Directors
| Paul Dickey | Hurricane |
| Steve Frye | Salt Rock |
| Randy Epling | Ripley |
| Steve Casey | French Creek |
| Jack Lambert | Pineville |
| Randy Moore | Huntington |
| Jack Whitmire | Scott Depot |
Officers
| President | Kenneth Wilson | Chapmanville |
| Vice President | John Slaughter | Buckhannon |
| Secretary | Eric Lingenfelter | Barboursville |
| Treasurer | Elmo Wiles | Maidsville |
| Past President/Director | Russ Lingenfelter | Barboursville |
Banquet at Cedar Lakes, Ripley
| Speaker: | E. Donnall Thomas |
| Seminars: |
1997 Awards presented at Banquet
| Bowhunter of the Year | Larry Cooper |
| Master Bowhunter | Clark Vickers, Ron Williams |
| Expert Bowhunter | Tim Ross, Harry Croft |
| President’s Award | Mark Timney, Larry Lawson |
| Regional Rep of the Year | Chris Nowery |
| Affiliated Club of the Year | Mountain State Sportsmen’s Association |
| Outdoor Writer of the Year | Marc Timney |
| DNR Employee of the Year | Janet Clayton |
| Manufacturer of the Year | Don’s Archery and Browning Archery |
| Outfitter of the Year | Bear Paw Camps, Marty Quinn |
Chairmen
| Awards | J.R. Chambers |
| Media | Bev Wiles |
| Merchandise | Randy Epling |
| Records | John Edman |
Rendezvous
Spring at Huntington Archery Club
Seminars:
Summer at Appalachian Bowhunters Association, Buckhannon
Seminars: Mike Dickess
Fall at Wildlife League of Ohio County, Wheeling
Seminars:
Treasure Mt. at Sugar Grove at George Crider farm
Seminars:
Division of Natural Resources/Legislative Agenda
House Bill 4053 passes the House but dies in the Senate Natural Resources Committee. This “deer slaughter” bill would have forced the DNR to manage the deer herd at no more than 30 deer per square mile, regardless of habitat or environment.
Senators Love and Schoonover call for a deer gun season in the four southern bow hunting only counties.
A crossbow legalization amendment to House Bill 4500 (original bill to make it illegal to hunt while under the influence of alcohol or drugs) was defeated as Delegate Bill Proudfoot and House Majority Leader Joe Martin recommended to the full house that the crossbow amendment not be added to the bill.
Other special EVENTS, AWARDS, HAPPENINGS
WVBA and OBA announce BUCKEYE-MOUNTAINEER BOWHUNTER CLASSIC, to be held at Bob Evans Farms in August.
- Affiliated Club Shoot winners
1st Huntington Archery
2nd Appalachian Bowhunters
3rd High Feather Archery
WVBA Youth Jamboree held in Morgantown
Second annual “Becoming an Outdoor Woman” held at Watoga State Park. Bev Wiles and Randy Moore are instructors for the archery segment.