Directors
| Paul Dickey | South Charleston |
| Steve Frye | Salt Rock |
| Randy Epling | Ripley |
| Steve Casey | French Creek |
| Jack Lambert | Pineville |
| Randy Moore | Huntington |
| Kenneth Wilson | Chapmanville |
Officers
| President | Russ Lingenfelter | Barboursville |
| Vice President | John Slaughter | Buckhannon |
| Secretary | Bob Spencer | Parkersburg |
| Treasurer | Elmo Wiles | Maidsville |
| Past President/Director | John Edman | Washington |
Banquet at Cedar Lakes, Ripley
| Speaker: | Dave Holt |
| Seminars: | Dave Holt – technical bow tuning |
| Tom Huhns – flint knapping | |
| J.R. Chambers – Africa | |
| Joe Keeslar – knife making |
1996 Awards presented at Banquet
| Bowhunter of the Year | John Edman |
| Master Bowhunter | Ron Miller, Jeff Stephenson |
| Expert Bowhunter | Paul Blowers, Larry Cooper, Randy Epling |
| President’s Award | Kenneth Wilson |
| Regional Rep of the Year | Mike Goff |
| Photo Contest, Bowhunter Exp. | Scott Andrews |
| Photo Contest, Game Taken | Larry Cooper |
| Affiliated Club of the Year | Pendleton County Bowhunters |
| Legislator of the Year | Senator Ed Bowman |
| DNR Employee of the Year | Keith Krantz |
| Manufacturer of the Year | Gene’s Turkey Calls, Gene Blackshire |
| Outfitter of the Year | North Country Outfitters, Greg Bonecutter |
Rendezvous
Spring at Huntington Archery Club
Seminars:
Summer at Appalachian Bowhunters Association, Buckhannon
Seminars: Mark Timney
Fall at Wildlife League of Ohio County, Wheeling
Seminars: Larry D. Jones
Division of Natural Resources/Legislative Agenda
The first quarter Game Commission meeting again finds the Tri-County Bear Hunters attacking the bowhunting of bears. He requests the closing of bow bear season in Clay, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Summers, Upshur, and Wyoming counties. He also recommended that bow season not open until November 1. (Numerous previous requests had been for a December season only.)
Senator Shirley Love introduces handicapped crossbow legalization legislation. He then becomes confused when Larry sends him a letter expressing the opposition of the WVBA.
Senate concurrent resolution #37 (by Shirley Love) requests that a joint committee on government and finance to make a study on the need for legislative exceptions to the prohibition on crossbow hunting for certain individuals.
At the second quarter Game Commission meeting, the WVBA requests the Commissioners contact the Governor and request him to veto House Bill 2886 which was written by the Farm Bureau and places a farmer on the Game Commission.
The Interim Committee discusses crossbow legislation (Resolution #37) on September 15. The WVBA had 25 minutes to present their position, as did the opposition. Nothing was resolved. No common ground was found. It seems this crossbow issue will never go away.
At Senator Schoonover’s insistence the interim committee on crossbow study meets again on December 15. The WVBA was invited to attend and participate, but were relegated to role of spectator. The committee decided the best thing to do was create a two year trial season to be studied. Details would be worked out later to decide who could hunt with a crossbow.
Other special EVENTS, AWARDS, HAPPENINGS
WVBA participates in Elkins Outdoor Youth Expo in February.
Future Bowhunters Jamboree held in Morgantown in June, sponsored by State Line Hunting Club and the WVBA.
WVBA receives the DNR “W.Va. Sportsmen’s Organization of the Year.”
- Affiliated Club Shoot winners
1st Huntington Archery Club
2nd Elk River Bowhunters Association
3rd Appalachian Bowhunters Association
WVBA and affiliated club Appalachian Bowhunters Association participate in National Hunting and Fishing Day at Stonewall Jackson Latke State Park.
WVBA and its’ Affiliated Clubs make another donation to Hunters Helping the Hungry.
Becoming an Outdoors Women program starts in W.Va. Mark Timney represents the WVBA as archery instructor.