Government Relations

ATA Government Relations Mission:

Work with state and federal agencies and, where appropriate, legislative bodies to promote and protect bowhunting and archery and the other priorities of ATA members; and, to provide them with an industry prospective on important issues.

This mission was developed in response to a 2008 survey of ATA members. In the survey, members identified two areas among their most significant concerns:  the recruitment of young archers and hunters and access for bowhunting and archery shooting.  ATA members expressed overwhelming support for the ATA to take a strong leadership role in growing the sports of archery and bowhunting, working with state and local agencies, developing programs for recreational archery with cities and counties and urging the state wildlife agencies to spend more of their excise tax dollars on archery and bowhunting recruitment efforts.

Therefore, the ATA’s office of government relations works with state and federal wildlife agencies to grow and promote archery and bowhunting. Efforts rely on working relationships with agency directors and leaders to establish or expand archery and bowhunting programs and review regulatory information to enhance bowhunting opportunities.  The office also works to build relationships between state wildlife agencies and local community school and recreation departments.

In addition, the office works to maintain relationships with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff who handle federal excise taxes. The office also defends and promotes archery and bowhunting programs on the nation’s National Wildlife Refuges system.

For more information on the latest ATA initiatives, contact the ATA's director of government relations, Mitch King at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (303) 585-0377.