Mike Evers and his dog Sky, a Conservation Officer from the MNR will be demonstrating the search for poachers and their fish and game on the SSA clubhouse lawn; Thursday evening June 7. Get there on time or you'll miss seeing the demonstration.

New Members
The S.S.A. welcomes the following new members: Ab Boley Senior, Conrad St. Pierre Senior, Nancy & Al Ferrari Family, David K Brown Adult

S.S.A ANNUAL  BEEF B.B.Q.  SATURDAY  JUNE 2ND 2001 AT  THE S.S.A. CLUBHOUSE 5:00 PM

Adults $10.00, Children under 12 years, $5.00  come out and enjoy the best BBQ beef in the county! Licensed Bar 
Stewart Wallace 519- 794- 4423

President's Message
I am very pleased to advise our members that after several months of negotiations, our draft lease agreement with the City of Owen Sound for the management of the old Derby Landfill site adjacent to our property should be approved by City council in the very near future. This is a tremendous win-win situation for both the City and the S.S.A. and I look forward to the implementation of our management plan for this property.
Unfortunately, due to his work commitments with the Boat Lake project, our property chairperson Jim Cuming, has resigned from this position. The S.S.A. desperately needs an individual to co-ordinate the management of our property and physical assets and so if any one or more of you folks have the time and interest, and this is not a big time consuming job, please call me as soon as possible.
Also it is our intention to clean up the debris in the old gravel pit area on our property and thus if any of our members have personal materials or items etc stored there, please arrange to have them removed as soon as possible.
Lastly I wish each of you a safe and enjoyable summer in all of your outdoor recreational activities.
Richard Manley, President

Reminder of upcoming shoots:
A/ C.F. Handgun Silhouettes at 6 :30 pm on June 14 & 28

B/ .22 Rifle at 1:00 pm on Sunday June 10th. Classes for scopes and iron sights. Bring a box of ammo. You need 30 rounds plus for each class. Groundhog, crow and turkey targets. Shoot once per class, $2.00 fee. After shooting 3 targets (max. 300 points), the top ten shooters will shoot at an egg and deduct 5 points for each missed shot. Should be a real fun shoot. A good shoot for juniors to participate in.

C/ Shotgun Event Shoot 50 rounds of Sporting Clays and 25 rounds of Wobble Trap (50 points), for a total score out of 100. 3 dates have been set - shoot twice, if you wish, and use your best score. Sunday July 15th for both Clays and Wobble Trap or Friday August 10th at 6:00 pm for Wobble Trap and Sunday August 12th at 1:00 pm for Sporting Clays.
Call Bill Beamish to book your time for Sporting Clays.

D/ High Powered Rifle
(5 position), Black Powder, and Archery coming in September. Check the September newsletter for details. Call 376 5347 for additional information.
Garry Willis

Derby Committee member Ken Smith asks that you bring your sold book of Boat Draw tickets to him at our June meeting. Your help is very much appreciated.

With a number of new members joining the S S A, it was suggested that I write an article for the newsletter, explaining what our club is about.
First, the S S A is a conservation club. Historically, in a nut shell, a group of concerned conservationists, grouped together very early in the 1900's to form what was called the Grey/Bruce Fish and Game Protective Association. Just after W W 11, a restructuring occurred and the group was renamed the Sydenham Sportsmen's Association as it is today. This group lobbied various governments to have seasons on wildlife species as required and was instrumental in working on the fishladder at the Mill Dam on the Sydenham River in Owen Sound. Os MacArthur, along with other members, many of whom have left us for a better place, worked with M N R staff to organize stream patrols on Rainbow Trout spawning streams in the 1950's and 60's to protect these valuable game fish from widespread poaching activities. Some longtime members can remember working with Os on stream patrol on the upper Sydenham River at Hemstock's Mill. More recently, the club has been involved in stream rehabilitation projects on the upper Sydenham River, Bothwell's Creek, Maxwell's Creek, the Pottawatami River, the Minnihill Creek in St Vincent Township amongst many others. The Fisheries Advisory Committee also supervises the two hatcheries on the Jim Weaver property in Derby Township where we raise up to 500 000 salmonids yearly. On the wildlife side, some members have worked on the Grey/Bruce Wild Turkey Steering Committee and these dedicated people are directly responsible for the Turkey season that we currently enjoy. Presently, the Wildlife Committee of the S S A, has an extensive nesting box program with thousands of Eastern Bluebird nesting boxes in Grey, Bruce and Dufferin counties. As well, Wood duck Nesting boxes, and a variety of other projects are undertaken each year, for wildlife not the least of which was the emergency deer feeding done this past winter.
These are only a smattering of the many conservation projects that occur. Our club is recognized by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters for our contributions. In fact, we have won the Mary Pickford Award 6 times in the last 11 years as the top conservation club in the province.
Additionally, due to the efforts of dedicated shooters, the S S A owns an excellent sporting clays range along with a new 27 yard handicap trap field. An outdoor handgun range, an updated .22 range and a 100 yard highpower range round out our shooting facilities. While we support and encourage all shooting sports, our main purpose continues to be completing conservation activities as well as providing recreational activities for all members.
The S S A attempts to keep membership fees as low as possible. Of the $70 or $90 or $55 that you pay, the club pays the O F A H membership fee. As you can appreciate, we must fund-raise in order to provide all of the facilities, newsletter, club house etc. that we all enjoy. Basically, we have two of these. In the autumn, we run a Money Doll raffle draw which finishes just before Christmas. The major fund raiser which provides the majority of our funds for conservation projects is the Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular. Without this event, our projects would be very limited or even nonexistent. Our fish stocking programs are also funded from the proceeds of the Salmon Spectacular. All other expenses such as Club Building Upkeep-Taxes-Grass Cutting- Shooting Supplies- Tools- Tractor Upkeep- Snowplowing etc. etc. come out of Membership dues from general revenues. BOTTOM LINE: We need the income from the Spectacular, including the Boat Draw, to fund our conservation related projects and income from membership dues to fund all other our other costs.
Our bill for fish food is often in excess of $10 000 annually. The money for the materials that we purchase for fish and wildlife projects comes from the Salmon Spectacular. This is why we need your help both to work in various activities during the event and also to help us sell Boat Draw tickets now. Let me explain: due to the generosity of our major sponsors, we are able to purchase a Princecraft 17.5 runabout and a 75hp Yamaha outboard motor at a greatly reduced cost. This important raffle draw is the backbone of our fund-raising program. Coy Currie, our Boat draw co-ordinator, organizes locations and a schedule to sell these tickets. Coy is presently organizing a list of volunteers to sell for one shift each month. If you will help us, no-one will have to spend an undue amount of time at this important task. Surely, most local members can afford 3 hours once a month to help out. For out-of-town members, how about calling me to volunteer for the Salmon Spectacular!
If you enjoy the many benefits of belonging to the S S A, please call Coy at 376-2942 and offer some of your time. Your contribution is very much needed and appreciated. Who knows, you might even meet some of the club's characters, like MP, FH, FG, RW, BS, JD, RM etc. and enjoy yourself!
If you would call me, John Ford at 372-0410, I have the Derby schedules and can book your work shift now. We need lots of help on the food booth and the weigh-in station.
FINALLY; WE NEED YOUR HELP!

In 2000, we offered the Smart Serve course to club members who had volunteered to work at the Salmon Spectacular bar. This course was organized courtesy of Brian Johnston, of Kelseys Restaurant, and the cost was paid by the S S A. We need those volunteers who took the course last year to provide us with a photocopy of your licence card so that we can keep it on file at the derby site.
If you have signed up to work in the bar in 2001, and don't have the course, you are eligible to take it this year. Please contact Ian Rickman at 372-2597 to book a spot. This course may be useful to you in the future.

We'd like to thank all of the youth members who came out and helped at pitch-in day on May 12th, it was a great success. We had about twelve YAP members who came and helped clean up our local environment. The meeting went well, as many important upcoming events were discussed.
Retriever trials were held on May 19th and May 20th at Bogner marsh. The people who helped out were instructed to bring lots of bugspray and sunscreen, and the bugspray was certainly needed!! Except for the early rising (We had to be there at 6:30 AM on Sunday!) everyone had a great time, and we were all very impressed by the skill of the dogs.
On May 27th we took a trip up to Cabot Head on the Bruce Peninsula to participate in bird banding activities. This was certainly enlightening, and definitely interesting. There was poison ivy, snakes, and lots of bugs, but our members controlled themselves very well. On the return trip we took a short jaunt to Boat Lake to check out the camping facilities.
Our next meeting will be held on Saturday, June 9th at 1:00 PM at the clubhouse, starting with a work detail and ending with the meeting and refreshments.
Kids Fishing Day will be held on July 28th at Lake Charles. Boats and captains are needed for the day-trip, and lunch will be provided.
The YAP will be holding a kids fishing derby on the harbour wall during Harbour Heat Wave for Owen Sound. The youth volunteers will participate by keeping scores, pulling hooks, and making sure things run smoothly. That we be on August 3rd and 4th.
The annual summer campout will be on the 6th, 7th, and 8th of July, and youth members who are interested are invited to attend our next meeting or to call either myself (363-2893) or Jesse Henrich (376-5865) for more information.

***ALL SHOOTING RANGES ARE CLOSED ON JULY 6-8 FOR THE SUMMER CAMPOUT. THERE WILL BE NO SHOOTING TAKING PLACE.***
Laura Stephenson  YAP Co-Chair

Interclub shooting is now underway, with the next shoot at North Grey on the 26th of May and at Blue Ridge on the 09th of June. If you are at all interested, contact me at 794-3317 for detailed information.
On the 02nd of June, the SSA Beef B.B.Q. will be held at 5:00 pm - we will be shooting Trap/Wobble Trap, starting at 2:00 pm , right through until supper time.
On the 15th of July we will be Having a Sporting Clays Shoot followed by Regular Trap and at about 6:30 pm, we will be having a Pig Roast. In Order to Keep Track of Numbers, Please advise me at 794-3317 in advance if you plan to attend, so we make sure there is lots of food.
Shooting Schedules are available for the entire season, from myself, or can be downloaded from the club websight.
Come out and try the club Shooting Ranges, You will Enjoy the Experience.

Bill Beamish 794-3317  Shooting Sports Director.
 
 

Tree Planting
Doug Murdoch has planted White Spruce, White Pine, White Cedar, on the Walker property, infilling and extending the existing stock. Quite a Few trees had died and Doug is mulching to protect the ones that survived.
The Chestnuts that were planted at Walkers last year looked to be alive. We'll have to wait for leafout to be sure. John Ford has more to be planted in 2001.
Linda and I infilled White Spruce in the 2 Demonstration Wildlife Management Areas. The snow blower did a number on some of the stock at the Wildlife Centre and the 22 Range. We'll have to work something out for 2002.
We were going to do nurse crop planting of White Spruce in a couple of fields on the Hokansson Property. The Katimavik people had offered to do the work, but they were not around when the trees were ready. So, Bob Payne, Brian Kinchen, Stew Wallace and yours truly put them into the east side of the Doug Reid Property. There is an intermittent spring there, that dries up in a dry summer. We hope to turn it into a permanent flow as has been done by planting similar areas. Many more trees will be required for this one. The presence of Watercress indicates good, cold spring water.

Turkeys
The reports indicate a wide variation in hunting success. Also, big birds and small frost-bitten birds have been reported.  We wonder how much of this variability is due to the harsh winter and the mitigating effects of feeding.

Deer
There have been virtually no reports of dead Deer. I don't know if this is lack of observers or that the Deer managed to pull through, both on their own and with supplemental feeding.
It should be noted that the treated area in the plantation on the North East corner of the J. Hasler property is doing what it is supposed to do. The Deer pellets in and around the created openings show as many pellet groups as I have seen in the very best yards. In previous years, there was virtually none. The vegetation is changing as we predicted and Deer (as well as Grouse) are responding. Doug Murdoch, John Bittorf and all those who helped, can take a big bow for a job well done.

Peregrines
The box is built and the birds are on the way. Dave Arnold and Gary Willis have done a terrific job.

Blake Smith, Chairperson,  Wildlife Advisory Committee
 
 

If any SSA members have concerns or ideas, or have an interest in helping with projects relating to SSA fisheries, don't hesitate to call me at 376-2369.  Since summer is fast approaching, and we won't be sending out any newsletters until September I'd like to spent the rest of this report on up-coming fisheries projects.
All our CFIP projects are being worked on, by the time you read this all trees will have been planted.
Our fish hatchery is slated for continued improvements. This summer we plan on installing new ventilation fans, paint the whole interior of the smaller hatchery building, and fix up the cupboards in the main hatchery building, repair most of our hatching trays, plus complete an additional host of smaller jobs which need to be done in order for our hatchery to continue functioning properly. All of our daily hatchery crews are set up and running smoothly. Thank You SSA volunteers ! Near the end of May or early in June we will be stocking 200,000 chinook.
Starting in June/ July we'll be assisting the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority with the reconstruction of the spawning side channels on their property below Inglis Falls. This will be a major job as the full length of spawning channels will be rebuilt and cleaned up with new placement of spawning gravel. John Bittorf will be the site foreman for this rather large undertaking, and will be overseeing the whole project to make sure we don't have any major problems.
In addition to our ongoing fisheries projects, our FAC members will continue to represent the SSA at all required MNR fisheries meetings and all Zone H OFAH meetings. Maybe we'll even find some time to do a little summer fishing.
Hope to see all of you at the Salmon Spectacular in August !

Fred Geberdt, Chairperson,  Fish Advisory Committee

Property keys are now available at General Meetings at a cost of $2.00. See John Ford, Membership Chairperson

Memberships are based on the Calendar Year (January until December). Please use reverse for additional names, ages etc. for family memberships. Membership Fees are:

FAMILY (Adult, Spouse, Children)-$ 90.00                STUDENT (Age 13-16 or in full time study; (no magazine)...$20.00

ADULT (Individual)..........$70.00                                 JUNIOR (12 and under; no magazine)..$15.00

SSA SENIOR CITIZEN(Age 60 & over)..$55.00         PROPERTY GATE KEY: Add $2.00 to Membership Fees

Please review my application for Membership as a ______________member. (Magazine available for Juniors & Students extra $8.00)

NAME:_________________________________________________________________ TELEPHONE:_______________________

ADDRESS:______________________________________________________________ POSTALCODE:_____________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DATE OF BIRTH:__________________ (Juniors and Students only)

IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A STRONG AND VIABLE ASSOCIATION, ALL MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST. Please indicate which of the following activities are of special interest to you. This information is used in planning work parties, committees, etc.

Wildlife Advisory___	Derby Committee___	Fish Advisory___
Derby P R Booth___	Shotguns___	Hatchery Duty___
Tree Planting___	Social Activities___	Derby Weigh-in___
Board of Directors___	Fishing___	Turkey Shoots___
Derby Fish-fry___	Trap Shooting___	Hand Guns___
Black Powder	Ticket Sales___	Archery___
Property Care___	Wildlife Enhancement_	Stream Work___
Fish Stocking___	Hunting___	Jr Activities___
Hi-Power Shoots___	Pitch-in___	Computer__
Fall Fair___	Telephone Committee__