Hunter Education

 

Three Hunter Education classes were held this year.  We wish the HE graduates and all hunters safe and successful harvests this fall.  Our next HE class will be held during the 2026 school spring break.  The first day of class will be April 6.  The annual pheasant hunt for HE class graduates will be on Saturday, February 23, 2026 at Limits Game Farm.  Additionally, the Board of Directors approved $1,100 to fund mentored pheasant hunts for four HE graduates as part of the No Hunter Left Behind project.  The hunters will be selected at random from the list of graduates of this year’s classes.    

 

Trustees and Membership Chair Needed

 

 There are currently two vacant Trustee positions on the Board of Directors.  We are looking for volunteers to complete the unexpired terms that end on March 31, 2026 and would hope that after becoming more involved with the club’s activities that those volunteers would stand for election for the following year.  We are also looking for someone to fill the position of Membership Chair.  It is desirable that the Membership Chair is a Trustee, but it is not required, so any club member is eligible to serve.  Please contact President Evan Kirkpatrick (414- 534-2817) if you are, or might be, willing to become more involved with the administration of our club. 

 

Donations Received

 

Four donation checks were received this month in support of the Club’s programs and projects.  The Garden Genies Garden Club donated $1,000 to our water guzzler program and another $1,000 to our wood duck nesting box program.  The Basin Bloomers Garden Club donated $400 to our water guzzler program.  RDO Equipment donated $400 in support of the No Hunter Left Behind project.  Thanks to the garden clubs and RDO for supporting our activities.  Thanks also to Larry Martin and Dale Schielke for their presentations to the garden clubs which earned their support and to John Prather for obtaining the donation from RDO Equipment.  Thanks also to Larry and Dale for recently representing RRGC at the Tapteal Elementary School Science Night with their guzzler and wood duck box exhibits. 

 

Board Meeting Highlights

 

Dr. Robert (Bob) Margulies attended our October BOD meeting.  Bob has volunteered to teach a trauma management class to our Hunter Education Instructors.  Bob noted that we have an excellent team with a great safety record but there is always the possibility of injury at any event where firearms are present.  Bob did a “show and tell” by revealing all of the safety equipment in his pockets and strapped to his lower leg that he says he takes with him every time he goes afield.  Bob suggested that RRGC invest in safety kits for the HE instructors to have available for range days, the HE pheasant hunts, and at other club events.  The Board approved the purchase of a large safety kit capable of treating large and severe injuries (less than 5% of injuries), a “booboo” safety kit to treat small injuries, and ten SWAT tourniquets (one for each instructor who attends the trauma management class).  Many thanks to Bob for offering the training class to the instructors and for bringing the issue of readily available safety kits to our attention.

 

Welcome to New Members

 

We inadvertently failed to introduce new members in our September newsletter.  Family memberships were approved for Danial Lemmon of Pasco and DaMara Orr of Plymouth in September.  Membership for Luke Alexenko of Pasco was approved in October.  Please help welcome our new members.

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WDFW State Wildlife Action Plan

 

Comments are being accepted until November 16 on the draft updated State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) that WDFW has to submit to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in December for WDFW and Native American tribes in Washington to be eligible for federal grants.  The document is approximately 275 pages.  You can download the document at DRAFT SWAP publication page and can submit comments at WDFW SWAP Revision Survey 2025

 

2026 KOE Fishing Events

 

Marilyn Steele announced that dates have been set for the 2026 Kids Outdoor Education (KOE) fishing events at Columbia Park Pond.  The Special Needs event will be on Friday April 17 and Kids Fishin’ Day will be on Saturday April 18.  Volunteers are needed for fishing rod assembly at the Grigg’s Department Store Hunter Education classroom in Pasco on Saturday March 28 and for the fishing events.  Additional information about the events will be included in upcoming newsletters.

 

Wild Game Dinner “Want List”

 

Meat donations are beginning to come in for the 2026 Wild Game Dinner that will be held on March 21 in Building 4 at the Benton County Fairgrounds but we are just getting started.  What can you contribute for the dinner?  WGD Chair Marilyn Steele has developed a “Want List’ for the dinner that she will update as donations are received.  Please set aside a portion of your fish and game harvest to share.  Meats needed include:

 

Duck – 25 to 30 pounds for poppers, tacos, pepperoni.

Pheasant – 20 pounds for jambalaya or another main dish.

Venison – neck for mincemeat, 10-15 pounds of roasts, 10 pounds of meat for grinding into sausage.

Elk – 20 pounds of roasts and 10 pounds for grinding into sausage.

Bear – 13 pounds of meat for stew/chili or 10 pounds for grinding into sausage.

Cougar – 6 to 13 pounds of meat for grinding for meatballs, tacos, or a main dish.

Bobcat – 6 to 13 pounds of meat for grinding (same as Cougar).

Goose – 13 whole plucked geese for roasting and possibly 10 pounds for jerky.

Walleye –15 pounds for chowder or 13 pounds for tacos.

Catfish – 13 pounds for tacos and/or 20 pounds for a main dish.           

Salmon – 10 pounds for smoking plus 20 pounds for the main meal.

Chukar – 100 to150 birds for soup and a main dish.

 

If and when you can commit to a donation just text Marilyn at 509-392-2128 or send an email to momhoops46@gmail.com.  Non-meat items that we expect to need that we have purchased in the past are 30 to 40 pounds of roasting potatoes, 15 pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes for chowder, 15 pounds of yellow onions, and individually wrapped butter pats.  If you have a cost effective source for these items, please contact Marilyn.  If you have ideas to share or want to get involved for the 2026 dinner, please call or text Marilyn.  If you have a prize to donate or would like to help with prize solicitation, please call or text John Prather at 509-521-1593.

 

Photo of the Month

 

It appears that many of our members are heading afield and back to the local waters now that the summer heat has waned.  Nine photos were received this month.  That’s awesome!

 

Dale Schielke submitted two photos of he and his grandson, Brandon Evans, with Chinook salmon caught on a tuna wrapped quikfish and an egg wrapped Maglips near Ringold on 9/28/2025.  Photos by Brandon’s dad, Dan Evans.