Sheep feeding program wraps up for the season

From the Wild Sheep Society of BC:

“Both government and non-government wildlife experts continually tell us that changes to hunting regulations are not meaningful to change the trends in wildlife population, and that science and cultural knowledge are the most important tools they have access to.

Sound wildlife management is critical to survival of all species. Managing based on social pressures is not acceptable, and you cannot afford to let it happen.”

Visit our website: www.wildsheepsociety.com/actnow

Notice to 2020 members who have not yet renewed:

Your membership is for the calendar year, January 1 to December 31.
Club members will have third-party liability insurance for their club and outdoor activities and for their ORVs and boats (a liability certificate will accompany your membership card).
If you have not renewed your membership by January 1st, then you will not be entitled to use our ranges or other club facilities; and you will not have liability insurance for your boat or ORVs, until you do send in your renewal application.

After this (March) edition you will not receive the club newsletter until you renew.

Don’t procrastinate any longer – complete your renewal application here…

From Howie Grant:

Here are some photos from the sheep feed on February 17 with a group of Salmo kindergarten students.

Please review the NEW!! Outdoor Range Orientation Document for 2021. This document reflects our current Club policies and includes important information for both new members and long time members alike. Generally our Outdoor Ranges only have designated Range Officers for sanctioned Club events. That means we rely on the membership to participate in the day to day safe utilization and maintenance of the Outdoor Range facilities. Please become familiar with the attached rules and procedures for the benefit of all our members, and the sustainment of our great Club.
Naz King

Membership  — Early payment incentive                                                       

Once again the Club is offering an incentive for early payment of memberships for those members who paid in 2020 and are renewing their memberships in 2021.

If you pay between October 1^st and November 30^th 2020 for 2021, there will be a reduction of $10.00

            Individuals and Seniors will pay $75.00 

            Families will pay $100.00

Juniors will still pay the $30.00 as the Club currently subsidizes these members

The application form and payment must be received by the Club or dropped off at Nelson Farmers Supply by December 1^st, 2020, not simply put in the mail  on or after that date. 

Remember, if you miss the deadline, the full fees will apply

For those of you on automatic renewal, as long as your credit card info is current, you don’t have to do a thing – your membership will be processed in November

Erin Franklin

Co-ordinator – Memberships

I can be contacted by via e-mail Membership@nrgcbc.ca

Saturday Oct. 17 9:00 to 3:00 the outdoor range is closed

Province institutes mandatory sampling program for deer hunted in Kootenay region

Cranbrook, BC, Canada / The Drive FM Jeff Johnson Sep 4, 2020 8:13 AM

The Government of British Columbia has implemented a mandatory sampling program requiring hunters to submit heads from deer harvested in specific wildlife management units in the Kootenay region.

This program is part of the Province’s ongoing and proactive efforts to prevent chronic wasting disease (CWD) from entering B.C. and impacting deer, elk and moose populations.

From Tuesday, Sept. 1 to Dec. 20, 2020, hunters are required to submit the heads of mule deer and white-tailed deer harvested in specific wildlife management units (4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6, 4-7) along the southern B.C. border in the Kootenay region for CWD testing. Drop-off locations may be found online: www.gov.bc.ca/chronicwastingdisease.ca

While this disease has not yet been detected in B.C., 64 animals (white-tailed deer, mule deer and moose) in the area around Libby, Mont. have been discovered with the disease since June 2019. This was the first time CWD had been detected west of the Rocky Mountains.

CWD is a progressive, fatal nervous system disease that affects members of the deer family (cervids). The disease is caused by an abnormal protein and can spread when a healthy animal comes into contact with an infected animal or an environment (soil, food or water) contaminated with CWD. The disease is not known to affect humans or animals other than cervid species.

The Province has been monitoring for the disease since 2002. The Peace and East Kootenay regions have been targeted as high-risk areas for disease entry due to the disease’s presence in Alberta and Montana. B.C. will continue testing samples for the disease to ensure the Province’s CWD-free status and inform any additional response.

The provincial Wildlife Health Program is also calling on hunters in other parts of the province, especially the Peace region, to bring deer, moose and elk heads to drop-off locations for CWD testing.

Anyone encountering an animal exhibiting the symptoms of CWD (thin, drooling, poor co-ordination, stumbling) should report it to the provincial Wildlife Health Program at 250 751-3219 or the Report all Poachers and Polluters hotline at 1 877 952-7277.

On August 22, 2020, the NDRGC held the first Membership meeting under our new Constitution. The current COVID crisis negated our original meeting scheduled for June but things are now slowly resembling some normalcy.

At the meeting, a number of motions regarding changes to some policies were voted on and passed, and your Directors gave short reports regarding the various activities of the club. The meeting was approximately 1 hr in length and provided those in attendance with a thorough insight into the current business of the club.

Due to recent changes in the Fish & Wildlife Act, our Sheep Feed program will require a Provincial permit to continue. An application has been sent and we are just waiting for the approval.

Oct 17, 2020 is the date for the annual sheep feed “Hay Lift”. Again, the Salmo ATV Club has offered to help but we always need more volunteers. Everyone meets at the hydro access road located above the feeding station at 10:30 am. It takes approx. 2 hrs to complete the process then there is hotdogs and refreshments afterwards.

Along with quads, we will need help cleaning the shed and stacking the hay. Please don’t hesitate to contact me @ 250 551-1077 if you are available.

Good luck to all of with the upcoming hunting season.

PAL, RPAL, and CORE Courses:

The Nelson District Rod & Gun Club is providing PAL, RPAL and CORE courses at the Mickey McEwen Memorial Hall this fall and winter.

Canadian Firearms Safety Course (PAL) courses (2):  September 26, 2020 and January 30, 2021, at 8 AM  Cost $125

Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (RPAL): January 31, 2021 at 9 AM  Cost $120.

Conservation Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE): February 6 + 7, 2021 at 8 AM   Cost $125

The current level of Covid 19 restrictions, for hall use, will allow for the courses to proceed as scheduled.   Students will be required to bring and wear masks.  Gloves and hand sanitizer will be provided.

Let friends and family know the training will be available.

Call Alan Bond: 250 352-2289 to register.