The Arkansas chapter, having just pulled off the most-attended BHA event ever outside of a North American Rendezvous, is our Chapter of the Month for March.
In its second year, the Arkansas chapter's Black Bear Bonanza was a magical combination of homegrown star power – with MeatEater's Clay Newcomb in attendance doing a live podcast and Jonathan Wilkins of Black Duck Revival offering bear cooking tips – education, prizes and raffles, vendor booths, food and drink, an owl hooting contest, and our own Land Tawney on hand and on the mic.
Big congrats to Chapter Chair James Brandenburg and his crew of dedicated chapter leaders in The Natural State! This event took a lot of work and personal dedication.
Black Bear Bonanza by the Numbers:
- 850 attendees
- 84 memberships sold
- Net revenue of about $30,000
- A dozen named sponsors: Umarex, Polk Knives, Vortex, Vista Outdoors, Ozark Beer Company, Nemo, Benchmade Knives, Big Agnes, Wildtones Game Calls, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation and Basecamp Coffee
- Fun had and backcountry energy generated: infinite!