SCONW - Activities

CLUB ACTIVITIES The Sportsmen's Club members are game hunters and fishermen. Northern Westchester is blessed with a number of New York City Reservoirs, as well as many first class trout streams, ponds and lakes. The Club maintains boats on many of the local reservoirs for use by its members. Many of the members are avid archers and pursue deer and small game in the local area. Each Fall the Club conducts courses to enable first time hunters to obtain certificates necessary for acquiring a hunting license. The Club is on constant watch to assist in local conservation and environmental events. The Club conducts a hunter safety program as part of these efforts. (See above for schedule.) In addition to the Club-wide events held annually the Club is involved in a variety of events that are specifically appealing to hunters or those interested in fishing:

It was all worth it!
		Each winter, depending on the cold, an annual ice fishing get together is planned. When it warms up, members participate in a popular Bass Tournament held on Father's Day each June.

		"And the award goes to . . ."
In February each year, the Sportsmen's Club Dinner is celebrated at the Westmoreland Sanctuary. The food is supplied by the members who bring appetizing rewards of their hunting efforts offering a wide range of dishes featuring deer, rabbit, squirrel, turkey and partridge meat as well as pasta and potato casseroles and salads and desserts. The popular feast is attended by members and their families and friends. After dinner, awards are presented to members who have distinguished themselves in hunting, shooting and fishing during the year. All eagerly participate in a lengthy raffle for prizes where almost everyone wins at least one prize. The raffle is a fund raiser to help sponsor a youngster (aged 13-16) to the NYS DEC Camp in upstate New York.

The Day's Catch at Montauk
		The warmer weather brings out many members to overnight fishing trips to Montauk for deep sea fishing. As you see, the event is popular because it is so successful producing a generous haul of stripers or blues or other catch in season.

		Pull!
In Spring, a challenging trap shoot attracts many members to the 110 Rod and Gun Club in Moores Mills, NY where they test their reflexes and accuracy as hunters.

"Now you're catching on!"
		The members also participate in many civic projects such as youth fishing days that are hosted by local communities to help introduce youngsters to the pleasure of fishing. Members assist the youngsters in learning casting techniques, using proper equipment and how to properly handle and release fish. In the Spring, members help conduct an Introduction to Fly Fishing seminar held at the Rockefeller State Park. Later in the season they assist the park staff in conducting a youth fishing day.

		Camp DeBruce hosts sons of members
As another means of encouraging young sports people, the Club sponsors youngsters each summer at Camp DeBruce in Livingston Manor, NY in the Catskills. This camp is operated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and provides youngsters with an introduction to the rudiments of fish culture, fishing techniques, bird identification, hunter safety and other activities. Some of the members of the Club today were once campers at De Bruce.

Summer Fun at the Lake
		Each summer a barbecue is held at Sylvan Lake in Beekman, NY. Members bring families and friends to this outing for a full day of swimming, fishing, kayaking and canoeing, horse shoes, basketball, kite flying, schmoozing and sharing the mountains of barbecued meats, salads, deserts and gallons of cold drinks that everyone brings.

After the business part of the Club meeting just before Christmas, a supper party is given with a raffle grab bag . In the spirit of the season, members are asked to bring non-perishable food items which are then donated to the Brewster Food Pantry through St. Luke's Church in Somers.