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"In the Blind" - Chairman's message
Written by George Wooden   
Friday, 13 June 2008

 

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The Upper Chesapeake Chapter Committee )

  

"The Event of EVENTS - The Greatest Show in Town

Chairman's Message

 dsc006371.jpg    Thanks to all of the emails that I have been getting about what honestly is the "Greatest show in town."  Mainly because of all the tickets we are selling and all of the organizations that are a part of the event. One even said that it sounds like, and will be, "The greatest show in town" and believe me, its going to be a hunters circus.  This event is absolutely like no other and will "knock your socks off" as soon as you pull into the parking lot.  An incredible amount of planning has gone into it as well as alot of time spent looking for merchandise that can not and will not be found anywhere else.  This event will leave a lasting memory until next years event rolls around. 

    Not only is it "A hunters circus" but the menu will knock you out as well.  An "All you can Eat Shrimp, Pit Beef, Ribs and Chicken and a whole lot more" will make you amazed at what we are offering only for the ticket price. 

    Also, we will have plenty of stuff to keep your wives, girlfriends and moms happy and occupied while you decide which hunt, gun or stuff for your game room is going home with you.

    As I said before, thanks to Maryland Waterfowlers, Ducks Unlimited, Maryland Sportsmen Association, Maryland Fur Trappers, Maryland Woodduck Initiative, Paralyzed Veterans of America, VFW and the Veteran's Administration and the many many businesses and corporate sponsors who have came on board. Everyone has a seat our table, and we all will benefit from the overwhelming 25% that we will keep right here in your state for all of our benefit.

dsc_023208550_wince.jpg    We were fortunate enough to have been invited to the Havre De Grace Decoy Festival.  While there, we spoke to hundreds of people who were very interested in our chapter and wanted to attend our event.  We handed out well over 500 Event letters and applications.  Everyone said they were coming. 

    Also, our chapter has our "Own" children's program and invest heavily into it. Also, with our new "Hunting Retrieving Program," we will bring some of the most well known knowledgeable individuals here to help all of us.

    We have found, through various means, some of the coolest, differant merchandise you will ever see at any event. We have searched far and wide for "stuff" that you have never seen at any other event...believe me, I'm astounded at it everytime I have opened up a box. We have spent, so far, approximately $35,000 just for the merchandise that will be in our Silent Auctions and Raffles. This merchandise features some of the wildlife that you hold near and dear to your heart. It is not the same old stuff you see time and time again. We have well over 25 prints that range from waterfowl to whitetail deer, to women's song bird prints, to Lab's...

    Also, some of the the most well-known names in waterfowling have donated hunts from their own outfitter businesses. We have a hunt from Fred Zink and the Z-unit, A hunt from Avery Outdoors (including a huge raffle from them), a youth hunt from Sean Mann and the SMO crew, a four man Sea duck hunt from Upper Chesapeake Outfitters, a two man lay out boat hunt from Drakes Only, two great fishing trips, A snow goose hunt, a flooded timber hunt in Louisiana, a blast and cast from Loch Weems...a two man Quail Hunt and the list goes on and on.

    Our Live Auction can not get any better. It features so many things, let me try to remember them all. A "full" decoy collection from ALL of the Havre De Grace Decoy carvers, "The masters collection - R. Madison Mitchell, Charlie Bryan, Bob Magaw" - a collection of decoys from these famous historical carvers, a full length fur coat courtesy of the Maryland Fur Trappers, a handpainted original woodduck scene from Paul Shertz, A color remarked print including a signed stamp of the 2009 Federal Duck Stamp "Morning Cruise" (donated directly from the artist Robert Bealle who will be attending the Event as well, All of the hunts above, A woodduck box mount (penned birds), Lab Retriever Table "First Retrieve", an installed one acre food plot on the buyers land choice courtesy of Ecotone, an entire Call collection. I know I'm going to forget something.

    We have now over 25 guns, including mostly all of the well known shotgun calibers and names, hunting rifles and muzzleloaders. About 15 differant really cool raffles and a huge Silent Auction and General Raffle.

    I've been asked about Beer, YES ALL YOU CAN DRINK BEER is included in the $35 dollar......say that again.......only $35 to attend. There are no hidden costs and no you don't have to be a member to attend.

    Also, John Taylor "Champion of Champions" is coming and will be giving a calling demo with the call he donated.

    Each day, more and more ideas pour in with more and more stuff for you to take home with you. This event is being and has been planned for you... the waterfowler, the hunter....

    Get your tickets now, before your left out. Again, if you have any questions, email me direct at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  or call me at 443-206-9018.

 

Last Updated ( Friday, 13 June 2008 )
 
Walking the Walk...
Written by George Wooden   
Friday, 13 June 2008

"Walking the Walk...Not just talking the talk

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    On Sunday, April 13th, a big group of our committee members and a members of MDWFA as well as several children and Dallas Kline and Jim Gawthrop from York Building/Mason Dixon came together on eighty (80) acres of reclaimed land in Cecil County and placed five (5) woodduck boxes and two (2) mallard hen houses.  We had a great time, solely directed by Rich Berkey, Chapter Conservation Chairman. 

    However, while out climbing the hills and stomping through marshes, my mind went back to a conversation I had just a little while ago.  Rarely, do hunters actually do something about what they are complaining about.  Generally, in my sole opinion, hunters know the problems we are facing but rarely step to the line to help out.   

    Last year, we were set up at the Havre De Grace Decoy Festival.  Scott Berg, Jason Wallace and I were attempting to recruit new committee members to our newborn chapter of Delta Waterfowl.  While talking to the passers by, the waterfowlers and decoy collectors, a gentlemen walked up and took his fair share of the free magazines and stickers.  Like a lion waiting to pounce on a gazelle, I started talking to him.  As he blew me off, looking over my shoulder for anything that wasn't nailed down with me talking about Delta, I began to lose patience.

    But, previously, a hunter/conservationist walked over to our humble booth and said "Ok, how do I join?"  That guy was Rich Berkey.  Our chapter is blessed with Rich, his conservation ethic and willingness to help out is a welcome change from the guy previously mentioned.  Well, you know what happened next, I changed my tone and asked him about the problems hunters are having because of no one wanting to help but to stand on the side lines and complain...low and behold, he walked away.

    Well, a loved one and I were just talking about "Talking the Talk and Walking the Walk."  Rarely do you find those who will truly Walk the Walk.  Time and time again, I have encountered these great folks, heard them complain about how bad its getting and how terrible the government is on the hunting laws, but won't step to the line when it comes time to fight or to ensure that our hunting heritage continues.

    During conservation with Jim Gawthrop and Dallas Kline, I pointed out something that wasn't so apparent.  I told them, eventhough all the people who were out on that Sunday were all avid waterfowlers, but none of them hunt the areas in which we were placing the duck boxes, surely demonstrating the "Hunter/Conservationist."  How many non-outdoorsmen believe that hunters are just good ole boys who just wanna kill stuff.  Well, on April 13th, the committee members of our chapter proved that theory wrong.  Building, placing and monitoring these much needed nesting boxes ensuring woodducks in the air and on the water for years to come.  Also, taking the kids out so that they can see at an early age the importance of conservation. 

    Our committee definately showed on April 13th, that we walk the walk....

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Last Updated ( Friday, 13 June 2008 )