Hello to all members, on behalf of the DHWF Executive, we want to thank you for your continued support. It has been 2 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.
2020 was a bit of a write off for the club. The best thing that happened was membership sales rose to 1142 members. With the covid pandemic, we were forced to cancel all our functions in 2020 and it doesn’t look good for 2021. We managed to sell all the fish we had ordered for the fish fry with no issues and people were looking for more. We weren’t the only ones affected, every wildlife club in the province had to do the same.
The Gun Range kept Val very busy with cleaning up and replacing backstops, on his own many times and with help when he could line it up. Val has reported that until very recently our members have been doing an awesome job cleaning up out there. I want to remind everyone how important it is, for ALL OUR MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE IT IS TO CLEAN UP AFTER YOU ARE DONE SHOOTING, WHETHER THERE ARE OTHERS STILL THERE OR NOT. It only takes 1 person not following the rules to make it frustrating for everyone else. There is no reason Val needs to clean up after anyone. He also wants to thank those that took the time to stay around and help him replace backstops etc. We also want to thank everyone that takes it on themselves to replace any of the backstops on their own, it also helps out a lot. Remember, a valid membership must be with you while at the range.
We are all aware of the Federal Liberal Government and their agenda to ban many types of firearms, it doesn’t look like it will come to an end. By Order in Council they have banned 1000’s of non-restricted and restricted firearm, all of which we law abiding citizens use for target shooting and hunting, all while ignoring the real problem,” the gangs and illegal gun smuggling from other countries”. Not only that they are ignoring the fact of how many businesses they are damaging or forcing to close. The Liberals have always taken the easy route and we are that route. The CCFR (Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights) group has launched a suite against the Federal Liberal Party of Canada on behalf of the Law Abiding Firearm owners in Canada. At the 2020 SWF Convention, the SWF and the CCFR had joined together to support the hunting and shooting sports here in Saskatchewan. CCFR has given every SWF member the chance to join their membership at a reduced fee. SWF encourages every member to join their membership to help the fight against the gun ban. They are also in need of donations to carry on the suite. We the DHWF, donated $5000.00 last spring and if needed we will look at another donation. Your personal donations will also help out. Get involved in the fight. Folks, the Liberals are not going to quit.
The winter of 2018 / 2019 saw very low water level here at the Avonlea reservoir, it contributed to an almost 100 % walleye die off. Reports of dead walleye littering the shore was brought to my attention. I requested a test netting though Sask. Fisheries and it was carried out in the fall of 2019, by our Director of Fisheries from SWF Central Office, and 2 fisheries biologists from Saskatoon, the finding confirmed my concern. The Northern Pike and Sucker population survived, however Walleye require high oxygen levels and unfortunately didn’t survive. I was in contact with Sask. Fisheries, however Covid hit and many of the government offices closed down and all projects were place on hold. Including the spring Walleye Spawning Camp. The Spawning camp supply millions of walleye eggs to be hatched yearly and distributed around the province. This didn’t happen in 2020. Let’s hope 2021 walleye spawn can take place. In March of 2020, water quality and oxygen samples were taken from the reservoir, both samples came back poor. Sask. Fisheries is not interested in putting a bunch of day old walleye into our reservoir until water quality and oxygen levels in March are much better. In a resent email, they will be monitoring the water over the next couple years. Stocking with older walleye is not an option, nor is a rearing pond, we will just need to be patient and hopefully in the future we can restock. I will be keeping in contact with fisheries. On a good note, the Northern Pike are biting hard.
With the cancellation of our Fish fry in April 2020 due to the Covid restrictions and low Scholarship Raffle ticket sales at the time, we requested an extension on the draw date that was scheduled for April 2020. We were granted an extension till Dec 12 2020. We made the draw and the winners were
1st– Dan Chapman, Moose Jaw
2nd– Brian Petruic Avonlea
3rd – Darcel Davidson Moose Jaw
Congratulations to the winners and thank you for the support. The money raised was used to sponsor 4 $500.00 bursaries for students to carry on to secondary education. With the Covid restrictions still in place, we will not have a raffle this year, we will wait and see what 2022 brings.
Your 2020 membership expired Dec 31, as did your gun range privileges. Many have already renewed. The membership fee has gone up a bit, the new fee is
1 adult – $40.00
2 or more people – $50.00 they must all live in the same house and something new, kids up to the age of 25 years old can now be added as long as they live at the same address as stated on the membership. The updated form is on the website and Facebook page, print it off, send it in with required information, with Cheque or money order. We do not have any online options. Other options is to visit Prairie Gun Traders in Avonlea, or Fellinger’s Meats in Moose Jaw or any of our directors listed at the bottom. If there is someone in Regina that can commit to the sales and delivery of sold memberships every 2 weeks we can look at getting someone set up there. Info required: first and last names of each person, mailing address, Gender of each member, year of birth of each member, 1 phone #, 1 email. When you are filling out your membership at these places available, PLEASE make sure the info is readable.
The government asked hunters to participate in the testing of CWD again this year. CWD targeted testing zones for 2020 were in the northern area for zones 50 (Meadow Lake area) and 55 (North of Prince Albert), in the south-west area for zones 2W, 9, 10, and in the south-east area for zones 35 and 37. The results are not out as of yet, however you can follow the Sask CWD website for any info.
The new trespassing law has not been implemented as of yet and personally, I don’t think it ever will be. However that being said, SWF still strongly suggest getting permission from the landowners/renters as there could be crop still out, and or planted that will be very fragile. Just remember, just because it is legal, doesn’t mean it’s ethical, please ask for permission before going on someone’s land, it is the right thing to do.
Mandatory wildlife surveys are going to be a reality. 2020 was an introduction year, 2021 will be enforced. You will be required to fill in the survey by a certain date very year. Ministry of Environment office hasn’t said yet what the penalty will be, however it could be a fine or something more serious as a year suspension from hunting. We are hoping for confirmation soon. They have stated it will be a wildlife infraction of some sort.
As stated in my 2018 letter, we had sponsored $10,000.00 toward the purchase of ½ section of prime habitat in the Parry area. This area is perfect for birds and other wildlife. The Regina Wildlife built pheasant pens and heated housing to raise chicks. They came to us for a sponsorship and we supported them with a donation of $2000.00. Last summer 200 -12 week old pheasants were released in the ½ section at Parry by the Regina crew.
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 FWDF 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 $29,000.00 to habitat, and over $12,000.00 to youth programs. As well as Helped Rouleau and Avonlea Schools start NASP, plus many other donations too numerous to mention them all.
Upcoming dates
No dates set for any functions at this time, gatherings are restricted due to Covid -19 pandemic.
Club Executive
Warren Howse 868-7403 President email: warren.howse@sasktel.net
Darren Treble 868-2037 Treasurer
John Campbell 861-9968 Secretary
Club Directors
Jim Sheller 475-2640 Spring Valley
Val Krumenacker 530-7835 Avonlea
Scott Ridgway 737-6134 Avonlea
Bryan Sherman 639-440-7775 Milestone / Lang
Eugene Hval 732-4508 Milestone/Wilcox
Art Daniel 868-7766 Avonlea
Buck Calfas 681-9442 Drink Water/ Moose Jaw
If you wish to attend a meeting or become a director of the DHWF BoD’s please reach out to me, new faces and ideas are always welcome. During the Pandemic, we are only meeting if absolutely necessary.
Warren Howse
Club President