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Reinventing the Perception of Bowhunting after COVID-19

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    Reinventing the Perception of Bowhunting after COVID-19

    Greetings TBHers. It's been a long while since I've hung out on the green screen, and I find myself back here to reach out to the community, so that we... can reach out to the archery community. This is going to be a long read. Bear with me.

    As the owner of X10 Archery in Houston, I have had to keep the doors closed due to this crisis. In the same way every other pro-shop has while on lockdown. However... I am not fearful because I see the silver lining. I'm here to share my thoughts, and get some feedback that could help all of the pro-shops out there who are hurting.

    At the ATA show this year, X10 had a booth offering consultancy to pro-shops in building a successful Archery Learning Academy, to help keep the doors open, in the face of a decline in bowhunting and stores closing left and right. I also gave a seminar on the same subject. Just two months later, a global event has changed the course of history, resulting in an inevitable evolution in people's values and perceptions.

    The new perception is going to be self sufficiency. And that is a great thing. People are building raised garden beds and coops, chicks are sold out, ammo is flying off the shelf. People are fearful and going into survival mode. This is going to spark a renewed interest in bowhunting.

    Before the crisis, I had already embraced crossbows (not debating, just answering the need), more bowhunting, and bowhunter education. We started an S3DA club and are working with TPWD for bowhunter education and their "Explore Bowhunting" program. We also took steps towards teaching conservation and ethical bowhunting to our youth. We were bringing in archery diversity.

    So, what's my point? You guys!

    The ATA have a hunting mentor program, with guidance on how bowhunters can mentor new bowhunters. The guide is behind an ATA login, which only pro-shops will have access to. I'll work with them to see if we can make it public. In the interim, start having conversations with friends and family about the benefits of bowhunting. It feeds your family and community. It supports conservation efforts such as wildlife research, habitat restoration projects, and public-access programs.

    Support your local pro-shop and let them know about this mentor program. Offer your help in being a mentor. Become familiar with what will spark interest in the youth. The Gen Y and Zs are all about natural, locally sourced, non-GMO, conservation etc. This could be the dawn of a big turnaround for bowhunting.

    Thanks for hearing me out. I would love to hear thoughts and ideas on the subject.

    Cheers!
    Lynda

    Sent from my SM-T380 using Tapatalk
    Last edited by Lynda; 03-29-2020, 08:50 AM.

    #2
    Mentor program sounds like a great idea.

    Comment


      #3
      If the effect we are aspiring for is in attracting and introducing/educating large number than we must address metroplex/large city areas. A lot of urban folks have lost their way off of the path from hunting and obsiously archery whether it be for hunting or just as enjoyable sport.

      A lot of today's youth has no way of getting started in a sport and or activity that is no longer in the public eye. Additionally, archery has become extremely expensive to partake in. We need to get the youth involved in archery at schools. Someone posted an article/video link to archery dodgeball. That sounds and looks extremely fun.

      Just my dos centavos $ .02.

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by Pedernal View Post
        If the effect we are aspiring for is in attracting and introducing/educating large number than we must address metroplex/large city areas. A lot of urban folks have lost their way off of the path from hunting and obsiously archery whether it be for hunting or just as enjoyable sport.

        A lot of today's youth has no way of getting started in a sport and or activity that is no longer in the public eye. Additionally, archery has become extremely expensive to partake in. We need to get the youth involved in archery at schools. Someone posted an article/video link to archery dodgeball. That sounds and looks extremely fun.

        Just my dos centavos $ .02.
        Agreed

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by Pedernal View Post
          If the effect we are aspiring for is in attracting and introducing/educating large number than we must address metroplex/large city areas. A lot of urban folks have lost their way off of the path from hunting and obsiously archery whether it be for hunting or just as enjoyable sport.

          A lot of today's youth has no way of getting started in a sport and or activity that is no longer in the public eye. Additionally, archery has become extremely expensive to partake in. We need to get the youth involved in archery at schools. Someone posted an article/video link to archery dodgeball. That sounds and looks extremely fun.

          Just my dos centavos $ .02.
          Absolutely. This is also where the mentor program comes in - reaching out to those friends, neighbors, coworkers etc, who might not have otherwise come into contact with archery or bowhunting.

          The main school archery program - NASP is one flavor - Genesis bows shot with "this" arrow in "this" way, with no real interest to branch out. I have tried and failed to get cross-pollination going on with it. The real way forward for archery diversity is S3DA. Scholastic 3D Archery. They embrace target, field, 3D, bowhunting and conservation. A truly genius program.

          The hope was that the Olympics would bring another wave of interest this year. Sadly, they have been postponed.

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