Laughery Valley Fish and Game
Holds First Meeting of 2003

The membership laid out the programs and goals for the year 2003 with 26 members present.

President Glenn Wright reported on the progress of the projects supported by the Rising Sun Regional Foundation. The Aquatic Wildlife Facility has gone forward with the development of a new pond by Woods Excavating. It is 18 feet at the deepest and covers approximately 1-1/4 acres. An access road from the clubhouse to the other side of the property has been roughed in. Also some 75% of the excavation has been conducted on the new shooting range for the Shooting Sports Facility. Support buildings and other amenities will be completed as weather and time permit throughout 2003.

With funds from the Ripley County Community Foundation, the club has purchased new tables for the meeting hall and are installing a sound system and video capabilities for our Educational Programs.

Meetings are the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Most of the organization's yearly events were scheduled at the January meeting. Events to look forward to are as follows:

February 23, 2003 Annual All-Game Dinner
Day starts with Big Buck measuring session at 8:00 a.m. and registration ends at 10:00 a.m. Measuring will qualify for Indiana records, Pope and Young for archery and Longhunters for muzzleloading.
Meal begins at 1:00 p.m. Bring meat dish and vegetable or dessert. Families to provide their own table setting and the club will provide drinks and bread.
Everyone is invited to bring items for the auction. Items can be old or new, of interest to men, the ladies, or the kids. Let's have "something you can't live without" items. Join in the fun of the auction and the Silent Auction after the meal.
This is our big Annual Meeting and election of officers. Bring family and friends.

March 16, 2003 First Monthly 3-D Archery Shoot
8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
30 Target 3-D Bow shoots will be held on the 3rd Sunday of each month from March through September. The exception is Easter Sunday on April 20, of which there will be NO SHOOT for the month of April. Help will be needed to set up the new range since the shooting range and pond have changed the complexion of the property. At the monthly shoots, we need volunteers to place the targets on the Saturday before the shoots and on Sunday to take them up afterwards. Day of the Shoot, volunteers are needed to take entry money and register shooters along with refreshment stand workers. Please sign up at the All-Game Dinner to schedule your time.

April 12, 2003 NWTF Women in the Outdoors Event
To be held on the club grounds on April 12 and will include live fire of archery equipment, long guns, hand guns and muzzleloaders.
Ladies contact Bev Hankins by calling 812-654-2339 or email: probassman7@hotmail.com

April 4-5, Spring Indiana Hunters Education Course
August 8-9, Fall Indiana Hunters Education Course
Program will begin on Friday evening and run through the day on Saturday. Saturday will be live fire of archery, firearms including muzzleloaders. This is one of the few live fire programs in the area. Open to youngsters and adults. Recommend parents or mentors take the course with their youngsters. Just think back in your young life, a day that you were able to shoot clay birds, handguns, bows and a flintlock rifle all in one day. The kids will cherish the memory. Ethics, responsibility, and safety will be tempered with hands on experience.
Contact Cecil Wallace at 812-432-5923 or email jwallace@fbfast.com

National Bow Hunters Education Foundation, Bow Hunters Course
Carl Lunsford will be the contact and club liaison to conduct this program. It is fairly rare to offer this class in our area. It is required to hunt places like Clifty Falls State Park in their Archery Only hunts. The course includes an intense focus on bowhunting, tracking, map reading and other skills not normally available in general hunter education programs.

Carl has set up the bowhunter class for Saturday, May 17th.

For details and further information contact Carl Lunsford Email address: clunsfor@nalu.net

Junior Fishing Derby, yet to be scheduled. Philip Gilb is the committee chairman and we plan a June fishing derby.

Youngsters (age 16 and under) are invited to fish for bragging rights and trophies in the 25th Annual Junior Fishing Derby. Usually begins early on Derby day and time is called by noon. Fish are weighed and logged in as caught and winners are determined. Casting contests for at least two age groups are conducted with fishing gear as prizes. The day is concluded with a grill out meal for all comers.