THE NEXT GENERAL MEETING, REMEMBER THE DATE: THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 13TH, 7:30 PM, AT THE CLUB HOUSE, LINCOLN PARK ROAD, IN DERBY TOWNSHIP. NOTE THE CHANGE IN DATE
The September General Meeting will see a return to the S.S.A. tackle draws and our guest speaker will be from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Fisheries Officer Kirk Gibbons. He will be discussing Section 35 of the Fisheries Act as it applies to habitat protection. Plan to attend the first meeting after the summer break.

Dates to Remember!!!
September 29th, Appreciation Fish Fry for Derby volunteers, at the SSA Club House, starting at 4:00 pm.

Thanks, Volunteers!!
The Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular committee would like to thank of the many volunteers who will make the 2001 version such a success. Without your help, it couldn't happen.

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!!!!

THE GREY BRUCE CLEAN WATER FESTIVAL NEEDS YOU!
Your volunteer assistance is required to present the 1st Annual Grey Bruce Clean Water Festival at the Chesley Community Complex September 24th - September 27th, 2001. The Grey Bruce Clean Water Festival aims to educate students and their communities about respecting and conserving valuable water resources so that they can help ensure a reliable water supply for the future. Almost 100 volunteers a day are required to make this event a success.
The Festival has approximately 30 hands-on activity centres that will challenge students to consider the importance of water to themselves as individuals and to society at large. The activity centres consist of several themes: Water Resources, Water Conservation, Water Protection, Water Technology, Water Science and Changing Attitudes. A minimum one day commitment is required 8:00am - 2:30pm during the festival days of Monday September 24th to Thursday September 27th. A public Open House is planned for the evening of Wednesday September 26th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm.
Volunteer help is also needed for set-up on Saturday and Sunday September 22nd and 23rd or take down after 2:30pm on the Thursday the 27th, please consider these dates if you are not able to help during the festival.
For further information please contact Barb and Dave Fidler , R R 5, Owen Sound ON N4K 5N7 or at 371-2919, email fidlersgreen@sympatico.ca or check the festival's web site www.waterfestival.ca

Murray Smart

Permitted Use of 2 rods while downrigger fishing in Georgian Bay
Several years ago, this concept was brought to a S S A meeting and was rejected. Since that time, a number of clubs, both on the Lake Huron shoreline and in Georgian Bay have lobbied the provincial government to have 2 rods while downrigging made legal. Recently the Georgian Triangle Anglers Association passed a motion to request this. As well, O F A H Zone H decided to request 2 rods and the O F A H Fisheries Committee, after careful scrutiny, agreed with this idea.
A number of S S A members have asked that the club take a second look at this issue and we plan to have it on the agenda at our September meeting. If you have thoughts on this issue, please attend and make your views known. At the end of the discussion, a decision will be made, one way or the other.

John Ford

Archery
Archery Course Offered.
An archery coaching course is being offered at the Bruce Peninsula Sportsmen's Association clubhouse for the first time on September 15th and 16th. Steve Brown states you do not have to be experienced to take this course and that beginners are welcome. The course is being hosted by the Ontario Archery Association. Anyone interested can call Steve at 371 2432.

S.S.A. Shooting Competition Update:
Four of the Seven scheduled shoots are now completed. The remaining 3 are:

Black Powder Rifle on Sept. 23rd at 1:00 pm (Bill Douglas)
Separate classes for scopes and iron sights.
Course of fire:
3 shots at hanging clay birds - 50 yards
3 shots at plastic water jug - 75 yards
3 shots at steel rams (lead only) - 100 yards
3 shots at paper target -

100 yards
Each 3 shot series to be fired in 5 minute time period.

5 Position High Power Rifle on Sept. 30 at 1:00 pm (Gary Willis)
6mm and heavier; deer/moose type rifle
rifle must have a magazine
classes for scopes and
iron sights
Course of fire:
10 shots at 100 yards, sighting in target
2 shots from the bench (sand bags)
2 shots from prone position (bring a blanket, tarp or old sleeping bag)
2 shots from kneeling position
2 shots from sitting position
2 shots from standing position
each 2 shot series to be shot in 2 minutes
Then shoot at plastic water jug until hit; subtract 5 points for each missed shot.

Archery Shoot on Sunday Sept. 16 at 10:30 am (Bill Douglas)
Traditional bow, compound bow, or cross bow
shotgun start, 20 Ames targets
Cost $2.00 per round.
Gary Willis

Hand Gun Report
Club level hand gun course have been completed during the summer with 6 new members completing the course.
Anyone interested in winter shooting at the Owen Sound Revolver club, please contact Garry Willis at 376 5347. Arrangements need to be made early Sept. with the revolver club and Gary would like to know the number members wishing to participate this year.
The club has approved the purchase of twenty yard targets, they will be available from Dan, Stewart, Mark or John. No targets will be left at the range.
Please advise John Galbraith if you have received a new firearms license number.
Have a safe fall

John Galbraith

WILDLIFE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
PEREGRINE FALCON RECOVERY PROGRAM
The peregrine falcon was never plentiful, but was not uncommon over much of its North American range. It was virtually wiped out by the postwar explosion of deadly pesticides, such as DDT. Efforts are being made to reestablish this speed king of the bird world by peregrine recovery teams. Some of us in the Owen Sound area thought we'd like to help out, as this was part of its original range.
The Sydenham Sportsmen, the Owen Sound Field Naturalists and the Ministry of Natural Resources got together and bought three birds from the Peregrine Foundation.
To make a long story short, we ordered three birds. One was injured before it was even shipped, and had to be destroyed. The other two were raised on top of the Great Lakes Elevator, and at fledging time were released to learn to fly and hunt. Great horned owls got them both, by picking them off at night when they were roosting, and therefore defenseless.
A tremendous amount of volunteer time and effort went into this program. Dave Arnold and Gary Willis built the hack box in which the birds were raised. The Sydenham Sportsmen's Association and the Owen Sound Field Naturalists combined to feed and babysit the birds, before and after fledging. John Ford organized the navy to carry out rescue operations, in case any falcons ditched in the harbour. The staff at the Great Lakes Elevators pitched right in and went the extra mile to help out. MNR Biologist Kathy Dodge spearheaded the effort and, during her off hours, practically lived on site. Frank Benn, a resident of the blue condo, maintained his telescope on target and kept us informed via two-way radio.
There was high community interest in the project. Many people came to watch these "flying bullets" as they tried their wings and began developing their aerial talents. Several watchers stated that the falcons had opened the door to nature for them. They never knew it, could be so enjoyable. So, we can't say that the operation completely failed only that it ended too quickly. My thanks to all who so willingly gave of their time and effort.

STEWARDSHIP RANGERS
Four young Rangers, under the direction of supervisor Dave Shipley, recently gave the wildlife committee three days' work. They hauled out, peeled and piled the posts that Doug Murdoch had cut on the archery range. They cleared out the sumach at the club gate, and also removed competing vegetation from the multiflora rose fencerow. They finished up by doing some much-needed mulching at the wildlife centre.
These kids worked their butts off in a very efficient and cheerful manner. I'll bet we don't find any of them vandalizing downtown Owen Sound at 4 in the morning.
As a point of interest, two of these young workers, Mike Anderson and Jesse Henrich, are SSA junior members. We thank them for a job well done.

GUN CONTROL
The Canadian government has been at the forefront of the small arms control initiative at the United Nations. Wendy Cukier, who is representing Canada, has stated that the controls are not aimed at civilian owned firearms, i.e. , sportsmen.
In a working paper prepared for the UN conference, the Canadian Government says the world's gun-producing countries need to use "maximum practicable restraint on the legal manufacture of small arms". This is little more than double-speak for making it as difficult, expensive, cumbersome, aggravating and frustrating as they can for people to acquire firearms. This is exactly what they are doing to us under Bill C-68.
Tony Bernardo, executive director of CILA (a pro-firearms organization) , attended the UN convention, and states in the Toronto Sun "I can assure you, that beyond any shadow of a doubt, the civilian possession of firearms is a critical part of the UN's 'draft plan of action' on small arms. In fact, entire UN manuals are devoted to the collection and destruction of these firearms".
Thank God Bernardo was there...heard and saw the participants speaking, and could then tell us what was really said to counter the Canadian Government's fabrications to the contrary. Of course, most Canadians have lapped up the Government's lies, and will continue to do so. It makes me want to vomit!

INDIANS
The Indians have come out with a major attack against the Provincial efforts to give hunters and anglers more rights as well as more direct controls over their sports. David McLaren, Cape Croker's chief propagandist, appears to be their main spokesman, and is disseminating his usual brand of misinformation.
I read the articles in the paper, and am still too angry to write a reasoned rebuttal. More on this in the next issue when I have cooled down.

Blake Smith, Chairperson  Wildlife Advisory Committee