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Just Out
Just OutCCA Hosts Bowhunter Education Program
By Doc Roberts, OVO Pro Staff
POSTED: April 23, 2010
PhotosFact BoxThe courses are designed to inform and educate the modern day bowhunter to become safe, responsible hunters and ambassadors of the sport of bowhunting.
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As of this writing, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia are a few states that do not require bowhunters to take an IBEP course prior to obtaining a hunting license. The International Bowhunting Education Program is offered in all 50 states, all Canadian Provinces and 13 additional foreign countries. States and Provinces requiring an IBEP course prior to obtaining a hunting license for bowhunting are: Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Vermont. The Ohio Bowhunters Association (OBA) has been the leader in Ohio since the mid 1970’s when it started its own Bowhunter Education Program and it has since became involved with the International Bowhunter Education Program and now have developed a network of volunteer instructors and educational materials. The OBA sponsors and presents these courses throughout the state. They are free and open to the public. All materials required are provided so students can learn basic and advanced skills of a seasoned bowhunter. The IBEP’s Mission Statement is to promote responsible bowhunting through education. A few items covered in this series of courses is: how to become familiar with all types of archery equipment and bowhunting styles, hunting ethics, treestand safety, equipment inspections and bow tuning, broadhead sharpening, shot placement, and blood trailing, first aid in the field, and compass, GPS and map reading. John Hobbs, State Chairman of the National Bowhunter Education Program, along with three members of the Ohio Bowhunters Association, traveled from Columbus to instruct the course. Hobbs became a Bowhunter Education instructor in 1983 and has since been instrumental in the training of thousands of bowhunters throughout Ohio. Hobbs is also a past president of the Ohio Bowhunter Association and was asked by the officers and the OBA advisory board to take over as State Chairman of Bowhunter Education after his best friend George Hilf prematurely passed away. As a bowhunter, Hobbs not only talks the talk but he can also walk the walk when it comes to deer hunting. He has hunted throughout the state and shares his knowledge and experience with every new class. Columbiana County Archers (CCA) is one of the oldest archery-only clubs in the state and has always stressed getting more people involved in archery and particularly bowhunting. CCA’s membership averages around 30 to 40 members of all ages from 18 to 85. At one time the club had 10 certified National Field Archery Association (NFAA) Basic Archery Instructors as active members. The 3-D courses that CCA offers are some of the most challenging in the Tri-County area when it comes to judging distances and shot placement. Keeping with that tradition, Bob Eichler, his wife Cheryl and daughter Martha, all members of CCA, were instrumental in bringing the Bowhunting Education class to their Lisbon facility. Bob Eichler is a life time member of the Ohio Bowhunters Association and owner of Broken Arrow Archery Shop. He is also a seasoned bowhunter in his own right and has harvested deer, wild boar, buffalo, and moose with his compound bow. The Eichler’s are continuing their schooling to become certified instructors so more bowhunters in the Tri-State area will have the opportunity to take these classes. For additional information or to register for a class, email John A. Hobbs at: jhobbs@ ohiobowhunters.net or call 614-876-8523. Also check out the Ohio Bowhunters Association Website at www.ohiobowhunters.net/index.html. |
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