New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame

Newsletter

Fall 2009

            We hope that everyone is enjoying a great fall season of hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities.  Take full advantage of it, because the season passes all too quickly.

            In three short months we will be selecting inductees for the 2010 class of the NYS Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame. Our new simplified form is available from our web site (www.nysohof.org) or from any officer.  As noted, this form emphasizes service to the cause of conservation and outdoor sports.  Please get your thinking caps on for nominees and start lining up letters of support.  Since our increased exposure has led to many more nominees and increasing competition for selection it is important to get as many letters of support as you can.  Nominations will be due at the end of January.

            Thanks to all of you who have helped us financially in the past year by paying your Association dues or purchasing raffle tickets last year.  The operations of the NYSOHOF, including plaques and honoring inductees at the banquet, our insurance for the Association and the Museum, etc. are costly so your support has been vital.  Dues for membership in the NYSOHOF Association are $20 but for inductees they are $15.

            Many thanks to Sonni Sampson and John Booth, both of whom purchased lifetime memberships in the past year.  These are available so check with the secretary or president if you are interested.

            Our plans for adding to the exhibits at the NYSOHOF Museum continue.  Many thanks to Fred Evans for the excellent photos and history of the trap and transfer spread of the wild turkey.  Also thanks to Bill Hollister for his fan and photos to complement the wild turkey exhibit.  Mick Elliott’s donation of a beautiful brown trout mount is also a fine addition. In the near future we hope to add educational exhibits on brook trout, Seneca white deer, and the importance of trapping.  We welcome your ideas and support for other exhibits.

            We tentatively plan to have the unveiling of the Theodore Roosevelt picture and related items at the Museum at our December meeting.  Also in the near future we will have Dan Holliman, new state director of the Ruffed Grouse Society, speak to us at our monthly meeting.

            Our web site continues to attract attention thanks to our new links and the updates by Bill Lloyd.  Special thanks go to Bob Fields who has been the key in designing it and major technical changes.  We are hoping to add pages that will enable us to have more photos of past events or our members in action, as well as a page of memoriam for our inductees who have died in the past year.  We also intend to make greater use of it to include news of the organization and its members.

            In the coming year we hope to have a fund-raising raffle again.  Due to the current economic climate it is increasingly difficult to get donations.  At the last meeting it was suggested that we ask our membership if they have any items of value that they would be willing to donate.  At that meeting it was suggested that we ask the membership if they would be willing to donate a special hunting trip or fishing trip as a prize for the raffle.  Your only responsibility would be to take this person turkey hunting, bass fishing, etc. – whatever your area of expertise is.  The insurance of the Association would be in effect for this event.  Please let Leo Maloney know as soon as possible if you are interested in this.

            Our meetings are held the third Thursday of the month at the Museum located in the Lodge Room at New Hartford Gander Mountain.  Our next meetings are scheduled for November 19 and December 17.  Our December meeting will have the election of officers for 2010.

            Fred Evans, one of our recent inductees was recently honored by the NYS Conservation Council with its lifetime achievement award.  Fred was the man most responsible for developing the trap and transfer method that led to the spread of the wild turkey across New York State, other northeastern states, and Canada.  He also continued to make many other contributions through his role in the DEC and with the NWTF.  Congratulations Fred.

            Bill Hilts, another of our inductees was honored by the NYS Outdoor Writers’ Association with the M. Paul Keesler New York Outdoor Citizen Award at its recent fall conference.  Bill’s role in communication and involvement in many organizations has helped publicize and advocate the causes of conservation and sportsmen’s rights for many years.  Congratulations Bill.

            And even though members of the NYSOHOF are recognized for their service to others, it is nice to see one of our own achieve something special through their efforts.  Tom Yacovella, one of our members, an award winning artist, and avid outdoorsmen caught a new state record brook trout earlier this year. The new record trout weighed 5 lb., 4 ½ oz., and had a huge girth of 15 inches.  See the picture at www.tomyacovella.com.  Nice going Tom.

            Thanks to all of you for your support and assistance in the past year and we hope to see you soon.

 - L.M.