At
this year’s OBH events weekend we had 15 hunters sign up for the OBH
Bow Hunter of the Year awards, four of which competed in the Husband and
Wife category. We only had
one youth member turn in their harvested results.
I would like to take a moment to explain the trophies and awards that
all current OBH members can apply for each and every year.
First, all applicants must be a current member at the time of harvest.
Second, the application must arrive to the Director of Hunting Games no
later than January 15th of the new year. This
allows adequate time for most hunts to be concluded by the deadline.
Next, the application is posted in the magazine at the beginning
of the archery season. Please fill
it out completely. Finally,
the contest should only include animals harvested during the
season of the contest, past animals are not eligible for any awards.
In the Bow Hunter of the Year category, we award
Men’s, Women’s, Youth’s and Husband & Wife trophies.
These awards are calculated by a percentage of the animal’s
horn or skull size. There are twelve
places awarded for each division. We
rarely have enough applications from the youth or women division to fill
the twelve places. First
place in each division is awarded by having their name engraved
on a perpetual trophy.
The second category is The Trophy award.
This is only open to Big Game harvested in
Oregon. The definition of big game is defined in the Oregon Department
of Fish & Wildlife’s synopsis for their perspective seasons, and
must be taken within the geographical boundary of the state of
Oregon
. We award a handmade cast model
of the number one Pope & Young animal mounted on a wood plaque of
Oregon
. To qualify for the award you
must submit at least two animals in each category or exceed P & Y
minimums, or exceed last years winning entry.
In the case of a tie there shall be an official panel measurement
of the animals before the awards banquet.
The Director of Hunting Games will notify the applicants by mail
in such cases before hand. Often times
forked horn mule deer have taken the trophy, so never be embarrassed to
turn in your hard earned harvest.
The third category is The Big Game Pin & Bar.
This is open to every animal that is legal for harvest in their
respectful county, state, province, or country.
A full list is available here at the web site; www.oregonbowhunters.com/game_awards.htm.
Just click to the Big game section. With
this award you will receive a big game bear head pin and a first place
bar for the first animal you harvest, then a subsequent bar for each and
every harvest. At fifteenth
place you will receive an expert bow hunter bar.
For the twenty fifth place you will receive a master bow hunter
bar. This would conclude eligibility
for awards in the Big Game series, however,
the harvest will still be recorded in the OBH awards database.
The last category is The Small Game award.
This is open to every animal that is legal for harvest in their
respectful county, state, province, or country.
A full list is available here at the web site; www.oregonbowhunters.com/game_awards.htm.
Just click to the Small game section. In
this category you will receive a Small Game Hunter patch for each
40 points. For
each animal category you are only allowed six points, (as an example;
you harvest ten grouse in a season, only six would count toward your
total of forty points.) Once you
complete the first forty you receive a patch number one and continues
through the second and third. The
final forty points would conclude the Master Small Game Hunter award.
OBH will not award any points for game taken out of
season or if you are convicted of any Game or Hunting laws.
I urge all of you to send in your applications this
coming season. Archery hunters
know how hard it is to harvest animal. Reward yourself with some
recognition from Oregon Bow Hunters!
By Nate Zeiler
Director of Hunting Games
