Bowhunters convene in Ellicottville
Notebook
More than 1,900 bow shooters and about 8,000 visitors walked hillsides and enjoyed an International Bowhunters Organization (IBO) World Championship at Holliday Valley in Ellicottville on Aug. 21-23.
Shooters in 31 separate classes, from Advanced Hunter to Crossbow, competed for IBO World Class states in those divisions.
“It was amazing to see how organizers effectively moved 1,700 shooters [archers in classes] around courses throughout the shoot,” said Chris McCann of Hamburg, a competitor in the Advanced Hunter Class.
All classes keyed on gear used for hunting with a bow, and divisions offered specific contests for youths, females, traditionalists and seniors.
Michael Martin of Niagara Falls won Master Class Bowhunter honors, the only New York State competitor to take a first among World Championship classes.
More than 200 area archers entered the IBO Bowhunters Open. William Perks of Homer took the Advanced Hunter Class for walk-on shooters.
IBO President Ken Watkins congratulated all winners and thanked competitors and visitors for the spirited contests and for the enjoyable way in which all went well during these championships at Ellicottville. Watkins and IOB officials are working on plans to hold the 2009 event at Holiday Valley.
For results and more info on IBO, go to www.ibo.net . Festive fall outing
Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve staffers and volunteers present a Fall Festival celebration on Saturday.
From 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. on preserve grounds at 93 Honorine Drive in Cheektowaga presenters will offer displays, demonstrations and assorted activities for children and adults. A forest ranger will be on hand all day and Brian Wheat will provide live music at 1 p. m.
For a detailed schedule of events, call 683-5959 or visit: www.dec.ny.gov/education/1837.html . Outdoor writing out
Stoeger Publishing, producers of “The Shooter’s Bible,” “Gun Traders Guide,” and many shooting related books, announced last week that it will suspend publications.
The firm may resume production at a later date, but Stoeger President Jeff Reh said, “Soft market conditions have compelled this decision for the foreseeable future.”
Great Lakes Angler (GLA) editor Dave Mull informed regional reporters that GLA will no longer provide area-specific reports such as western Lake Ontario or eastern Lake Erie in its magazine coverage.
