Interested in becoming a PCBA Hunting Host??

Many people state that they are interested in hosting and setting up a PCBA hunting event like we have annually in Loudonville, Ohio, especially once they watched the Scent Lok show "Wildlife Point Blank" that aired the week of July 28th.

This is very commendable, so we thought we’d give you some insight into what it takes to plan these events.

PCBA is looking for an area in the central U.S. (members are from across the US, with the most residing in the north, northeast and central US) We’re looking for individuals, outfitters, guides or companies who are interested in providing a Spring 2003 hunting opportunity for approximately 15-20 PCBA hunters, both physically challenged and abled-bodied. This could be a wild turkey hunt, wild boar hunt, or even a bowfishing event to name a few. Our membership has expressed non-interest in exotic ram hunts. This event would take place in mid-to late April 2003.

With our 15-20 hunters, we’d have some aids attending, as well as the PCBA staff and volunteers. We’d like to be able to arrange to hold our yearly board of directors meeting, general membership meeting and awards banquets at the same time. We’d be looking at about a total of 50 or so people attending. Usually this event, as all PCBA events, attracts both local and national media coverage and interest from organizations and companies wanting to participate and show their products, both adaptive products and archery related equipment.

The three "A’s" PCBA looks for in planning these hunting events are:

Accessible areas

Affordability

Accessible Accommodations

Accessible Area – Anyone who owns or knows of another who owns about 150 acres or more can provide a unique hunting experience for physically challenged members of the PCBA. I won’t pretend that this planning is easy, because it takes a lot of time, energy, understanding and fundraising to arrange these hunts, but the benefits and goodwill that comes out of these events make it all worthwhile. Just think how you’d feel to see, hear and watch a physically challenged individual getting out into the great hunting woods again, when they see a deer or turkey or antelope or elk, and watch their eyes alight, their smiles go from ear to ear, and their movements become quite shaky as they raise that bow or crossbow to take the "perfect" shot. It’s an awesome experience, a true "high" and if the physically challenged hunter is lucky enough to harvest their elusive animal, the series of events afterwards are breathtakingly sobering. Now imagine for an instance, that this is that hunter’s first hunt since their devastating accident or illness. Now imagine that this same hunter is your mother, father, son, daughter, grandson or a dear childhood friend. Wouldn’t you want to help them achieve this feat and more like it? You can if you’d take the time and interest to open not only your land to the physically challenged bowhunters but also your heart!

Accessible Accommodations – Lodge or cabins that are accessible and can accommodation the hunters, their aids and our staff. Another alternative would be to use local hotels or motels, which are accessible and close to the hunting area and willing to provide 4 or so nights lodging at a discounted price. Most hotel/motels are willing to reduce their rates and provide our group with a group rate.

The other thing needed is an accessible area for meals. Is there a banquet hall or pavilion that would work for serving 3 meals daily? Will the food be provided or will it need to be arranged between the host and PCBA?

Affordability – PCBA and the host work together and raise the funds needed for this hunt by arranging fundraising events, such as, but not limited to: Golf outings, 3-D shoots, car washes, brat fry, poker run, raffle tickets for donated items, auctions, karaoke night, as well as receiving monetary donations from individuals, companies, manufacturers. This helps to provide the physically challenged hunters with financial assistance to attend these hunts; such as meals for them and their aid, hunting fees and/or hunting license, animal fees, if applicable, and their nightly lodging for a 3-4 day hunt. These fundraising avenues and hunting events must be well publicized, too.

The reason we try to provide these hunts free or as affordable as possible is because most physically challenged live on a monthly Social Security Income. This income is generally about 800.00 - $1000.00 a month. Try to see yourself and your family living on this amount, paying your rent, electric, phone, food, children’s clothing and supplies, monthly credit card bills, medical insurance, life insurance, automobile insurance, medicines, wheelchairs repairs, and general vehicle repairs each month out of this amount. Not easy, is it? Not many physically challenged individuals that I know or have worked with in the last 13 years have anything left over for anything non-essential, such as going on a hunt.

If you’re interested in helping us provide an affordable, quality hunt for physically challenged bowhunters, please call 724-668-7439, 785-637-5421 or email mkvought@comcast.net or macs@gorhamtel.com to discuss the possibilities.