Events Calendar 2008

Trap shooting open all seasons

The trap range has been open all winter this year. The trap range opens on Sunday morning beginning

at 10:am and continuing until all shooters are done. If you are able to help with snow removal on the trap range immediately after a snow fall please contact Paul Cutrone.

October 1 – Sign up for 4H Sharp Shooters club

Wednesday evening beginning at 7:00PM will be our first 4H club meeting for the new 4H year. Any youngsters at least 10 years of age and under 18 years of age are welcome. Youngsters are welcome to sign up at any 4H meeting throughout the year so if you can’t attend the sign up on October 1 you can

The Sharp Shooters meet the first and third Wednesday of every month year round to teach safety and basic shooting skills in rifle (both air rifle and .22), shotgun, air pistol, archery, and muzzle loader. We also teach living history as it relates to shooting sports.

There is no cost to join 4H and all equipment and ammunition is provided by Phoenicia Fish and Game. The only requirement is that Sharp Shooters become junior members of Phoenicia Fish and Game. If you have any questions contact one of the members of the Youth Program committee

October 4 – Work Party to prepare up for Turkey Shoot

Saturday October 4 is the weekend before our annual Turkey Shoot. We will hold a work party to cleanup the clubhouse and ranges in preparation. Workers will be needed beginning at 9:00 AM to help with yard work, clubhouse cleanup, and range preparation. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for all workers.

October 11 – Work Party to Setup for Turkey Shoot

On Saturday October 11 a work party will be held to set up the targets for the turkey shoot. All range officers who have volunteered for the turkey shoot should attend or make sure that someone is there to set up your range. We will begin at 9:00 AM and should be done before Noon. Breakfast will be provided.

October 12 – Turkey Shoot

Sunday October 12 is the annual TURKEY SHOOT and 50/50 RAFFLE. Please plan on attending and bring your friends and neighbors. Shooting begins at 10:00 AM rain or shine. The turkey shoot is open to everyone and membership is not required. Bring your family and friends.

Turkey shoot events include:

Shotgun
Center fire rifle
Rimfire rifle
Handgun
Archery
Bench Rest
Running Deer

We will also have the usual selection of good food and soft drinks at reasonable prices.

November 8 and 9– Sight In Days for Deer Season

The Saturday and Sunday in November immediately before opening day of rifle season will be sight in days at the outdoor range. This will be 11/8 and 11/9. As usual, Lee Denman and Cookie Rotella will be available to assist with sighting in and offer their expert advice to all comers. The ranges will be closed to other activities during sight in. Non-members are welcome to join us to sight in only during this supervised two day event.

Many thanks to Lee and Cookie for their continued support of this important annual event.

December 13 – Game Dinner

Our seventh annual game dinner will be held on Saturday December 13 at the clubhouse beginning at 6:00 PM. Please bring a covered dish, preferably something made from game. If you don’t have game then any other dish will be welcome. The club will provide desserts. The past years have been successful and fun social events. Bring your family and join us.

Other Events

DEC Camp Scholarships Available

Each year Phoenicia Fish and Game provides full scholarships for two or three youngsters to DEC camp for a week. In order to be eligible a camper must be at least 12 years of age at the time he or she attends camp. Camp will be held during the summer of 2008. We are seeking applicants for these scholarships at this time. Please contact any officer or director if you know of an interested candidate.

As of this date we have a full contingency of youngsters signed up for 2008. However, if you know of a youngster who might be interested in attending in 2009 please save this newsletter and contact one of the club officers in October or November this year.

DEC camp is a week long camping experience where campers stay in rustic cabins with chaperones. Meals are included. Parents must provide transportation. Each camper, except for Pack Forest, will have an opportunity to take the hunter safety course while at camp. The week is spent having fun while learning about environmental issues. There are four camps to choose from:

Camp Colby is on the shore of Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks and offers swimming and canoeing along with environmental discovery and other activities. For campers age 12 through 14.
Camp DeBruce is the closest one to us. It is in Sullivan County and offers 300 acres of forest along with trout streams and a lake nearby for fishing. For campers age 12 through 14.
Camp Rushford is in Allegheny County in the western part of NY. It is located in the Hanging Bog Wildlife Management Area and offers opportunities unique to that environment. For campers age 12 through 14.
Pack Forest is located in the southern Adirondacks and offers a High School level program in environmental studies. The camp is on a small lake and offers swimming and canoeing. For campers age 15 through 17.

Campers who have not attended DEC camp before will receive first priority and repeat campers will be considered if we don’t get 3 candidates who have not attended before.

Serving our Community

· Trap shooting is held on Sunday morning and Tuesday evening and is open to the public.

· Black powder and .22 rimfire shoots are periodically offered both on our grounds and at other ranges in town and the shoots are open to the public.

· Sight-In days are open to the public every year before deer hunting season.

· Our ranges are used by local police agencies for annual firearm qualification.

· We provide funding, volunteer leaders and instructors for 4H Shooting Sports.

· We provide funding and guidance to youngsters so they can attend the NY State DEC camps.

· We support the Boy Scouts with donations of supplies for their shooting sports programs and hold shooting sports on our ranges.

· We participate in the annual stocking of the Esopus Creek with trout.

· We stock pheasants on land in Ulster County which is open to hunting by the public.

Pheasant Stocking

Our pheasant stocking program is run by the Federated Sportsman’s Clubs of Ulster County, of which Phoenicia Fish and Game is an active member. Major improvements have been made, including a new brooder house and holding pens.

The updated facilities will allow for a new process for collecting the pheasants for stocking. Anyone interested in helping with pheasant stocking should contact an officer or director.

Carry your membership card when using the ranges

Phoenicia Fish and Game membership provides you with the ability to shoot at the club owned ranges without supervision. Insurance coverage for our facilities and events is a very important part of our being able to offer this convenience to our members. Our club policy allows members to bring a guest as an introduction to the club. Other than that, non-members are not covered for shooting by our insurance except during club sponsored events.

Also, aside from the liability concerns, the club would not exist if it were not for the financial support and volunteer efforts provided by our members. It is not fair to our members for people who do not support the club to freely use our ranges.

That said, it is important that we do our best to restrict the use of our ranges to members. In order to do that you, as a dues paying member and supporter of Phoenicia Fish and Game, may be asked to show your membership card while you are using the ranges as proof of membership. If you are asked to show proof of membership while you are using the ranges you are required to do so. If you can not provide that evidence then you will be asked to leave the range.

Sign across the back of your membership card and keep it with you when you are using the ranges. Show your card in a friendly and congenial manner when you are asked to prove that you are a member.

International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA)

Fred Gooderham had organized a couple of informal IDPA events this summer on our outdoor ranges. There appears to be considerable interest in these events and Fred will probably continue with them as long as shooters continue to attend. For information contact Fred at 845-657-6945.

If you are interested in competitive pistol shooting take a look at the IDPA web site http://www.idpa.com/ for more information.

Meetings are held the second Monday of each month at 8:00 PM at the clubhouse