BIG Buck Down

[boneaddict]

First of all, it was great to meet Pope and his wife.  I'm glad it worked out that you got to sit with us at our table.  That made the night great.
The Washington State Bowhunters is an organization that is the front line defense against the anti's in regards to bowhunting.  I have heard reference that this club is biased or traditionalists and I couldn't disagree more.  The founding fathers, several of which were there last night, are the voices that have made bowhunting the way it is today in Washington.  They fight for our rights to have equal share in the harvest.  It was cool to see the Lt. Governor there last night and to see he was a hunter.  Anyway, back to the history lesson, several of these gents were there to fight for us.  Their main goal is to couner the anti hunting forces that are now after bowhunting.  They have got trapping and hound hunting, now its to the next smallest group.  Its easy for them to take a short video of a wounded deer with an arrow sticking out of its ass, and then convince those that don't sway either way, to go anti hunting.  They did it with hounds and trapping.  As soon as they get bowhunting, then its to muzzelloading.  The club fights this through the "Bowhunting defense fund."  Much of this banquet is to raise money for that.  Tons of folks donate items that are either raffled off, silent auctioned, or the bigger items, live auctioned.  I wouldn't say there were alot of deals, as folks were extremely generous for the club and the money was flowing.  It was cool to see.  I have no idea hw many items were there.  There were 11 listed and another 5 0r 6 that wren't listed,live auctioned items.  These ranged from bows to artwork, to hunting trips, and even a trip to Puerta Villarta....by the way, Pope's wife about knocked me out of my seat when she bid for that.   I about gave my wife a heart attack when I bid $300 on a draw knife signed by Glenn St Charles himself.  I would have loved to have had that for a souvenire, and its probably worth a thousand or more on ebay, but thats as high as I could go.   Anyhow, I will be curious to see how much was raised last night.  HORNSEEKER, I wish oyu could have gotten that bow finished for donation.  It would have went for a mint.  The night was awesome.  There were several very nice mounts, and alot of really nice people.  Chuck Bartlett was also honored.  He was one of those gentleman that I mentioned earlier.  He is also the man who took the photo of our current game pamphlet.  A signed postersized copy of that picture went for $900 dollars. I am curious to look up more of his work....

The Glenn St Charles award is an award given to a bowhunter, who as Pope describes it shoots an animal in the current year while bowhunting.  It is compared to all entries as they are put into a formulae comparing them tot he current world record of that species.  The one with the highest percentage wins.  There are some great hunters that have won this award and I am very honored.  With it comes a travelling trophy with all the names and scores and animals listed.  I think it began back in 86.  You get to keep that award for the year.  You then get an individual award you get to keep.   Al Rinaldi is also one of those founding gentleman, and who was responisble for getting Pope to the banquet.  he has won the award twice also.  his whitetail mount was there, along with an incredible ram I didn't get the story for, and several great elk.  One of those was taken by either a member on here or a "lurker".    It was good to meet you too Steve.
I'll get pics of the award here shortly.  I hope that explains some thing for folks.
The club has a membership for about $15-25 dollars a year, I'll have to look.  With that ou get a monthly newletter with lots of updats on things and information and usually a story or two.  Timber had his photo on the front cover this last issue. You are also another voice against the anti's.  The bigger we are the more the folks on the hill will pay attention.  Thanks again everyone.

[popeshawnpaul]

One other thing I might add about the banquet last night...  I was really surprised that most of the membership was in the older age bracket.  There was only Bone, me, and a few other younger guys.  There was a big age discrepancy.  While I only became a member yesterday, I want to encourage those of you that are 20-40 to join this group.  It would be nice to get some young blood in the group.

The last thought I had was for all of you out there that post on here that they want a hunting buddy or they are new to the area.  If you are a bowhunter or want to be one I would direct them to a group like this.  You will meet a ton of people and will undoubtedly find a hunting buddy.  Sometimes it's hard to connect with people on a forum so you will rarely find people willing to buddy up through a forum.  A group like this can really benefit someone in that position.

[boneaddict]

Very true.  I'm also amazed at how many bowhunters there are and none are members.  These are the guys lobbying for our seasons and protecting our rights.  MAN  what a wealth of knowledge there was at that banquet last night.  One of the things I regret bidding on was that dinner at the gentlemans house.  There was a wild game dinner they average about 8 -9 kinds of game plus all the wine you want for 8 folks at this older gentlemans house.  He was a retired Dr.  Anyhow, I guess he has some house and neat museum type mounts.  They ere alking extoc stuff like gator, ostrich, and stuff like that, plus all types of fish.  Anyhow the first gentleman bid $400, he then stood up and said that he would split it, that would be dinner for 2 for him and his wife and then they could split the other three couples.  They then went for 250,250 and350 or something like that.  Anyhow, I would have loved to have heard the stories from these guys and wish I had bid now.  Seems insane, but I guess it lasted for about 8 hours las January and they sat around the fireplace and ate and drank and told stories.  There were alot of guys there that it would have been easy to hook up with to hunter.  VERY FRIENDLY atmosphere.  Basically Pope and I really didn't know anyone, and wherever we went, we were talking with someone.   Another one of the items for bid was a chukar hunt with this same doc, one of the past presidents and his dog, in several of their "Secret" spots.  I think it went for $150 or $125.  Meal and wine included.  I would pay that almost just to BS with these guys for a day.  Chukarridge on here would have been in heaven. 

[Michelle_Nelson]

How do you join boneaddict.  If I would have put 2 and 2 together and realized it was in Tacoma this weekend I would have been their.  I more than likely would have given them a free deer shoulder mount to auction off.  Guess I'll hit it next year.

[popeshawnpaul]

I also regretted not bidding on the upland game hunt with those guys.  Like you said, just to hunt with a couple guys that know so much about WA hunting would have been special.  And at $150 or whatever it went for...  Dang.

The dinner sounded good and reasonable but my wife isn't the biggest wild game eater out there.  I've got her good to go on Elk so I'm not going to push anything else like gator or ostrich on her.  We should have split the bid on the dinner and brought each other as man dates...   

For those of you interested, here is their website:
http://www.wabowhunters.org/Default.aspx

[boneaddict]

No doubt.   I really wanted to see that guys basement.

Michelle....check out that website or I can get you sign up sheet.  If you are on-line savy, thats probably the best.  I haven't been to the website since they changed the format.  You can see I'm not the most active member.  It would be a great place to do some more networking or drum up more business Michelle.  They would always welomce any donated auction items.  One taxidermist donated a $6oo deer mount(or taxidermy work) that I think went for $300.  One donated a bird mount(taxidermy work) that went for $150 I think...chukar or grouse or pheasant.  One was Moro taxidermy and I don't remember the other.
Some other items that were auctioned was a salmon fishing trip...
A summer steelhead float trip.  (I almost wondered if this was from Tmike)
elk fighting picture
grizzly painting framed and matted
elk painting framed and matted with a broadhead (largeknapped)
elk painting framed and matted with two ivories

[boneaddict]

Heres that award.......I'm really not posting these for ego either guys)  I am just plain excited and glad to share.  It doesn't really match my living room, but its up front and center.  I have at least one daughter that wants to win it.

[boneaddict]

This is the travelling trophy that I get to keep for a year.

[boneaddict]

Here is the one I get to keep!

[boneaddict]

as you can see each is a unique piece!  Here is my old one and the new one.

[MountainWalk]

a fine looking mount man.  recurve or longbow?  i cannot imagine shooting a buck that big with my bow. wowee, that looks better everytime i see it.

[boneaddict]

longbow.....If you check out the bigbulldown thread you can see a picture of it.  Actually way earlier in this thread there is a picture with first buck I got with it I think.

Pope....You might take it with a 240 Roosie, but its going to have to compete with my sheep this year.  Oh maybe that was goat. 
One other Roosie took it back a few years ago.....340 bull...nice ROOSIE

Here are the statistics for anyone who cares
Whitetail......9
Mule............3
Blacktail.......1
Yellowstone...4
Roosie..........1
Moose..........2
Goat............1 (I'm not sure if that was the one that was there or not, up front)

[MountainWalk]

myself, i have never been a member of groups and organizations(other than NRA), or gunclubs. mostly i guess b/c im still relativley new to the state(five years). that and money. but now things are a little different. growing up and such i never hunted with anyone really. i was happier by myself. now i want to hunt with others now. to learn more and to just have more fun.

[boneaddict]

Yeah, I am prety much Mr. Solo, except hunts with Idabooner.  I even usually keep to myself.  You guys see a differetn side of boneaddict than most people do.  I don't participate in very many of the clubs I belong to.  I do sign up for more than most if I agree in their mission statement.   Even if its to make myself a statistic, when they are doing the lobbying for me.  I have supported the WSB more than most clubs with donations just because I agree with what they ar doing.  This may sound weird, but I have waivered on the NRA a couple times.  Sometimes I didn't like what they were selling.  That was probably stupid as they are fighting the fight just as well, just ona different front.  Also, I don't like theri phone tactics and such...damn right rude actually.

[Bearhunter]

Hey, John Mullenburg 2003 is on the traveling trophy, havent seen him in years.  He sure is a good guy.  Cool looking plaques!