Roadside Clean up - April 7th

It takes a lot to make a town look good, and it can't be done on its own.

So, once again, it's time. Come out and clean up the roadsides with us.

If you want to focus on your own street or a specific area, then call Jim Ventres at the East Haddam Land Use Administrator's Office [860-873-5031] to coordinate the effort.

Anyone who takes part in the effort is invited to the Moodus Sportsmen's Club for one of its famous hearty lunches.

This effort is co-sponsored by the Sportsmen's Club, East Haddam Lions and Scout Troop #22.

MSC Calendar for 2012 ~ April through September

APRIL

•  2 Monthly Meeting 
•  7 Town Wide Clean Up - 8 am 
•  14 Game Dinner - 6:00 pm - Annual Raffle 
•  15 15 Spring Work Party 9 am 

MAY

•  6 Children's Fishing Derby 
•  7 Monthly Meeting 
•  20 Work Party 

JUNE

•  4 Monthly Meeting 
•  22 Set up for Shad Bake 
•  23 Shad Bake - Sunday After Father's Day 

JULY

•  1 Annual membership dues are Due 
•  2 Monthly Meeting 

AUGUST

•  6 Monthly Meeting 
•  19 DEEP Certified Archery Course 

SEPTEMBER

•  10 Monthly Meeting 
•  14 Set up for Summer Harvest Dinner 
•  14 Summer Harvest Dinner 4 - 6 pm, serving time 

pheasant program update

Don't be the target, be on target!
It's not enough just to vote in elections
v
Your legislators need to hear from you regularly!
v
So does the Governor !

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All the state stands to lose is revenue ~ revenue that, ironically, pays for the program

The DEEP has not been successful in convincing the Governor's Office to reverse their decision to end the pheasant program. The only thing that can change this now is political pressure applied by sportsmen and others affected by the decision.

Here are some "official" DEEP Bureau of Natural Resources figures to ponder.

 • 2011 Revenue generated towards program:
 • Sale of pheasant stamps = $139,000
 • Sale of licenses to pheasant hunters = $85,000 Total Revenue = $224,000

Amount of Revenue (CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE) expected to be lost if program is eliminated:
 • Sale of pheasant stamps = $139,000
 • License Sales to pheasant hunters = $27,000** Total Revenue lost = $166,000

**Note that this figure was determined by breaking down the license fees among all buyers, to those who ONLY purchased a basic hunting and pheasant stamps (no deer, turkey, etc.), and assumes they would not continue to purchase a hunting license if the program was eliminated. We know that more revenue would be lost due to anger among the sportsmen, especially after enduring a 40% increase in license fees and a 100% increase in pheasant stamp fees.

Since 1983, when sportsmen began contributing pheasant tag fees to provide additional program support, we have used the entire amount of revenue generated in the previous year (as in the $224,000 above) to establish our budget for the program in the following year. There is an expectation among sportsmen that they are paying for the next year's program.

Regardless of the figures used, there will not be any $ savings by eliminating the $160,000 called for in the Governor's proposed budget. The State simply loses revenue.

Once again, here's a link with the phone number to Governor Dannel Malloy's Office.
Be civil, politie and to the point when you call.

An initiative for the future of hunting

Families Afield is an education and outreach program to help states create hunting opportunities for youth, so that more families may enjoy America's greatest outdoor tradition together.

If you live in or represent a state where laws or regulations restrict young people from hunting, you can join the Families Afield effort and make a difference. Success depends on partners and volunteers!

The Core Values of Families Afield Are:
  •   Safety first, always.
  •   Hunting instills traditional values, connectivity with nature and healthy lifestyles.
  •   Parents, not politics, should decide an appropriate hunting age for their children.
  •   When introducing youths into hunting, earlier is better.
  •   Youths experience hunting with an adult mentor, then attend a hunter education class.

Hunting is Important
  •  Hunters pump more than $30 billion per year into the American economy, much of it directed at rural communities as hunters spend dollars on food, lodging, gas and more.
  •  About a million jobs in America are supported by hunters.
  •  In the last 40 years, hunters have spent $13.4 billion purchasing hunting licenses, tags and permits. This revenue supports wildlife conservation.
  •  America's recreational hunters and shooters have paid more than $5 billion in excise taxes since 1937 to support wildlife conservation and education.

Hunter Numbers are Declining
  •  For every 100 adult hunters today, only 69 youth hunters are coming up to take their place.
  •  If allowed to continue, economic projections indicate funding for wildlife conservation could drop 25 percent by 2025. This decline could cause a 24 percent drop in revenue for the hunting industry.

The Families Afield Website has been developed in partnership with National Shooting Sports Foundation, U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, National Wild Turkey Federation, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and the National Rifle Association.

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Families Afield Initiative for Future Hunting Program © 2012

Hearings on Sunday Hunting set for March 8th

Connecticut: Environment Committee to Hear
Sunday Hunting Legislation Tomorrow
from the National Rifle Association of America Institute for Legislative Action, © 2012

Tomorrow, Wednesday. March 8th, at 10:30 a.m. in Room 2 B of the Legislative Office Building (LOB), the Environment Committee will hold a public hearing on Senate Bill 83 which seeks to allow Sunday hunting with bow and arrow on private property.

Currently, Connecticut is one of only six states in the country that strictly bans hunting on Sunday. This prohibition threatens the very future of our hunting heritage by discouraging hunter recruitment and retention. In addition, this antiquated ban harms Connecticut’s economy.

Due to increasingly demanding work, family and extracurricular schedules, older and younger hunters alike often have only Sundays available to hunt. The ban keeps them from remaining or becoming hooked on hunting. There is a reason that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a radical group whose ultimate goal is to end all hunting in America, is one of the most active advocates of maintaining the ban. Our opponents know that the future of hunting is at stake and you should too.

At a time when the economy is struggling and too many people are out of work, legislators must not continue to refuse the enormous economic benefits associated with allowing hunting on Sundays. Comprehensive research from the National Shooting Sports Foundation shows that allowing hunting on Sundays would generate a total annual economic impact estimated at $38 million and create 500 jobs.

If you are interested in testifying, please submit 40 copies of written testimony to the committee staff one hour prior to the start of the hearing in Room 2B of the LOB, or submit testimony electronically to Jason.Bowsza@cga.ct.gov. Electronic submissions are preferred. Sign-up for the hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. in Room 2B of the LOB at 300 Capitol Avenue in Harford. The first hour of the hearing is reserved for public officials. Speakers will be limited to three minutes of testimony.

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IMAGE CREDIT: Found at: Accurate Shooter Newsletter. From a posting about the Families Afield Initiative for Future Hunting Program © 2012