-INCORPORATED--

P.O. Box 264, Owen Sound, Ontario N4K 5P3

Affiliated with the OFAH-The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Incorporated

"CONSERVATION IS OUR AIM" VOL. 18 NO. 7 THE NEXT GENERAL MEETING, REMEMBER THE DATE: THURSDAY OCTOBER 7TH, 7:30 PM, AT THE CLUB HOUSE, LINCOLN PARK ROAD, IN DERBY TOWNSHIP.

DATES TO REMEMBER!!

SATURDAY OCTOBER 2ND, FINAL SCHEDULED SHOOT: SPORTING CLAYS, TRAP AND BBQ STEAK SUPPER. CALL BILL BEAMISH AT 794 3317 TO RESERVE A TIME AND FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 9TH, WORKER APPRECIATION FISH FRY, STARTING AT 4:00 PM AT THE SSA CLUBHOUSE.

Speaker for October General Meeting

John Lambie who is the Enforcement Supervisor for this area with the Ministry of Natural Resources will give us an overview of current MNR enforcement policy, manpower and answer questions about changes to the various legislation that governs hunting and fishing in Ontario. John Ford will also be making a presentation on the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. While we are all members of this organization there are very few that are aware of all the activities and projects that the Federation is involved with on our behalf. John will bring us up to date on the Federation and answer any questions club members may have.

President's Report

Words can't describe this years Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular. The weather was cooperative, the fishing was great and all the events at the Derby headquarters were very well attended. I would like to offer my personal thanks to the Derby co-chairs, the Derby committee members and all those fine folks who worked so hard and so long to make this years Family Fishing Festival such a tremendous success.

Gord Maher has decided to take a rest from the Junior Activities program and is resigning as of December 31. We sincerely thank Gord for his hard work in this program and wish him all the best in his future endeavors The Directors are now looking for a coordinator(s) to manage this program in the New Year and if interested please contact me.

Richard Manley

President SSA.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES PROGRAM

NOTICE!!

there will be a meeting at the Clubhouse on Sunday October 10th, at 1:00 pm, to discuss the future of the Youth Activities Program. All Y.A.P. members, their parents and other interested parties, please plan to attend. The future of the Y.A.P. depends on YOU!

GORDON MAHER, CHAIRPERSON

YOUTH ACTIVITIES PROGRAM

Fall Junior Shooting

Registration for JR. shooting will be till Sept. 30th, ages 12 to 15 (6 more spaces available). To register call Richard Manley 376 4669; Fred Hunt 794 0533; John Ford 372 0410.

Shooting will be Sunday from 1 till 2:30 pm, at the SSA 22 Range, Oct. 17, 24, 31 and Nov. 7th.

Fred Hunt

WILDLIFE COMMITTEE

Many thanks to Bill Thompson, the M.N.R. Junior Rangers and other helpers, for completing the fencing project at the Walker property. And, speaking of properties, with much appreciated financial help from the Province, the Sydenham Conservation Foundation, has acquired another 150 acres of the Long Swamp. It is Class 1 Wetland and part of a very significant local winter deer yard.

Tim Danson, O.F.A.H. lawyer, who heads up the court challenge to the spring bear hunt cancellation, addressed the O.F.A.H. Directors recently. He seems fairly confident that the Federation can win. But it is still up to the Judges. Right now, it's mostly jockeying for position, things like, where will the case be heard, etc.. He says proving hunting and fishing as a "Right" will be a tough one, but, he hopes to do it. The O.F.A.H. has been working really hard on this one and their submission is a stack of paper about 3 feet high.

The early goose season is over and although very short, did yield a few birds. A lot of hunters are having trouble with steel shot. It is really bad for crippling, because of it's very light weight, it's killing power falls off very rapidly. You have to let the birds get really close, in order to ensure clean kills. Other non-toxic shot, such as Bismuth, is closer to the effectiveness of lead, but it is prohibitively expensive. And remember, non-toxic shot is now the law for taking all migratory birds except Woodcock.

Doug Murdoch continues to do woodlot improvement cutting in the Hasler properties. It is looking better all the time. Also, we note that he continues to dig up native species and transplant them in the Demonstration Wildlife Management site. Keep up the good work Doug., it is much appreciated.

The next few months will see our members who hunt, a bit hard to find. So to all of them, " Lots of game, Straight Shooting, and a very enjoyable time in this, the Hunters time of the year." We will be looking for you to get on with our Wildlife projects later on when things slow down.

Blake Smith, Chairperson

Wildlife Advisory Committee

OWEN SOUND SALMON SPECTACULAR 1999

This years Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular is being called one of the best ever. The weather was outstanding, the fish were on the bite, and anglers in huge numbers took part in all of this years Derby events. Throughout the ten days 4,742 fish were entered. Under the leadership of Chris Geberdt and John Ford, 123 sponsors provided in excess of $125,000.00 worth of prizes which were awarded at the duration of the tournament.

Mega crowds attended the Scotty Downriggers Anglers Friday evenings, Molson's Saturday Fish Fry's, Sunday Kid's Day, and Thursday Elvis' Night. Special thanks go out to the over 300 SSA volunteers and friends of the SSA who worked so hard and gave of their free time to make this years Salmon Festival such a resounding success.

In appreciation to all our volunteers, a special appreciation fish fry is being held at the SSA property on October 9th. starting at 4:00 p.m., so mark this date on your calendar and hopefully you'll be able to attend. For the record and for your information, here again are the major winners of this years Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular.

First Place Salmon....Kevin Booth, Guelph, Ont. (13.881 kg,) or (30.61 lbs.)

Largest Trout...Derek Guay, Kitchener, Ont. (6.64 kg.) or (14.64 lbs.)

Winner of the 17.5 ft. Draw Boat.... Wayne Kyle, Shallow Lake, Ont.

Winner of the 14 ft. Derby Ticket Draw Boat...Wayne Orazek, Waterloo, Ont.

SSA FISH ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT

At our SSA hatchery, removal of the stacker tanks, and the building of an office space in its place, has been completed. New hatching tanks and circular tanks relocation in the large hatchery is still being worked on. Painting the inside of the hatcheries has not happened yet, and the new bridge construction at the SSA hatchery is 95% completed.

We still plan on purchasing an egg picker this fall and CFIP fisheries projects on the Glen Juniper property, and the Frank Coulter property, have been completed. The Brown trout hatchery program is nearing completion, and as soon as the Browns are fin clipped they will be released into Owen Sound Bay. The Rainbow trout hatchery program continues on with good growth showing in all SSA rainbow trout fry.

Probably as you read this report the SSA will be collecting our Chinook Salmon eggs for 1999. If you would like to help with this years salmon hatchery program, please give me a call at 376-2369.

The Minniehill Creek projects. and the bottom draw project for the Massie Dam are still ongoing., and special thanks to John Bittorf and his crew of students from the Conservation Authority for taking care of the SSA hatcheries during the summer months.

We have given SSA support to The Scenic City Order of Good Cheer for them to make arrangements with the MNR for the stocking of upwards of 20,000 F1 Splake into the waters of Owen Sound Bay. However up to this date we have not heard if and when this stocking is going to take place.

Once again I'd like to ask all SSA members who would like to help out with any of our fisheries projects to give me a call at 376-2369. As I always say, "A person gets a good feeling when they put back into the resource which they so much enjoy."

Fred Geberdt, Chairperson

Fish Advisory Committee

Archery Committee

There will not be a club shoot this year. This decision was made at a meeting of archers, held at the club house on Sept. 14th. With the upcoming Deer season and other commitments, this seemed to be the only logical decision.

Next year we will be hosting only two invitational shoots, 3D Big Game Shoot April 23rd and the Traditional Weekend May 20th and 21st.

If anyone has any suggestions for our archery program, give me a call at 376 4555 or send me an e-mail at "wils@bmts.com".

Good hunting and shoot straight!!

Bill Thompson, Chairperson

Archery Committee

2000 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

© 2001, Sydenham Sportsmen's Association
Box 264, Stn. Main, Owen Sound, Ont., N4K 5P3
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