Your Newsletter from

Transcription

1 Your Newsletter from The 87th Annual AFGA Conference will be held February 18-20, 2016 at the Ramada Edmonton Hotel & Conference Centre, Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton Plans are well under way to inform, educate, and entertain so get ready to register and book a room or two! Registration packages will be going out in early September as well as being available on line. Inside: President's Report P. 2 executive vice-president p. 3 minister s special licence p. 4 1st vice-president p. 5 2nd vice-president p. 6 AFGA 87th CONFERENCE p. 7 Fishing Chair report p. 8 hunting chair report p. 9 club events p. 10 Program Report p. 11 Zone one report p. 12 zone three report p. 13 zone four report p. 14 zone five report p. 15 B.O.W. camp p. 16 p. 5 p. 13 p. 15 Alberta Fish & Game association NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

2 President s Report Wayne Lowry, President Summers slip by way to fast as we enter into them with high expectations of getting into the outdoors often and spending time with friends and family and as the summer draws to a close we still have a list of the things that we were going to do. Summer was definitely not uneventful as the day school let out my wife and I, as well as our youngest daughter, headed out to the east coast. It was the meetings of the Canadian Wildlife Federation that drew us there and after they were completed we spent a couple of weeks touring the east. It was fantastic, and it helped that it was the middle of lobster season and was able to enjoy fresh lobster pretty much every other day. The summer will forever be remembered as the summer that Cecil the lion was harvested. The rhetoric that surrounded that event was horrendous and in many cases horrific as we watched the extremists in action. I have to admit that I was surprised at some of the antics that were employed during that period of time which were capped off by a call of a sentence to death for Mr. Palmer from the extremist group PETA. The co-founder and President of PETA used several affectionate terms when referring to Mr. Palmer. We purposefully stayed on the sidelines of the issue at the time as there was little that could be said to calm the madness that was in the air from groups such as PETA and other individuals and groups sympathetic to their cause. At our August AFGA executive meetings we discussed the topic at some length wanted to at least clear Supporter of AFGA some of the air surrounding this. Much of the controversy centered around trophy hunting and that it was a bloodthirsty activity. It should be noted that trophy hunting is what saved many species of wildlife in North America. At the time Teddy Roosevelt established what is now known to be called the North American Model for Wildlife Conservation, wildlife was being harvested indiscriminately and unregulated and was being taken by the wagon full. It was the suggestion by Teddy that they should only go out and harvest a fine specimen of that species rather than everything that they saw. This is how trophy hunting started as a means to save wildlife. Now the word trophy is very subjective and it means different things to different people. Trophy to me is a symbol of something that took a lot of time and effort to achieve. This is ultimately what Roosevelt was getting at don t shoot them all take one fine specimen of the species. If it was not for conservationists like ourselves we would not be blessed with the abundance of wildlife we, and all others, enjoy. I do not claim to know Africa or what it is like there as I have never been, however I do understand the benefits of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Hunting in North America is highly regulated and AFGA is supportive of legal and ethical harvest of sustainable populations of wildlife. Harvest is only supported if done by fair chase rules and AFGA strongly opposes penned (canned) hunting. In fact, it was the lobbying of AFGA and other conservation organizations that were able to keep penned hunting out of Alberta. We, as conservationists are the ones that fund conservation of wildlife through the licenses that we buy and the conservation projects that we undertake and support financially. I can only speak for myself and my family, but I can say that the majority of our disposable income is spent on conservation/outdoor related activities and supplies that support the same. Outside of all of these issues there are the many positive Wayne Lowry aspects of being in the outdoors, which includes hunting! There are many physical benefits and I dare say that hunters are often in better shape than those that fail to get into the outdoors. There are also many mental health benefits to being outdoors. Many of us have a deep rooted connection to being in the outdoors particularly when it comes to hunting. While out hunting I pause often, just to take in the beauty of the land that I am in and the blessings of the ability to be there at that time taking it all in. We do have an indescribable connection with nature and the outdoors. When we are blessed with the ability to take an animal, we are also in control of what we will be eating for the winter months and take the care and attention to detail to ensure that what ends up on the table has been taken naturally and processed naturally, often by ourselves. We know that there are no additives, no preservatives, nothing but pure nature made meat that we know where every cut of meat came from and all the processes that it went through prior to landing on our plate. I love wild game meat, my family loves it, my friends love it, and I hope that there will be many, many, more years of enjoying this rewarding, healthy, good tasting table fare. I continue to welcome your feedback on these or any other topics of importance to you and I can be reached via at rwlowry7@gmail.com or visit our website at afga.org. Wayne Lowry President 2 Alberta Fish & Game Association NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

3 Executive Vice-President Martin Sharren, Executive Vice-President Bernie Letourneau Conservation Site On August 12, 2015 a celebration of a gift of conservation land was held at the residence of Bernie Letourneau who made the gift to the AFGA in partnership with the ACA. To ensure the integrity of the habitat, and its long-term existence and maintenance, Mr. Letourneau contacted the Alberta Fish & Game Association (AFGA) to donate the lands to the Wildlife Trust Fund. Under the AFGA s land trust, the property will be held in perpetuity and managed to maximize biodiversity. The AFGA invited the Alberta Conservation Association to share the donation and title on the lands. The property has also been deemed Ecologically Significant by the Eco-Gifts program, which will add an extra layer of protection for the property itself. Consisting of acres, the property is comprised of native habitat with mature forest containing white spruce, black spruce, tamarack trembling aspen and balsam poplar. The understory has a diverse mix of trees, shrubs and forbs. There is some muskeg associated with Atim Creek and the wetland bordering the property. There have not been any agricultural activities on the land, as it was always left for habitat purposes which will continue to be managed to maintain the native forest values and minimize impacts from surrounding land use. During staff inspection of the property the following species or tracks were seen; moose, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, and a wide diversity of waterfowl, woodpeckers and songbirds. The Letourneau Conservation Site is located 6 kilometers south of the town of Stony Plain at N1/2 SW W5. The AFGA greatly thanks Bernie Martin Sharren Letourneau for his thoughtful gift which will greatly assist in maintaining our conservation objectives Conference The 87th Annual AFGA Conference will be held February 18-20, 2016 at the Ramada Edmonton Hotel & Conference Centre, Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton. Plans are well under way to inform, educate, and entertain so get ready to register and book a room or two! Registration packages will be going out in early September as well as being available on line. Remember the sooner you register the less it ll cost! In the meantime if you, or a friend, want to volunteer for the actual event please let the office know. Many hands make light work! Office Relocation It has been determined over the last number of years that the AFGA s current office building is not meeting the needs of the Association nor its membership. Due to the building s age and condition it does not conform to standards that are required for a business offering goods and services to the public and the costs to bring the building up to those standards will be significant and would also require a large amount of money. For this reason the Executive of AFGA has for some time explored options as to how AFGA can best correct this deficiency and is of the opinion that relocation would be the best option to meet the current and future needs of the AFGA. Ideally AFGA will move to a location more in keeping with our conservation objectives, i.e. a semi-rural place that will allow for outdoor activities and meeting space for members to enjoy. Even though the cost of the new facility will be offset by the proceeds realized upon the sale of the current location and given the Association s space requirements there will in all likelihood still be a dollar shortfall. To this end I ask that you, the member or Club, assist your AFGA by making a donation to the Association Building Fund. Yours in Conservation, Martin Sharren Executive Vice-President Alberta Fish & Game association NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

4 NEW RAFFLE COMING SOON! 4 Alberta Fish & Game Association NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

5 1st Vice-President's Report Doug Butler, 1st Vice-President Summer is ending as I write this report, although it s prime hunting season as it goes to print. This is the first report I ever had to do, where I really have nothing major to report! Seems it was shortly after our AGM last February when the Provincial election was called and our government basically shut down. After the election we waited until the new cabinet was in place and then forwarded all our carried resolutions to the proper ministers, along with a request to meet and become acquainted. We still haven t heard much or met with any government officials? I know a new government takes a while to get settled, but the rest of the world continues to turn. As I mentioned before, our spring edition of the AGMAG was cancelled, with the new government the reason and has yet to be rescheduled? I sure hope by the time you read this edition (November?!) that we have made some progress introducing ourselves to our Provincial powers and have had the chance to voice our resolutions and new concerns? Same with the AGMAG. Our Executive continues to be busy along with all our volunteers and we did have good summer meetings at Narrow Lake with a full agenda to follow up with. The Wildlife Trust Fund continues to roll along and I did attend the unveiling of 2 different properties this past summer. There are a lot of acres out there for you all to enjoy. I also attended the ACA AGM and they also have many properties that are for us all as well. I waited until the very last minute to write this hoping for some news and/ or updates and now the Labor day weekend has ended. I was at Camp Wainwright for the grouse hunt and we all expected a banner year. Spring counts on the Leks were good and with a dry warm spring there should have been bumper number of birds? That didn t happen and although I only hunted the first day, (rained out after that) there was well over 100 hunters with expert dogs on day 1 but the bird count was just over 50. Not sure where the spring hatch went? I had a buddy spend the first 2 weeks of sheep season on a horseback hunt in some of my old stomping grounds and he was lucky enough to harvest a ram in the Bighorn country. I m hearing stories of many legal rams being harvested in the Clearwater region. My chum also saw 6 different grizzly bears on his hunt and he says grizz sign is everywhere, no shortage of wolf sign either, however, not an elk was sighted. Another member of my local club managed to arrow a good mulie buck last week (see Robyn s article). So hunting is in full swing already. I hope you all have a great fall and I really hope I have some news (hopefully good) to report to you next time. Until then...tight lines & straight shooting. Doug Butler 1st Vice President (780) dougbutler@live.com Alberta Fish & Game association NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

6 2nd Vice-President's Report Brian Dingreville, 2nd Vice-President Here is it is already the end of August. Where has the time gone? This past summer seems to have been a blur for me with all the riding and camping I did with family & friends in the mountains. Hopefully everyone had a safe and enjoyable time these past few months. Over the past several years, groups of us have headed out in the south Castle area. This year was even bigger and better, with 17 of us spending 4 wonderful days solving all the world s problems. I am sure you all have seen the impact of our brain storming! I have attached a picture of all the smiling faces that joined in. I just want to say thank you to them all for such a wonderful time. This past August I attended the AFGA meeting at Narrow Lake, which I might say was very well attended. Long drive but all in all it was great. I find it time well spent with numerous items being discussed as well as getting to know each one on a personal level. As we all know each and every one of us are volunteer people taking time out of our days to help keep things on track for Alberta Fish & Game Association. AFGA consists of over 24,000 members. I ask each and every one of you to take a moment and think of how you can take one day a year and help out at something in your club, zone, or AFGA head office to make things just a little easier. There are so many little things you can do, selling raffle tickets, helping out at a casino, attending trade shows hosted by clubs at different functions. Helping with banquets, antler measure days, the list goes on. I know many of the youths out there would jump all over the opportunity to help out if asked by parents. I do know we are all busy with family, friends, and just life but friends we need your help! And for those who have stepped up day in and day out in the past I take my hat off to you. I plan to attend a few of the zone meetings this fall, hopefully I will get the opportunity to see you there. Happy hunting, fishing, camping or whatever you do in this wonderful province through the coming months. Don t forget. One day Brian Dingreville a year and the difference would be incredible! Brian Dingreville 2nd Vice President (403) brianad@shaw.ca 6 Alberta Fish & Game Association NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

7 THE ALBERTA FISH AND GAME ASSOCIATION 87th ANNUAL CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 18-20, 2016 The AFGA is excited to host the 2016 conference in Edmonton. Conference registration packages were mailed out September 1, 2015 REMEMBER to REGISTER EARLY and receive the earlybird discounted rates! KINGSWAY, EDMONTON, AB Ph: (780) Fax: (780) FOR MORE INFORMATION OR HOW TO REGISTER CALL THE AFGA OFFICE (780) or REGISTER ONLINE:

8 Fishing Chair Report Darryl Smith, Fishing Chair It is the last day of August as I pen this column. Already many leaves are changing to fall colors and harvest is about half complete; the result of a combination of drought and heat in the Peace. Across Alberta the situation is similar. The effect on angling was dramatic as well. High water temperatures and low flows in trout streams led Environment and Parks to issue Fishery Advisories and Emergency Closures through much of southern Consultation, Communication, Education and Transparency Alberta during August. Similarly Environment and Parks and the Alberta Energy Regulator suspended or ceased to issue temporary water diversion licences (tdl) across northern Alberta beginning in June. Licences conditions on existing withdrawals curtailed most as well. Alberta was not alone as much of western North America struggled with fires, drought and high water temperatures. The use of water was limited and angling closures were common in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and British Columbia. The Alberta Fish and Game Association supported the angling closures when they were announced. Despite our support for the closures, they reinforce and identify issues that the Alberta Fish and Game Association will attempt to address with the new government on a go forward basis. Consultation has been an ongoing concern identified in many forums including the Alberta Fisheries Management Round Table (now Alberta Fisheries Policy Advisory Committee - AFPAC). Education of anglers in the handling and identification of fish will be pivotal as more fish are managed from a Apps have the ability to provide up to date information that goes beyond regulations to anglers and hunters. INSET: Alberta Wildfire App provided up to date fire status information and burning conditions. 8 Alberta Fish & Game Association NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

9 strictly catch and release perspective, part of management strategies to deal with invasive species, recovery of species at risk or stress. There will be need for new communication tools that can reach the broad angling audience at a moment s notice beyond the annual sportfishing guide. Communication tools also can be valuable in terms of education. Transparency occurs when we ensure consultation; communication and education are part of the issue management or decision making process. How to create the proper balance between internal process, public involvement and transparency continues to elude us. The goal to create an Alberta that leads in social, economic and environmental measures faces our new government. The public appears willing to give them time. The question will be for how long? In dealing with the Fisheries Management Policy Branch in this transition period, the status quo appears to be the norm. Anglers however are hoping for change. Change is coming, albeit at a slow pace. Angling regulation simplification has moved beyond a concept to looking at various management scenarios. After five years, anglers will finally see tiger trout (sterile cross between brown and brook trout) stocked in a few select pothole fisheries. Good news as Albertans have been increasingly travelling to Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Oregon for the opportunity to catch this species. More strains of trout appear to be entering our fish culture facilities that may be better adapted to the water and habitat conditions found in Alberta. Communication tools that deal with transparency, education, consultation or management need to be developed or adopted. While some will still want hard copy versions, the reality is that it cannot deal with issues at the same speed or depth as the digital format. As a late convert to a smart phone, must confess that have become impressed with the technology and application. The fires that raced through much of northern Alberta could be easily followed on the mobile app which many Albertans checked several times a day. Could we not have similar apps to deal with water withdrawals or angling regulations? Darryl R Smith Provincial Fish Chair Hunting Chair Report Ian Stuart, Hunting Chair The fall hunting seasons are getting underway as this is drafted and I wish everyone success! Whether that comes from memories only of great days in the field, pictures, free range organic protein, or all of the above marked by a trophy on the wall, it is really the whole experience that counts. As the Cecil the Lion episode so clearly demonstrated, a great many people don t understand that, and more importantly the benefits that properly regulated hunting provides for all wildlife both here and abroad. We have to do a better job of communicating the message that hunters are conservationists, poachers are thieves and there is a huge difference. Even in the absence of clarity of the circumstances surrounding the lion, anti-hunting extremists very effectively used the uniformed masses on social media to pressure airlines to refuse legal shipments of legally hunted trophies from Africa. One would hope that the decision making process at these airlines was based on fact, not social media hysteria - not so in this case! Air Canada s illogical excuse that it is to prevent poaching defies common sense since it is legally hunted trophies that they will not transport. This serves as a glaring example of the pressures that can be brought on hunting and science based wildlife management, and while not the first; it will not be the last attempt to shut down hunting. (Air Canada, which heretofore was my airline of choice if all else was equal will have received a scathing but reasoned personal letter from me by the time you read this! It may not change corporate minds but at least I will feel better!) Uncertainty resulting from change in Government continues, and we continue to try to move a number of things forward, but progress seems to have stalled in a number of important areas. It is very clear to me that we have to put personal and user group matters aside and work together on significant provincial issues; that is easier said than done as we are all passionate about our chosen methods and pursuits! I have put a significant amount of effort in to elk management and access and to the draft Bighorn Sheep management plan, and am still interested in any input you have on these subjects. The increased elk (and moose) harvest opportunities outline in this year s Guide to Hunting regulations are positive steps by what was ESRD, and we will continue to work Ian Stuart on linking hunters and farmers with elk issues. The Executive meeting held in August was positive and enjoyable, particularly the informal discussions, but it is obvious that we cannot pursue every issue and resolution with equal vigor. I have welcomed help from individual members on several of these, and there is ample opportunity for more involvement. Fall zone meetings will be in progress by the time this is in your hands; hopefully by then there will be more information to share. For now, good hunting! Yours in support of the wise use of the earth s resources Ian Stuart Hunting Chair Alberta Fish & Game association NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

10 Club Events CLUB MEETINGS date time details Athabasca Fish & Game: 2nd Friday 7:00pm Provincial Building Sept to June Barrhead Fish & Game: Last Wednesday 7:30pm Barrhead Legion Beaver River Fish & Game: 1st Tuesday 7:30pm Except July & August Breton Fish & Game: 4th Wednesday 7:30pm Breton Golden Age Centre 50 th Avenue except July/Aug/Dec Busby & District Fish & Game: 2nd Monday 7:30pm Lone Goose Club House Camrose Fish & Game: 2nd Wednesday 7:00pm Superstore meeting room Cardston Fish & Game: 2nd Thursday 7:00pm Civic Center Clandonald & District Fish & Game: 3rd Thursday 7:30pm Clandonald Coffee shop Claresholm Fish & Game: 3rd Monday N/A Claresholm indoor range Coaldale & District Fish & Game: 2nd Tuesday 7:30pm The Range Dickson Fish & Game: 2nd Monday 8:00pm Dickson Fish & Game Hall: Contact Ike: or Devon Fish & Game: 4th Thursday 7:30pm Pioneer 73 Center: #29 St. Lawrence Avenue Dunvegan Fish & Game: 3rd Wednesday 7:30pm Except July/Aug FCSS Room Audits and Safety building Drumheller Fish & Game: 3rd Tuesday 7:00pm Except July/Aug Edmonton Fish & Game: 2nd Wednesday 7:30pm no info Edmonton Old Timers: 2nd Tuesday 7:00pm Spruce Avenue Hall Avenue Edmonton Trout Fishing 1st & 3rd Tuesday 7:00pm Queen Mary Park Community League 109 Ave & 117 Street Ft. MacLeod Fish & Game: 2 nd Wednesday 7:00pm NWMP Library back door Ft. Saskatchewan Fish & Game: 3rd Wednesday 7:00pm Old Train Station Sept to June High Level Sporting Association: 3rd Wednesday N/A no info High Prairie Fish & Game: 2 nd Tuesday 7:00pm Range Amiro s High River Fish & Game: 2nd Wednesday 7:45pm For more info: Hillcrest Fish & Game: 1st Thursday 7:00pm Hillcrest Fish & Game Hall Innisfail Fish & Game: 1st Monday 7:00pm Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion except July and August Iron Creek Fish & Game: 2nd Thursday 7:30pm Lougheed Lions Den - Mainstreet Lacombe Fish & Game: 2nd Tuesday 7:30pm Lacombe Legion (except July & August) Leduc Fish & Game: 1st Wednesday 7:30pm Leduc Clubhouse for more info (780) Sept to June Lethbridge Fish & Game: 3rd Monday 7:00pm LFGA Clubhouse 9 th Avenue & 10 th Street South Lloydminster Fish & Game: Last Tuesday 7:30pm Except July & December Legion Hall Magrath Rod & Gun Club 3rd Thursday 7:00pm Magrath Library Medicine Hat Fish & Game: 2nd Tuesday 7:00pm Medicine Hat Boy Scout Hall 79 Cuyler Rd. SE - Sept to June Millet Fish & Game: 1st Tuesday 7:30pm Millet Fish & Game Hall Morinville Fish & Game: 2nd & 4th Tuesday 7:30pm Morinville F&G Clubhouse except July/Aug Mundare Fish & Game: Last Monday 6:30pm Mundare Gun Range May - August Okotoks Fish & Game: 3rd Tuesday 7:00pm Contact: okotoksfishandgame@gmail.com Onoway & District Fish & Game: 2nd Tuesday 7:30pm Education gun range (780) Sept to June Peace Wapiti Fish & Game: 1st Tuesday 7:30pm Better than Fred s St, Gr. Prairie - Sept to June Picture Butte Fish & Game: 1st Tuesday 7:00pm Archery Range 464 Crescent Ave. Ponoka Fish & Game: 1st Thursday 7:30pm Clubhouse Provost Fish & Game: 2nd Tuesday 8:00pm Indoor Gun Range 2km East of Provost (except July/August) Red Deer Fish & Game: 3rd Monday 7:00pm Red Deer Legion (use Molly B door) Tues if stat --except July/Aug Red Earth Creek Rod & Gun Club: 3rd Tuesday 7:30pm No other info Rimby Fish & Game: 1st Wednesday 7:00pm Super 8 Motel Contact Daryl Hunt (403) Rocky Mtn House Fish & Game: 2nd Wednesday 7:00pm Rocky Arena meeting room or (summer) fish pond. Sarcee Fish & Game: 2nd Tuesday 7:30pm Mtn View Funeral Home Auditorium September to June Sherwood Park Fish & Game: Last Thursday 7:30pm 50 Spruce Avenue St. Albert Fish & Game: 2nd Tuesday 7:30pm St. Albert community Hall on Perron St. September to June St. Paul Fish & Game: 1st Wednesday 7:30pm Town Hall - Downstairs Southern AB Outdoorsmen: 2nd Tuesday N/A Kings Home th Avenue NE Milk River Spedden Fish & Game: 2nd Sunday 7:30pm Ashmont Spruce Grove Fish & Game: 1st Thursday 7:30pm Elks Hall 400 Diamond Avenue Spruce Grove (Except November) Stony Plain Fish & Game: 2nd Monday 7:30pm Stony Plain Community Centre, 51 Ave. Jimmy: (780) Sundre Fish & Game: 3rd Tuesday 7:00pm Sundre Community Centre 96 2 nd Avenue NW - Sundre Sylvan Lake & District: 1st Monday 7:00pm Community Partner Hall Taber Fish & Game: 1st Wednesday N/A First Wendy s at Heritage Hotel Thorsby Fish & Game: 3rd Monday 7:00pm Sunnybrook Hall Vegreville Wildlife Federation: 1st Thursday 7:00pm Centennial Hall Vermillion Fish & Game: 2nd Wednesday N/A Vermillion Provincial Building Conference room Viking Sports & Wildlife Society: 1st Tuesday 7:30pm Clubhouse located near Viking Wheatland Conservation & Wildlife: 2nd Thursday 7:30pm Clubhouse on Olson Land SW W4 Whitecourt Fish & Game: 1st Wednesday 7:00pm Forestry Training Centre Wildwood & District Rod & Gun Club: 2nd Thursday 7:30pm Range in the clubhouse Willingdon & District Fish & Game: Last Tuesday 7:30pm Willingdon Arena upstairs clubroom Sept to June Wimborne & District Fish & Game: 1st Wednesday N/A Wimborne Hall OTHER EVENTS date time details Beaver River Fish & Game: Every Wednesday 6:00 8:00pm Youth / Adult Archery Edmonton Old Timers Fishing Club is looking for you! Calling all fishermen over 50! You ll find lots of people to go fishing with both summer & ice fishing in the winter. We have meetings once a month with a guest speaker. For more info: Ron Gale *IF YOU WISH TO HAVE YOUR EVENT/MEETING PLACED IN OUTDOOR CANADA OR ON OUR WEBSITE PLEASE OR FAX INFORMATION TO OUR OFFICE: info@afga.org or fax: (780) (CHECK OUT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR ON THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION or EVENTS NOT LISTED HERE: 10 Alberta Fish & Game Association NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

11 Program Report Lila Newsham It has been a busy, active summer! The two ladies BOW camps at Narrow Lake were a great success with 36 ladies in attendance. The two kids camps were also very well attended with 137 kids enjoying camp, a big thank you to all who made the camps possible. As for me, I have been quite busy volunteering with Zone 3 s fund raising efforts and attending meetings at Narrow Lake. I am going to be the coordinator for the youth program at the 2016 conference in Edmonton, I will be looking for youth volunteers to help out and give me some new ideas for the day trips. You can reach me at lila.newsham@live.ca or send me a text at As always I would love to hear from our membership regarding programs related questions or concerns Cheers!! Lila Newsham All AFGA members will receive a 10% discount on Scorpion Products and for every completed purchase there will be a donation made from Scorpion Optics to the AFGA. Simply show your AFGA membership card to authorize Scorpion Optics dealer to get your discount. For a list of Scorpion Optics dealers or for more info, please visit and look for the Scorpion logo... Moving? Call or mail your new address to The Alberta Fish & Game Association, Street, Edmonton, AB T6H 2L7 Ph Fax membership1@afga.org Please note that $6.30 of your annual membership dues are allocated to Outdoor Canada West Magazine. Seasons Greetings from The Alberta Fish & Game Association Executive & Staff Alberta Fish & Game association NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

12 Zone One Report Gregory Bird, Zone 1 Director As a newly elected Director for Zone 1, I am in the midst of trying to set everything up, get to know the role and the people within the Zone. By way of an introduction, I am Gregory Bird and I live on a farm south of Lethbridge. We operate a cow/calf operation, as well as the usual other things that go along with farming, I also work in Lethbridge. I am a member of the Lethbridge Fish and Game Club locally. In taking over the Zone Director role from Brian Dingreville, I have some work ahead of me to fill his shoes. He has been very involved and well connected throughout the Zone, making my job a little easier to begin. I really wish him well in his new role as 2nd Vice-President, as I am sure he will represent us all well with the vigor he has shown our Zone and the club generally. I am really looking forward to getting to know the individual people and clubs within the Zone, and as such would like to visit a meeting with your members if possible sometime during the year. I am currently trying to put together a current list, so please forward me a contact name and to verify against what I have as I know clubs and people transition over time. Although it is a good thing to see change, it can be challenging to keep lists current! I was able to attend the Narrow Lake executive meeting on August 15th, and found it to be an educational experience. One thing that really stood out for me is the level of dedication each individual at that meeting showed, it is refreshing to see a largely volunteer organization working so well with dedicated people. I look forward to the experience and expertise of all folks as I work with you. In my role of liaison with the various Zone clubs, please keep in mind that this is a two way responsibility. If clubs have interesting/noteworthy things happening or planned, I would really appreciate a heads up so we can talk it up and get the word out to the larger community. That said, if you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would be happy to assist where I can. Enjoy the balance of the summer, be safe, and start thinking about the fall! Gregory Bird Zone 1 Director Zone1afga@gmail.com 12 Alberta Fish & Game Association NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

13 Zone Three Report Kevin Wingert, Zone 3 Director Big game, birds, fishing, and just walking in the colourful leaves of an Alberta Parkland fall is one of the perks of living in this Region. There is just not enough time to do them all! At least not at my age! Fundraising for our CFG Association is going to be finished by winter s arrival, and the many volunteers who donated their time and energy are appreciated. I am sure there will be many projects to spend our resources on to keep kids involved in the outdoors. I attended the August meeting of the Executive of AFGA at the Narrow Lake Conservation Camp near Athabasca. It is such a great facility, with the cabins all sponsored by clubs of AFGA, shooting ranges, access to a lake, calling loons, and great meals from the staff there. I donated a Saskatoon pie that I prepared from handpicked berries from the Pine Lake area of Central Alberta. Organic? You bet. It was strange though, there were lots of berries on the west side of a half section but the east half had none, like the blossoms were not pollinated or frost took out the flowers. Or no rain fell one half mile away? The shotgun range was open, so I took the challenge to break a few clay birds. The ladies outshot me, and some of the kids. It was tough to get any consistency. The camp is well run, 140 plus kids attended their youth camp as well as several BOW camps ran this year, but I think it could use some TLC to its layout, washroom and meeting hall to make it more appealing to all as an inviting place. Continued next page. Several Whitetail deer crossing the Red Deer River on a July float trip from Red Deer to Drumheller over several days. Alberta Fish & Game association NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

14 On my visits around the Zone, I saw good moose, deer (mule and whitetail), waterfowl, and grouse numbers. The mild winters help a lot. So, get those applications in for the Awards from AFGA, the forms are on the Website ( Water levels in the ponds are in good shape around Red Deer, but many rain events missed the area south of Innisfail to Carstairs and east. The all day rain of August 21 was good. That day, I noted several Yellow-Rumped Warblers moving south a bit earlier than other years and I counted 26 American Crows cleaning worms off the front yard. It was a good year for them. I might have to dig out my Owl decoy for some fun, watching them dive bomb it! If you have resolutions; get them in to Rob Schultz, of the Rimbey club, please. Kevin Wingert Zone 3 Central Alberta Fish and Game Director submissions Submissions to Outdoor Canada West from Clubs and individual members are welcome (subject to approval of the editorial board) and can be forwarded to communications@afga.org or faxed to or mailed to us at St, Edmonton, AB, T6H 2L7 Zone Four Report Faran Schaber, Zone 4 Director hope that everyone has enjoyed I their summer. I had some good fishing out at the coast. As I write this Archery season is about to open, and harvest is starting to get busy for me. The peas have come off early for you goose hunters. Hope all the big game hunters got most of the draws that you applied for. Over the summer, the Narrow Lake camp held 2 very educational camps for 120+ youth. It was a full house again and I expect the same again for next year. I have attended AFGA and NLCC Executive meetings over the summer, and I hope that I am doing a good job of representing the clubs in Zone 4. The Zone still has a couple of executive positions open, and I hope that we can get them filled at the fall meeting. The AFGA senior executive has sent out a request that the clubs look into submitting applications for awards at the 2016 Conference. These awards are there to recognize the achievements that clubs do for fish, wildlife, and habitat. We will also be looking for volunteers at Conference, so if you are available to help, drop me an or let me know at a Zone meeting. Till next time, Good Luck with your fall hunting season. Faran Schaber Director Zone 4 faran1@telus.net 14 Alberta Fish & Game Association NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

15 Zone Five Report Robyn Butler, Zone 5 Director I m sure many of you are beginning or in the middle of your hunting season. While out enjoying your adventures, please remember to be sure of your target, background and all safety aspects. It can be easy to forget some important things in the excitement of harvesting that elk, moose, deer, bear or whatever else you may be challenging. Speaking of bear, if you happen to see any Grizzly Bears, please record the area, take a picture, record the date and time and let us know. It s still important that we report all Grizzly Bear sightings. The Narrow Lake Conservation Centre youth camps were all full to capacity again this year and another awesome job was done by Stacey Kanarek, Samantha Menzel and their group of instructors, counselors and volunteers. A big thank-you to you all! The BOW camps at the same location were also full and went over with flying colors. Speaking of the Becoming and Outdoor Woman camps we d like to see more women coming from our clubs so see if your club can sponsor one to attend next year. (see the BOW ad) In Zone 5 I still don t hear many reports from all the clubs. Please send me your info so it can be shared throughout our zone and province!! Our Kids can catch - Kids can shoot events in Lamont and Fort Saskatchewan were big successes. Many archery shoots, fishing weekends, etc. throughout our zone are great events and I d like to hear about them all. Many of you are busy working on your fall/winter projects and I can help spread the word around. In a few short months we will be gathering in Edmonton for the AFGA conference. We can exchange all our stories there (and some may even be a bit embellished). You should all now have your conference registration packages. If your club can help the conference committee with a donation (financial or prize), it would be greatly appreciated. I have attended many of our conferences and have met many good friends and acquaintances with vast knowledge that I have taken back to my club. It would be great if every Zone 5 club sent one or more delegates to this AGM. It not only helps your club, but gives you a voice in the many resolutions on the floor. Our Fall Zone meeting was just recently held in Mundare and I do hope we have some good resolutions to take to the AGM in Edmonton. This writing is prior to the meeting but thanks to the Mundare club for hosting this event. I hope your fall experiences were exciting and your freezers are in good shape. One member of my local club started early this year and harvested a nice Mule Deer in early September (see picture). Continue to enjoy the outdoors into the winter and wishing you a Merry Xmas and a great Robyn Butler Zone 5 Director Alberta Fish & Game association NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

16 B.O.W CAMP Become an Outdoor Woman is a program designed for women. It is an opportunity for women 18 years of age or older to learn outdoor skills usually associated with hunting and fishing, but useful for many outdoor pursuits. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Robyn Butler: Ingrid Horner: Alberta Fish & Game Association NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015