International Conference and annual gathering of the European Bowhunting Association (EBA), April 10th and 11th 2010 near Milano / Italy
On the 10th and 11th of April 2010 the European Bowhunting Association (EBA) gathered for their annual general assembly meeting. This year’s meeting has been organized by Bowhunting Club Italy under the guidance of EBA Vice President Arnaldo Savorelli and his team of dedicated Italian bowhunters. The conference took place in the spring green countryside of the town Ollegio near Malpensa international airport.
In 2009/2010, two more European nations joined EBA (Russia and Switzerland) which currently represents national bowhunting associations from 23 European countries. The list includes France, Spain, Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the independent province Aland. Out of this list, fifteen national bowhunting associations have sent representatives to this year’s meeting.
In 2009/2010, more progress has been made for bowhunting in Europe which includes:
•In 2009, Bulgaria fully legalised hunting with bow and arrow.
•Slovakia and Czech Republic now allow hunting with bow and arrow in hunting enclosures.
•France and Denmark are now providing non resident bowhunters to hunt their countries without the national bowhunting exam with certain prerequisites.
•The Archery Trade Association ATA has confirmed their continuing support for the European bowhunting community with a significant donation for bowhunting related projects.
•A bowhunting seminar has been held in Latvia which has been later followed up with meeting of the national bowhunting association and official authorities
•An international Bowhunter seminar hosted by ATA on the 12th of January 2010 in Columbus, Ohio has been attended by EBA president Anders Gejer and CIC Working Group Bowhunting President Juhy Kylmä as well as FACE Secretary General Yves Lecocq which resulted in a very constructive meeting and the confirmation, that FACE is willing to support bowhunting in all countries where hunting with bow and arrow has a tradition.
All member countries where bowhunting is currently not legal actively promote and increase bowhunting knowledge in the hunting and non-hunting public.
There is a general trend that the number of members and bowhunters is increasing throughout Europe despite the often declining trend of participants in hunting activities.
This shows that the age-old hunting with bow and arrow does have a special appeal in modern days.
Participants EBA General Assembly 2010
The foundation of the EBA was initiated by the CIC and its Bowhunting Working Group. Today, bowhunting is practiced by several million bowhunters on all continents. Like trapping and falconry, bowhunting is an important part of our hunting heritage. Due to the many technological advances in today’s bowhunting equipment, present-day bowhunting practices fulfill all the requirements of ethical hunting standards.
EBA objectives include: the promotion of ethical bowhunting based on the published directives of the CIC regarding ethical bowhunting behaviour; providing support for the development of national bowhunter education programs; the creation and compilation of relevant scientific materials and studies; providing and maintaining a worldwide network with bowhunting related associations, scientific institutions, authorities, and other groups interested in hunting with bow and arrow.