Hello to all members, on behalf of the DHWF Executive, we want to thank you for your continued support. It has been several years since my last report, so I will try and cover the important stuff.
Please take a moment to say a prayer for our members that have passed.
2024 has come and gone. we closed off the year with 770 members, down from 2023 year of 940. With our Board of Directors down to 5, it is almost impossible to plan anything. We struggle to have a quorum of 5 to have a meeting so meeting are not set monthly as they used to be.
Our long time agreement with the Local Masons club was brought to an end. The rent was raised to a point it was not financially worth it for the few meetings we were having. Negotiations failed so Dec. 31/2023 we parted our ways with the Masons. It was unfortunate, but required.
Meetings were held with the new lease holders of the property the shooting range is on. Agreements were made and as usual, the leasee will give as much notice as possible before closing range down for farming operations.
There wasn’t much planned for the year other than keeping the maintenance up at the range, up graded the back stops, mowed grass, and we got prepared for the range inspection, which was done AND PASSED for another 5 years. We moved a storage shed out there that will house extra backstop material, and equipment for mowing and weed control. We bought more belting from a local auction and a small trailer which I remodeled to hold the belting. This will make rolling out belting easier.
Approximately 200 Pheasants were released in mid summer on DU land that had good habitat for them. They have and will spread out several miles.
We made our annual donations to the SWF Habitat Trust and Provincial youth programs of $2500.00 each, small donations were made to other good causes as well.
Big buck was held again last Dec., with a great turn out. Big thanks to Orion Taxidermy out of Moose Jaw for donating the top prize this year (Full Shoulder Mount) winner was Hudson Schmidt. 149 6/8 Net. And congrats to all the other winners that evening.
Long time member and club Executive director Jim Scheller, retired from the club in Mid summer of 2024, Jim was at the first meeting in Jan. 1999 and missed very few meetings over the 25 years. He turned 90 on Dec 1st 2024. I attended the celebration his family planned on behalf of the club. Jim moved off his farm last summer into a semi care home in Moose Jaw.
2025 Memberships are available, see the membership page for the renewal form and where to purchase in person.
Mandatory wildlife surveys are a reality. You are required to fill in the survey by a certain date very year. I am unaware of any penalty that is associated with this.
SWF purchases $1,000,000.00 of habitat yearly, the SWF has a $500,000.00 cost share contract with the FWDF. The Habitat Trust program receives several quarters of land donated yearly. 30% of annual hunting and fishing licence sales goes directly into the Fish and Wildlife Development Fund account. If you or your family has some wildlife land that you would consider selling or donating, please get in touch with Central Office at 306-692-8812. Over the years DHWF has donated over $40,000.00 to habitat, and over $20,000.00 to youth programs. There was a parcel of land by Baildon,(region 6) South East of Moose Jaw donated to SWF Habitat in 2024. This parcel falls into Zone 20. Please check in at SWF CO, to see if there are any access restrictions. Some donated parcels come with some restrictions.
2025 Club Executive
Warren Howse 868-7403 President -Avonlea email: warren.howse@sasktel.net
Darren Treble 868-2037 -Treasurer Avonlea
GIL MOREAU 306 520 2940 – SECRETARY Avonlea
Club Directors
John Campbell 861-9968- Milestone/Wilcox
Eugene Hval 732-4508 -Milestone/Wilcox
If you wish to attend a meeting or become an Executive director of the DHWF please reach out to me, new faces and ideas are needed now more than ever.
All the best in 2025
Warren Howse
Club President