Conservation, healthy forests, sustainable game. We are the premier snowshoe hare conservation organization in Pennsylvania.
We are pleased to announce a donation of $150 has been made to the Forest County Youth Field Day event in the name of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny.
The donation was made by a Member of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny who desires to remain anonymous.
This year thousands of dollars have been donated by our members to charity with the objective of helping our youth thrive in the out-of-doors.
December 2021
Economic Impacts of Hunting and Target Shooting - Technical Report Within the U.S. States and Congressional Districts
For the first time ever, an economic analysis of how America’s hunters and sport shooters contribute to national and state economies is available for all 50 states down to every of the 435 U.S. congressional districts. This report: Economic Impact of Hunting and Shooting in America by State and Legislative District is searchable by state and district on our interactive map! Each state and legislative breakdown is available in a convenient graphic that makes it easy to download, print, and share. Find Your State Report
BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS of the ALLEGHENY WILL BE A GOLD SPONSOR AT THE UPCOMING ARCHERY SHOOT & FUNDRAISER.
JUNE 25, 2022
From the World Headquarters of the
THE BANQUET
written and photographed
by
Joe Ewing
Founder & CEO
Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny
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| photo courtesy CCSfY |
One
way our youth discover the great outdoors is by attending Youth Field Day
events organized by thousands of volunteers across our nation. Throughout the
USA, sportsmen’s clubs, and sportsmen’s organizations put together special
events to provide school-age children with a deep-seated relationship with the
outdoors. Each Youth Field Day is distinctive with special activities like
canoeing, muzzleloader shooting, fly-casting, or dog training. I’m not talking
sack or three-legged races here. I’m talking about real learning experiences
coupled with good, clean fun in the outdoors. Youth Field Day events emphasize the
outdoors.
In
Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa, for instance, activities include; Dutch oven
cooking, turkey hunting, monarch butterflies, water safety, archery, bow
fishing, .22-rifle, and shotgun shooting.
In Clarion County, Pennsylvania the Youth Field Days event is
attended by 450 youths between the ages of 8 and 14 and offers at least 15
different activity stations. The day is the biggest event of its kind in the
state of Pennsylvania.
Attendees at the Youth Field Day event get to try their hand at archery, shotgun, crossbow, duck and turkey calling, fishing, firearm safety, and much more! The day is offered free to all children regardless of color, creed, or financial background.
Not only do the kids participate in 15 hands-on events, but hats, event t-shirts, lunch, and door prizes are provided at no cost to the kids or their families. At the end of the day, over 100 firearms and other prizes are given away. Every youth goes home with at least a door prize and a wealth of outdoor education.
WHO PAYS?
Pictured above are members of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny; (L-R) beagler Brenda Ewing, veteran hare hunter Roy and guest Jan Towner, guest, and beagler Nicole Baker, and beagler and veteran hare hunter Matt Baker, and veteran hare hunter Mark Baker.
Where does the money come from for these Youth Field Day events? Here in my neck of the woods a magnificent charitable organization called “Clarion County Sportsmen for Youth”. Their many hard-working volunteers raise thousands of dollars so that hundreds of our local youths can attend a fantastic youth field day free of charge. In Forest County, Pennsylvania funds for the Youth Field Day event come entirely from donations from businesses and individuals.
Clarion County Sportsmen for Youth will be celebrating 30 years of providing instruction and education in the area of firearms, fishing, hunting, and archery, instilling in youth an appreciation of Pennsylvania’s natural resources.
On March 5th the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny proudly joined over 500 sportsmen and women at the Clarion County Sportsmen for Youth’s 17th Annual Fundraising Banquet. Tables were sponsored by over 40 civic-minded businesses, clubs, and individuals. The banquet was held at Clarion University’s Eagle Commons Dining Hall and the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Foundation proudly sponsored a table with five members and their guests in attendance. Veteran hare hunters and beaglers, Mark Baker, Roy Towner, and Brenda Ewing joined beaglers Matt Baker and Joe Ewing at the sponsored table. Guests included; Kathy Baker, Jan Towner, and beagler Nickie Baker.
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| More than 500 sportsmen and sportswomen turned out to support our youth in the great outdoors. |
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Fighting a Federal Trapping Ban Rep. Grijalva, a devoted anti-hunter, heads the House Natural Resources subcommittee and is pushing a bill sponsored by New York’s radical Rep. Jerry Nadler that would end trapping on millions of acres of public land throughout the National Wildlife Refuge System. From SPORTSMEN’S ALLIANCE |
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| The long line of Armed Forces Veterans was honored and all presented a U.S. flag courtesy of the local VFW post. |
Patrons
served themselves buffet-style with roast beef and/or chicken as the main course
with a wide range of side dishes. With four lines serving the magnificent spread
was served in record time. Everyone gave a thumbs up to the dinner and the many
desserts. Seconds were available for those big eaters.
With dinner completed the
games of chance began with raffles like multiple gun raffles, a general raffle
with hundreds of prizes, a puppy package raffle with a real puppy, and a pick your
passion raffle. The evening ended with the sponsor table raffle.
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Educating legislators, Media Legislators, and mainstream media don’t
understand the North American Model of Conservation and the role of
sportsmen. The Sportsmen’s Alliance is dedicated to changing that and has
produced easy-to-understand economic impact infographics for every
legislative district in the nation. |
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| Dinner was served |
The Big Woods Hare Hunters
of the Allegheny has been attending the Fundraising Banquet for several years. Back
on March 11th, 2018, the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny
posted the following analysis and it still stands, “The fundraising event is, in this writer's opinion, one of
the most expertly run events ever attended. The event ran smoothly, the food
was delicious and the fellowship with new friends and old neighbors was
outstanding. President Kirk Byerly, fellow officers, board, and event staff are
to be commended.”
President Byerly graciously replied, “Thank you for the positive comments!! We work really hard to make it the best banquet around!! With its success, we can provide an awesome opportunity for the kids to enjoy our youth field day!! Thank you so much for your support.”
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| Mark is a winner. |
New Hampshire to
Allow Year-Round Squirrel Hunting: On April 19, the Hew Hampshire Senate Eenergy and Natural Resources
Committee heard House Bill 1356, a bill
requiring the Fish and Game Department to permit hunting gray squirrels
year-round. Under current law, the season runs from Sept. 1 through Jan.
31. This legislation was initially introduced
to shorten the season by two weeks but was amended to provide for a
year-round season during an earlier hearing in the House Fish and Game and
Marine Resources Committee where extensive testimony was heard about the
destructive nature of gray squirrels. New Hampshire sportsmen who want to express
their opinion on this legislation should contact members of the Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Protection Committee.
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Brenda wins. |
DELAWARE
TO BAN BARKING DOGS- April
19, 2022, From SPORTSMAN’S ALLIANCE A
newly introduced bill in Delaware would fine people whose dogs bark for
more than 15 minutes.
House Bill 378 spells
real trouble for sporting-dog kennels, which are most often located in
rural areas because the bill makes no exceptions for whether the barking
occurs in metropolitan areas or in the country. Concerns extend beyond the kennel,
however, as the bill also would apply to baying or barking hounds during a
hunt. HB 378 would fine a dog owner $100 for a first offense, $200 for a
second offense, and $300 for each offense thereafter. It also mandates that
police officers assist the Office of Animal Welfare in the implementation
of laws that protect and control animals, which means those police
departments are required to enforce this law. Delaware Sportsmen should oppose this
legislation by contacting members of the House Health and Human Development
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In
the words of Mr. Tagge Forest, coordinator of Youth Field Day events in Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania, “Providing an introduction to positive outdoor activities
forms a solid first foothold in a possible lifelong journey.”
The mission of the Clarion County Sportsmen for Youth is, “To promote and provide instruction and education of youth in the areas of hunting, fishing, firearms, and archery, and further, instill in youth an appreciation and preservation of the natural resources of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
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ANTI-HUNTING BILLS INTRODUCED IN
NEW JERSEY An outright
attack on our outdoor heritage and way of life. Assembly Bill 3732 requires hunters to provide 24-hour
written notice to all property owners and occupants of properties that
share a boundary with where the individual is planning on hunting. If this
weren’t bad enough, this bill also prohibits even nocking an arrow within
450 feet of an occupied building or a school playground unless the hunter
has written permission from such property owners to hunt on adjacent
property. Assembly Bill 3409 and its companion legislation, Senate
Bill 2409, would outlaw hunting competitions that provide any
reward for hunting or “harassing” certain animals with a noted exception
for field trials. The definitions under this bill are entirely too vague
and may include trivial and friendly competitions between friends and
family members for who could take the largest squirrel or rabbit. Any
violation of this legislation would result in the individual facing jail
time for a disorderly person’s offense and a loss of their hunting license
for 5 years. These bills are a clear attack on sportsmen and women. From SPORTSMEN’S ALLIANCE |
Beagling is one of those great outdoor legacies which offers a lifetime love affair with the great outdoors. Beagling promotes genuine excitement, boundless adventures, and lasting enjoyment alone or with friends we care about. Beagling offers a lifetime love affair with those delightful little hounds and the beagles never fail to love you back. You are never alone when beagling. When asked who I was in the field with I always reply, “my six best friends”. If beagling doesn’t afford all the benefits listed above and more why are so many people beaglers for life? We must find ways to introduce our youth to the wonderful world of beagling.
Awards dinners completed, we need to step back from patting ourselves on the back and awarding ourselves trophies and plaques. It’s time to consider more significant matters. It’s time to consider our youth. Introducing youngsters to the wonderful world of the outdoors is one of those vital matters. Introducing a young person to the rewarding sport of beagling could change a life. Beagling changed my life many years ago.
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