About
Our History
The WVBA was founded October 19, 1980 by a group of 23 bowhunters. Today, the association has members in every county of the state. The initial goal of the WVBA, one that is still central to the association, is to represent the growing number of bowhunters in our state in political matters. The WVBA is the voice of over 140,000 bowhunters in the Mountain State today. This representation has proven to be the best way to protect the sportsmen’s rights we currently have, and to better the sport for all bowhunters in West Virginia. The WVBA is an independent, non-profit organization whose officers are elected by the membership every two years. It is led by an 11-member board of directors and a large slate of regional representatives throughout the state.
Our Goal
The WVBA strives to protect bowhunting in West Virginia against anti-hunting groups. Through the WVBA, bowhunters have a constant voice in hunting legislation. Through cooperative exchange with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources; the WVBA strives to protect our wildlife resources. The WVBA promotes ethical bowhunting and the education of bowhunters in safety, hunting skills and techniques; and furthermore, to educate the non-hunting public so they have a better understanding of bowhunting and its principles.
Our Accomplishments
Introduced thousands of children to archery and bow hunting through Youth Jamborees across the state; Kamp Kno-Koma (a camp for diabetic children), Jakes Day with NWTF, helping with Boy Scout Programs. USSA Trailblazer Days and After School Enrichment Programs.
Helped saved hunting and fishing license money by supporting Constitutional Amendment to prevent the WV Legislature from rolling these designated funds into the general fund.
Help support the Becoming an Outdoor Woman Program by providing supplies, equipment, and instructors.
Helped keep hunting seasons and bag limits under the control of trained professional game biologists and out of the hands of legislators
The WVBA and its affiliated clubs have been major financial contributors to the DNR’s “Hunters Helping the Hungry” program since 1992;
Provided financial support for US Sportsmen’s Alliance efforts to battle anti-hunting in the USA since 1991.
Instrumental in implementing statewide use of class R bow license in 1987; Convinced DNR to allow bowhunters to use Class R license to take either-sex deer in ‘extra doe’ counties in 1991;
Provided transmitter and tracking devices for WV DNR black bear wildlife research.
Provided financial support for WV Wildlife Federation’s Sportsmen Alliance Fund since its inception.
Have attended and taken part in all WV Game Commission meetings and DNR Sectional meetings since 1981.
Provided GPS collars in support of reintroduction of elk to southern West Virginia.
Instrumental in expanding archery seasons earlier in the fall (september) and special seasons in the winter (January).
Supported WV DNR by replacing materials damaged in the catastrophic flooding of 2016.
Instrumental in the effort to protect our Wildlife Management Areas from being opened to ATV traffic.
And many more…
