January 2023 Newsletter

President’s Message

Welcome 2023! We had a successful 2022 but I’m glad it’s over! Right now we are putting together the schedule for this year and it looks like it’s going to be another full one. Steel plate shoots, rimfire challenge, bowling pin shoots, also the old standby x card shoots, plus our open shoots we are finalizing. We will have another carry-in meal in May (date to be announced later). Has anyone noticed our new gate at the range? Thanks to the Sheriff’s office and Fayette County Commissioners, and labor by our F&G grounds crew, it’s up and working well.  We are working on the site for a new storage trailer currently waiting for new dirt to settle so we can park it up on higher ground behind the existing yellow box van at the x card range.

We had an exceptional fall raffle finishing in December with a gross sales total over $4600. We want to thank all the donors of the prizes, and the sellers for lots of hard work and anyone else who helped make it a super success. More news, we are planning to have a yard sale this winter, probably February/March time frame. Details will be announced once we finalize everything. Later in the spring we are planning on having an all gun raffle. We already have some nice guns including an AR 15 and a 12 gauge semi-auto shotgun plus whatever else we get. We welcome any new gun donations! We will print 500 tickets at ten dollars a ticket so start spreading the word.

I want to thank all the members who have donated their time, sweat, and Ben Gay to make your club a little nicer. All the members who have spent hours at the open range days and headed up special shoots, thank you. And I cannot forget the youth fishing volunteers for training future fishermen and women. Youth are the future of fishing, hunting, trapping, and conservation.

For those members who don’t know we currently sponsor a Scout troop which meets in our lodge on Mondays, also the Fayette County Bassmasters meet the 2nd Wednesday of the month @ 7:30 p.m. and our board meeting is the 3rd Thursday @ 7:30 p.m.

The next order of business is it’s annual dues renewal time during the month of January each year; dues are still $20 for adults and $5 for youth 17 and under. Dues may be paid at our monthly meeting, board meeting, at our shoots, or by mailing them to Ann Duff @ 3684 Old Springfield Rd. WCH, OH 43160. A renewal card is enclosed with this mailing which you may copy for additional family members, friends, or neighbors. Please enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope so we may send your member card back to you. All dues membership renewals received after February 28th will need to pay a penalty of an additional $5. For the last several years people trickle their dues in throughout the year or forget them all together. Dues are important to pay our bills and help us budget for events. Also update your addresses please.

Current monthly shooting events at this time are X Card shoots the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month starting around 10 a.m. through the end of April. Meat/cash prizes, shotgun only, ammo furnished by F & G. Cost is $2.50/shooter with a match consisting of 10 shooters, eye and ear protection needed.  This is a good opportunity to tell some hunting stories, brag, or just enjoy and establish some new friends. The public are welcome to come and shoot also. We extend a special invitation to women and kids.  In April we have our Rimfire .22 practice shoot April 16th starting at noon to 2:30, our Rifle bench shoot starting at 10 a.m. the 16th and our first silhouette shoot on the 22nd starting at 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Last please mark your calendars for May 6th which will be the annual trout derby held at the Washington Park ponds off Eyman Park Drive. Registration will start at 9 a.m. with fishing for youth only (through age 15) from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Then the ponds will be opened to the general public. Note a fishing license will be required for everyone age 16 and older after the derby, and Ohio bag limits will apply.

Sincerely,
Butch Wyatt, President