OWASIPPE CONSERVATION GROUP RULES 2018 The Owasippe Conservation Group (OCG) was formed in 1997 to offer the camp work as part of the maintenance program in exchange for the hunting privileges for each of its members. Ethics of the hunter is looked at as its highest standards to lay the groundwork for future hunters and hunts to come. These rules are a basic common ground in which to base the credibility of its program and its members. The idea is to first promote conservation and to build a program, which will monitor the wildlife on this camp. Building not only the deer herd but to also improve habitat of the game birds and other animals in the surrounding area. Owasippe is owned by The Pathway to Adventures Council (PTAC) of the BSA and is first and will always be a Boy Scout Camp and any other use of the property is a privilege not a right. Licensing 1. Every member of the OCG will have in their possession an OCG permit card that must be carried with them while on the property and a dashboard card for their vehicle that is issued by PTAC. This permit card will be issued for the dates April 01 to March 31 of the following year. 2. Every OCG member must have the proper Michigan issued DNR license for hunting or fishing. The OCG members must verify the people in their party are all properly licensed for the year. Any person not properly licensed will be asked to leave the property and the member will have their OCG privileges taken away. 3. OCG members must sign in and out when they are on the property and the area they will be hunting or fishing. The sign in sheet will ask full name, OCG permit number, numbers in their party and when signing out report how many species seen and numbers harvested. 4. Successful completion of a Hunter Safety Class is required of all hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1960. 5. All Michigan game license laws will be followed, anyone violating them will be removed from the OCG and a Michigan DNR Conservation Officer will be contacted.
New Members 1. New applicant requests will only be taken by filling out the Owasippe Conservation Club Application. Applications may be picked up from the Administration building or downloaded from the PTAC web site (http://www.pathwaytoadventure.org). Applications must be returned to the Offseason Use Coordinator(OUC) by March 1. Applications must be filled out completely with a completed application for membership into the Boy Scouts of America along with a $36.00 registration check or cash. All members must be or become a registered member of their local BSA council or PTAC for the calendar year they are hunting and fishing. Being denied membership or non-proof of accepted membership in the BSA will remove the applying member from the OCG and the camp immediately. 2. New memberships will be chosen by the current members of the hunt club board, with guidance and final approval by the Director of Properties and the OUC. new members will be notified upon their selection. New members will have to then pass the BSA back ground check for membership. Other new applicants will be advised of their stand-by listing, if any new member does not qualify for their BSA memberships they will be removed from the OCG and the camp and a stand by member will be contacted. 3. Online Youth Protection Training will be required every two years from issue date on their BSA membership card. This training must be done and verification given to the OUC before April 1. BSA has instituted a new Youth Protection Training that must be completed by October 1 st, 2018. Even if you have a current YPT, you will need to take the new one. 4. All new applicants and members must be 18 years of age and not have any prior or current convictions of a wildlife offence. If found to have been a violator, that member will be removed at once and lose all hunting and fishing privileges. No compensation for hours worked will be credited for money due to the released member. No refund of money will be given. The PTAC professional staff and the OUC will look at and review the offence with their decision as final. 5. Only members may work their hours or immediate family over 18 years of age. Any member wishing to work hours must contact the OUC at 312-421-8800 Ext: 315 two days prior to coming out.
Current Members 1. Current Owasippe Conservation Club members must fill out the Owasippe Conservation Club Application yearly and place an X by current member line on the application. Applications must be returned to the OUC by the last day in February. Owasippe Conservation Club Applications must be filled out completely, with a completed BSA Membership Application for the Boy Scouts of America along with a $36.00 registration check or cash. Applications may be picked up from the Administration building or downloaded from the PTAC web site (http://www.pathwaytoadventure.org). Online Youth Protection Training will be required every year from issue date on their BSA membership card. This training must be done and verification given to the OUC before April 1. If any current member does not qualify for the BSA membership they will be removed from the OCG and the camp immediately. All members must be or become a registered member of their local BSA council or PTAC. Being denied membership or non-proof of accepted membership in the BSA will remove the member from the OCG and the camp. Current members of the OCG must be a member in good standing of the BSA \ for the calendar year they are hunting and fishing. 2. All Current Owasippe Conservation Club members must be 18 years of age and not have any prior or current convictions of a wildlife offence. If found to have been a violator that member will be removed at once and lose all hunting privilege. No compensation for hours worked will be credited for money due to the released member. No refund of money will be given. The PTAC professional staff and the Head Ranger will look at and review the offence with their decision as final. 3. Only members may work their hours or immediate family living with member over 18 years of age. Any member wishing to work hours must contact the OUC at 312-421-8800 Ext: 315 two days prior to coming out. General Guides 1. The members will patrol the camp and report any dumping or trespassing at once to the OUC 2. Deer harvested quotas on the camp and hunting dates allowed may be adjusted by the PTAC Properties Committee with input from the proper state and local conservation professionals.
3. All state game rules will be followed. 4. Motorized vehicles may not be used on or across the camp property while going to and from a deer stand or blind. The only driving on camp would be to get a deer if a OUC or ranger is available to permit them access. Gate access may or may not be available, do not shoot a deer where you cannot remove it from OSR. 5. Keep everything very professional. If an issue arises (such as stands or blinds are too close) work it out. The group needs board members to oversee the members activities/use of land - The group should govern its members behaviors and inter-member personal issues PTAC staff should only step in as needed. 6. No threats or vulgarity aimed at another member or PTAC Staff will be tolerated and may end in termination of membership in the OCG. 7. As owner of OSR, PTAC is the sole decision maker as to how many permits are issued in any given year. 8. Exclusive hunt only dates on OSR will be Oct 15 Dec 15 with mixed use time Oct 1 14 and Dec 16-31. Benefits of OCG Memberships 1. Shore fishing is also allowed for members and their immediate family member living with the member when accompanied by the member of the OCG. No private boats or gas motors are allowed on any body of water on the property. Use of camp boats must be approved and arranged with the OUC 48 hours prior to use. Life jackets must be worn at all times. If a member or member of his immediate family is not wearing a life jacket they can all be asked to immediately come off the water. All fishing rules and regulations from the OSR Properties Committee and the State of Michigan will be posted and followed. 2. Members of the OCG may have special programs that only members of the group will be allowed to attend. 3. Rental of cabins and tent site will be discounted to the council and district price as posted on the Pathway to Adventures web site (http://www.pathwaytoadventure.org). 4. Special apparel will be made available for sale to members of the OCG. 5. Member s immediate family, which for OCG is a spouse (spouse hunting requires 10 service hours), and children under 18 living at home, may hunt or fish with the member present. Family member must follow all Club rules. 6. Members who are grandparents can take an under 18 grandchildren on the youth hunt.
HOUR REQUIREMENTS 1. Each member will be required to do 40 hours of work on the camp in exchange for hunting and fishing privileges Exclusive hunt only dates on OSR will be Oct 15 Dec 15 with mixed use time Oct 1-14 and Dec 16 31. 2. If the 40 hours cannot be met, a fee of $16.00 per remaining hour can be paid. Any monies due for lack of hour s fulfillment to PTAC will be paid in personal or cashers check, money order, or cash given to OUC. Members must have 15 hours in by the second Sunday in June. Members not in compliance will be dropped. No exception! 3. All hours must be in by September 30 th unless extended by PTAC because of extended projects set forth by the OUC or PTAC Director of Properties. 4. The OUC/ Head Ranger and or his staff will sign daily work sheet or card filled out by OCG member stating what they did, date, and all hours worked. No hours will be counted unless the camp OUC/rangers approve and sign for them. 5. All hours worked will be for the good of the upkeep of the camp as seen fit by the OUC/Head Ranger. Group meetings do not count toward the hours worked. 6. For an additional 10 hours, spouses can hunt. TYPE OF HUNTING ALLOWED 1. Archery, crossbow, rifle, shotgun and muzzleloader. 2. Deer hunting both archery and gun for members. 3. Small game hunting of rabbits, grouse and gray squirrels. Hunting of grouse, woodcock, and raccoon is also permitted during state approved seasons. 4. Turkey hunting after the first year if you re still a member of the OCG. 5. Duck hunting outside the safety zone. 6. Duck blinds shall be 100 yards apart for safety. 7. Fishing is allowed between September 30 th to June 1 st by Members and immediate family is accompanied with the member. Fishing License are required as by state laws. 8. All debris must be cleaned up by the end of the day. 9. No turkey hunting is allowed with dogs.
DEER REQUIREMENTS 1. No deer shall be taken smaller than 6 points or three per side for one of the 2-buck combo. 2. The other buck deer shall have 8 points or 4 per side. 3. A tine is to be measured from the base of the horn to the tip of not less than 1 in length. 4. All deer must be checked in within 24 hours, either by e-mail or a sign-up sheet located in the bulletin box attached to the maintenance building. 5. Approximate weight, sex, and rack measurements will be needed. A picture for the group photo album is requested. 6. A member will be allowed to take no more than 2 deer per year per 40 hours. This includes immediate family members hunting under your hours who are under the age of 18. 7. The household limit is 4 deer per season. 8. At the beginning of each season, bucks are the only deer to be hunted. The adding of doe hunting will evaluated on a year by year and/or periodically throughout the season. 9. An undersized deer must be reported to the OUC within 24 hours. Failure to do so will lose your hunting privileges on the camp forever. 10. First time hunters participating in the MDNR youth hunt that are immediate family members of the current member will be allowed to take their first deer on the camp of any size or sex. This is their first deer only, not per year! Keep it simple. All youth must be properly licensed. 11. Traditionally - No baiting will be allowed on the camp at any time during the regular hunting season! This includes deer cocaine, corn, carrots or any type of seeded area used as a feeding area for deer. No planting of plots to hunt over. Changes to baiting will be discussed during the season, but only with the OUC, Head Ranger and Director of Properties having discussed why or if it should be allowed for any reason. 12. If you bait you re gone! 13. A youth s hunters kill will not count against the members limit if taken under a special youth hunt approved by PTAC. During MDNR youth hunt weekend only one deer can be taken during youth hunt per youth hunting with a member. Trees Stands, Ground Blinds and Trail Cameras 1. All stands and ground blinds must have the hunters name and address on them and be readable from the ground. 2. All stands must be removed by June 1 st. If not removed a 5 hour will be added to the required work and the stand will be held until hours completed.
3. Trail cameras can be installed after September 1, if hour requirements are met, but must be taken down by December 31. They also must be identified with the owner s name address and phone number. 4. Screw in steps will be allowed if they are removed at the end of the season. 5. No permanent tree stands will be established and no nails are to be used for stands. 6. Tree stands may not be placed until after September 1 st and hour requirements are met. 7. The placement of the stand must be considerate to its location to other hunters already set up. This does not mean where you hunted last year but where the stand or marker is set. 8. A tag may mark trees with the hunter s name as part of their three-tree stand limit. 9. A 100-yard rule is the idea from another hunter. We have 5000 acres so don t claim an area for yourself and run others out or you may be asked to leave. Use common sense! 10. Tree stands and ground blinds in combination are limited to three per member of the OCG and immediate family members hunting with that member. 11. Any unmarked stand or ground blind will be removed and placed in the drawing at a meeting the following year. Any unmarked stand should be reported to the OUC and they will be removed from property. SAFETY ZONE 1. Safety zone hunting for deer is allowed for up to 6 senior members of the program. These individuals must be 70 years old or older or be disable. If more than six people are interested in this program a lottery will be held for the spots and OUC does have authority to adjust that number. Hunters are allowed to have an able body hunter with them, but the able body hunter is not allowed to shoot a deer. They are there to assist the senior or disabled hunter and cannot carry or use any weapon. They can field dress, drag and assist the hunter when needed. 2. Safety zone Hunters are allowed one buck with more than 3 points on one side. 3. Safety zone hunters are allowed to drive to get to their tree stand. Safety zone drivers are not allowed to transport other hunters. 4. The safety zone may be used for other programs in the camp during the hunting season so access dates may be adjusted. 5. No one else shall be allowed to hunt in the safety zone. If you shoot a deer and it wonders into the safety zone notify the OUC at once. 6. Anyone found hunting the safety zone will be removed from the program immediately. 7. See attached map for safety zone. 8. No hunting will be allowed within 100 feet of a camp building.
9. Tracking in the safety zone is allowed only with permission of the OUC first before entering. 10. Safety zone hunters must contact a OUC prior to coming out to verify no program is being done in the area. THE BOARD 1. The Board consist of 1 president, 1 vice president, 5 trustees and one PTAC representative who with consultation from the Director of Properties have final decision and approval of any issues or changes to the rules and regulations. 2. Terms are 3 years each. Trustees will be voted 2 one year and 3 the next year to keep votes at a decision level number. 3. All board member must have at least 5 years as a club member to be eligible to run. 4. Rules may be made or changed by the board with the approval of the Director of Properties or designee. The Director of Properties or designee will have final approval or denial of any changes. 5. Any previous agreements or arrangements on lifetime memberships or other side deals are null in void. Consideration of continuing any such agreements will be discussed individually with that member and the Pathway to Adventure Director of Properties and the OSR Head Ranger. 6. Previous policy regarding banked hours will be honored, but going forward from 2018 on, banked hours will not be allowed. The 40 hours of service must be done each year prior to the opening of the season. The Pathway to Adventure Council reserves the right to change or alter rules and guideline as the Council see fits. Notice of such changes will be posted and made public at a minimum of 3 business days before a change in enacted.