61st WBHA Annual Convention
March 21-22, 2025
Book your rooms early!
Hotel Reservation Note
Members please note: Reservations for hotel rooms for the convention cannot be made until May. Thank you for your cooperation.
Friendly Reminder
After long discussions and input from the WBHA Board of Directors and its members, the convention will be open to members only and will remain that way. We will make it as quick and convenient as possible to simply sign you up in the membership and membership raffle areas of the convention.
The reason for this is that the WBHA convention is our main fundraising opportunity and our primary way to get new members. The best way that we can get new and renewed members is to close the convention to non-members. We as an organization need to create a bigger army of bear hunters so that we can have the financial means and political clout just to maintain what we have and possibly expand more hound opportunities in this political climate that we live in.
It gets tougher and more expensive every year to just keep what we have in the hound world. We have always been a hunting organization that strongly believes that if you are not on offense you are on defense, and then you let our enemies decide our fate. And last, if anybody that comes to our convention does not think that this organization is worth buying a membership, they need to wake up and not take for granted all the hard work and energy that goes into being the most powerful hunting organization in the state.
Thank you,
Carl Schoettel
President, WBHA
Lodging
The six hotels within walking distance of Central Wisconsin Convention & Expo Center easily meet the rooming needs of our visitors.
Hotels
- Best Western Plus (previously Candlewood Suites) | 715-355-8900
- Econolodge | 715-355-4449
- Grand Lodge of Stoney Creek | 800-659-2220
- Holiday Inn & Suites | 715-355-1111
- Motel 6 | 715-355-3030
- Stoney Creek Inn | 715-355-6858
Due to unpredictable hotel charges we will not be posting hotel room pricing information at this time. For the best hotel price WBHA recommends calling the hotel directly or using an online search engine such as Priceline.com , Expedia.com, Cheaphotels.com, Travelocity.com, etc.
Vendor Information
Deadline March 1st
Limited Space
First Come, First Served
For contract information please contact:
Jacob Trochinski
Ph: (920) 203-3725
Email: [email protected]
Attention all hunting groups...
We hope you all had a good season! Now it’s time for us to start gearing up for next year’s convention. Our membership raffle and SOS auction committees are seeking donations for the 2024 annual convention raffle and auction.
If your hunting group is able to make donation to the auction and raffle fund, or if you have an item to donate, please contact these committees prior to the Annual Convention!
Membership Raffle
The membership raffle is one of the main fundraising sources for WBHA. Donations to the raffle help our association continue to operate at a level we can all be proud of.
Membership Raffle Contacts:
Kelly Jochimsen – (715) 965-4393
SOS Donations
As most of you know, the SOS Auction is a big part of our convention, but more important is what the money is raised for – supporting our sport and the people who participate in it, part of which is supporting our friends in Madison. We all know that the anti-hunters attack us every day. We try to be everywhere all of the time, but we can’t. We need friends in Madison who can stop the bills that negatively affect our sport. We have learned what it takes first hand to win an election by helping our friends run their campaigns. Our success stories include (former WBHA board of director) Representative Rob Stafsholt, and WBHA member Representative Chanz Green. That said, we are looking for donations for this year’s SOS Auction, whether it’s a puppy, store bought items, handmade items, monetary donations, etc. Personal, business, hunting organizations, or groups – all donations are greatly appreciated. If you have a donation, contact one of us and let us know.
Thank you!
Eric Tuckner
SOS Items Contacts:
Eric Tuckner – (651) 775-7296
Carl Schoettel – (414) 531-2296
SOS Puppies Contact:
Mark Scheunemann – (715) 897-1417
Annual Convention Photo Contest
Our Convention Photo Contest has moved online and has been combined with our Photo-of-the-Month and yearbook photo contests. Head over to the Photo Contest page for more information.
WBHA Member Raffle Info
You MUST BE a WBHA member in order to purchase Member raffle tickets. YOU MUST BE PRESENT FOR THIS RAFFLE IN ORDER TO CLAIM PRIZE.
Prepaid raffle ticket packages will be available for pick-up during regular convention hours. WBHA Member Raffle drawings will be held and announced intermittently during the SOS Auction. Winners will have 10 minutes from drawing to claim prize. If you are not able to claim prize withing 10 minutes, you will forfeit your prize and an alternate will be awarded the prize.
Prepaid tickets packages come pre-labeled with members WBHA ID# on each ticket. Ticket package increments include 200 for $200, 75 for $100, 25 for $50, & 10 for $25 (Single tickets will be available at the Annual Convention).
