Category: inspirational

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Welcome New Members

Our chapter dinner meetings are a great way to get together with people that like to talk about hunting, without having to worry that you are going to offend someone. It is a real breath of fresh air to just be able to have a pleasant talk about hunting. You don’t have to be a world traveler to join SCI. I am primarily a pheasant hunter, but I joined just to get together with other hunters. If you know someone that hunts, but is not a member yet, invite them to one of the dinners. You may be doing them a favor and helping the chapter at the same time.

One way to go hunting is to join us at the Golden Gate Chapter annual chucker shoot at Birds Landing on Saturday, November 5th. There will be plenty of members with bird dogs, so come on out even if you don’t have a bird dog. We separate the people with flushing dogs from those with pointing dogs so everyone gets to hunt in their own style.

Our chapter raises money at our annual Fundraiser so that we can donate the money to conservation, education, and humanitarian purposes. This Fundraiser auctions off about 40 hunts every year. These hunts have been vetted by other Chapter members, so you know that you are getting a reputable outfitter. Our Fundraiser is one event that you don’t want to miss.

One of the benefactors of our fundraising covers both conservation and education. We have made another substantial grant to the University of California specifically to study big game in California. It is gratifying to support a group that really believes in scientific game management. We had a fascinating presentation of some of their research at one of our meetings this year. It showed how ranchers can have a significant and stable source of income by managing their property for hunting. This is especially remarkable at such a left leaning university. This is truly conservation in action.

Most of our donations are going to youth shooting activities. We are sponsoring three high school trap teams in our area. It is fantastic that we have three high school trap teams in our area with this political climate. We are also sponsoring a Boy Scout shooting sport weekend and the Bird’s Landing Clays for Kids sporting clays event. We know that our youth are the future of our sport, so we are doing what we can to support them.

One of the things that makes California great is that people of all different walks of life can live together. Not everyone hunts, but we respect the right of our fellow Californians to do so. Hunting and fishing license fees help protect and provide access to the land that Californians use for hiking and other outdoor activities and help keep animal populations healthy. Trophy hunting (without harvesting the meat) is illegal and violators are subject to heavy fines and criminal charges. Hunting contributes $3 billion to the California economy each year and supports 27,000 jobs. Further restrictions would have dire consequences for small-business owners, the tourism industry and regular taxpayers. Even if you don’t hunt, hunting is important to our public lands, our wildlife and our California way of life.

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2019 Q2 President’s Letter

I would like expand on a theme that Bob Keagy started in his presentation at our last dinner meeting. Do what you want, while you can.

Some of us will put off the hunt of a lifetime until it is too late. You never know what the future will bring. We only have a limited number of years of good health, and hunting can be a strenuous sport. Bob was presenting some of his sheep and goat hunts, which are some of the most taxing hunts, but even less strenuous hunts will be a problem as joint problems make themselves known.

The other thing to consider is that the anti-hunters are becoming increasingly effective, especially in California. It doesn’t matter that the animals are in no way endangered. If they were, we would stop hunting them and try to help increase the population as we have done so many times. The antis will do nothing to help preserve the animals, they just want to make their opinions about hunting into law.

So, if you are a hunter, get out there and hunt. It doesn’t have to be a trip to the far corners of the world. We still have some interesting hunting opportunities right here in California.

One of the hunts available that most of didn’t know about until recently is the deer hunts at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center west of Clear Lake. They have deer hunts available on their over 5,300-acre property. They only let a limited number of hunters on the property at one time, so the hunts are by lottery. They had fewer applicants than permits last year and the price went up this year, so I am sure that opportunities will be available again this year. We will send out more details by email when they become available, but you may want to start practicing with your deer rifle or bow.

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President’s Letter – Fall 2019 Q3

President’s Letter – Fall 2019

How to Talk to non-Hunters

The Colorado Wildlife Council, which recently ran a successful pro-hunting campaign, has published a study on how to effectively communicate to non-hunters. Talking to anti-hunters may be a waste of time and energy, but about 70% of the country has no strong opinion about hunting either way.

The group worked with about 1,000 non-hunters and tried several different approaches to see what got our message across the best. The biggest negative for many non-hunters is “trophy hunting.”

Here is one example of how to talk about hunting (from the report referenced below):

“One of the things that makes Colorado great is that people of all different walks of life can live together. Not everyone hunts, but we respect the right of our fellow Coloradans to do so. Hunting and fishing license fees help protect and provide access to the land that Coloradans use for hiking and other outdoor activities and help keep animal populations healthy. Trophy hunting (without harvesting the meat [my addition]) is illegal and violators are subject to heavy fines and criminal charges. Hunting contributes $3 billion to the Colorado economy each year and supports 27,000 jobs. Further restrictions would have dire consequences for small-business owners, the tourism industry, and regular taxpayers. Even if you don’t hunt, hunting is important to our public lands, our wildlife, and our Colorado way of life.”

We can easily modify this for California. As part of the fact that hunters support wildlife, I also tell people that I am a member of Ducks Unlimited (DU) because I like seeing ducks and geese, even though I am not a duck hunter. I know that over 90% of the DU funds go towards wildlife habitat preservation. That is a great bargain.

https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeCouncil/2019/February/WC_ExploratoryResearchReport_02-2019.pdf

Blog’s

Here you will find our blog posts.

Latest Posts

Our blogs cover a wide range of interesting topic. We cover everything from sporting goods stores near me (you in this case), all the ins and outs of hunting or fishing (lots of member stories to help you , and even what makes for a good hunting club. Enjoy

Member Articles

After Linebacker Leopard in Botswana by Bob Keagy

A twig snapped out of our blind. It seemed inordinately loud in the otherwise silent landscape. Mike slowly and silently raised his binocular. He then turned to me and pantomimed something walking with his fingers. Leopard! He turned to me, I didn’t move.…AfterLinebacker…

Buckey, me and a wrangler: Tales of an Alaskan Dall Sheep Hunt by Don Seibel

You could tell that he was in a hurry. He was making his way from one mountain range to another, crossing through the valley floor always aware of his surroundings, as it is here that sheep are most vulnerable to wolves and other predators.…Buckey…

China Gold by Bob Keagy

There, standing in the shadows under the lip of the canyon on the far side, stood an adult takin. As it observed us with bovine calm, I took Tiger’s backpack and laid it on a stump in the behind of the trail. I asked him if the takin was a good one. …ChinaGold…

Hunting Marco Polo’s Ram by Bob Keagy

Among the rams, the third one had tops that curved out and flared downward. Suddenly, the sun broke through for a second and fell on the third ram as if to single it out. It surely appeared to be the biggest, but I looked to Maryanbek for guidance.…MarcoPolo…

Jumbo Surprise by Bob Keagy

My good friend Mike Murray of African Fields Sports called me and said: “Bob! Bob! I’ve got a cancellation on opening day in one of the best elephant concessions in Botswana! I know you’ll get a big ellie!”…JumboSurprise…

Nyala Safari In An Ancient Land by Bob Keagy

I dutifully got my shooting sticks in place. It was a 100-yard shot, roughly 45 degrees uphill. Additionally, I would have to skim – and not hit – the edge of the tree in order to slip the .340 into the nyala’s brisket and heart… …NyalaSafari…

With a Longbow in Mozambique by Mel Toponce

After a time, sharp-eyed PH Dion pointed excitedly beside the road, and we got out of the vehicle. I peered where Dion was pointing but saw nothing.

Together, we entered the dense undergrowth with great stealth and inched forward… …Longbow…

Why Do I Hunt? by Mike J. Borel

I love hunting because…..Why_I_Hunt..

Our member articles cover all sorts of their hunting or fishing adventures. At first when you are looking for a hunting club you must answer, “ what is a hunting club”? One thing one must think about is having a hunting club activate or an active club to join. What good is a club that doesn’t do anything?

New Hunters v2

New Hunters

New Hunters

Hunter’s Delight in assisting others to get started in the sport and SEI Golden Gate particularly personifies this theme. Expressed an interest or ask for help, and help will be provided!

Special links for new Hunters

 AWLS (American Wilderness Leadership School).  FCI Golden Gate sponsors two or three teachers per year to this five-day school near Jackson Wyoming. More information https://safariclubfoundation.org/american-wilderness-leadership-school/

As with all new hunters or fishing enthusiasts, you not only need a good club to help you but also that the membership provides great advice, plus where to find the best hunting sporting goods stores. There are many hunting and fishing stores to choose from but with some known track record with club members can really help you with your hunting or fishing needs.

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