short notes:
will brady's ruminations
will brady's ruminations
2007-06-18
local scene
The Moodus Sportsman's Club holds its annual Shad Bake.
This coming Sunday, June 24th. Starts at noon.
Tickets at the gate ~ $17 Adults / $15 Seniors / $6 kids under age 12
Here's how to get there
Tickets at the gate ~ $17 Adults / $15 Seniors / $6 kids under age 12
Here's how to get there
Labels: connecticut, fishing, game dinners, hunting, moodus, picnics, shad bakes
¶ 10:07 1 comments
land preservation
Bernie climbed the tree stand we found on the Moodus Reservoir land the town is looking to purchase as open space. The land is part of a 116 acre tract known as the Sabine property on the south side of the reservoir. The reservoir is regarded by some as one of the best canoeing spots in the state of Connecticut. There is habitat for native plants and animal species listed as threatened, endangered or of special concern. The parcel is adjacent to hundreds more acres of land already under open space protections or agricultural easement. A public hearing was held at the East Haddam Town Hall last week about this land, and another parcel in the Eight Mile River watershed, and those who attended gave the purchase proposal uniform support.
What is "open space"? What is sought to preserve? It is "...land that is left in its natural state or for farming or forestry, and that preserves agriculture, scenic views, water quality, wildlife, passive recreation and archeological sites."
FOR MORE INFO: DEP Report on Moodus Reservoir | Town of East Haddam | East Haddam Land Trust | Recent legislation supporting preservation of open space | Litchfield County's Open Space Equity Group who have also published a readable Guide for Open Space Preservation | About citizen initiated Community Planning Efforts |
What is "open space"? What is sought to preserve? It is "...land that is left in its natural state or for farming or forestry, and that preserves agriculture, scenic views, water quality, wildlife, passive recreation and archeological sites."
FOR MORE INFO: DEP Report on Moodus Reservoir | Town of East Haddam | East Haddam Land Trust | Recent legislation supporting preservation of open space | Litchfield County's Open Space Equity Group who have also published a readable Guide for Open Space Preservation | About citizen initiated Community Planning Efforts |
Labels: community planning, hunting, land preservation, moodus reservoir, open space
¶ 01:23 0 comments
2006-09-18
hunting / gathering
The Moodus Sportsman's Club annual Autumn Harvest Festival is this coming Saturday, September 23rd. Tickets are $14/adults; $12/over 60, $5/under 12. You can get them through any club member at the Moodus Package Store or at the gate. We prefer advance sales, so as to better determine how much to cook. But if the June Shad Bake [on a bad weather day] is anyy indication, we had over 400 people come 
to feast. So let us know early and you can join these happy eaters. And yes, I still have some tickets available myself.
Special thanks, once again, to the generous [anonymous] patron who advance purchased 10 tickets for senior citizens. Her beneficence brings folks to the tables who would not otherise be able to afford it.
We have handicapped parking available. For those who arrive late, and find our parking full, please respect the instructions of our
hard-working parking attendants. When we run out of room for parking at the club we can shuttle folks from the town beach parking lot in about the same time it takes to walk from our own back parking area.
One final note, spaces for this season's the DEP authorized hunter safety and bowhunting classes are already fully booked and registered for. You might be able to get on the wait list or sign up for another available class in the area. You have to do this through Winnie Reid at the Franklin DEP office [860-642-7239].
Click here for a map and directions to the Moodus Sportsman's Club from the East Haddam Swing Bridge.
The Moodus Sportsman's Club annual Autumn Harvest Festival is this coming Saturday, September 23rd. Tickets are $14/adults; $12/over 60, $5/under 12. You can get them through any club member at the Moodus Package Store or at the gate. We prefer advance sales, so as to better determine how much to cook. But if the June Shad Bake [on a bad weather day] is anyy indication, we had over 400 people come to feast. So let us know early and you can join these happy eaters. And yes, I still have some tickets available myself.Special thanks, once again, to the generous [anonymous] patron who advance purchased 10 tickets for senior citizens. Her beneficence brings folks to the tables who would not otherise be able to afford it.
We have handicapped parking available. For those who arrive late, and find our parking full, please respect the instructions of our
hard-working parking attendants. When we run out of room for parking at the club we can shuttle folks from the town beach parking lot in about the same time it takes to walk from our own back parking area. One final note, spaces for this season's the DEP authorized hunter safety and bowhunting classes are already fully booked and registered for. You might be able to get on the wait list or sign up for another available class in the area. You have to do this through Winnie Reid at the Franklin DEP office [860-642-7239].
Click here for a map and directions to the Moodus Sportsman's Club from the East Haddam Swing Bridge.
Labels: bowhunting, hunting, moodus sportsman's club
¶ 09:46 0 comments
2006-08-17
support ethical hunting
Every now and again I like to backtrack on something I'd heard about and find out what happened next. So while searching what sentence was meted out to that errant slob who thought himself a hunter Russell Beller, I came across a site of a bowman with a more ethical perspective on the ancient art of bowhunting. That guy's name is Ron Reddon. I also found his diligent postings on fake-hunting groups and animal rights extremists a refreshing read.
I agree with Ron that fenced-in prey-stalking facilities [like Bellar's Place had been] are nothing more than killing pens. Drugging game animals so inexperienced [or just plain lazy] characters who want to say they shot a deer is not a hunting experience.
Those of us who do hunt should have no compassion for pigs who can't respect their prey. True hunting takes time to develop real hunting skills, and not just the ability to fire off a Browning 270 or a Parker Hunter-Mag Compound Bow. You need to know the terrain; ought to know your prey's grazing, roaming, sleeping and eating habits; have a sense of who [and what] it is you are stalking ...and the humility to thank they prey, once downed, for providing you with sustinance and pelts.
That said, I've long thought, but never really wrote about, my thoughts that slob hunting types is, perhaps, as much about urban/media saturated culture having their interface with nature, however brief, however warped in its perspective.
And how much of this comes from city [and suburban] boys [and girls, hunting is not an art that's just for men] and their ignorance to the power and impact of firearms altogether. When I was a kid, adverts of the Daisy BB Gun were splashed across the backs of comic books nationwide. Developing a sense of responsible use of firearms was inculcated early.
Nowadays, what we get on the backs of comics are PeTA factual errors and news media fear-pandering tales about 14 year old blowing away the neighbor kids at school. For my money, that kind of sad commentary on social interactions is, in part, an outgrowth of people practically born and raised on being afraid of guns [and rifles, bow and arrows, knives and other tools with basic utilitarian purposes but demonized as "weapons". Okay, sure, they can all be used as weapons, but that's were firearms edcuation started early ought to be considered as essential learning skills. No different, in fact, than teaching people how to drive a car.
Hell, more people die from irresponsible vehicle use that deaths from firearms, even when one factors in gang'related violent deaths.
So grow up Americans. Learning the basics such as respect for and capable use of, the tools used in hunting, not only helps lay the foundation for a healthy appreciation of nature, but also starts a kid on a path that knows both hunting responsibly and using firearms in a responsible manner too.
Anyways, if you are interested in ethical hunting [and life in a small town] go check out Ron's site.
Every now and again I like to backtrack on something I'd heard about and find out what happened next. So while searching what sentence was meted out to that errant slob who thought himself a hunter Russell Beller, I came across a site of a bowman with a more ethical perspective on the ancient art of bowhunting. That guy's name is Ron Reddon. I also found his diligent postings on fake-hunting groups and animal rights extremists a refreshing read.I agree with Ron that fenced-in prey-stalking facilities [like Bellar's Place had been] are nothing more than killing pens. Drugging game animals so inexperienced [or just plain lazy] characters who want to say they shot a deer is not a hunting experience.
Those of us who do hunt should have no compassion for pigs who can't respect their prey. True hunting takes time to develop real hunting skills, and not just the ability to fire off a Browning 270 or a Parker Hunter-Mag Compound Bow. You need to know the terrain; ought to know your prey's grazing, roaming, sleeping and eating habits; have a sense of who [and what] it is you are stalking ...and the humility to thank they prey, once downed, for providing you with sustinance and pelts.
That said, I've long thought, but never really wrote about, my thoughts that slob hunting types is, perhaps, as much about urban/media saturated culture having their interface with nature, however brief, however warped in its perspective.And how much of this comes from city [and suburban] boys [and girls, hunting is not an art that's just for men] and their ignorance to the power and impact of firearms altogether. When I was a kid, adverts of the Daisy BB Gun were splashed across the backs of comic books nationwide. Developing a sense of responsible use of firearms was inculcated early.
Nowadays, what we get on the backs of comics are PeTA factual errors and news media fear-pandering tales about 14 year old blowing away the neighbor kids at school. For my money, that kind of sad commentary on social interactions is, in part, an outgrowth of people practically born and raised on being afraid of guns [and rifles, bow and arrows, knives and other tools with basic utilitarian purposes but demonized as "weapons". Okay, sure, they can all be used as weapons, but that's were firearms edcuation started early ought to be considered as essential learning skills. No different, in fact, than teaching people how to drive a car.
Hell, more people die from irresponsible vehicle use that deaths from firearms, even when one factors in gang'related violent deaths.
So grow up Americans. Learning the basics such as respect for and capable use of, the tools used in hunting, not only helps lay the foundation for a healthy appreciation of nature, but also starts a kid on a path that knows both hunting responsibly and using firearms in a responsible manner too.
Anyways, if you are interested in ethical hunting [and life in a small town] go check out Ron's site.
POSTSCRIPT: Slob "hunter" Russell Bellar, on May 6, 2005, he was ordered to serve 366 days in prison and pay $575,000 in fines. His permit to run a deer farm was revoked and his days of entertaining the rich and famous at his 1500-acre ranch are now over. Read the rest of the story.
¶ 02:15 0 comments
