Brock, others, The OBA did not get where it is now, where ever that is, over night. A one year membership and you will change NOTHING! I joined in 1971, I served ten years, five terms, as vice president, and work many years on the advisory board. Back then I saw nothing wrong with the direction the OBA was traveling. Now? What ever. My point being to change the direction it takes more than one person joining one year! It will take many more people joining year after year after year after year making your point over and over and over again and again and again. I said many times while in office, if your not a part of the solution then you are a part of the problem. I'll be 72 in July. I have no more time to waste. I'm doing my thing the way I want to.
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I think you guys missed the point a little.... It wasn't about how the OBA was this or that... It was about how a single living soul from the DOW didn't even bother to show up. Someone was scheduled until they had an issue.. Understandable.. But it was left to flap in the wind... The OBA being broken or not shouldn't matter.. Regardless of their once prominent status, today they are still THE organization for bowhuunters in Ohio.. And our DOW can't backfill a sole individual to attend? Even if you don't give two shits someone should still go. You mean to tell me not a single person was available? That is unless you expected a repeat of the weekend prior and nobody was capable or wanted to tapdance..
I think you guys missed the point a little.... It wasn't about how the OBA was this or that... It was about how a single living soul from the DOW didn't even bother to show up. Someone was scheduled until they had an issue.. Understandable.. But it was left to flap in the wind... The OBA being broken or not shouldn't matter.. Regardless of their once prominent status, today they are still THE organization for bowhuunters in Ohio.. And our DOW can't backfill a sole individual to attend? Even if you don't give two shits someone should still go. You mean to tell me not a single person was available? That is unless you expected a repeat of the weekend prior and nobody was capable or wanted to tapdance..
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Or we could just say the hell with them and form our own modern organization? Sometimes it's easier to build a new house than kill the termites and repair the old one... IMO the OBAs reputation has been damaged beyond repair. Even if it was taken over, I don't think it's worth the fight to keep the name.. The "Under new management" phrase isn't a magic fix for peoples opinions..
Milo
Tatonka guide.
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it does seem odd that not even a game warden was available to at lest hit the highlights of the agenda err status. They should be some of the eyes and ears of the ODNR out in the field doing checks.
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There was supposed to be some officers there for the dinner. I don't know if they made it or not as I left before 4.
Ted, I don't think anyone wanted a quick fix. The issue has been raised for 20 years at least. The way it was handled told me I no longer want anything to do with the OBA. It is unreasonable to pay membership dues to a dictatorship.
Ted, I don't think anyone wanted a quick fix. The issue has been raised for 20 years at least. The way it was handled told me I no longer want anything to do with the OBA. It is unreasonable to pay membership dues to a dictatorship.
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I spoke with an OBA member last night that had spoken to Tonk at the BBBC banquet. Tonk told him he wouldn't be at the OBA thing due to the fact it has such a poor turn out. Apparently, the word didn't get to the right people in the OBA. I don't blame Tonk a bit, as it is a lot of effort on his part and they only had 10-15 people in attendance last year for the seminar.
I don't know Brock. I was always taught you were as good as your word. He was invited and he said he would be there! I'm pretty sure nothing was said about attendence. Sounds kind of chickeshit to me. But that might be the standard for DOW now! I'm done!
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Really don't know, Ted. I don't blame him for not going, but would imagine he should have notified someone...and maybe he did. I don't think anyone in the OBA was too disappointed though. Coonskinner and I seemed to be the only ones there for the seminar. I suppose others would have gone in, but I didn't see a line forming. As I was running around thinking I had been to the wrong meeting room, asking members where the meeting was to be, I didn't encounter anyone else that was looking forward to hearing it. Plenty of apathy to go around I'd say.