Fifth District Federation of Kentucky Sportsmen

Fifth District Federation of Sportsmen
Meeting of February 23, 2010
Host: Crittenden AAA Gun club
Location: Lloyd Wildlife Management Area

Meeting called to order by President Don York at 8:00 PM.

There was a moment of silence for all deceased members and service people.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
Twenty six clubs were represented.

Introduction of guests-Hank Patton of KDFWR..

Report from KDFWR
Department staff are working on a book about the history of the Department.
Educational program underway to assist those living in bear and elk country to coexist with wildlife. See KY Afield TV and other media for information.
There was a waterfowl hunt for 15 lucky children who experienced duck hunting in the late youth season in western KY.
Salato Center reopened mid-February. Some areas are still under construction.
Hunter Education Volunteer Instructor Appreciation dinner at Dale Hollow SRP was attended by 120 people.
Black Bear research was featured on KY Afield TV in February.
Work ongoing to restore 2 camps and Camp Webb getting new dining hall roof.
Positive changes since Hunter Education became mandatory include:
23% decrease in hunting accidents
50% decrease in hunting fatalities involving firearms
38% decrease in all hunting fatalities
11,910 people certified in 284 hunter education classes in 2009; 69,603 people in the last 5 years
784 hunter education instructors currently in program
3426 replacement hunter education cards printed online
44,156 Sportsmen's licenses sold in 2009

Fishing in Neighborhoods Program (FINS)
In 2010 expanded from 6 to 29 lakes available for fishing, 6 of which are in 5th District. Lakes will be stocked with rainbow trout and channel catfish. Standardized creel regulations will help to prevent overharvesting.
The Department's website is quite instructive and may be accessed at http://www.kdfwr.state.ky.us/.

Important new legislation-see KDFWR website for more information and the Department's position on each of these and more.
HB173-Program for access to state recreational land
HB312-Equine heritage use of hunting areas
House Joint Resolution-Brush Mountain Trail
HB429-criminal and regulatory matters which reduce F&W authority
HB433-management of creeks
SB64-F&W resources; negative effect on action and authority

Minutes of January meeting read and accepted.

Treasurer's report--$12,315.90 in bank accounts. Everything balanced. Report accepted.

Dr. Jim Rich report
Deer season-no changes in our area.
Elk season-question of how many permit tags should be drawn. Dr. rich was instructed to vote on behalf of 5th District for the recommendation made by wildlife biologists.
Still a question of the number of elk in Eastern KY Restoration Area.

Capt. Bobby Newman ‘s report
5749 turkeys taken; 14% up from last year; 261 males, 180 females
The hiring of 10 officers is in progress, expected to be complete by March. At least one will be in Grant County.
James Beckett named Officer of the Year.
Lloyd Wildlife Mgmt Wildlife Management Foreman was introduced-Josh Lilltop is onsite and can be reached at 859 428-2262.
A biologist is in the Northern Ky area
Wildlife habitat improvement, such as planting, is ongoing at Lloyd WMA and will be in progress for the next few years. Clubs using the facility may see burning as part of the plan. Soybeans are being planted since they do not need high nitrogen requirement. Sunflowers will follow. Three fields are open to the public.
There are new fishing regulations which will be posted at the lakes.
There is a concern for bush honeysuckle, which is being removed. Then trees will be planted such as oak. There is an effort to get more long term trees.
There will be spraying around the clubhouse to reduce weeds an mowing efforts. There will be an effort to use native grasses rather then any exotic plants.

Committee reports
NRA-concern for UN Small Arms convention; LaPierre contacting members and others to oppose.
Fishing Derby-prizes left from last year and will need more as well as T-shirts. Oral Jones will pick up tackle boxes for the event to be held on 2nd Saturday in May.

Youthfest-June 19, 2010

Fair Board-still need to organize meetings and select chairs. Need co-host for trap area. Harold Pferrmann suggested hosts for 2010 = Pferrmann and CC

League of Kentucky Sportsmen-Ron Kilmer
Meeting held 2/5-6/10
2010 Convention will be in Bowling Green.
Concern for horses in wildlife management areas. There are 128 miles of horse trails on all WMA's.

Bob Smith asked that all members read the bills discussed tonight and call or write legislators about their concerns.

Hunter Education-Deb Price
Small class held last weekend. Several more scheduled. See http://nkhea.com/ for more information.

Gallatin County Fish and Game will host the 5th District meeting in April. They have not been active in some time but are looking forward to being a host again. Directions to the new clubhouse will be provided. Parking is limited so car pooling is suggested or attendees can park by the Markland Dam area and share rides to the club area.

Directions: I 71/75 to the 71/75 Split (Exit 173). Bear right onto I 71 south. Continue to Exit 55 (Rt. 1039). Turn right at the end of the exit ramp onto KY 1039. Travel for 5.6 miles. Left onto US 42, travel 0.9 miles then left onto KY 184, travel 0.8 miles. Club is on the right. AAA estimates about 59 miles from Alexandria and 1 hour travel time; 40 miles and 46 minutes from Florence.
For information or questions call:
Skip Smith 859 466-7475; Bob Froman 502 525 0256; Jeff Johnson 502 682-2622; Daryl Lewis 859 743-6986.

Camp Webb scholarships
Turney proposed we award 26 scholarships at $175 each. $4550 needed. Donations have already been received. Ryland Anglers-1 scholarship, Elsmere Sportsmen's Club-2 scholarships. All clubs will be asked to donate. Gary T will start essay contest.

Sam Bryant reported on the progress of 501c3 status. Tax returns are filed and all up to date. Application is 99% approved. Need 3 amendments.
-Organize for a particular purpose
-No net earnings for personal gain
-Must have (what?)
A motion was made to adopt the amendments to the Articles of Incorporation which was passed.

Tom Laswell reported on the Friends of NRA dinner.
More than 330 people were in attendance. More than $25,000 netted. Tom thanked everyone who attended, thanked the 5th district for its donation, and thanked the conservation officers who attended.

Ham shoot at Campbell County Game and Fish will be on April 11, 2010.

Ham shoot at Bob White Club on March 28, 2010.

Bills for $13 and $9 were presented. Motion to pay passed.

Meeting was adjourned after the reciting of the Conservation Pledge.

Submitted by

Alice G. Rini

Fifth District Federation of Sportsmen
January 26, 2010 Pferrman Flooring

8 PM: President Don York called the meeting to order.

Minutes of the November meeting were read by Alice G. Rini. Approved as corrected.

Treasurer's report-Norm Decker` . Total on hand in banks= $12,239.69
Report accepted.

Benji Kinman reported on Fish and Wildlife issues. Turkey season was deferred to April 17th. Fish ramp at General Butler complete. A KY Afield event was held at the Middle School in Carroll County. Hunter Education banquet held at Dale Hollow to honor people involved in the program.

Camp Webb dining hall is getting new roof. There are new exhibits at the Salato Center.

Elk hunt results: 246 bulls, 580 cows.

Bear season: no bears were taken.

FINS: stocking of neighborhood lakes seems successful. F & W has good feedback from fishing advocates.

Cumberland Lake up 15 feet. Concrete pillars are being poured in the earthen dam but seepage is still occurring.

Fish hatcheries: some species were lost but they are being replaced.

John Gassett reported on lawsuit against Fish & Wildlife by radio host. It was filed late December and F & W believes it has no merit. Bill has not done well in the legislature.

A copy of the bill summary is attached here

SB 64 (BR 868) - G. Tapp, J. Pendleton, E. Tori
AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
Amend KRS 150.022 to subject appointments to the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission to confirmation by the Senate; permit reappointment to the commission one time; prohibit appointment to the commission if convicted of a Class A misdemeanor or felony game law violation in any state or any jurisdiction; require the Governor to remove any commissioner if he or she was convicted of a Class A misdemeanor or felony game law violation in any state or any jurisdiction; remove eligibility of resident motorboat owners to vote for a commissioner in sportsmen's district election; amend KRS 150.150 to prohibit commingling of moneys in the Fish and Game Fund and require moneys be kept according to generally accepted accounting principles; amend KRS 150.061 to delete the indefinite term of employment and require a defined contract term of employment for the commissioner of Fish and Wildlife which is subject to removal or reappointment by the commission; require the commission to approve compensation, duties and terms of employment of the commission's employees; amend KRS 150.090 to require conservation officers to have full peace officer powers with restrictions to enforce fish and game laws only, except when there is a written request for assistance by another law enforcement agency and the commissioner has determined the fiscal impact on the department' resources or if there is an immediate life-threatening situation; restrict conservation officers service of process unrelated to enforcement of fish and game laws; require requests for assistance for periods longer than thirty days to have the approval of the commission and for assistance with commission approval to have a limited duration of thirty days; amend KRS 235.330 to require moneys collected under the boating chapters to be kept under different accounts in the Fish and Game Fund and not to be commingled with other funds; delete use of general fund appropriations for the Division of Law Enforcement.
Jan 5-introduced in Senate
Jan 6-to Natural Resources and Energy (S)

There was an extended discussion of this matter.

League of KY Sportsmen: Kilmer
There was a motion by Turney, 2d by Foltz that the 5th District draft and send a letter not in support of the LKS position on SB64, and further that the executive board of LKS is not authorized by the by-laws to make resolutions, and that there is no right to conduct a telephone meeting, and that their proposed action was never properly debated.

NRA: Carl Schnitzler no report

Hunter Education: Gary Turney
Firearms accidents are considerably reduced likely due to better firearms education. Deb Price announced programs for 2/20-21 at Lloyd Wildlife; 3/6 at BobWhite; 3/20 at Pendleton Co. Sportsmen.

Friends of NRA-Tom Laswell: Advised that dinner tickets at all levels of sponsorship are still available for the Feb. 13th event. He also asked that the 5th District again donate the early-bird gun, a Ruger 10-22, not to exceed $250. There was a motion to do this which passed.

Federation Fair: Early August

Youth Fest: June 19, 2010

Camp Webb: question of whether we can support the camp without funds. The Sierra Club did not provide any help last year and we had to take $5000 out of our own funds. Nothing from external sources is expected this year. Profit from the Federation Fair of $1755 is not enough to support Webb. May need to ask clubs to donate money to provide support.

501c3 status: submitted on October 30, 2009 and still in progress.

Communication: $143.26 interest from our CD will be used for a scholarship.

Meeting next month: AAA, February 23, 2010.

Conservation Officers Appreciation Day is May 22, 2010 at Campbell County Game and Fish reported by Linda Saunders.

Bills to pay: ??

Meeting adjourned.

Submitted by Alice G. Rini