January 2023
Feb 6, 2023 - General Membership Meeting
Mar 6, 2023 - General Membership Meeting
Mar 18, 2023 – Wild Game Dinner
Apr 3, 2023 - General Membership Meeting
May 1, 2023 - General Membership Meeting
Jun 5, 2023 - General Membership Meeting
President's Message
Welcome to 2023, fellow members! And what does 2023 have in store for you? Perhaps you'll catch that career best five pound plus Largemouth, or maybe that elusive 30" 10 pound plus Walleye! Maybe you'll land your first river run Steelhead, or one of those mega giant Sandusky Bay Catfish. Maybe this year you tag that once in lifetime Whitetail buck or finally outwit your first Gobbler. Maybe you shoot a perfect 25 for 25 on the trap range, or your best sporting clays round ever. Maybe you go all out and go on that bucket list trip you've been dreaming about as long as you can remember. Who really knows what 2023 will bring? Honestly nobody... but I can tell you this. No matter what your pursuit, focus on enjoying the journey and not only on the end result. The time we spend on the water with good friends and family, or all alone in the peace and quiet of the woods refreshing our mind and soul, that is the real prize. As the saying goes "enjoy the ride" in 2023.
Now I can tell you what 2023 will bring... specifically Saturday March 18th... that's right, the LaGrangeHunting and Fishing Club Wild Game Dinner! Yes! Our largest fund-raising event of the year! And we will needyour help and support to make it a success. It's been 3 years now since our last Wild Game Dinner and thechain of annually successful events has been broken. So how do you feed 250 people? If you've been a long-time club member, you know the answer. If you're new to the club or simply have forgotten, I'll tell you how.The #1 answer is WE RELY ON OUR MEMBERS TO STEP UP AND DONATE A TRAY OF THEIR HARVEST PREPAREDWITH YOUR FINEST CULINARY SKILLS. There are other ways to help as well, but again a donation toward thisgiant pot luck dinner is our highest priority. For this year’s dinner, one of our Trustees, Dusty Shell (Thank youmy friend) has stepped up in a big way to chair the food collection drive for the event. Dusty will be the pointperson coordinating all your donations as well looking for help in some of the food preparation. Maybe youjust don't have game in the freezer to share but maybe you are a wiz in the kitchen and can help prepare gamedonated from other members. In any case Dusty is the man and you need to be in direct contact with him tooffer in any way you can to help. There will be more to come regarding this event in future newsletters and or special email updates. Let's all pitch in to help lower Dusty's stress level and get on board to help make this Wild Game Dinner our best ever!
Our Ohio Deer season is winding down and we will continue to take entries in the Club's Big DeerContest through end of this month. This is for all members as well as a special contest for all junior members.If you have a deer you would like to enter, please email a couple of pics to the club's email(LaGrangeHuntClub@gmail.com) along with a short description of the harvest. Or we will take entries at ourFebruary general membership meeting and close the contest that evening. The entries will be reviewed andvoted on at the February Officers and Trustee meeting and we will announce the winners at our Marchmeeting.
Regards, Kevin
Regards, Kevin
Membership Bulletin
For the first time in many years, the Officers and Trustees have resigned themselves to the distasteful but necessary step of raising dues. Given this new dues schedule, we are still the cheapest Hunt and Gun club around. To reiterate, the dues schedule for 2023 will be as follows:
Regular Members (under age 65 at the beginning of 2023):Total = $175.00, comprising of dues of $125.00 plus $50.00 gun raffle tickets.
Senior Members* (age 65 and over at the beginning of 2023):Total = $150.00, comprising of dues of $100.00 plus $50.00 gun raffle tickets.
*There will be a one-time exemption for those current members who are 75 years old or older. Those current members who were born in 1947 or earlier will not see a raise in their dues – they will remain at $110.00.
There are three different methods of renewal:
1. Website: (LaGrangeHuntClub.org > Membership > Membership Application / Renewal.)
2. In person at a General Membership Meeting (See 2023 Calendar)
3. By U.S. Mail. Please mail a check or money order with the appropriate amount to:LHFCP.O. Box 131LaGrange, OH 44050
As always, you have all of 2023 to renew. However, the gate lock combinations will change on April 1st, 2023 and if you have not renewed before then, you will not have your 2023 badge and therefore will not have the new combination. So please, get your renewal in before the middle of March 2023 to avoid interruption in your access to the club grounds.
Also, if you know of someone who may be interested in joining, the application for membership is available on the new website (https://lagrangehuntclub.org/membership-info/membership-form/.) They can either join directly online, or they can print the Application and Waiver and send via email (LaGrangeHuntClub@gmail.com) or via USPS to the address above.
Regards, Rick
Junior Membership
The Junior Members Fund will provide a sponsorship to help cover the camp fees for The Lake & Trails – Youth Hunting / Shooting Camp again in 2023. Our Junior Members President, Jace Walters himself has attended all four years of this camp. Jace wants kids to go to this camp because it is a really good learning experience because you get to learn how to shoot many types of guns; including rifles, pistols, air guns, black powder and some archery items as well. You will also get the chance to throw axes, make a knife and even make primitive items. You will also learn about wildlife, how to trap, and even get your Ohio Boaters License and Hunter Safety Course if you need to. And most importantly, you get to hangout with other kids who like the outdoors like you do.
To qualify for the sponsorship you need to help out at a couple general memberhsip meetings and do a work party. Attend a general membership meeting and talk to the Junior Members President, Jace Walters for complete details and to sign up. If you would like to contact Jace email him at Recreation@JaceWalters.com
When you patronize supporters of JaceWaltersRecreation and the Junior Membership please remember to tell their management THANK YOU for their SUPPORT!
Firearms Range News
RANGE HOURS – CHANGING AGAINDue to complaints from several neighbors of the range, as well as LHFC’s desire to maintain positive relationships with them, we are returning to the 10:00am opening time. This does not affect Sunday, however.
Hours of operation: 10:00am-dusk, Mon.- Sat.; 12:00pm-5:00pm, Sun.Work Parties: Will be scheduled on a weather-permitting basis. If you are able to help or contribute in some way, please contact Mike Beckwith or Roger Maynard and leave a message.
Remember to lock the gate behind you when leaving. The locks must have the combination dialed in to close, then roll the dials to lock.Make sure you review and adhere to the rules: SAFETY FIRST!! Always, Always, Always, Always! We have never had an accident at our range – don’t be the first to break this 90-year-old record! Remember your badge. Without it, you will be considered to be trespassing on club grounds and asked to leave! Sign in and sign out. Review the rules before each use of the range. They are posted on the boards. Pick up after yourselves. Police your brass and trash. Be courteous to fellow members. If you have any questions, or find a deficiency, please contact your 2021/2022 Range Marshal Mike Beckwith or Roger Maynard.
Archery Range News
Come spring, one of the first changes you will see will be in the 3D Archery range. More animals will be put out, and in a manner where they will not need to be removed in order to mow the grass. Future plans include creating a walking 3D course in order to help simulate hunting and tournament conditions. After that a slight redesign of the bag target range.
Special Announcements
Dues Increase – Explanation and Rationale
1. The club is in need of funds to maintain grounds and make improvements2. Covid and the corresponding limitations to club activities have strained our revenue3. Mortgage on club grounds is reviewable by Huntington every 5 years. Right or wrong, they look at club finances to judge the financial health. What they are very interested in is a steady stream of income, and we tend to have a large influx of money early in the year and then deplete it as the year proceeds. The bank has the right to call the loan if they feel uncomfortable with our financial situation.4. Our club has not had a dues increase since 1996!!! If we had simply raised the dues $5 every other year since then, currentdues would be $15 higher than they are now and each member would be out an additional $455 over that period.5. Our club is still one of the cheapest around. And, unlike the others, we do not require participation in work parties, we do not charge additional funds for our pheasant release, etc.6. Due to the sparsity of participation in work parties, we are often forced to hire contractors to complete some of the work. A good example is the call to arms for tradesmen to help with the needed repairs and upgrades to the rental house. Despite the request appearing in 4 straight newsletters, we have only received 2 volunteer calls. We are probably going to have to contract some of this work, which will mean significantly higher costs.
2023 Wild Game DinnerSaturday March 18th
LaGrange Hunting and Fishing Club Wild Game Dinner
Yes! Our largest fund-raising event of the year!
And we will need your help and support to make it a success.
Calling All Tradesmen! Your Club NEEDS you!The rental house the club owns is in need of repairs. The septic system is under repair as I write this, but the house also desperately needs a bathroom remodel. We are hoping to save $$$ on this by appealing to the membership for assistance. Any plumbers, electricians, carpenters, etc. that are willing and able to donate some time or expert advice to the club on this projectbwould be saving us a considerable amount of our finitenfunds.P.S. – The house will also need a roof in the next few years. If you can help with that project, let us know.