The 1999 zone annual is scheduled for Saturday, November 20 and Sunday, November 21, 1999. The location for this event is our clubhouse.  The meetings begin at 10:00 am on both days and all members are welcome.  This is a great opportunity to learn more about the O F A H since Executive Vice President Rick Morgan is the guest speaker.  Rick is a dynamic and interesting speaker as well as being totally committed to conservation.  This is the first time that I can recall Rick being in Owen Sound in some time.  Let's have a large turnout of interested members and show Rick why we are the best conservation club in Ontario! Why not invite a friend who hunts or fishes but does not belong to the O F A H?  Please don't make me try to come up with some lame excuse for a poor turnout at the meeting.  Let's be honest.  There is no valid excuse for a poor turnout with a club of 600 members.  Mark November 20 and 21 on your calendar and plan to attend!   Here is your opportunity to provide input into current issues within the O F A H. Find out what the Hunting and Fishing Heritage Fund is all about and why it is vitally important to you as a conservationist.

If you are interested in registering for the whole weekend which includes the Awards Banquet on Saturday night and a meal catered by Doug Carr, you need to contact Murray Smart or Fred Geberdt.  Also Fred Geberdt has raffle tickets on 6 prizes of considerable value.  On Sunday, November 21 elections for the Zone Executive will be conducted by Past Chair Ken Ness  See you there!

John Ford, Chairperson
O.F.A.H. Zone H

At the time of writing, there was a newscast stating "Thousands" of dead ducks have been drifting up on Lakes Erie and Huron shores. MNR was quoted as saying it was a "Natural Phenomenon". I doubt it. The TV showed dead Grebes, Loons and Mergansers, all diving birds and not the type you would normally associate with diseases such as botulism. Could it be either poison or gill nets? I am going to have some very hard questions for Government Agencies involved. More on this later.

Doug Murdoch will be cutting some openings in the archery range cedars, in order to let in sunlight and start some badly needed regeneration. It will form the basis for a forest succession study, either by Junior or Adult members. At any rate, the downed timber will have to be (a) carried out for posts, or (b) made into brush piles. So, some time in late November or early
December, we will call a Wildlife Committee meeting for a Sunday morning and then have a work bee in the afternoon. I will contact the committee members when Doug gives the word that the trees are down.

All accounts indicate fair to good wildlife populations this year. Small game hunting has been reasonably productive with the exception of Woodcock, which are quite scarce. But now the deer season is coming on and all signs indicate a bumper corp. There are so many deer, that even John Ford, should be able to hit one. We'll hear all the brags and excuses at the next meeting.

The Gardiner property in the Long swamp has been posted "No Trespassing" because of on going property damage/vandalism on fields and the cottage. Because of this , The Sydenham Conservation Foundation has closed the ATV gate on the Hasler property, as this was a main entry point to the Gardiner property. It is really too bad that the ignorant few have to spoil the
party for everyone. we will just have to work through this one.

Most of our 1999 Wildlife projects are completed. Gord Maher is going to roll the ploughed ground on the new house demo area. Then we will be able to get the "No Mow" grass planted and go from there. So, many thanks to all the club members who worked so hard this year to make the world a little better place for our wildlife.

Blake Smith, Chairperson
Wildlife Advisory Committee

2000 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

Name                                     Phone                  Address                                           City                      Postal Code

RATES (Circle one)
1) Adult - $70.00 with OFAH membership and magazine
2) Spouse - $20.00
3) Senior Citizen(60+) $55.00 with OFAH membership and magazine
4) Junior - $15.00 ( up to 12 years of age) without magazine
5) Student - $20.00 (13 to 16 years of age or in full-time attendance at a school, college or
university) without magazine
6)  SSA Family - $90.00 (adult, spouse, all children 18 and under or in full-time attendance at a
school, college or university) with magazine
7) An OFAH membership which includes the Ontario Out of Doors is available for Juniors and
Students at an additional cost of $8.00

PLEASE FORWARD A
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
FOR A FRIEND

Yes __  NO__

Make cheque or money payable to :
Sydenham Sportmen's Association
P.O. Box 264
Owen Sound, ON, N4K 5P3

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