BRFGA Club Notes

BRF&GA 2023 Gun Raffle

The club is raffling off a beautiful new-in-box Hammerli TAC R122 rifle. It's an AR-15 style, .22 LR, comes with a 10-round magazine, removable flash hider, flip-up sights, and a Vortex scope. Value is $700.

Tickets are 1 for $5, 3 for $10, and 6 for $15. They are available at BRF&GA monthly meetings at the club house on Dover Rd. (third Wed. of each month, 7:30 pm), and from various club members. Or you can send a check by mail to: BRF&GA, P.O. Box 408, Boothbay, ME 04537. Include your full name, mailing address, email address, and phone number. Make your check out to: BRF&GA and denote "raffle" on the memo line. We will send you your numbered ticket stubs by return mail.

Drawing will be at the Turkey Shoot on October 8, 2023 at the club.

Every dollar goes towards helping the Boothbay Region Fish & Game Association and its programs.

2023 Fall Turkey Shoot October 8th

The club is planning a single, one-day Turkey Shoot for 2023, scheduled for Sunday, October 8th. This will also be the day of the Hammerli rifle raffle drawing. We will have more information on the shoot shortly, so check back here for details.

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From: Keith Royal

I will again be running the IR50-50 (.22 only) matches at our club this summer. The shoots will continue into early October and will be listed on the club calendar.

IR50-50 is a US (mainly East Coast) sanctioned rimfire bench rest shooting organization. There are several types of matches, but I have chosen the Unlimited Class due to some restrictions in other classes. I want all those interested to be able to shoot.

We will be shooting at 50 yards off the bench, on either the 50-yard or 100-yard range depending on the number of shooters. In the Unlimited Class shooters will have 20 minutes to complete the 25-shot targets. There are three targets per match. There are also sighter bulls on the target so that shooters can get dialed in, or practice.

Unlimited is just that. Any weight .22 rifle, any power scoped (recommended) rifle and any type of bench rest such as blocks, sand bags, mechanical, etc. The match fee is $10 per shooters for the three targets. Half goes to the IR50-50, and half to our club.

At these matches you will see some custom rifles and equipment at times, but I do not want that to discourage anyone from participating. Bring your Grampa’s old .22 and get the most out of it you can. Try and improve each time, and consider possibly taking it to a higher level. You will get out of it what you put into it, trust me.

If you have any questions or want to know the dates we shoot please contact me at royalk87@yahoo.com or at (207) 350-6282. The link to the IR50-50 web site is www.ir5050.com.

Hope to see you there!

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MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

Dave Rumney has volunteered to take over the membership duties. Renewals can be done by seeing him at TDR Auto Supply in Boothbay Harbor (across from the Post Office). Or Applications can be sent by snail mail to BRF&GA, Box 408, Boothbay, ME 04537. Renewals can also be made at any regularly scheduled monthly club meeting.

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FIRING RANGES

SHOOTING RANGE HOURS ARE 8am TO SUNSET EXCEPT FEBRUARY AND APRIL.

All Ranges are Closed in February. April Hours Are 10am TO 5pm

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RANGE ORIENTATION

As a reminder, all BRF&GA members, current and new, who intend to use the firing ranges must complete a one-time Range Orientation before they are authorized to do so.

Range orientations will be scheduled at the club.

They will last about 30 minutes and be held outside

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RANGE HOURS & ORIENTATION

ALL CLUB FIRING RANGES are closed between sunset and 8:00 a.m. (except in February & April when different times apply). This needs to be strictly adhered to out of consideration for our club property neighbors. This sunset to 8:00 a.m. closure has been made clear at the Range Orientations. Violations will result in termination of membership. As a further reminder, ALL members must participate in a 30-minute Range Orientation before being allowed to use the club ranges. If you haven't done one, let us know and we will try and accommodate you.

HANDICAP PARKING: The club now has a designated handicap parking area (with signs) next to the footbridge. Please be advised that wheelchair-accessible vans (which are usually marked as such) need at least six feet of clear space on either side of the vehicle so the individual can get in and out. Thanks for your cooperation on this.

The Officers & Directors

Boothbay Region Fish & Game Association

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NEW GATE LOCK

We are trying out a new style of combination padlock on the club gate. The advantage is that the numbers are much easier to see and operate than on the brass padlocks.

The four-number combination needs to be set at the BOTTOM of the lock, where there are two small, square cast "nubs" on either side of the number.

The bail has to be pushed in before you pull it out. It should come right out when you set the correct opening combination.

To re-lock the lock, the CORRECT COMBINATION needs to be in place, or else the bail will not fully go back into the lock body.

Once the bail is fully re-inserted into the lock body, simply rotate one or more of the thumb-wheels and the lock is re-set for the next person.

Any probs, let us know.

The Officers & Directors

Boothbay Region Fish & Game Assoc.

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BRFG TARGET STAND

This stand is portable and similar to the wooden stands the club often uses. The height can be increased to match your preferred shooting distance, range, and best berm impact. The base can be made from plywood or other available wood and comes apart for flat transportation. Works best with a cardboard backer.

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A ONE-TIME RANGE ORIENTATION IS NOW REQUIRED FOR ALL BRF&GA

MEMBERS WHO INTEND TO USE THE CLUB FIRING RANGES

The Boothbay Region Fish & Game Association has made the decision to require all members who intend to use the ranges, both new members and existing members, go through a short, one-time Range Use & Safety Orientation.

New Members will need to take the orientation before they will be issued badges and ID cards. Existing members will need to take the orientation before, or when they renew for 2020 in order to use the ranges.

Renewals for 2019 can be made anytime from now into 2020. Members will be asked to sign a copy of our Range Rules to indicate they have completed the orientation and understand the rules.

More orientations, conducted by Keith or other club officers, will be held in the future.

Members who do not plan to use the ranges at all do not have to participate in the orientation. However, these members will be prohibited from using the ranges at any time and will be removed from the club if they do.

The whole idea of the orientations is to be sure every member using the ranges understands how the ranges operate, what is required for safe shooting, and the range rules. Successfully completing the orientation and signing the Rules Sheet will indicate to the club that the member understands the rules and protocols of our firing ranges.

We thank everyone for their cooperation.

The Officers & Directors

Boothbay Region Fish & Game Association, Inc.

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Thanks to Keith!

Another big thank-you goes out to Keith Royal for all his efforts in keeping our driveway and parking areas plowed out for meetings and for access to the ranges and buildings. And many thanks to Dennis and Ken for snowblowing the bridge and path. Great job everyone!

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President Dennis Blackman, right, presents Curt West of Boothbay a special plaque commemorating Curt's 67th year as a member of the club. Curt joined in June of 1949 and has been a faithful member ever since.

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Do NOT place targets on the upright posts with the post in the center of the target. Your shots will destroy the posts and create a mess on the range requiring unnecessary maintenance. Always fasten the targets between the posts using a backer board if necessary.

WRONG WAY CORRECT PLACEMENT

Hot Range Flag.

The "hot range" flag pole has been installed at the gate and red flag ordered. After the flag has arrived, members entering the club driveway to shoot should raise the flag to let others know the range is hot and the last to leave should take it down and store it in the box at the bottom of the pole.

Range safety is primary, please do your part. Thanks.

When fishing Wiley Pond from a watercraft life jackets are required by law. Children under 12 should wer them on the fish pier. There is a 2 trout limit and only artificial lures and flies may be used.

Jefferson Man Donates Wood Duck Nesting Box to Club

Accomplished outdoorsman Larry Grimard of Jefferson builds a few wood duck nesting boxes in his spare time each winter, and generously donated one to the club in March. The boxes have to be built according to specifications, with an entrance that will allow a female wood duck to get in and out of the box, and to be deep enough to safely keep the eggs out of reach of marauding mammals or birds of prey.

Not only did Larry donate the box, but he drove down on March 10th with his ice sled and all the equipment needed to install it on the west side of Wiley Pond. He and club secretary Barry Gibson carefully crossed the pond on the ice (which was getting pretty thin), and found a suitable tree directly across from the club dock. They cleared some brush and branches out of the way, and attached the box with two lag bolts some five feet above the ground. Once installed, Larry placed several handfuls of cedar shavings in the bottom of the box and screwed the side panel shut. Project completed!

The female wood duck will normally lay a clutch of between 9 to 14 eggs from late March through April. The eggs will incubate for 25 to 35 days, and on the morning after the eggs hatch the female will leave the box and call for the ducklings, which will scratch their way up the inside of the box to the entrance (Larry puts horizontal grooves in the wood inside to make this easier.) Then the ducklings will jump out of the box into the water (or the ground and make their way to the water), where the mother duck will tend them for 5 to 6 weeks. They will be able to fly in 8 to 9 weeks.

Wood duck populations declined sharply in the late 19th century due to loss of habitat and market hunting, but protections were implemented in the 1920s, boosted by the use of nesting boxes starting in the 1930s. Populations of this very pretty duck continue to increase today due to ongoing nesting box programs and better protection of their pond and marsh habitats.

Club members can view the box with binoculars from the fishing dock, or take a closer look from a canoe or kayak, although it’s best to stay far enough away not to disturb the mother duck.

The club extends its sincere appreciation to Larry for his gift, and we have given him a one-year membership as a thank-you for his efforts.

Refreshing the Clayton Dodge memorial at the club with Hosta at spring work day.

Wood Duck Box at Wiley Pond


Larry Grimard about to head across Wiley Pond to find a suitable tree for the wood duck nesting box he built.	Larry attaches the box to a tree with lag bolts and a socket wrench.

Cedar shavings are placed at the bottom of the box to cushion the eggs. The female duck will also line it with feathers	Larry with finished Project

Boothbay Region Fish & Game Association

P.O. Box 408, 447 Dover Rd., Boothbay, ME

To email the club: info@boothbayregionfishandgame.com

www.BRFGA.com

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