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MBS Fall President’s Message
On Thursday evening, August 28th, I and a number of your fellow MBS members attended a milestone event for bowhunting
here in Maryland. Officials from Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and the DNR presented the deer management plan for
Loch Raven reservoir. The main component of the plan is to allow bowhunting on part of the northern half of the
Reservoir watershed to reduce the size of the deer herd. Only the hunting of deer is permitted at Loch Raven, no
turkeys or other game animals. Hunting will be allowed in the same manner that hunting is allowed at the Liberty and
Prettyboy Reservoirs. Like the other reservoirs, you will need to complete a permit and carry it with you while
hunting. The permit and other details will be available on the DNR website by the beginning of deer season on September
15th.
During the meeting I watched people on both sides of the hunting issue trying to convince everyone else that their way
of thinking was correct. It reminded me of something I use as a Hunter Safety Instructor called the Five Stages of a
Hunter. It illustrates that at different points in our hunting careers we focus on different things and view success
differently. In the Shooter stage our focus is on getting that shot opportunity and taking the shot. We don’t care
about whether it is a doe or a massive buck. In the Limiting Out stage we focus on filling our tags, whether it be a
days limit of ducks or the most bucks and does we can legally harvest in the area we hunt. The Trophy stage hunter
shows selectivity in which animal they harvest, not just any buck or mature tom turkey will do or he may start to
practice Quality Deer Management (QDM) to produce bigger and older bucks with impressive racks. In the Method stage,
he bowhunter knows that he or she can harvest a mature game animal and now looks at how they hunt to get more enjoyment
out of their hunt. They may switch to traditional tackle or hunt from the ground or go out of state to hunt a new
species. The final stage is the Sportsman stage where we may mellow out and satisfaction is based on the overall
hunting experience. We may let buck after buck walk under our stand until one that really catches our eye comes along.
The quality of the hunt and fellowship with fellow hunters is more important than putting their tag on something.
Each of us might go through all five stages, or we might skip some because we have a mentor. The main thing to remember
is that the way a person looks at their bowhunting doesn’t make them bad or wrong. Some may only have the opportunity
to hunt on Saturday because of work so they are willing to shoot any legal deer that presents a shot opportunity.
Others may be so devoted to the experience of bowhunting that they spend their money to lease land where they practice
QDM techniques and only harvest the older bucks which are more of a challenge to hunt. So, when you are about to talk
to someone about how they hunt, take a moment to consider what stage they are in and then help prepare them to move to
the next stage.
We all need to take the time to learn as much as we can about hunting and bowhunting so that we can speak intelligently
and convincingly about what we do to those who do not understand it, whether they are less experienced hunters or
more importantly to non-hunters. To this end I will be devoting this message or an article in Rubs & Scrapes in 2009
to covering some of the topics we all need to be able to discuss.
Keep ‘em sharp everyone,
Larry Schwartz
Executive Secretary's Minutes
Minutes of the Maryland Bowhunters Society Quarterly Officers and General Membership Meeting – Fall 2008
The meeting was called to order by MBS President, Larry Schwartz, at Greenbrier State Park, Washington County, Maryland, October 11th, 2008 at 1pm.
Officers Present
Larry Schwartz, President
Officers Reports
Larry Schwartz stated that he had not brought a copy of the Treasurer’s Report to the meeting to be reviewed. A copy
of the report will be placed in the MBS Forum on MarylandWhitetail.Com for members to see. It will also be reviewed at
the next meeting. The Executive Secretary’s Report was accepted as published in the latest edition of Rubs and Scrapes.
The Membership report was presented by Eric Bonner and was accepted. Currently there are 732 members. Since the last
membership meeting there have been 46 renewals, 26 new members, and 34 members lost.
Old Business
Larry Schwartz stated that the MBS booth and Archery Clinic and the Southern Maryland Sportsman’s Show went well.
Approximately 12 new members where signed up.
Larry Schwartz informed those present that he has spoken with someone from Suburban Whitetail, a deer management group,
and has some more information to include in the MBS program being considered.
Larry Schwartz stated that the Loch Raven hunt seems to have gone well, with no reported incidences of interference
from anti-hunters.
New Business
Larry Schwartz stated a vendor for the MBS patches has been selected. Subdued and bright patches were discussed. The
motion was made and carried to place an order for 400 bright, and 100 subdued patches.
Larry Schwartz spoke about the MBS Illinois hunts that were won at the banquet and stated that from what he has heard,
they are going well.
Larry Schwartz brought up a suggestion received from John Bogdan to shift the quarterly meetings ahead one month. This
would allow the MBS meeting to be on the same weekend as two other major bowhunting events scheduled at Baltimore
Bowmen. The members present discussed the idea and it was agreed that there were both advantages and disadvantages to
the approach. Larry Schwartz will speak to John about the idea to determine if it is practical for the Society.
Next years Fall Meeting/Hunt was discussed. The consensus, based on comments received before the weekend and during the
meeting, was that we should move it back to Blackwater NWR where more is known about the area and there is more land
available to hunt.
New MBS member Jose-Louis Sagripanti suggested ways that Chapters could use to improve their efforts in reaching out
to new members. A discussion ensued among those present as to how to improve this and grew into a discussion on chapter
activities in general which generated a number of good and practical ideas. As a result of the discussion it was
decided to add a new responsibility, Chapter Coordinator, to the role of Vice President. Under this new responsibility
the VP would create and maintain a set of training materials for new chapters that showed how to create a new chapter
and their role in the areas of membership recruitment and retention, facilitating events for bowhunters in their part
of the state, and monitoring legislative issues in their area. Vice President Lou Compton said that he would work with
the chapters to develop the training materials and to implement the suggestions made at the meeting.
Membership retention and ways to improve it was also discussed. Several good ideas where presented by the members. At
the request of Larry Schwartz, Larry Tennant and Jim Raines will put together a recommended approach on how to increase
membership retention in time for the next quarterly meeting.
Larry Tennant suggested MBS use some of its funds to purchase a remote controlled deer (Robotic Deer) and donate it to
the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP), to be used to assist them in catching poachers. A motion was made and
carried. Larry Schwartz will contact the NRP to see how they feel about the idea and to determine how much it will
cost.
It was discussed that MBS needs to improve getting the word out about the good things the organization and its members
do. Executive Secretary Larry Tennant will assume the duty of writing Press Releases for items of note. One of the
press releases to go out immediately will cover the MBS donation of $1000 to FHFH to facilitate donation of venison
from the Loch Raven hunt.
The meeting was adjourned at 3pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Larry Tennant
MBS Chapter Updates
This summer has been fantastic, as far as Maryland summers go. It really hasn’t been that hot or humid and the amount
of severe weather (at least in my county) has been low. There really hasn’t been that much of a problem with mosquitoes
or wasps or other nasty bugs. It’s been a great three months or so for shooting 3-D, for scouting and putting up
stands, fishing, crabbing, you name it. The only part of this summer that I have had a hard time dealing with is that
it has been too darned long! I have looked forward to the September 15 bow opener every year for quite a while, but
this year it has seemed to take forever to get here. Thankfully I can see light at the end of the tunnel. But at least
the great summer has allowed the local chapters the time and weather to accomplish a few goals prior to bow season.
Let’s check in on them and see what they’ve been up to, shall we?
The Upper Eastern Shore Chapter (UESC) reports that they will be helping Doug Wigfield with the archery booth at
National Hunting and Fishing Day held at Schrader’s Bridgetown Manor on September 27th. The UESC is looking for
volunteers to help throughout the day. If you can spare the time, contact Paul Burrows
(UPATREE on marylandwhitetail.com) if you would like to help, or simply just come out with the family for a great day.
The UESC has spent the summer shooting 3-d and have picked up some new members along the way. All-in-all, the UESC says
it's been a fun summer.
The Central Maryland Chapter (CMC) coordinated the MBS booth at the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Expo and the CMC ran the
rock wall for the third consecutive year. The CMC also completed its 2008 Lucky 7 raffle with great success.
Additionally, they hosted the Youth Archery clinic at the Southern Maryland Outdoor Show and Expo as well as
coordinating the MBS booth in the big buck contest hall. In closing, the CMC has been the gracious recipient of a NASP
youth program archery kit to conduct future youth clinics in the promotion of archery, NASP and the MBS. This was
coordinated through the efforts of Lou Compton (of the ESC) and the MBS main officers, for which the CMC is eternally
grateful. The CMC plans to have two more meetings during the remainder of 2008 and to conduct one more roadside clean
up as part of their ongoing involvement in the Adopt-a-Highway program.
The Upper Bay Chapter (UBC) will be lending a helping hand at The Hunt of a Lifetime Benefit at Baltimore Bowmen on
Sunday, October 5th. There will be a Children’s Archery Clinic held there and the 3-D course will also be open to the
public. The UBC performed their Adopt-A-Highway clean up on August 17th and helped out the Central Maryland Chapter at
the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Expo the previous weekend. Finally, the UBC reports that their Shrimp Feast Raffle winner
will have been drawn by the time this issue goes to print. With hunting season upon them, the UBC says that chapter
activity will be kept to a minimum until after January.
Now, how about some new news?!? The MBS is looking to add some additional local chapters, and at this time they are
only at the initial organizing stages for what will be known as the Capital Area Chapter (CAC) and the Southern
Maryland Chapter (SMC). The MBS is building a list of those members who are interested in helping form these two new
chapters and will have an organizational meeting within the next month or so for each of them. At the meeting, the new
chapter will elect its officers and discuss organizational details, such as where they might hold their meetings and
what they want to accomplish as a chapter. If this sounds interesting and you would like to join one of the new
chapters, please send your name, phone number and which chapter you are interested in joining to
info@marylandbowhunterssociety.org and MBS President Larry Schwartz will give your information to the contact person
for that chapter. The Capital Area Chapter will serve Anne Arundel and Prince Georges Counties, and possibly part of
Montgomery County. The Southern Maryland Chapter will serve Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties.
That’s it for this summer. It’s time to kick back and take it easy for a while. That is, as long as it’s in a tree
stand or ground blind!
President's Message
Fall 2008
President, MBS
Fall 2008
Lou Compton, Vice President
Eric Bonner, Membership Secretary
Larry Tennant, Executive Secretary
Executive Secretary
Maryland Bowhunters Society
Fall 2008
