Donate your old bow to a Youth Hunter

[Morpheus32]

Gents,

I am currently at the IBEF Youth Bowhunting Camp run by the Alberta Hunter Education Instructor Association (AHEIA) here at Alford Lake. There are three youth here who do not have a bow and the gear here is in need of upgrade and repair. If you have an old bow that you are looking at getting rid of, please think about donating your bow and gear to AHEIA. This is important to keep our hunting sports alive and introduce the youth to the sport. Any archery tackle, arrows, targets, clothing, parts, anything, can be put to good use out here training the province's youth hunters. You can really help out and make a difference. Anything that you might decide to get rid of, can be used to help train kids and get them shooting and hunting.

If you would like to donate your bow or gear, please contact Len Gransch at len@aheia.com to arrange for your donation. If you are in the Edmonton area, you can drop it off at the AHEIA office or contact me and I will make arrangements to pick it up. There are also offices in Calgary as well. You can also send it to me and I will make sure it gets to AHEIA. I am happy to help in anyway to get things to the kids and get them out in the woods.

I thank you in advance.

Cheers

Jeff

 

[C Broad Arrow]

What a terrific idea Morpheus. Are their similar organizations in other provinces?

 

[Morpheus32]

What a terrific idea Morpheus. Are their similar organizations in other provinces?

I can not speak for other organizations but AHEIA is mandated to do the firearms and hunter safety programs for Alberta. AHEIA tries to run the programs at lowest cost possible to make them affordable for all Albertans. My son just finished his firearms safety and hunter safety course in a 5 day camp and is currently on the IBEF Youth Bowhunter Safety Course. The training is first class and the volunteers outstanding. The problem is the gear is very heavily used. The camp I am at here at Alford lake puts 10 000 people through the various programs. The gear has some miles but they can use just about anything you can imagine....archery equipment, firearms, parts, clothing, antler shed, calls, old decoys....you name it. They will put it to use and get some kid set up to go hunting. A number of organizations work very hard with volunteers to maintain the equipment. Anything you can donate will be put to good use. If you have some new in the box items, they are given out to kids as prizes at the end of the camp. They strive to have something for each kit.

The program here is excellent and the people outstanding. I intend to make a strong effort to support AHEIA since they are working very hard to introduce kids to hunting and fishing. They are going to running a youth hunting experience program to all kids to get into the field and experience various types of hunting like upland game, hunting ducks and geese....even a chance to go bowhunting. It is outstanding and deserves our support. I hope other people can pitch in an help.

Thanks

Jeff

 

[C Broad Arrow]

Jeff... this is a really good idea and thanks to you and others this will make a big difference.

Many of us talk about it and complain about the state of affairs... your are doing something to change that.

 

[Morpheus32]

Thanks for the kind word of support.

Although I am not associated with AHEIA other than my son attending his hunter safety/firearms safe course last week and now his IBEF Bowhunting Education Course, I think this is a worthy cause for Alberta Bowhunters. These kids and others attending training here are the future. There are 17 young and very enthusiastic bowhunters here who are soaking up the instruction. Yesterday they spent the day setting up treestands and learning how to safely use them. My son had a blast and it appears he wants his own climber! They then spent after supper learning how to call Moose, Deer and Elk. The kids then were given grunt tubes and made rattling antlers from sheds. The grunt tubes and the sheds had been donated to AHEIA by everyday people like yourself. The kids were super excited and it sounded like a 17 piece deer grunting and rattling band until the kids headed to bed.

You can make a difference with that box of old gear in the basement from days gone by. From my experience this week, my old bow, arrows, quiver, calls, camo, sheds, old fletching, and spare parts are a gold mine for AHEIA. They put 10000 kids through the programs in a year. They all get a chance to shoot bows that are provided by AHEIA. Most kids just love it but the bows need new parts and bits. They are in particular need of your old cobra sight you had on your first bow in the 80s since they serve the purpose well for intros to archery here with AHEIA. Even that ancient bow from long ago can be used to demonstrate the history and development of archery equipment.

The staff here appreciate the support and donations here. Everything gets used to support the kids. I am happy I was able to learn about this program and participate as a parent volunteer. It has been a great learning experience for me and I plan to do my best to support these programs in the future. My 9 and 7 year old will go through the program as well.

If you have any questions on what can be used, don't hesitate to contact myself or Len. Again, thanks in advance for your support to youth hunters. Dig out your stuff and get it in the mail. It will get more kids into hunting.