This months Member of the Month is Corey Wegner, also known as Droptine20 on the forums.   Corey has been a regular on Whitetailworld for about 3 years now.   A native of Iowa, Corey now lives in SW Wisconsin with his wife Paige and two young boys, Jackson and Cole. 

Corey was chosen as the Member of the Month for a few different reasons.   He has been an asset on the forums especially in the area of archery.  Although he has a passion for whitetail deer, it’s his passion for all aspects of archery that sets him apart.  As he puts it, “Come the weekends other than my family the bow is the first thing on my mind.”     

Corey’s dedication is evident as he is on just about every day sharing some bit of information.  Another situation in which his dedication was clear was after I received a call from him stating that he wanted to help out with whatever he could, including the shows we exhibit at.  Whitetailworld will definitely utilize his knowledge and canny personality in Iowa at the Iowa Deer Classic as well as the Wisconsin Deer & Turkey Expo.  Corey’s follow up statement to his question about the shows was this, “Well, actually it doesn’t matter if you want me or not.  I am going to stand by the Whitetailworld booth and tell everybody how great of a place this is!”

Along with the shows this year I have a good feeling that Corey will be part of the WTW get togethers as well.  These include the annual shed hunt and the WTW Camera School.  These fun and informative weekends don’t cost Team Members anything to attend other than lodging and always end with more stories to tell and friendships made.  It was at the 2010 camera school held in Buffalo County, WI where Corey once again displayed his passion for archery, his willingness to help, and his dedication for making this the best website for whitetail deer.

Leading up to the weekend of the school, Corey had read about how fellow Team Member Kirk Petersen (aka monster4pt), had been thinking about trying to bowhunt.  Kirk had gun hunted his whole life, but just never had much of an opportunity to pick up a bow.  Kirk stated, "I know for a fact that had Corey not brought a bow for me that weekend I still to this day would not be bowhunting."

Corey, who had never met Kirk, got his specs and brought up a Bowtech Destroyer for Kirk to try out.  The bow came from the Hickory Ridge Archery, the shop Corey works at in Bloomington, WI.  Along with thanking Corey for having the initiative to bring the bow, a big thanks has to go to Alan and Staci Kirschbaum, owners of Hickory Ridge Archery for allowing Corey to bring the $1,300+ setup. 

After the weekend of shooting, Kirk knew he was hooked.  He would soon get his own bow and have a tremendous archery season in Minnesota.  As Corey put it, “…he put the shaft thru 4 of them.”  Kirk shot 1 buck and 3 does!  “I totally owe my new found passion for archery hunting to Corey,” stated Kirk.

Back at the home front, Corey has 2 little guys that have already picked up a bow.  His sons Cole (5) and Jackson (3) will have a great teacher that’s for sure.   In fact, Corey recently got certified to teach NASP, so that if he had the opportunity to help with a youth archery program it would be consistent with what is taught in schools.  I am sure he will be given an opportunity!

Along with the boys the Wegner household is completed with Corey’s wife Paige.  According to Corey, “We met in 2001…a strange but great match…she’s 6’2” and I’m 5’6”.”  They would get married in 2003.  Although she doesn’t shoot archery she does support his passion and allows him his “guy time.” 

Corey was a great choice for the Whitetailworld Member of the Month based on the things he has done and for the things he will do in the future.   Corey puts it best when he said, “I truly believe this is the best whitetail website out there…we have the best members.  I am glad to be part of it.  Anything I can do to help I am all in!"