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VOLUME 22 NO. 04 April
2003
THE NEXT GENERAL MEETING, REMEMBER THE DATE: THURSDAY APRIL 3RD, 7:30 PM, AT THE CLUB HOUSE, LINCOLN PARK ROAD, IN DERBY TOWNSHIP.
Final S S A Boating Challenge A number of members have been disappointed that they were not able to do the recent Boating Challenge to obtain a Pleasure Craft Operator Card. We are planning to have a final challenge for members and nonmembers during the last week of June. A tentative date would be Monday, June 23, 2003 at 7:00 pm. If you are interested you should get in contact either with Fred Geberdt at 376-2369 or John Ford at 372-0410 or jford@bmts.com <mailto:jford@bmts.com> The cost is $35.00 for members and $45.00 for nonmembers. We will put your name on the list when we receive your cheque payable to the S S A. John Ford Forest and Wildlife Advisory
Committee
Members Passing Away It is with regret that we inform you of the passing away of the following S,S,A, members: Roly Kudo passed away on Sunday Feb 16th. He was a long time club member and had assisted with the club property maintenance and derby setup. Also passing away recently
were Wally Myatt and Norm Schank.
Archery Program 2003 The Archery Shooting Sports program has two Tournaments scheduled for this year. The first is the "SSA Annual 3D Tournament" which will be held on Sunday April 27/03, and consists of 2 rounds of 20 - 3D targets. It's a 10 a.m. shotgun start and is open to all archers. The second is a "Traditional only 3D Tournament" and it is being held on Sunday May 18/03 it also will be 2 rounds of 20 - 3D targets with a 10 a.m. start, its open to all traditional archers. Coffee, soft drinks, donuts and Lunch will be available at a minimal charge in the clubhouse for both events. Bill Douglas, Chairperson Archery Committee
THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER The Sydenham Sportsmen's Association is a full-fledged affiliate of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. This year, and for the seventh time in the past nine years, the SSA won the prestigious Mary Pickford Award for doing the most for: conservation. As well, Michael Beach took the Junior Conservationist Award and Fred Geberdt brought home the Senior Trophy. Congratulations Mike and Fred! These are significant awards, when you consider that the competition consisted of 83,000 members and more than 600 clubs from across the province. Members of the public, and this includes club members, frequently ask what the OFAH does. One hears people say that there isn't any reason to support the OFAH, because they don't do anything, or at least very little, for anglers, hunters arid conservation in general. To set things straight, the following are some of the activities and issues that the OFAH was involved in during 2002: Land use and access, forestry issues, signature sites, parks, .crown land use atlas, wind turbines, citizens' committees, stewardship councils, general fisheries issues including fisheries regulations, Bay of Quinte walleye closure, south-central walleye management, lead sinkers, water management planning, several research programs, invading species, environment and sustainable development, Canadian Marine Advisory Council, Ontario Record Fish Registry, small game surveys, deer management, multiple deer tags, deer feeding, moose management, Metis and Indian issues, bow hunting, chronic wasting disease, West Nile virus, wolf issues, spring bear hunt and constitutional challenge, ringnecked pheasant, wild turkeys, migratory birds, cormorants, falconry, assist local conservation efforts, recreational boating, bobwhite quail, grassland protection, hunter education, government relations (lobbying) , firearms registration and gun control generally, Get Outdoors youth programs, traveling teacher, Women's Outdoor Weekends, Tackle Share, etc. In addition, the OFAH Board of Directors participated in the following standing advisory committees: Bow hunting, firearms, fisheries, land use/access, muzzle loaders, native affairs, sporting dogs, member suspensions, water resources, wetlands/migratory birds and small game. With 83,000 members in the Federation, it is impossible to keep all the members happy all the time. Most of us will occasionally disagree with some OFAH initiatives. However, when looking at all the angler/hunter related accomplishments and programs, it seems inescapable that the Federation is the most effective organization we hunters and anglers have. I would have to support the OFAH if for no other reason than its very expensive and time-consuming court challenge to try to put a stopper in the government's ability to arbitrarily curtail hunters and anglers rights, as exhibited in the spring bear hunt fiasco. We must remember that each and everyone of us is the OFAH. If we would like to promote a project, or if we disagree with the Federation, there is a recourse. Any member is entitled to attend the Zone meetings and the annual convention, in order to make his or her thoughts known and integrated as part of the OFAH's programs. More involvement by members could only result in a better understanding and input to the workings of conservation in Ontario. Blake Smith, President.
Scroll Saw Lessons Dave Hartrick and Dave Arnold will be conducting Scroll Saw lessons at the Gord Maher Centre. The course is open to all members at a cost of: $35.00 and $40.00 for non members payable in advance of course to Dave Arnold or Dave Hartrick. Dave Hartrick is a Qualified Dremel Scroll Saw Instructor. One on One Instruction. Come out, have fun, and learn some tricks of the trade. The course is 4 hours long and we will supply scroll saws -wood -patterns. Five Scrollers per class. If interested please call
Dave Arnold 376-0180 or Dave Hartrick 371-1985
Youth Activities Program We would like to thank Mike Anderson and Cory Henrich for helping out at the conservation dinner and also the group of juniors that helped to clean out duck boxes over the March break. We will be building bird boxes at the homeshow April 12th and 13th. We would like junior and adult members to help out with this project. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 363-9845. Sarah Stephenson Youth Activities Program
President
Fisheries Advisory Committee On March 4th we moved some of our growing rainbow trout from their original holding tank to several other tanks to give them even more room to grow. Hauling these fish around in buckets was made a lot easier thanks to a good turn out of our volunteers. As a side note from some of our correspondence the Doug Tarry Young Ornithologists Workshop occurs annually each summer at Long Point Bird Observatory .The workshop is free for the selected applicants. Applications must be received by 1 May 2003. I have the forms if you know of someone that may be interested in this. Phone 371-3827. We will be having our first meeting of the F.A.C. committee on March 18th at the club house at 7 o,clock. Please come out even if you just want to know what's going on with our fisheries program. Mike Prevost Chairperson F .A.C. Chairman
FORESTRY & WILDLIFE ADVISORY COMMITTEE The deep snow and frigid temperatures have combined to create severe hardships for our deer and turkeys. At the time of writing this article (March l7th) there has been a significant thaw, and it is hoped that conditions will now improve for these species. The Bruce Peninsula Sportsmen are feeding deer in the Boat Lake deer yard. As well, the Meaford Tank Range group is feeding deer in that area. The MNR is recommending that those who wish to help the deer should tramp trails from cover to food patches. Deer respond to this quite readily, and for most herds, this should see them through until they can get out of the yards. The MNR will advise when and if the winter severity index indicates direct feeding is necessary. Two recent road kills showed very different deer conditions. One deer was fat and in good condition. .The other animal had no body fat and the bone marrow was blood red, Indicating that the animal was in very poor shape. Fred Hunt once again set up the program for turkey feeding. Members who know of flocks in trouble can pick up feed at Bayshore Feeds, and charge it to the SSA turkey program. Be aware that the recent thaws will give the turkeys a good base for walking, expose the food patches and generally reduce stress. Those that have made it through this far could be around for the breeding/hunting season. Blake Smith, Co-Chair, Forest and Wildlife Committee.
2003 Executive Members
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©
2001, Sydenham Sportsmen's Association
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