MSC Children's Fishing Derby ~ Sunday April 12, 2026

  MOODUS SPORTSMEN’S CLUB

                                              CHILDREN"S FISHING DERBY

                          & Breakfast (pancakes, bacon, etc.)

                                    at the club house

                                Sunday April 12, 2026

                       at the Moodus Sportsmen's Club

 299 East Haddam - Colchester Turnpike, MOODUS CT

uphill from the East Haddam Town beach and Dog Park

                                        8 am til noon

                 Derby is open to all children ages 15 and under

                                        2 Trout Limit

              children must be accompanied by an adult

CHILDREN’S FISHING DERBY SUNDAY - MAY 4, 2025 8 a.m. to Noon

 MOODUS SPORTSMEN’S CLUB

CHILDREN’S FISHING DERBY

8 a.m. to Noon

SUNDAY - MAY 4, 2025

DERBY IS FOR CHILDREN AGES TWELVE AND UNDER

2 TROUT LIMIT

Breakfast is being served in the club house.

Pancakes, French toast, bacon, juice, and coffee.

Children must be accompanied by an adult

EAST HADDAM BRIDGE CLOSED 9/14/2024 ~ It might be closed on Sunday, September 15 as well

EAST HADDAM BRIDGE CLOSED 9/14/2024

It might be closed on Sunday, September 15 as well

Check to find out if it is open before coming across the CT River.

You may have to come through Old Lyme or Middletown

https://www.facebook.com/CTdotEHaddamBr

 

IN MEMORY: Del (Delores) Tyner

 

Ducks flying over water ~ by William Tyner

Delores "Del" M. Tyner

Delores M. Tyner, formerly of Killingworth, CT passed away at Middlesex Hospital on August 18, 2024, after a long illness. She was the oldest sister of four, who watched over and protected her younger siblings when they were growing up. Her two children, William Stamm (DOD 1/27/1993) and Alane Tyner (DOD 11/8/1989), predeceased her, as well as her artist husband, William P. Tyner, Jr., who died in 1987. 

Del's husband, William had been a member of the Moodus Sportsmen's Club, and thanks to Del's generosity,   prints of his works grace the Club's walls, and have long been a featured prize of MSC's annual raffle every April.  

Delores lived in Chester, CT for many years, as well as Moodus, CT. When she moved to Killingworth years later, she was very active in the Beechwood Community as well as being a very active member of the Congregational Church. She was a long-time volunteer for the Red Cross and also volunteered as a reader in the Killingworth Elementary School program. 

She leaves behind her two sisters, Julianne H. Ziobron of Madison, CT and Elizabeth R. Amato of Portland, CT, as well as numerous nephews and nieces, and her best and long-time friend Carla Tessitore of Chester, CT. 

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday (Aug. 28th) at 11 a.m. at Biega Funeral Home, 3 Silver St., Middletown. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Friends may call at Biega Funeral Home on Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the service. T

hose who wish may send memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., I-91 Tech Ctr. Rocky Hill, CT 06067 or the American Red Cross 209 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06032. To share memories or express condolences online please visit www.biegafuneralhome.com.

Annual Shad Bake Sunday, June 9, 2024

 

Children's Fishing Derby ~ Sunday May 5, 2024 . Starts at 8 a.m.

 MOODUS SPORTSMEN’S CLUB

CHILDREN’S FISHING DERBY

SUNDAY - MAY 5, 2024    8 a.m. to Noon

PLUS OPEN HOUSE ~ THE DERBY IS FREE!

DERBY IS FOR CHILDREN AGES TWELVE AND UNDER

MUST BE ACCOMPANYED BY AN ADULT

2 TROUT LIMIT 

The Moodus Sportsmen's Club is located on 299 East Haddam~Colchester Turnpike next to the Town Beach

Open Space Preservation Referendum East Haddam, CT 1/30/2024

OPEN SPACE PARCEL & BONDING COMMITMENT REFERENDUM

Town Offices: Tuesday, January 2024  voting from 6 am thru 8 pm 

Kronberg Parcel ~ view from North Moodus Road

Just a reminder, there is an East Haddam open space referendum next Tuesday – January 30^th.  

If you are a resident or a property owner you are able to vote.  

You also can pick up an absentee ballot at the town clerk’s office if you can not be in town on the 30^th.

MSC Potluck Dinner Members & Friends

 Come One  Come All

Moodus Sportsmen's Club Special Potluck Dinner

Saturday January 20, 2024    6 PM

at the MSC building  299 East Haddam ~ Colchester Turnpike

(overlooking Moodus Reservoir)

Bring a dish of your favorite  appetizers, main dishes, sides or a dessert to share.  

Meet and greet members and other interesting people

MSC will supply  coffee, tea, water, beer, wine

MCS's Annual Calendar

 MOODUS SPORTSMEN'S CLUB  -  2024 CALENDAR

 JANUARY                 8 Monthly and Annual Board of Directors Meetings (6:45 pm)

                                     14 Harvest House – 3 pm set up, 4 pm serving St. Stephens Church

                                     20 Club Potluck Dinner – 6 pm start

 

  FEBRUARY                5 Monthly Meeting

11 Super Bowl Sunday – Super Bowl Shoot-Off

24 Game Dinner  5:00 pm    Snow date 25^th at 3 pm

 

MARCH                     4 Monthly Meeting

16 Game Dinner    5:00 pm    Snow date 17^th 3 pm

24 March Madness - 5 Stand Shoot Off

 

APRIL                        1 Monthly Meeting & ELECTION OF OFFICERS

                                    14 Spring Work Party  9 am

                                    20 Game Dinner  - 5:00 pm  -  Annual Raffle

                                           

MAY                           5 Children's Fishing Derby 

6 Monthly Meeting

19 Harvest House – 4 pm set up, 5 pm serving – St. Stephens Church

                                         

JUNE                         3 Monthly Meeting  

                                   7 Set up for Shad Bake

                                   9 Shad Bake  -  Week before Father’s Day

                                   22 Moodus Reservoir Preservation Group Picnic

 

JULY                         1 Dues are Due                   

                                   1 Monthly Meeting

 

AUGUST                  17 Nathan Hale Ray Reunion – 3^rd Saturday

 

SEPTEMBER          9 Monthly meeting –Sept  2^nd  Labor Day

                                  13 Set up for Forest, Farm, & Sea Dinner -  Friday am

                                  15 Forest, Farm, & Sea Dinner 1 pm – Sunday

                                  29 Harvest House – 4 pm set up, 5 pm serving – St. Stephens Church            

                                                       

OCTOBER              7 Monthly Meeting

                                  19 Pheasant season starts

                                  20 Fall Work Party

 

NOVEMBER          4 Monthly Meeting 

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

DECEMBER           2 Monthly Meeting

                                  8 Black Powder Rendezvous  8:15 am breakfast – 9 am shooting 

                                     Black Powder / Muzzleloader Season Start on Dec. 11th

                                  15 Harvest House – 3 pm set up, 4 pm serving – St. Stephens Church

 Limited Sunday rentals from Sept. 1st to March 1^st

Annual Shad Bake - Sunday, June 11, 2023

 

FAQs about Club Rentals

 

• Check our calender of events, posted every couple of months, and also found in right hand column. Listed dates are not available.
• No Sunday rentals during fall and winter months [September 12th through March 1st]. Fridays are for Members Only activities.

Sponsoring club member must be present at the event. No exceptions. For anyone or groups that do not have a club sponsor, the reservation will require approved by the Officers.

ALL LISTINGS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Any reservation date MUST be confirmed** in advance. [Don't start inviting folks until you know the club is available.] 

For reservations or more info email Dave Shelberg at dshelberg@jpnconstructionllc.com. 

E-mail him (or the Moodus Sportsmen's Club [moodussportsman@gmail.com]) with your name, phone number and the date you are looking to rent the club. Dave will call you back evenings after 7:30 p.m.

---

Non-Member RATES & RENTAL CONDITIONS:
There is a $ 200.00 refundable deposit in advance.
Rates apply to use of main building's meeting room, porch, pavilion and grounds***

          $ 250.00 - 50 people or less              $ 350.00 - Up to 100 people
          $ 450.00 - Up to 200 people              $ 550.00 - Over 200 people
          Use of kitchen the day before a rental $ 100.00
          Use of kitchen on a Saturday $ 250.00

Hours of permitted rental use
Saturdays - 2 pm until 11 pm   •   Sundays* 2 pm until 10 pm
Other times [for example, weekdays] may be requested and reviewed by the rental committee.

Other conditions or limits:
*      Sunday reservations between September 10 through March 1st are limited due to Skeet meets and other club sponsored functions
**    Reservations are confirmed only after return of a signed agreement and with a check for the rental and a separate check for the deposit.
       Set-up is the day of the event. Any prior set-up is at the discretion of the MSC Rental committee.
       If the kitchen is needed the day before an event, there will be an additional fee.
       Rates for Civic Organization events determined at the discretion of Club Officers.

       The following priority list will determine rental availability: Moodus Sportsmen's Club functions; MSC scheduled events [including skeet, fishing, opening days, hunter safety classes, etc.]; Boy Scout Troop 22 scheduled meetings; club member rentals.

*** The range and the pond are both off limits during all reserved events
Sorry but our insurance does not allow for Stag/Bachelor Parties

Children's Fishing Derby - May 15th 2019

 Our stocked trout pond opens at 8:00 a.m.

Admission is free!

Enjoy getting outdoors!    2 TROUT LIMIT

All children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
After the morning's adventure, everyone's invited to one of our famous lunches.

Great chance to learn about fishing in our fully stocked trout pond.
 
8 a.m. to noon


FOR KIDS AGES 12 & UNDER


Event is free and open to the public but all children must be accompanied by an adult. After the event lunch is served by all at the Club's main building.

HOT-DOGS AND SODA

---

The Moodus Sportsmen's Club is located on 299 East Haddam Colchester Turnpike next to the East Haddam Town Beach on Moodus Reservoir.  

Directions to MSC - type in your address and Moodus Sportsmen's Club once the map opens

In Memorial - Thomas Gowac

 Thomas M. Gowac - May 6, 1950 - April 12, 2022

Funeral Liturgy  - Tuesday, April 19, 2022 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

St. Bridget of Kildare Church, 75 Moodus Leesville Road, Moodus, CT 06469

Thomas M. Gowac, 71, beloved husband of Marilynn (Lukie) Gowac, died Tuesday, April 12 at Middlesex Hospital.

He was the son of the late Stanley and Mary (Nycek) Gowac.  

Tom was a long time active member of the Moodus Sportsman's Club, served as secretary years back, helped cook at our annual Shad Bakes and game dinners. He will be greatly missed.

In addition to his wife, Tom is survived by his brother, Peter of Crowell; sister, Michelle of Moodus; his sisters-in-law, Lorraine Zisk of NV, Sandra Sikorski of Ivoryton, Jerry Gowac of Moodus; as well as several cousins, nephews and nieces, with a special thank you to Barbara (Ken) Mocek of Old Saybrook and Susan Kakai and her children Cole and Cassidy Daricek of ID for their wonderful help they gave to Tom. He was predeceased by his sister, Christine Smith and brother, Joseph of Moodus.

A Funeral Liturgy will be held on Tuesday April 19, 2022 at 11 a.m. at St. Bridget of Kildare Church, Moodus followed by the burial at St. Bridget Cemetery. To share memories or express condolences online please visit www.biegafuneralhome.com.

MSC Annual Shad Bake - Sunday JULY 11, 2021 starts at noon

DEADLINE FOR PRE-SALES IS THIS WEEKEND _ JULY 3rd

 

Annual MSC Tri-Lakes Ice Fishing Derby - Sunday, February 14, 2021

Tri Lake Ice Fishing Derby

Sponsored by the Moodus Sportsmen’s Club

Moodus Reservoir, Lake Hayward & Bashan Lake

 

Sunday February 14, 2021

 

        

         Fishing begins at 7:00am 

LUNCH & raffle 

to following fishing

Food will be served with social distancing u

under the pavilion starting at 2:00 pm

final weigh in at 2:00 pm

$25/Adult for fishing   $5/Child for fishing 

60 / 40 split of the pot for adults

30% to the heaviest Fish

15% for the next heaviest 2 species

Trophies for children to the 3 heaviest of each species

Sign up by mail: P.O. box 11 Moodus CT, 06469 post marked by Monday February 8th or

In Person at the Moodus Sportsmen’s Club

299 East Haddam-Colchester Turnpike Saturday February 13th from 4:00 pm to 6:00pm

Applications available from the Moodus Sportsmen’s Club

web page – Moodussportsmansblogspot.com

Weather/Ice decision: 4:00 pm Saturday February 13^th, call 873-3381 to confirm.

Hunting Seasons are still in effect

 

Even with social distance limits, some things remain constant

Hunting seasons are still a thing

General Hunting / Pheasants - Oct 17 th

Deer Archery Sept 15 th , Shotgun Nov 18 th , Muzzleloader Dec 9 th

Ducks North Zone Early Oct 10 th to Oct 14 th , Late Nov 7 th to Jan 7

. . . and there are wild mushrooms to harvest as the crop continues to flourish

Sorting Through COVID Chaos

 

For the time being all public events have been put on hold

Rentals, for the time being, are for members only, due to the limitations resulting from Covid 19 precautions and limitations. 

We'll be working at making some changes including:

We plan to set up the outside for additional, expanded, cooking areas.

1. Move the large smoker to the edge of the cooking pavilion, place on solid blocks off the

ground and cover with a lean-to structure.

2. Install a three bay sink and a hand sink outside that can be quickly drained for frost protection

to provide additional work space.

3. Develop menus that maximizes working area inside and out.

          4. Look into the feasibility of "To-Go" options of game menu items over the winter that are

          not to be served rare or temperature sensitive. Mushroom soup, venison brats, smoked venison, 

          etc. Serve in two or four packs to go?

          5.  Consider selling smoked turkeys and Cornish game hens this fall???

          Anything else? Whole prime ribs? Smoked or Roasted. Smoke Shad

          Platters. Christmas time???? Thanksgiving is at the peak of deer season – hopefully the harvest    

          will keep our walk-in cooler full of deer and pheasants.

6. As the year progresses - If possible Shad Bake in June 2021 if  the allowable outside numbers

increase by then.

         7. The annual raffle would be pushed off until July to take advantage of the dinners.

Point being, the Sportsmen's Club is not going away. We just have to reconfigure how we will be 

able to accommodate the health concern changes we all have to live with right now.

Stay safe everyone. 

General information about the Club and membership

Who we are: The Moodus Sportsmen's Club is a voluntary association of hunters, fishermen and trappers based in Moodus, Connecticut. The organization was founded in 1942 by local residents and veterans.

•The club has maintained a presence on its present site since the 1940s when members were first permitted to meet and build a club house there by the Moodus Reservoir Water Company.

•Over the years the MSC has been an active participant in civic events and is one of the principal founders (and sponsors) of the annual East Haddam "Earth Day" Roadside Clean-up; held during April every year.

Statement of Purpose: The Purposes of the Moodus Sportsmen’s Club are to:
•* Promote and bring together sportsmen in the sports of hunting, fishing and associated activities;
*• Ensure that these sports will continue through education and conservation measures;
*• Teach and pass on the pleasures, benefits, responsibilities and ethics associated with hunting, trapping, and fishing practices.

What Do We Do? The Club hosts several public functions each year including:

Winter ~ Annual Tri-Lakes Ice Fishing Tournament
April ~ Earth Day Roadside Clean-up
May ~ Youth Fishing Derby
June ~ Annual Shad Bake - the Sunday before Father's Day
September ~ Annual Summer Harvest Fest*
November ~ Prime Rib + Shrimp Dinner*
Game Dinners* Held during winter months.
(*Game Dinners; Forest, Farm & Sea Fest and the Prime Rib + Shrimp Dinner are by advance reservation only. See a member for more information)
Local Scout Troop # 22 meets at the club on Thursday evenings.

We are working with CT DEEP to resume Approved Archery & Firearms Safety Classes. Until then - look to the CT-DEEP Conservation Education and Firearms Safety Program web page for more information on attending. Anyone who wishes to hunt my take and pass this class

NRA Certified Pistol / Firearms Classes are scheduled and held at various times of the year.

Membership details:
Membership meetings are held on the first Monday of each month.

Anyone interested in joining the Moodus Sportsman's Club must be sponsored into the club by a member in good standing. Prospective members names are brought to the floor at a monthly meeting; after announcement, a decision on a new member's application is tabled until the next month. At the next meeting, the prospective member is expected to attend, but will leave the meeting with a decision made on the applicant's membership request.

• All new members first go through a six-month probationary period; their sponsoring member is expected to help them get better acquainted with the club and its routines.

• Work Requirements: ALL members are required to work a set number of hours per year, as well as regularly participate in club activities, including monthly meetings [attendance is credited to "work time" requirements] as well as other nominal requirements.

• The club membership also includes Junior Members (under the age of 18) who must have a sponsor who knows the junior member well; as well as senior "emeritus" memberships.

Dues and Initiation Fees:
• Annual membership dues are $175 and are due the 1st of July of each year.

• New Member initiation fees are $475 (paid in increments over the first three years of membership).
• New members, upon acceptance, pay $325 the first year; $225 the second + third year. After that, annual dues are incurred.

• All members are required to be a member of the National Rifle Association.

Members who have not paid dues by October 31st of the year may be subject to termination of membership. Any membership lapsed because of unpaid dues can be re-applied for without prejudice.

Where we are: Moodus Sportsmen's Club facilities are located at 299-A Old East Haddam-Colchester Turnpike,, just up the hill from the Moodus Reservoir and the East Haddam town beach.

The club has maintained a presence on the site since the 1940s when members were first permitted to meet and build there by the Moodus Reservoir Water Company.

For Further Information: Write us at moodussportsman@gmail.com

Connecticut Hunting & Fishing Licenses

At this time, DEEP offices are closed to the public, as well as town halls and many retail agents. Sportsmen and women are able to purchase licenses, permits, and stamps online 24/7 through Connecticut's Online Sportsmen Licensing System. If you do not have a way to print your license after purchase, you can display your license on a mobile device (be sure to have it with you while out in the field).

Licenses and permits can also be purchased directly from many town clerks and retail agents. (Town halls and many retail agents are currently closed to the public.)

2020 Hunting License and Permit Information

Permit Applications and Forms

Links to all DEEP Licenses and Permits

In Memorium - Carl "Bud" Green - 1/25/1930 - 3/20/2020

Carl “Bud” Green, age 90, of East Haddam, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Friday, March 20.

Born in Vergennes, Vermont on January 25, 1930, he was a son of the late Carlyle and Alice Green. As a young man, Bud met and fell in love with Celeste Trivigno. The couple married on September 25, 1948; they started their life together in Windsor, later moving to East Haddam to raise their family on Lake Hayward. Shortly after, Bud proudly served our country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War.

Family meant everything to Bud; he was a patient and loving family man who worked hard to provide for his four spirited daughters. He worked 24 years as a milkman for H.P. Hood & Sons. Then later in life he worked as an environmental control engineer for Combustion Engineering and finished up his working career at Moodus Lumber.

Bud was a volunteer fireman and constable for the towns of Windsor and East Haddam and was a founding member of the Lake Hayward Company Three Firehouse. As a constable, Bud spent many weekends at the Connecticut Drag Strip. Bud also was the owner of Moodus Gun Shop, where he taught each of his daughters how to shoot.

An avid outdoorsman, Bud was happiest when he was skeet shooting, target shooting, fishing, or hunting. He was a lifelong member and also the oldest living member of the Moodus Sportsman Club, where he was most proud of his competition pistol shooting with his granddaughters. He was a parishioner of Grace and Truth Bible Chapel.

Bud and Celeste enjoyed their retirement together, spending winters in Florida and Texas. They also loved to travel cross-country in their 5th wheel with Bud’s brother Larry and sister-in-law Arlene. Bud also enjoyed monthly trips to the casino and daily trips to 7-11 for his scratch-off tickets.

Bud will be forever missed but remembered with love by his beloved wife of over 71 years, Celeste; his daughters and sons-in-law, Terri and David Felgate, Chris and Ed Wollschleager, Carleen and Bill Quinn, Celeste “Cookie” and John Gowac; brothers, Richard (Nancy) Green and William Green; 10 grandchildren, Jennifer (David) Cochran, Karla (Tim) Kress-Boyle, Kelly (John) Ryder, Kayse Kress (Eben Blanchard), John “JJ” Gowac Jr., Anna Quinn (Derek Tromza), Kim Gowac (Tim Tulloch), Ellen (Jonathan) Rose, Jonathan & Jamie Wollschleager; 25 great-grandchildren with one more on the way; sister-in-law, Mary Hoover; many nieces, nephews, and cousins who were all very special to Bud; and many more extended family members and friends. In addition to both of his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers, Wayne, Larry, and Peter.

Special thank you to Chestelm Sub-Acute and both Darlene and Abdul of Beacon Hospice for their exceptional care and compassion during Bud’s final days. A celebration of Bud’s life will be held at a later date.

The Aurora McCarthy Funeral Home of Colchester has been entrusted with care of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Moodus Sportsman Club Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 11, Moodus, CT 06469.

For online condolences, please visit:  https://www.auroramccarthyfuneralhome.com/

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carl "Bud" Green, please visit Aurora McCarthy Funeral Home floral store.