A. Donated $18,500 toward the purchase of 57 acres of land for recreational use. The Association recently donated $18,500 to a joint effort by the Association, the DNR, Men’s Pheasants Forever and the Turkey Federation to acquire 57 acres of wetlands and prairie for public hunting. The Association with its contribution of $10,000, along with the DNR, The West Wisconsin Land Trust and other area conservation groups was able to raise funds adequate enough to purchase more than 100 acres of mostly wetlands which allows continued public use of the property for hunting waterfowl and ice fishing. The Association donated over $45,000 to area conservation projects in less than two years. The donations were used for land acquisition and stream restoration. Such donations are an on-going activity of the Association.
B. Sponsors college scholarships for four students involved in conservation studies. The Association provides the only four-year scholarship in the area by awarding a recipient annually to receive a $3500 scholarship ($500 the first year and $1000 per year for the succeeding three years) to pursue an advanced education program relating to conservation. The Association operates with a scholarship selection committee and solicits involvement from every high school in Dunn County. The Association has set aside funds in a designated account that have accrued to nearly $50,000. The scholarship committee manages the account, and scholarship monies are paid to the recipients from that account.
C.Conducts a reward program for turning in fish and game violators. The Association, in conjunction with area conservation wardens, operates a confidential reward program for the public to turn in any fish or game violators. The Association pays a $50 stipend, through the area wardens, to any member of the public who turns in a violator.
D.Operates and maintains a public shooting range. The Association, has a permanent lease with Dunn County for a shooting range. It is one of the most advanced and desirable ranges anywhere in the area as evidenced by shooters coming to the range from the Eau Claire, WI. and Minneapolis/ St. Paul, MN areas. It is developed and maintained by the Association and in conjunction with grants from the National Rifle Association. The range is free to the public, the Association provides trained range marshals and operates on a voluntary donation basis.
E.Sponsors and teaches hunter, boating, ATV and snowmobile education programs. The Association has twelve certified hunter safety education instructors. The instructors provide hunter education programs to approximately 180 to 200 adults and youth each year. It sponsors a boating safety program taught by the DNR annually. It sponsors ATV and snowmobile safety programs in cooperation with ATV and snowmobile clubs to area adults and youth. It also provides Trapper education to area adults and youth. The Association provides free facilities for all of the education programs.
F.Raises and releases 2000 pheasants annually for hunting. The Association receives 2000 day-old chicks from the hatchery at Poynette, WI. and raises them to adulthood. They are distributed throughout Dunn County with 15% being given to the DNR for its’ distribution.
G.Builds fish cribs annually in Lake Menomin, Menomonie, WI. The Association builds between 15 and 25 fish cribs annually on Lake Menomin in conjunction with the design and location approved by the area fish manager. That activity has resulted in the Lake Menomin being a premier bluegill and crappie fishery.
H.Stocks and plants fish. Prior to the advent of VHS [viral hemorrhgic septicemia]and the restrictive controls for transferring fish from one location to another, the Association worked with area fish pond owners to seine bluegills and stock them in area lakes. The activities were approved by and done in cooperation with area fish management personnel. That activity also contributed to Lake Menomin being a premier bluegill fishery.
I.Sponsors Men’s Pheasants Forever, Women’s Pheasants Forever, Ruffed Grouse Society, NRA, Turkey Federation, WI. Wildlife Federation, Sportsman’s Alliance and Dunn County Artists Tour. The Association annually sponsors the National Rifle Association in the amount of $1,000. It sponsors all of the other listed groups, with the exception of the WI. Wildlife Federation, in the amount of $250 and provides free facilities for their banquets. It sponsors the WI. Wildlife Federation on a per member cost.
J.Provides clubhouse for community use. The Association provides its’ facilities, free of charge, to all of the education programs, Youth gatherings, Walmart Distribution Center for its’ Ice Fish Contests’ fundraiser for the Children’s Miracle Network, area clothing drive for needy persons, a whitetail deer test center and for Conservation Congress spring hearings.
K.Sponsors landowner appreciation banquet. The Association shows its appreciation to county landowners who open their lands to hunters by providing an annual appreciation banquet and beverages to them and their families free of charge. Between 275 and 300 persons participate each year.
L. Provides stream habitat improvement (summers of 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 to date club donated $50,000 for Gilbert Creek restoration project and over 2500 volunteer work hours). The Association in cooperation with Trout Unlimited and the DNR has improved more than a mile of the Gilbert Creek trout stream and has increased the measured fish population in excess of 1,000%. Much of the improved stream wandered through a dense population of low-ground forest. The Association also provided workers a cooked meal and beverages at the conclusion of each work session free of charge.
M.Provides gift certificates to area businesses. The Association solicits gifts and donations for its Fall Banquet. In a gesture of return good will, the Association buys gift certificates for the donors to the Fall Banquet and they are given out in the business’s name at the Associations’ annual Ice Fish Contest.
N.Sponsors youth canoe trips, shooting events, conservation workshops. The Association sponsors Youth turkey, pheasant and whitetail deer hunting in conjunction with the DNR and area wardens. It also conducts a muzzle-loader shoot for Youth and adults. It provides an opportunity for up to 100 youth to participate in a trout fishing adventure at a commercial trout-fishing farm. The Association sponsored a youth canoe trip for Youth in a Dunn County Charter School. It sponsors annual Youth shooting events mentioned elsewhere (i.e.: Youth muzzle loader shoot). It also sponsors youth to attend a three-day conservation camp at Pigeon Lake, near Drummond, WI. in northern Wisconsin.
O.Builds wood duck/bluebird house (at area elementary schools). The Associations’ chairperson for the project annually collects materials for constructing the wood duck/ bluebird houses at no cost. Another member cuts all of the parts of the houses to size and then the membership goes to the area elementary schools and guides 5th grade students in the construction of the houses. Members talk about the birds and waterfowl to the classes in advance and each student is able to take a completed house home and erect it somewhere in Dunn County with assistance of their parents.
P.Sponsors Hunters Against Hunger. The Association sponsors a Hunters Against Hunger program each year by encouraging members who do not want the venison that they have harvested to donate it to the needy. It coordinates a program of enlisting area meat processor’s to process the meat, gets cooperation from area grocery distributors’ to store the meat in their coolers until distribution and then distributes the meat to Dunn County distribution sites where the needy receive the meat. Approximately 6,500 pounds of meat were distributed to the needy this past year.
Q.Sponsors fishing and hunting for the disabled. The Association sponsors both hunting and fishing events for the disabled annually. The events take place in the morning hours and a free meal and beverages are provided at noon. Many pontoons and boats owned by members provide the opportunity. This next year the events will be expanded to include senior citizens also.
R.Sponsors Annual Ice Fishing Contest (Lake Menomin, February). The Association conducts an annual Ice Fish Contest and just completed its 55th event. Prize money is given to the three fisher-persons catching the largest fish in each of five categories. A number of raffles are conducted and non-fishing persons play Euchre and Bingo. A special Youth contest is conducted at the same time where all Youth receive fishing equipment.
S.Purchased two defibrillators and an emergency locator. The Association purchased two defibrillators and donated them to the two Dunn County game wardens for emergency use. The Association also donated $500 toward the purchase of a locator by the Menomonie Fire Department for finding live or deceased bodies in the water.
T.Recruits and sponsors one new NRA membership at each monthly meeting. A NRA annual membership is given to a lucky member that has his/her name drawn at each monthly meeting. A recipient can donate it to the Hunter Education program for two Youth memberships or donate it to a person of his/her choice.
U. Awards the Conservationist of the Year. Given to a person who best advocates conservation especially of natural resources.
V. Provides facillities for public fuindraising.
