SUGGESTION BOX ~ Opinions Wanted!!!!!!!!!!!

[Big_Holla]

The reason I had brought up what forums aren't used much was because a friend mentioned that dead forum sections can really impact how sponsors and even the general public view the site. Never thought much about that but if you think about it, you have a few sections that no one posts in it does take away from what is good. This is all good discussion though and after I get some information I am hoping to chat with the owners and see what they think. Maybe it will help things, maybe not but I am hoping to continue to improve and attract new members, or most importantly keep the good one's we have and maybe bring a few of the old one's back.

[hortontoter]

If you want real traffic maybe changing the site name would be a good start. Maybe somthing like Ohio Woods And Waters or The Buckeye Outdoorsman. A name like that may attract more year round usage.

[mrbb]

I think changing the name could work too, but at the same time I think it might take away some of what I like about this site?

[Seeker Bp]

Been kind of sitting back taking in all of the ideas being thrown around. Some great ideas for sure. Not real keen on the idea of changing the name of the site, I have never been one for change, have always been one for keeping things the way they are and adapting to the situation. Thats just me....Bowhuntingohio.com says what we are about! I too would like to see more members and more participation, but I really believe that no matter what its called, your still going to have the same thing happening. Longdraw and I were chatting the other day while shed hunting, and we believe that facebook has become one of the big reasons for the slowness of the site. Facebook has made it possable to be selective of who you want to associate with. As far as the forum Topics, I still like adding foraging with shed hunting, because they really do go hand in hand.... ATVs has seen very very little action, and would probably get more action in food plots, because thats where most apply the usage of there ATV anymore. Now to cover the topic of share a hunt........this is just my (opinion) This is where hunting has gone bad.....Selfishness The whole idea of hunting is to share the experience with others and teach. Mike F has shared a hunt with me, and I have shared a hunt with Andy F, and Whitetail freak has shared a hunt with me, And I gave my favorite stands to Spike and video taped his first Bow Kill. I have spent time in the woods with Longdraw, The Reezen, Redneck Ross. And then there is the time spent at Winter camp and Summer camp....Its what you want to put into it!! Big Holla has become part of my family, and I am with him to try and keep BHO thriving and developing. But I see the benefits and have gained from them by the people who reside on here. Thats why I dont want to see many changes. What I would like to see is some words from some of the people who I look up to and were the face of BHO, such as Mike F, Blackbeard, Longdraw, Redneck Ross,Superbuckey, etc etc. These were the guys that were giving some great advice, and some good stories when I first became a member. What chased them away? Was it the forum names? Was it being to busy? What would bring them back? All good questions!!

[Big_Holla]

I agree wholeheartedly with you on this SeekerBP. The name change isn't an option in my book but Hortontoter does bring up a good point when it comes to attracting people from a wide variety of backgrounds. I think in my frustration to figure out what made those leaders you talked about disappear I am grasping at straws on how to "fix" things and maybe am trying too hard. We cannot forget what brought all of us to THIS site, whether it was the name, the people or just wanting to be part of something good. Reorganizing the forum probably isn't the answer either as it is PEOPLE that bring PEOPLE to the site. Also what keeps them here.

I agree that FB has a lot to do with it. I find myself on there liking all kinds of hunting related things, etc.. Heck I don't give a rat's ass what others think of me on there any more and enjoy posting up things about the 2nd. Amendment, trail cam pics, etc., etc.. However I still find the time to check in here. Not because I am "staff", but because I do care about what people have to say here and enjoy each and every post people make. Sure we all have highs and lows and things happen in our lives that take us away now and then. How do we get those to come back? I have no idea.

[hortontoter]

I really don't like the idea of a name change either, it was a thought as to why the traffic is slow.

Early on in the thread I mentioned FB. I believe this is a big deterrent to site usage. I'm not a member on FB and really know very little about how it works. But, it seems that if you only allow certain people on your page you miss out on other folks thoughts and views. Sometimes that can be a blessing, I'm sure.

The amount of traffic that is here, or not here, really doesn't effect me. I check in a few times a day and see if anything interesting has been posted. If not I move on.

I tried the other Ohio deer hunting site a year or so ago and found it more interesting in some ways. But, more bickering there than here, but seemed everybody more or less ignored it. One thing I did like was the thread where you could post your own daily hunting results. Kinda like a journal that you shared with everybody.

The Team Challenge they have was way to complicated IMO. I like the set up here much better. Why measure antlers and all that for a competition that is supposedly based on fun and a little bragging rights. If a Chevy Silverado was the grand prize I could see getting down to 1/4" measurements, but for fun, I think not.

I know that site took some of our members here away. I hung around there and here for a while and decided I liked this site a bit better. I still go there occasionally, as I know some other here do. I only read and haven't posted there in probably over a year. I don't even remember my password.

We just have to hang in there and see what develops over time.

[Big_Holla]

Glad you brought up that site Hortontoter. I still visit and occasionally post over there now and then. There is always something to learn from other sites, some may pertain to this one and some may not. The trail cam section and the shed hunting section is what I go there for the most and that is part of what I wonder where we can improve over here. Not to sound like a baby but heck, my last post on our shed hunt has been up for a while now and has only gotten a few replies, yet someone finds one antler and several people usually reply in a few minutes. Trail cam pics are the same. Here I had gotten kind of tired of going through the motions of uploading and posting my pics, only to get a couple of replies. Makes you wonder if any of it was worth the effort. I know that's not the attitude I should have when trying to fix things though.

As far as the member hunt journals we had asked a while back if any would be interested in that and got little if no response. Been a while since we did ask though. That certainly could be a good thing to think about adding, helps add that personal flavor to the site. Also enjoy seeing members making their own trail camera posts and updating often, not sure if a separate section would be necessary for that though, maybe just encourage members to start their own thread? Same is true with sheds and even turkey hunting. Sometimes I wonder if a daily report that everyone chimes in on keeps people from creating their own personal update?

Glad we have this going as it opens up new ideas and new possibilities. Keep them coming everyone!

[Seeker Bp]

Uhhhhhhhh....... Is it September yet?.....lmao.... Come on Elk trip!! Somewhere in Idaho!! Cant wait to post pictures of that GIANT BULL I'm gonna smoke with my ELITE!! Oops! Sorry, got lost in the moment!! Yea yea...on Turkey now. Is it still just you and I Big? And Hortontoter, I am so glad that you have decided this is the place to be! I really believe that myself. I have met to many good people from this site to just walk away from it.....Just refuse to get caught up in the Drama!! Alright..back to work....

[mrbb]

well I don't go to any other Ohio site's, never have since I found this one yrs ago
when I first joined here it seemed like a closer group of guys on the site, that truly wanted to share and learn how to be a better hunter, or a more consistent big buck killer
they all seemed to share a lot of knowledge along the way
back then I don't think there was as much info out there as there is now
in the past 10+ yrs QDM, management of deer, knowledge of deer, hunting shows, and web sites has gone through the ceiling
thus, I think that is also why so few par take here like yrs back
they get all that info in other ways, no need to build a relationship here to join a group cliche or??
far too many people I think guard there hot spots, and places they hunt, thinking it will make them better hunters or what ever
thus they come to hear things gain more knowledge, and think there coming away ahead
I have said many times, and still a firm believer, that if folks don't share info, sooner or later out sport of hunting will fade away
I am not saying you have to share you number one spot with people
but its never a bad idea to take a fellow hunting, tell them of a good place to try or like I have many time, of a different hunt in another state where you can hunt for a good deal
hoarding deals and spots, mean fewer and fewer people hunt
and if people cannot find game, they many times give up
and with the seemingly pressure and talks about PRIVATE lands being the best(just look how many people come here looking for just that access to private lands, when there are Thousands of good public lands out there)
its a shame to me
yrs back people willingly let folks hunt private lands, , not its a money deal to most, be it in fee's or fear of law suits
times have changed, not for the better if you ask me
there are times when I wish this site had some sort of a deal in which members had to have "X" number of posts to hear some info
as maybe then, there could be a closer group of guys logging in for info and sharing info
I do believe many folks here don't post info, due to not wanting to share info tips places with the seemingly more and more viewers that only show up to get info and leave never adding anything to the site
but like I said, sharing is important to the sport
so its just hard I think with so many ways for people to gain access to info in the modern world
what is the answer
??? don't know
I like the site now, liked it better yrs back sure but if only a hand full of folks chat here its still fine with me
maybe not sponsers but??
having many of the regulars living far away, I think is a big part of why there is less get together, and shared hunts
I know for a fact if many of the regulars here were closer to me, I would have had a few that came and helped me kill some doe(maybe bucks too) and had many good hunts, but 7+ hrs away that's a lot of time and $$ these days
thus why many hunts don't happen I think between many regulars here

[longdraw]

Facebook has killed this website,,alot of us keep in touch on it,,maybe BHO needs to start a facebook page and more guys will talk on it