Dispatches From The West

Mitch King, ATA’s director of government relations, flew to Anchorage, Alaska, in July for the 2010 summer meeting of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Agency directors and key staff from 18 Western states attend this annual gathering.  King met one-on-one with each director about their archery and bowhunting programs, focusing on recruitment efforts and how ATA can assist. Highlights of the discussions follow:

Nevada —  King discussed ATA/Nevada partnerships for the Las Vegas area with Director Ken Mayer. Over the next few months, ATA will review the program’s accomplishments and expectations, and discuss the potential for extending partnerships further.

Arizona — King discussed the ATA/Arizona agreement, including the Tucson area’s archery program and range work, with Director Larry Voyles. To fulfill expectations between ATA and these partners,  King will work with agency staff to ensure strong communication.

California — King explored recruiting and partnership opportunities with John Carlson, the wildlife agency’s outgoing director. Although Carlson is leaving the agency to head California Waterfowl, he wants to keep working with the ATA on youth-hunter recruitment.  King and Carlson will continue exploring these program possibilities.

Oregon — Director Roy Elicker explained the agency’s plans for a series of statewide meetings with the archery and bowhunting communities to discuss the agency’s archery and bowhunting programs. King emphasized the importance of including the state’s ATA-member manufacturers, retailers and distributors in the talks, and said the ATA’s Technical Committee could provide expertise on equipment-related issues.  Elicker liked those suggestions, and so King sent a list of the ATA’s Oregon members and suggested several to contact.  King will track these efforts, and might participate in one or more meetings.

Montana —  King talked with Director Joe Maurier and Deputy Director Dave Risely about the Helena Environmental Education Center, and plans to add a youth archery range to the project. The ATA has already provided design and technical support. This project is progressing well, and  King will seek ways for ATA to stay involved.

Alaska —  King met with Timmy Thompson, Alaska’s regional hunter information and training coordinator, who spearheads NASP in the Anchorage area while developing opportunities for the ATA’s Community Archery Strategy (CAS). Thompson has many quality projects under way, and  King will provide support where needed.

Idaho —  King discussed the state’s archery-recruitment efforts and the ATA’s Community Archery Strategy (CAS) with Tony McDermott, commissioner of Idaho Game and Fish. McDermott invited  King to speak to an upcoming commissioner’s meeting about the CAS.