Hawg Hunters Bylaws
Article 1.Name and Purpose
Section 1. Name
Our club shall be called Hawg Hunters
Section 2. Purpose
Our club's purpose is to:
Section 1. Number of members
To become a member an individual must:
Dues for returning members per calendar year are $25.00 and dues for new members are $30.00. Yearly dues are due by July 31st each year.
Section 4. Removal from Membership
A club member maybe removed from the club for the following reasons:
A former club member who have not renewed their membership for one or more years and left in good standing may rejoin the club by just paying club dues. They can by pass the rejoining process.
Article 3. Officers and Elections
Section 1. President
The duties of the President include:
The duties of the Vice President include:
The duties of the Secretary/ Treasurer include:
The duties of the Weighmasters include:
The duties of the Executive Committee include:
All club offices are held for one calendar year. In June members are allowed to nominate a member for any club office. Once nominated the potential nominee will be put on the ballot and at the July club meeting elections will be held by secret ballot. New officers take their positions on August 1st every year.
Section 7. Voting Eligibility
Only members in good standing (dues for year, paid in full) are allowed to vote. Proxy votes are not allowed. Absentee voting is allowed by E-Mail.
Section 8. Vacancies
Should an officers position become vacant, an election will be held.(Article 3. Section 6) If the office of President becomes vacant the Vice President will take over as President.
Section 9. Eligibility for Office
To be eligible to hold office a member must be a member for no less than 6 months.
Article 4. Meetings We will have meetings as needed. Anglers will receive 25 points for each meeting they attend.
Article 5. the Hawg Hunter Trail
Section 1. Structure and Payoff System.
The Hawghunter Trail runs from February to November every year. There are 11 regular events per year and one Classic. The entry fee in individual events is $25.00 per person. There is also an optional $5.00 big fish pot in every tournament. Classic has an optional $10.00 big fish pot. We pay one spot for every 5 entries up to a maximum of 5 paying spots. There is a 90% payback in all Hawghunter events with 10% going to the year end Classic. The current payoff percentages are as follows:
a. 6-10 entries , first place 65%, second place 35%
b. 11-15 entries , first 50%, second 30%, third 20%
c. 16-20 entries , first 40%, second 30%, third 20%, fourth 10%
d. 21 entries and beyond , first 35%, second 25%, third 20%, fourth 15%, fifth 5%
Section 2. Points System
There is a points system in place to award anglers for their performance throughout the year. The current points system in place is as follows:
First Place 100 pts,
Second Place 95 pts,
Third Place 90 pts,
Fourth Place 85 pts,
Fifth Place 80 pts,
Sixth Place 75 pts,
Seventh Place 70 pts...
Contestants are awarded 10pts for attending an event as long as they stay for the entire event including the weigh in. The angler who catches the events Big Fish will also receive 5 additional pts. Any angler that stays for the entire event including weigh in but does not weigh in any fish will be awarded 20 pts.
Section 3. Start times
Hawg Hunter events will be 8hr tournament format and will be set by election committee.
Article 6. Rules of Engagement
Article 7. The Classic
Article 8. Angler of the Year
Every year the club awards the top finisher in points on the Hawg Hunter Trail with the Angler of the Year Title. The Angler of the Year receives a trophy, a 12 pack of his/ her favorite frosty beverage and free membership in the club for an additional year.
Article 9. Constitutional Amendments
Changes to these Bylaws can only be made once per year. To change them a written request must be turned into a club officer prior to the June club meeting. At that time the proposal will be presented and discussed. The proposal will then be voted on at the July meeting and take effect the next season.
Section 1. Name
Our club shall be called Hawg Hunters
Section 2. Purpose
Our club's purpose is to:
- To promote and share the sport of bass fishing.
- To improve our skills as bass anglers through fellowship and the friendly exchange of information among club members.
- To protect the natural environment in which the bass lives.
- To spread the enjoyment of our sport by encouraging youth, family and friends to participate in our events.
Section 1. Number of members
- At this time there is no cap in place for number of members as long as new members go through the initiation process listed in Article 2, Section 2.
To become a member an individual must:
- Be recommended for membership by a member in good standing.
- Attend two consecutive tournaments as a guest (a guest member fishing can only do so twice in the same calendar year).
- Have a genuine interest in the sport and our club.
- Obtain and keep a current North Carolina fishing license.
Dues for returning members per calendar year are $25.00 and dues for new members are $30.00. Yearly dues are due by July 31st each year.
Section 4. Removal from Membership
A club member maybe removed from the club for the following reasons:
- Failure to pay dues by the deadline established in Article 2, Section3.
- Any action which reflects dishonor or disgrace to the club or any of its members. A written statement must be submitted by an existing member reporting another member’s inappropriate activity to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will then decide whether or not too remove the member.
A former club member who have not renewed their membership for one or more years and left in good standing may rejoin the club by just paying club dues. They can by pass the rejoining process.
Article 3. Officers and Elections
Section 1. President
The duties of the President include:
- Preside over tournaments and meetings
- Formulate the tournament schedule (To be voted on and approved by club members)
- Obtain permits with the North Carolina Game and Fish Dept.
- Organize special events such as the yearly club cookout, the annual family tournament and club meetings.
- Help keep stats on the point accumulations and upkeep of the club website
- Appoint “Weighmaster" positions for the Hawg Hunter Trail.
- Makes the final decision with regards to matters of debate or alleged tournament violations
The duties of the Vice President include:
- Assists the President with all his duties.
- Presides over club functions in the Presidents absence.
- Assists in making decisions with regards to matters of debate or alleged tournament violations.
The duties of the Secretary/ Treasurer include:
- Assists in preparing club correspondences including the monthly newsletters
- Assists in maintaining tournament results, records and attendance at all meetings
- Assists in upkeep of the website
- Keeps all club financial records.
The duties of the Weighmasters include:
- Supervising the weigh ins and determining finishing weight totals
- Making decisions on whether or not fish are legal
The duties of the Executive Committee include:
- Handling matters in which a club member's actions could have he/ she removed from the club. The executive committee will make the ultimate decision on whether to expel a member or not, as well as possible reinstatement of the member.
All club offices are held for one calendar year. In June members are allowed to nominate a member for any club office. Once nominated the potential nominee will be put on the ballot and at the July club meeting elections will be held by secret ballot. New officers take their positions on August 1st every year.
Section 7. Voting Eligibility
Only members in good standing (dues for year, paid in full) are allowed to vote. Proxy votes are not allowed. Absentee voting is allowed by E-Mail.
Section 8. Vacancies
Should an officers position become vacant, an election will be held.(Article 3. Section 6) If the office of President becomes vacant the Vice President will take over as President.
Section 9. Eligibility for Office
To be eligible to hold office a member must be a member for no less than 6 months.
Article 4. Meetings We will have meetings as needed. Anglers will receive 25 points for each meeting they attend.
Article 5. the Hawg Hunter Trail
Section 1. Structure and Payoff System.
The Hawghunter Trail runs from February to November every year. There are 11 regular events per year and one Classic. The entry fee in individual events is $25.00 per person. There is also an optional $5.00 big fish pot in every tournament. Classic has an optional $10.00 big fish pot. We pay one spot for every 5 entries up to a maximum of 5 paying spots. There is a 90% payback in all Hawghunter events with 10% going to the year end Classic. The current payoff percentages are as follows:
a. 6-10 entries , first place 65%, second place 35%
b. 11-15 entries , first 50%, second 30%, third 20%
c. 16-20 entries , first 40%, second 30%, third 20%, fourth 10%
d. 21 entries and beyond , first 35%, second 25%, third 20%, fourth 15%, fifth 5%
Section 2. Points System
There is a points system in place to award anglers for their performance throughout the year. The current points system in place is as follows:
First Place 100 pts,
Second Place 95 pts,
Third Place 90 pts,
Fourth Place 85 pts,
Fifth Place 80 pts,
Sixth Place 75 pts,
Seventh Place 70 pts...
Contestants are awarded 10pts for attending an event as long as they stay for the entire event including the weigh in. The angler who catches the events Big Fish will also receive 5 additional pts. Any angler that stays for the entire event including weigh in but does not weigh in any fish will be awarded 20 pts.
Section 3. Start times
Hawg Hunter events will be 8hr tournament format and will be set by election committee.
Article 6. Rules of Engagement
- Anyone is allowed to fish our events. Contestants under the age of 18 are required to fish with a partner 18 or over.
- There is no off limits period for any tournament unless specified by club officers.
- Competitors must register in person with club officers at the scene of each tournament.
- Late arrivals must prepay or meet up with and pay any member on the lake, as well as have their livewell checked before fishing.
- Safe boat conduct must be practiced at all times by tournament competitors. All boats must be equipped with proper safety equipment as specified by state law.
- All competitors are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental principals maybe deemed cause for disqualification and expulsion from the club.
- Only artificial bait is allowed. No live or prepared bait will be permitted.
- All boats must be equipped with a properly aerated livewell. The livewell must be able to maintain a limit catch of bass by both competitors using the boat.
- Dead fish penalties are as follows: first dead fish .25lbs, second dead fish .5lbs, third dead fish and beyond 1lb per fish.
- In tournaments with 8 boats or less, everyone blasts off together. In tournaments with more than 8 boats blast off is determined by order of registration. If a contestant is accused of early blastoff then club officers will decide whether or not to have that contestant disqualified.
- Only largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, and roanoke bass will be weighed. Limits will be determined ahead of time. At no time is any angler allowed to possess more than his or limit of bass on their boat.
- All fish must be released after weigh in unless declared a "Trophy" by club officers.
- Contestants must be back within the buoys by the stated time. Failure to be back within the buoys on time can result in tournament disqualification. With exception if assisting boater in distressed.
- In the event of a tie, prize money will be distributed equally to the individual or teams tied for that position.
- In the event adequate fish are not caught to fulfill payment of all paying places, the money will then default back to the club treasury. If no fish are caught at all, money is returned to all participants.
- Penalties for illegal fish by length are as follows: Up to 1/4" fish disqualified, 1/4" and beyond angler disqualified.
- Points are awarded only to up to date, dues paying members. The member has until everyone leaves the ramp to get paid up on their dues.
- All competitors are to stay at least 50 feet apart during the entire tournament.
- Minimum size requirements for the HLHH are as follows:
All NC lakes has 14” Min size. You can have two that are less than 14” (12” to 14”) Harris also has slot “Slot is 16” – 20”.” - It is recommended that every boat participating in any event be equipped with a cell phone to be used in a case of emergency or early departure from the tournament.
- Any club officer has the right to delay, shorten, or cancel any Tournament because of bad weather or other factors that would, or could possibly endanger the safety of the competitors. The decision of any officer of the club to delay or cancel a Tournament is final and cannot be disputed by membership.
Article 7. The Classic
- The Classic is a free entry event held annually for club members finishing in the top 50% in points on the Hawg Hunter Trail.
- Trophies are given to the top two place finishers and the current payback scale goes 65% for first, 25% for second and 10% for third.
- Blast off for the Classic is in order of end of the year ranking with Angler of the Year going first , then runner up second and so on
- The Classic is a 2 day event. The Classic will be held in April every year.
Article 8. Angler of the Year
Every year the club awards the top finisher in points on the Hawg Hunter Trail with the Angler of the Year Title. The Angler of the Year receives a trophy, a 12 pack of his/ her favorite frosty beverage and free membership in the club for an additional year.
Article 9. Constitutional Amendments
Changes to these Bylaws can only be made once per year. To change them a written request must be turned into a club officer prior to the June club meeting. At that time the proposal will be presented and discussed. The proposal will then be voted on at the July meeting and take effect the next season.