The North Carolina Bowhunter's Association was first conceived in 1969 and incorporated as a non-profit organization on March 14, 1973 in Monroe, N.C.

The original directors of the Association were J.V. Golightly of Morganton; Jim Hogan of Monroe; Steve Morgan of Indian Trail; Cecil Musselwhite of Monroe and Jerry Rushing of Monroe. Hogan, Musselwhite and Rushing are listed on the Incorporation Charter as the "Incorporators."

The charter was suspended September 19, 1975 and was reinstated May 4, 1976 to Charles Jack Smith. This charter was recorded in the Union County Register of Deeds and certified by Thad Eure, Secretary of State of North Carolina.

The "NCBA", in it's infancy, was initially very similar to many of our present day "Local Chapter Clubs." Many of the activities were centered around "club shoots" and hunts. This is in stark contrast to today's "NCBA" which concentrates on legislative action, conservation and the "Bowhunter" image, in general.

In the early years, the "NCBA" built it's membership up to about 100 members when it was at it's peak. Then, about 1974-1975, there was a sharp decline in the interest and participation of members in the activities of those days.

Jack Smith, who also serves as the Secretary of the "Professional Bowhunter's Society" (PBS), assumed leadership of the association in 1975 as President and began reorganizing the "NCBA" into what it basically is today. There were only 19 names on the roster and only four were paid up members at the time. For the most part, the association was "defunct." Jack was able to procure the basic (Incorporated) name and membership list at that time. Several other people joined him in rewriting the by-laws and reorganizing the Association in general. The "NCBA", as it is today, in reality was begun in 1975. Jack says his thoughts and reasons for hunting have changed. The number and size of animals he takes are no longer important to him. He has one Boone & Crockett, two Pope & Young and several NCBA animals that are not recorded. In 1992, Jack stated, "My hunts have become more personal and I have enjoyed it more than ever in my life."

The first issue of the "North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine" was mailed in April / May 1975. Only one of the original "Charter" members remains on today's membership list. He is Dennis Allman, of Morganton, N.C. He remains active in Association activities as an official NCBA Measurer. Dennis has held every elected office in the "NCBA" at one time or another, and has been very instrumental in the successful evolution of the Association into today's 1,200 - 1,500 member organization. Dennis Allman was 6th person inducted into the "NCBA Hall of Fame" on February 21, 1998 at the NCBA Annual Awards Banquet in Rocky Mount, N.C.

*James (Jim) Hogan, Jr. was one of the founders of NCBA. He'd moved in recent years to Chesapeake, VA, but kept in contact with friend, Jerry Rushing, another co-founder of NCBA. Jerry says, "Hoag" was the first man to travel to Raleigh and speak up for bowhunter's rights a the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission meetings. Jerry remembers "Hoag" wearing his denim hat everywhere he went in the early days and was still wearing it on his last visit shortly before his death in April, 1996. Jerry said, "He loved that hat."

"Hoag" carried the original paperwork to an attorney to incorporate NCBA. He and Jerry spent many days in the woods bowhunting together and walked miles of river bank shooting carp and gar.

"Hoag" got to play roles in some of the movies Jerry starred in during the early 1970's. Jerry Rushing's life was portrayed in "The Dukes of Hazard" TV series. Key actors in the series represented and were patterned after events in earlier years of Jerry Rushing's life.Jerry says he will never forget "Hoag's" flat denim hat and the times "Hoag" spent plucking his banjo around the campfires. Jerry says, "No, I'll never forget him." And, neither will NCBA.

During the 1980's, Dennis Allman was the most prominent and instrumental individual figure in the growth of the NCBA. He is personally responsible for the formation of the "NCBA Bowhunter Defense Fund." Dennis served in every official capacity and position possible in the NCBA. His contributions to NCBA and Bowhunting are too countless to enumerate.

Dayne Welborn is responsible for organizing the first NCBA Banquet, which was held at "Kepley's Barn" in Greensboro, NC on February 21, 1987. Bowhunter Magazine comic writer, "Maggie" McGee was the featured entertainment and speaker. The event was interrupted by a little "scuffle" in the rear when some "late-comers" to the event took the seats of others who were in the buffet line at the time. When they returned to their seats, the confrontation, which evolved into a mini-food fight.. erupted. The altercation was quickly halted by Guilford Bowhunters member and NCBA officer, Steve Greeson, who promptly picked up the trouble-makers by the "scruff" of their necks and physically carried them to the door and tossed them out. Never a dull moment!

Ramon Bell was appointed NCBA "Records Chairman" in 1982 and filled that position until February, 2004. The record system grew from it's start in 1975 to the only officially recognized hunting record system in North Carolina at his retirement. Two record books were published during his tenure as Records Chairman. A team of official NCBA Measurers were trained and certified that assist in scoring animals across the state. Many continue to travel to Raleigh each year also to help score at the annual "Dixie Deer Classic" event sponsored by the "Wake County Wildlife Club." Ramon ran for the office of President in 2006 and was elected. This is the first elected office Ramon ever held in NCBA. Some highlights of his first term was the legalization of bowhunting during muzzle-loader season on private properties and the first revision of the bylaws since the NCBA was founded in 1975. Ramon was re-elected President in 2008. He ran unopposed.

The North Carolina Bowhunter "Hall of Fame" was also established as a result of a proposal presented to the NCBA Executive Council by Ramon Bell in 1994.

Ramon also chaired two important events at the "Classic" in the years 1999 and 2000. This was the "Carolina Hunter Showcase" which was held in the Dorton Arena, next door to the Graham Building. Subsequently, the Wake County Wildlife Club took over the management of that building and added it as an "annex" to the "Classic." NCBA continues to help by operating a 3-D Indoor Archery Shoot in Dorton Arena. NCBA's volunteer's assist with these two activities (scoring and 3-D shoot) at the "Classic" each year and the association reaps a significant monetary donation for our efforts which helps support association activities and projects throughout the year.

The annual NCBA Convention and Banquet was moved to the N.C. State Fairgrounds (Kerr-Scott Building) in 2007 and 2008 by Ramon Bell. It was named the NC BOWHUNTER EXPO. It was held the last weekend in March. In 2009, the NCBA Convention and Banquet will return to the Kerr-Scott Building the same weekend as the Dixie Deer Classic and will become a part of the Dixie Deer Classic per an agreement between NCBA and the Wake County Wildlife Club. NCBA will continue to operate the Dixie Deer Classic 3-D Shoot for them, but it will move from the Dorton Arena to the Kerr-Scott building. NCBA volunteers will continue to assist with scoring deer heads at the DDC.

Gary W. Evers tenure as President featured the beginning of the "computer age" for NCBA. Gary published the first NCBA website, www.ncbowhunter.com and made history by being the first person to give a "spotlight" power-point presentation to the NC Wildlife Resources Commissioners at a monthly meeting in Raleigh, NC on March 7, 2001. The focus of his presentation was a proposal to revise the bow draw weight regulations to reduce the minimum from 45 pounds to 35 pounds for compound bows. The proposal passed and allows many more women, youths and physically challenged persons to participate in the sport of Bowhunting.

*NOTE: If you have any information relating to NCBA "History", email us HERE with your input.. THANKS!

| 7.29.2009 |