There are enough of you Wisconsin guys wanting to go you could rent a van and drive down together.  Share a room and it would be a pretty cheap weekend.            

I've been know to fly over 24 hrs to attend a PBS Banquet  :eek: , if that gives you an idea of what they mean to me.  This years six hour drive is gonna be nuthin!  Like the rest of the guys have said, "You'll be glad you did."  

Having never attended an event such as this, what are some of the events that goes on and where in Nashville would it take place?  

I am sure hoping to make it. The decision will be last minute and I assume all the hotel rooms will be taken so I will likely be staying with my son at Fort Campbell and making the drive.

What events fall into the "must attend" for a 1st time attendee with limited cash?

Jim Coffey

Can't wait!  :D
This'll be my first PBS Gathering & hopefully not my last. Is there any way, do you suppose, that everyone could get together there?

I just joined tonight after reading this thread.

How do you join?

I went online, paid through Paypal, printed off the application, and it's in the mailbox. The app has a place for a credit card if you don't do paypal.

Googlr PBS or Professional Bowhunters Society or try
www.bowsite.com/pbs/
It will have all the info you need.
Johnny/JAG

I am looking forward to attending I bought my tickets and I've got a hotel room.  I need a plane ticket still. It'll be fun to see some old friends and make some new friends. I want to check out some of the new bows.  

Mongoose and others:   http://www.probowsociety.org/

You will find more and better info here than my slow fingers can type.

Rick

Still trying to get it together to make this one!

Last Banquet I attended was Wheeling, WV in 1990.
Had a great time at that one, planned to attend Pittsburgh, but ended up out of the country at the time.

Trying hard to get there this year. If all falls into place I'll be there!

"I even got to ride on the elevator with the Wensel Bros"  Both of them?  At the same time?  You're just lucky the cable didn't snap!

QuoteOriginally posted by robtattoo:
Can't wait!   :D  
This'll be my first PBS Gathering & hopefully not my last. Is there any way, do you suppose, that everyone could get together there?

You'll find us Rob - there are a lot of people but somehow it is still small enough that it's not a problem to find and talk with just about everyone over the course of the weekend.  It's like one great big happy family reunion!  We'll talk in Texas and figure out details....  

I am not a fan of the two tiered membership and the politics of "who you know" sponsorship to become a "regular member".

Geez, how are we going to notice Rob walking around there   :confused:  

HAH!  :D  

Shaun--it is not like that, at least I have not experienced any class descrimination.  No one has ever asked me if I was an associate or regular member and not one PBS regular member that I have EVER talked to has made their "status" known to me.  And every one of them has been friendly and helpful to me, a nobody.  I've had at least a half a dozen "Regular" members invite me on hunts with them--that doesn't happen much here in Michigan--everybody guards their "spot" with bloodlust.  In fact, this kindness and generousity has made me apply for regular membership recently.  The PBS is made of up good people that LOVE bowhunting at every level!

Gene,

Thanks for starting this post. You made a grat shot to the vitals with the reasons why everyone should attend.

Shaun,
I had my misgivings as well. Come find out what it is all about, see if the gathering doesn't change your mind.

Everyone else,
I have to agree! The  gatherings are absolutely Awesome. My better half will be there again this year.

See you all there!

Shaun, that's your privilege.

Great organization we will be there in March. hope to see allot of you Tradgangers there

Clarification; I am a fan of the PBS in every other aspect. I have attended one conference in St Louis and it was one of the finest gatherings of conscientious bow hunters I've experienced. I was not treated as a second class member by those I met at the conference. The goal of protecting the legislation that allows our archery seasons is a great one. It is too bad that big companies like Horton Xbow can outspend the PBS in lobbying efforts, but to do nothing would be cowardly.

And, I could be completely wrong about the tiered voting membership. Maybe having a smaller voting body makes the group more effective.

I better stop now as I'm about to talk myself into rejoining. Maybe I'll see you there in March.

Shaun, the PBS isn't a politically-oriented organization...primarily. Sure, there is some political activism, as there is in most any sportsman's organization. The political stuff is way secondary to the main intent of PBS, which is to provide an organization for like-minded people to share their friendships and passion for bowhunting.

Based on your willingness to stand up and be different...you are probably the perfect PBS member.

Kevin