THE NEXT GENERAL MEETING , REMEMBER THE DATE: THURSDAY APRIL 7TH at 7:30 PM, AT THE CLUB HOUSE, LINCOLN PARK ROAD, IN THE TOWNSHIP OF GEORGIAN BLUFFS (FORMERLY DERBY TOWNSHIP).

Blake is diligently trying to arrange a speaker for our April meeting, but at press time was not able to confirm one. Plan to attend and see who the speaker will be.

New Members!!

The S.S.A. welcomes the following new members:
Bill Carson, Adult
David Hammer, Family

NOTE!!!               If you still have any O.F.A.H. Conservation Lottery tickets, please bring them and the money to the next meeting and give them to Ian Smart.

CORRECTION!!       In our list of Directors and Committee Chairpersons in last months newsletter, Joe Grey should have been noted as Co-chairperson of the Handgun Advisory Committee.

Awards Committee

An application form and contest rules for our “Big Fish” contest are a part of this newsletter, keep them for future reference.  Click here to open the Big Fish Contest Forms, then print them

Other rules and entry forms contests for wildlife, shooting, etc. will follow in future newsletters.

We hope to revive interest in S.S.A. Sportsmen’s contests and bring our awards ceremonies back to the level of past prominence.

Davis Hartrick, Chairperson
Awards Committee

THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER

The Sydenham Sportsmen's Association , as I'm sure you are aware, if a full-fledged affiliate of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters [OFAH]. I am proud to announce this year, and for the eighth time in the past eleven years, that the Sydenham Sportsmen's Association has been awarded the very prestigious Mary Pickford Award by the OFAH for doing the most for conservation. This is a very significant achievement when you consider that there are more than 600 clubs from across the province vying for this honour.

Well, it's that time of year again when the winter blahs has set in, you feel that cabin fever taking hold. Granted the days are starting to get longer and you actually get home from work before it's dark. My question is, how do you make it through until it's time you get out on the bay for your first salmon fishing outing, or until it's time to start scouting for the spring turkey hunt, or until your favourite golf club opens? I imagine many of our members would be interested, so why don't you drop me a line or an e-mail at billcdoug@wmconnect.com and we will publish some of your helpful hints to help make it through February and March more enjoyably.

Bill Douglas, President

FORESTS & WILDLIFE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

HOT OFF THE PRESS!!!

M.N.R. Minister Ramsey has just announced that the new wolf/coyote seasons and kill limit restrictions applying to northern Ontario are now law, but will not apply to the islands of Manitoulin, Cockburn and St. Joseph's.

The above-noted islands will retain the status quo as will our areas of Bruce and Grey counties, and areas south.

This announcement should put to rest the wild, mostly erroneous speculation that has swirled around what the rules were to be in southern Ontario.

The Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters was instrumental in identifying the need to exclude Manitoulin from the northern Ontario restrictions and vigorously carried these concerns to the Minister. It should be noted that the OFAH has lost members because of the completely false information that it did not carry our concerns to the Minister with enough force. Be aware that the restrictions in the north would be much more onerous as they were originally proposed, had not the OFAH helped to negotiate a better deal with the MNR.

As OFAH members, we should try to get all the facts pertaining to contentious issues in order that we may refute the rumour mongering and outright malicious vendettas of individuals who, for whatever reason, are out to harm the OFAH, and with it, the good that we do.

Remember that April is the time of year for getting to know how to identify waterfowl.

The northward migration with the males in full plumage is the key to getting to know the much harder to identify by species the females, juveniles and eclipse males during the fall hunting season.

How about wildlife habitat improvement?

Spring is the time for getting out, locating areas for wildlife work, ordering planting stock and generally doing works that make our world a better place for wildlife.

Zone H will be able to help out member clubs by loaning out recently purchased "mules". The mule is a combination discer, harrower and planter (broadcaster) that can be pulled behind an ATV, and is capable of planting wildlife forage crops in smaller woodland openings and field corners that would not be possible with larger, regular farm machinery. Deer and turkeys would be obvious beneficiaries of any such plantings.

Bishop Seeds have a lot of different combinations of wildlife plantings, depending upon wildlife species' preference. Their representative gave us a good tip...he said deer frequently ate what was planted for turkeys. Therefore, at least part of any food plot with winter feeding of turkeys in mind should have a good patch of millet. Deer won't eat it, but turkeys love it...be aware that other creatures eat millet... MNR grew a large patch of millet for ducks at Luther Marsh in the mid-60's. When the crop was ripe, we flooded the field, and overnight, the red-winged blackbirds cleaned

up almost 20 acres. The ducks never got a mouthful. So, plan any plantings well...plant it in hope and pray for success.

We will be waiting for requests for mule use. Let's make the world a better place for wild creatures because of sportsmen's efforts.

Blake Smith. Chairperson
Forest and Wildlife Advisory Committee

For sale!!!

243 Remington, single shot, bolt action with scope.

Call Rob at 376 4181 for further information

Browning BT 99 Micro Plus

12 ga., 34” barrels, 4 choke tubes, case included.

Winchester 30 30 Commemorative “Cheroke Chief Trail of Tears”

Call Joe at 371 9390 for further information.

Receive your newsletter electronically.

If you have a computer and wish to receive your newsletter via the internet, send me an e-mail at wils@bmts.com.

The Club saves money for each hardcopy not mailed.

A SPECIAL REPORT FROM THE OFAH ANNUAL CONFERENCE by Fred Geberdt

During my attendance at the O.F.A.H. annual conference, I had the opportunity to sit in on a presentation given by Leslie Ballentine, called "WHAT'S UP WITH ANIMAL RIGHTS?

Leslie Ballentine has worked all of her professional career with the agricultural community resulting in her following and investigating the animal rights movement very closely.

Here's my take on what she had to say.

"Animal Rights" is an ideology. and for those involved it is very personal. It is expressed in a varied number of degrees. First there are those just concerned with animal welfare, ie: no cruel actions on animals, probably you and I fit into this group regardless if we fish or hunt. Second group is the animal rights, they subscribe to no use of animals for anything, ie: P.E.T.A. .The third group is the animal liberationist, these are the extreme reactionary ones who subscribe to violent acts on people who are involved in the use of animals.

Interestingly, surveys taken in Canada show that 3-4% of our population belong to the animal rights movement, while 12-15% of our population are involved in fishing and hunting. This small majority are working hard to use legal means to promote their agenda, and also now use a blend of tactics. All use of animals and all issues related to animals are targeted by them.

International networking by the animal rights groups is expanding due to the wide use of the internet and this has helped them expand into many new countries. This linking through the internet is really expanding. At the present time, with the touch on the "mouse" one can page up 10 anti hunting sites.

Here in Canada and particularly the United Stated, adults are targeted. especially those with disposable incomes.

Militancy is ever increasing especially in the England and the United States. Covert operations to video what goes on in farming. medical research, etc. is becoming an everyday occurrence, and is being used widely in their T.V. promotional campaigns.

Here is their priority list of targets in Canada for the coming year.

1) Farming and food.

2) The fur industry.

3) The seal hunt.

4) Animal used in entertainment.

5) Hunting and fishing with emphasis on wildlife management on such issues as; bears, wolves, cormorants, deer, whales, and rehabilitation centres. They plan on working hard to influence legislation on all of these issues and also include in their plans efforts to influence policy on parks and nature reserves.

Another new and hot issue is animal law. Through these actions they are attempting to raise the legal status of animals. They profess that no one can own an animal. They state that our cats and dogs are not pets but are companions. How far will this go ? Well right now they have been able to influence law makers in Florida to the extent that pigs are now included in their state constitution.

In higher education, the training and teaching on animal law needs to be watched very carefully. At the present time we have 150 university courses on animal law. This will probably result in graduate students pushing for and becoming involved in law suites on animal issues.

Another thing we should all become aware of is the number of groups which are in fact controlled by a single head office of animal rights personnel. Here is a list of the groups to watch out for; Environmental Voters, Ontario Wildlife Coalition, Canadians For Snow Geese, Fur Free Alliance, Peaceful Parks Coalition, ProNature Network, I.F.A.W. (International Fund For Animal Welfare), P.E.T.A. (People For Ethical Treatment of Animals, and Friends of Animals.)

There is a growing trend of a greater number of these and other foreign , based groups moving into Canada. P.E.T.A. as an example puts on a six week training course to train people as animal rightists, and this coming year they are offering this course to people here in Canada.

These animal rights activists are also working hard to form coalitions with other groups. Two such examples are their efforts to form a Canadian coalition for farm animals, and efforts are being made to form coalitions with religious groups. Often this is possible because for most people it is difficult to separate animal welfare from animal rights. As a result they are easily drawn into a coalition with these people.

Watch out for these occurrences in the coming year; Acts of extremism against people involved in animal usage. Public safety issues with hunting. The attempt to link violence in our youth with the handling of firearms and the act of hunting.

Attempts to push on us food fears and the perceived health risks associated with the eating of meat and fish. Anti fur campaigns, (they are really upset that fur prices are on the rise). Animal rights groups increasing their effort to become more political in municipal, provincial and federal government.

As a closing thought, Leslie Ballentine offered this truth. "The group that defines the issue,' controls the issue", and up to now the animal rights people have been doing just that.