And,  “WHAT DO I GET WHEN I JOIN NCBA?”

 These are the most common questions asked by bowhunters when we invite them to join our association.  Below is a “brief” description of “WHAT” NCBA is,  what  NCBA is “DOING” for you,  and WHAT YOU GET for you $20  annual membership fee !  You won’t find a better bargain for $20 bucks a year.. ANYWHERE !

 YOU are a BOWHUNTER.  You love the challenge of hunting game with bow and arrow.  It is WHO you are!  It is what you do.  It is your right and your children’s right to bowhunt.  You are passionate about hunting and the exciting adventures found in the outdoors!   IF this is what you feel and what you believe,  then become a member of an organization that honors,  respects and works very hard to promote the awesome sport of hunting with bow and arrow… Be recognized as a bowhunter who is proud of this time honored heritage and tradition by becoming a member of the North Carolina Bowhunters Association..  JOIN us NOW!    

JOIN “TEAM NCBA” TODAY AND BECOME A PART OF BOWHUNTING IN N.C.

The North Carolina Bowhunters Association, Inc.,  is a fraternal, non-profit organization of bowhunters.  Its main purpose is to help combat anti-hunting groups in an effort to preserve YOUR bowhunting privileges and heritage;  to assist the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission,  and in general,  to help the cause of bowhunters in North Carolina.

 What is NCBA “DOING” for ME and for Bowhunting in North Carolina???

- Legislative Action:  We work directly with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and other organizations such as the NC Wildlife Habitat Foundation;  The P&Y Club;  The U.S. Sportsman’s Association; Professional Bowhunters Society, NRA, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and many more hunting/outdoor organizations.  We attend each and every NC Wildlife Commission meeting,  representing YOU,  the bowhunters of North Carolina.

- Records System:  NCBA has the ONLY full-time Records System in North Carolina that keeps track of bowkilled big and small game animals and fish.   Animals (and fish) meeting minimum trophy class requirements are recorded and entered into the NCBA “All-Time Records” listings.  

- NCBA Trophy Class Certificates are provided to members “Free” of charge in following categories: (Certificates cost $5 to non-members) Check our website for copies of scoresheets and “All-Time Records Listings.”  Goto: www.ncbowhunter.com

- Annual Convention / Banquet / BOWHUNTER EXPO:  An annual weekend event is held for members to meet to discuss bowhunting and enjoy a day and evening of camaraderie.  Annual awards are presented.  Hunts and other prizes are raffled/auctioned off to members attending the events.

- Magazine:  Members receive a quarterly magazine from NCBA.  All members are encouraged to submit photos and articles to the magazine.

- Website:  NCBA maintains a website to better inform members of current events and activities concerning bowhunting in N.C.  The website is:  www.ncbowhunter.com   NCBA can also be contacted at this email address:  NCBA1975@triad.rr.com  

- Insurance:  Liability insurance is available through NCBA at very reasonable rates for Local Chapter Clubs.  Bowhunter insurance is provided for  individual members “FREE”, and extended Bowhunter insurance is provided through the BCRS program that covers members “ANYWHERE” .

- Youth Program:   NCBA sponsors youth bowhunter education programs across the state on a year around basis.  NCBA Youth Outdoor Education Day is usually held in mid-May.  “Archery Alley” is held throughout the year across the state to help introduce young and old alike to the sport of archery.  Donations to the NCBA “Youth Education Fund” from all sources help sponsor our youth activities, such as the National Archery in the Schools Program. (NASP)

- Local Chapter Club Program:  NCBA has over 20 bowhunting clubs that are affiliated with it across the state.

- Anti-Poacher Program:  NCBA is in partnership with the NWTF in supporting a “Rewards” program for catching and convicting poachers of wild game such as deer,  bear and wild turkey and wild boar.

- Master Bowhunter Award:  Presented to NCBA members who accomplish the NCBA “Grand Slam.”  All four big game animals found in N.C. must be “taken in N.C.” with bow and arrow, and must meet minimum scoring requirements for NCBA trophy class animals. These four animals are: Whitetail Deer (Antlered); Black Bear; Wild Boar and Wild Turkey.  

- Record Books:  NCBA periodically publishes the “Bowhunting Records of North Carolina.”   1^st & 2^nd editions are currently available.

- Official Measurers:  NCBA maintains a roster of trained and certified official measurers across the state.

- BCRS Program:  This is a new program for bowhunters in N.C.  BCRS stands for: “Bowhunter Certification and Referral Service.”   This program will provide individual bowhunter liability insurance at dirt cheap rates for all NCBA members who choose to qualify for the program.  It will also provide a referral service for municipalities,  corporations,  and landowners that need the services of qualified bowhunters to help maintain control of deer herd and other wildlife populations on specific lands.  (Enacted: July 1, 2005)

-NCBA Land Acquisition Fund:  A minimum of one fund-raiser will be held each year for the purpose of raising money to go into a special account to be used ONLY for the purpose of purchasing and maintaining property that will serve as a “base of operations” for the NCBA annual hunt and other activities.  It will also be available to NCBA members for individual use as a camping facility. This fund was established in November, 2005.

NCBA Memorial Endowment Fund & JR Wright Memorial Endowment Fund:  Donations that are designated for these funds cannot be used for any purpose.  ONLY the interest on these fund can be utilized.  Interest from the JR Wright Mem. End. Fund can be used ONLY for Youth Education projects and activities.  The NCBA Mem. Endowment Fund interest can be utilized as approved by the NCBA Executive Council. Donations to this fund can be made in anyone’s name with credits posted on the website,  with consent of family members.

- Annual Contests:  NCBA members and their spouses and children (under 18) are eligible to enter trophies into the annual contests for all big game, small game and bowfishing categories.  Plaques are awarded for 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd place in each category every year.   Awards are also given to individuals who have excelled in the sport of bowhunting.  These awards are for Bowhunter of the Year (male & female);  Youth Bowhunter of the Year (male & female); etc.

- Co-Sponsor:  Fur-Fish & Game Rendezvous.  NCBA volunteer instructors work at Camp Millstone 4-H summer camp for youths.  Monetary donations have been made, when available, to help fund the program and for repairs and maintenance of the facility.

- Co-Sponsor:  Youth Conservation Day at Cool Springs, N.C.   Volunteers presented program on “tree-stand safety.”

- Co-Sponsor:  Helped fund and provided volunteer workers to Caswell Wildlife Game Management Refuge to plant food plots for Wild Turkey and Deer.

- Contributor: United States Sportsman’s Alliance (USSA);  Hunters for the Hungry;

-Member:  North American Bowhunters Coalition (NABC) ; Camo Coalition of North Carolina.

Support:  North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission; Pope & Young Club; Professional Bowhunters Society; National Shooting Sports Foundation; National Rifle Association.

-Legislative Agenda:  NCBA maintains and publishes a list of legislative agenda items approved by the NCBA Executive Council.  Council members review and strive to satisfy the needs and wants of the majority of our members in this respect. 

- Proposed the change in the regulation that controls minimum bow draw weights in N.C.  The minimum is now 35 pound draw for compound bows (2002), and 40 pounds for traditional bows (2007). These revisions allows for more youths, women and physically challenged bowhunters to participate in the sport.

-Proposed  change in regulations to allow bowhunting during muzzle-loader season on private lands. (Approved: 3/7/2007; Effective: Sept. 8, 2007)

- Proposed the change in regulations that now allows for the use of some mechanical broadheads when bowhunting.

- Proposed the change in regulations that allowed for foxes to be harvested with bow and arrow.

- Proposed change to allow taking Grass Carp with bow and arrow;  (2 per day approved as of 7/1/2005)

- Proposed change to allow Beaver to be harvested with bow and arrow. (Approved: July 2007, Effective: Oct. 1, 2007)

-Support regulations that will allow hunting coyote at night with use of electronic game callers.

- Supported the change in P&Y Rules that now allows for animals taken with compound bows having higher than 65% letoff to be admitted into the P&Y and NCBA records listings. 

-Support new regulation to allow use of tracking dog on a leash to retrieve wounded animals… (day and night).

- Opposes the “blanket” legalization of crossbows for use during bowhunting only seasons in N.C.  (Does NOT oppose use by legitimate, qualified  “permanently”  physically handicapped individuals.)

- Opposes changing the standard (current) opening / closing dates of bow and gun seasons in N.C.  NCBA feels that it would serve no purpose to open gun seasons any earlier in various parts of the state.  And,  it would greatly penalize the bowhunters and the sport itself if more dates were lost to the gun season in any part of the state.

- Proposed that an archery only black bear season be established in eastern North Carolina that would run concurrent with the last week of archery deer season in mid-October.

- Assists the NCWRC with issues dealing with wildlife conservation and management;  such as:  the CWD issue; maintaining control of wildlife regulatory issues by the NCWRC;  special hunts in places like Biltmore Forrest with urban deer removal and control.