The IBO Urban

Bowhunting Network

TRACKING THE NATION’S MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS-

SO THAT OTHERS MAY FOLLOW.

Bowhunting World Magazine-August 2000

 

By J.R Absher - IBO Director of Communications

The scenario is becoming more and more prevalent each year, particularly in the states located in the Midwest, East and Southeast: The combination of urbanization and largely uncontrolled populations of whitetail deer become a hot political and ethical issue.

The debate over whitetail deer control in parks and urban settings is becoming one of the biggest hot-button issues in today’s public forum-in town halls as well as on newspaper editorial pages from Washington, D.C. to Detroit.

And, it is not likely to change anytime soon.

Mainstream conservation groups point to urban sprawl and the loss of farm and woodland acreage as a major environmental problem the country will face in coming decades.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, nearly 16 million acres of land were converted to development between 1992 and 1997-a rate of 3.2 million per year. The rate is double that of the previous decade, when, between 1982 and 1992, the rate was 1.4million acres a year.

A recent report pointed to Atlanta as the nations worst large city for urban sprawl where about 500 acres of farmland and forest are lost each week. Texas and Pennsylvania lead all states in urbanization, followed by Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, California, Tennessee and Michigan, according to the USDA.

In addition to a shrinking rural habitat, a finite amount of land continues to support considerable wildlife-in many states, a whitetail population of historical high proportion. This equation has a predictable quotient-a lot of deer in urban settings, and the related problems of over browsing, landscape damage, Lyme disease and vehicular accidents.

In recent years, several regional bowhunting organizations and state affiliates have successfully addressed the growing dilemma faced by urban residents and government leaders. Some of these programs stand out as exemplary in their organization as well as their results.

Because the IBO recognizes the growing need for urban whitetail management in coming years and the integral part which bowhunting can play in this effort-it has identified the need for a program to compile information from those already successful programs. With its existing network of bowhunters, clubs affiliates and archery retailers, the IBO can coordinate the dissemination of data and contact points to those regions and organizations who are faced with the need for urban hunting programs with a proven track record of success.

The IBO Urban Bowhunting Network will track and distribute information from some of the better-known urban bowhunting programs, including:

• Whitetail Management Association North (WMA) http://www.angelfire.com/pa2/swmgpl. The oldest and perhaps best known of urban bowhunting programs, with an outstanding reputation in the Pittsburgh area.

• United Bowhunters of Connecticut http://www.bowsite.com/ubc/ Now in its third successful year of bowhunting whitetail management in one of the country’s most affluent urban areas.

• Suburban Whitetail Management of Northern Virginia, Inc. http://www.swmnv.com. Based on the successful formula used by WMA, the program matches qualified bowhunters with landowners in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.

There are many more similarities than differences among the existing urban programs, so those looking to begin their own endeavor may start with proven building blocks.

The requirements for participation in the programs involve completion of safety course, extensive bowhunting experience, passing a proficiency test, background check and adherence to an extensive and very specific list of hunting rules and regulations.

The introduction to the application from the Suburban Whitetail Management of North Virginia is direct and to-the-point. "SWMNV uses a stringent qualification procedure for hunters. This procedure is intended to select hunters who are safety conscious, proficient, ethical, discreet, respectful of landowners and their property, and sensitive to the fact that adjoining property owners may object to hunting."

In coming months, the IBO will continue to expand the listing to include other urban bowhunting referral and management groups, to be made available on request

"I’m very excited at the prospect of ‘getting the word out’ about organizations like ours," said Gary Chiurazzi, president of the WMA." I have long believed that the majority of the land closed to hunting, especially in suburban areas, is closed simply because the owners do not have a level of comfort with the hunters. The chance to work with the IBO to change this attitude, as well as a chance to cast our sport in a positive, modern light, is something I very much look forward to."

For information on the IBO Urban Bowhunting Network, contact the IBO main office at (440) 967-2137 or E-mail your request to ibo@ibo.net.