I listened to a little, but I am at work so I could not stay for the good stuff.

Bob and Brian...we are with you in spirit.

Jack and Brian did a great job! But if I understood it correctly I think everything passed. No more bowfishing for catfish, no more minimum draw weight... Is this correct????? :confused:

Jack and Brian, you did a great job. Thanks again for taking the time out to address our concerns at the meeting. Bob

TPWD Commissioners approved:

No minimum draw weight
Lowering the age of Hunters Ed Certification to 9
and NOT extend bowfishing for catfish

Well boys and girls I am back from Austin and my debut performance before the TPW Commissioners. I will say that it was an interesting experience and I did learn quite a bit about our organization and the political workings of TPW. Dena's recap is accurate. It's official come September there will be no minimum draw weight for archery equipment to hunt game animals, bowfishing catfish will no longer be allowed, and the minimum age for certification in hunter ed and therefore being allowed to hunt unsupervised with any weapon is 9. I want to thank Brian Steward for showing up and giving moral support. He made a statement as well. He also introduced me to Carter Smith the new TPW Executive Director.

For those of you who didn't catch the live version here is the statement, co-written by Brian and I, that I presented to the Commission.

Mr. Chairman, commissioners, my name is Jack Jetton. I am the President of the Lonestar Bowhunter Association, a Hunter Ed Area Chief, and a Master Bowhunter Ed Instructor. I want to thank you for hearing my comment on the elimination of the current minimum draw weight as it pertains to bow hunting. First I would like to applaud Parks & Wildlife’s desires to expand opportunities for Texas hunters and we at LSBA support those desires. In the archery community it is well known that modern archery equipment is much more efficient than the equipment was when the Department and bowhunters determined the current requirements for bow hunting. However we would like for the commission to consider delaying the vote on this action until adequate testing on current equipment has taken place to determine a proper minimum draw weight which will insure ethical, humane harvests of our game animals. The LSBA supports a reduction in the minimum draw weight if that reduction is based on reliable data but we have concerns with a total elimination of the minimum as proposed.

As you are aware the Pittman-Robertson Act allows for taxing hunting and fishing equipment to fund outdoor conservation and education activities. Bows with less than a 30# draw weight are not considered hunting equipment by this law and therefore not taxed.

In the absence of minimal requirements on bow hunters such as mandatory bowhunter education or a minimum draw weight we will end up with hunters in the field ill prepared and ill equipped to ethically harvest game. Imagine if you will an unsupervised 9 year old hunter (which would be allowed under the current proposal re: Hunter Ed) equipped with a 15# draw bow shooting mechanical broadheads. I’m sure you will agree with me when I say that neither the LSBA nor the TPWD would want to increase opportunities if it meant a larger percentage of animals were wounded and not recovered. That situation would not bode well for hunters as a whole.

We are all concerned about Texas hunters, and need to base our decisions on education and sound scientific data. At this point we believe we need more statistical evidence to determine what minimum draw weight is sufficient to sustain a mortal ethical harvest assuming a good shot has occurred. Thus, we, as Stewards of our resource, need to see to it that education of our young and new hunters takes place and statistically based decisions support a reduction of the current draw weight.

Thank you for hearing my comment on draw weight elimination. I hope I have presented some ideas that will help preserve the heritage of bow hunting while at the same time open up those doors to increase hunter opportunities within the State. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

I hope we represented LSBA well and look forward to working with Brian, and TPW on a couple of issues we discussed today. More to come on that.

Thank you Jack and Brian for going to Austin to represent the LSBA.

While I understand the TPWD wanted to open up oppertunities for all to paticticipate in this great sport, but I personally do not agree with these decisions.

Oh well, I guess we will just have to deal with it and move on.

Glad they took their time on making their decision. Guess I can stop voting on our home page. I'm not really that happy about the path they chose.
Thanks for going & representing us!

Guys thanks for taking the time and spending the gas money to go and represent us. I think you did a good job and the association should be proud of your efforts. Unfortunately, I think that a lot of times the commisioners have their minds made up well before the meeting and unless there is an avalanche of opinion against something it will probably pass.

Thanks again for your efforts.

I guess the draw loc didn't work out as well as they'd hoped.

Thanks Jack and Brian for showing the TPW that we are still here and are still active in what they do!! Better get to bowfishing for catfish before it changes again!!:banned: