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News & Views March 2014
West Chester Fish Game & Wildlife
Association
Events Calendar
March 22, 2014
Trout Stocking-
West Valley Creek
March 29, 2014
Regional Opening Day
of Trout Season
April 11, 2014
Trout Stocking-West
Valley Creek
April 12, 2014
Annual "Chip Gibson"
Memorial Trout Rodeo
May 9, 2014
Trout Stocking-West
Valley Creek
May 10, 2014
Trout Rodeo
Mentored Youth Trout
Day
June 21, 2014
Bass Rodeo
July 19, 2014
Hunter Safety Class
September 13, 2014
Stream Improvement
Day
Glade Squires Honored at Annual Meeting Glade Squires, most recent past-
President of our organization, was honored
with a plaque by past-President John Johnson
at the Annual Membership Meeting in Febru-
ary. Glade will remain active in the Club, con-
tinuing to serve on the Executive Committee.
We all wish to thank him for his hard work,
dedication and excellent leadership during his
term as our President.
Members also voted to fill a full slate
of positions at the meeting. The following of-
fices were up for election this year: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Also up for election were five Executive Committee seats and two Junior Executive
Committee seats. These positions were filled by the following members:
Officers for the 2014-2015 term:
President Gary Dunn Secretary George Poole
Vice President Larry Athens Treasurer Bernie McGovern
Executive Committee for 2014-2015 term:
Gary Dunn
Don Finn
John Johnson
Mark Kershaw (Jr. Mem.)
Bernie McGovern
George Poole
Liz Rutter
Glade Squires
Arlene Stewart
Fletcher Swanson
Rick Waltz Sr.
Ricky Waltz Jr. (Jr. Mem.)
Larry Startzell Honored
Larry Startzell was honored for his 35 years of con-
tinuous service as a Hunter Safety Instructor. Keith Mullin,
Wildlife Conservation Officer, the Pennsylvania Game Com-
mission, presented Larry with an award at the Hunter Safety
School held at the beginning of March.
Larry is an avid sportsman and a past president of
the West Chester Fish Game and Wildlife Association. Our
congratulations go out to Larry for his dedication and service,
passing on his knowledge and experience of hunting and the
outdoors to the next generation of sportsmen and women.
If you are interested in becoming a Hunter Safety Instructor like Larry, more
information is available at the Pennsylvania Game Commission website at
www.pgc.state.pa.us.
Glade Squires (left) with John Johnson
Inside this issue:
Treasurer’s Report
Thoughts From the
2
2
Nursery Report
Fish Stocking Dates
Let’s Go Fishing
3 3 3
Blue Birds 4
Kids in the Wild 7
Our Sponsors 8
Upcoming Events 8
Page 2 News & Views
Treasurer’s Report
By Bernie McGovern
Financial Status as of
March 10, 2014
Income YTD $595
Expenses YTD $309
Checking $9,247
CD Savings 12,515
Savings $5,689
Life Savings 6,922
WCFG&WA Officers
2014—2015
President—Gary Dunn
Vice President—Larry Athens
Secretary—George Poole
Treasurer—Bernie McGovern
Exec. Committee 2014-15
Larry Athens, Gary Dunn, Don
Finn, John Johnson, Mark
Kershaw (Jr. Mem.), Bernie
McGovern, George Poole, Liz
Rutter, Glade Squires, Arlene
Stewart, Fletcher Swanson,
Rick Waltz, Sr., Ricky Waltz,
Jr. (Jr. Mem.)
Exec. Committee 2013-14
Deborah Athens, Mike Colley,
Matthew Estberg, Steve
Estberg, Andy Madsen, A. J.
Miller, Jim Semetti
Turn In A Poacher Or
Litterer
Call W.C.O. Bob Bonney
610-637-6398
Thoughts from the President by Gary Dunn
In many regards an organization is very much like a classic car. In both cases it
requires a drive train, a spark of energy, regular maintenance and fuel to keep it running
properly.
In our case the ‘Drive Train’ is the officers and board members who continual-
ly give their time and expertise. The ‘Spark of Energy’ comes from the members and
volunteers who faithfully come out to participate in our many projects throughout the
year. The ‘maintenance and fuel’ comes from our many business partners who donate
goods and services for the kids at our fishing rodeos and for our raffle prizes that help
generate revenue to keep things running.
Last, but not least, is the need for a place to keep the ‘vehicle’. In our case this
place is provided by our unique relationship with Paradise Farm Camp where our
nursery is located and many of our events take place.
It is for all of the above that I wish to thank everyone involved in this endeavor
and to ask for your continued support, physically, mentally and monetarily to make
2014 a great and memorable year for the West Chester Fish Game & Wildlife Associa-
tion.
Become a member if you are not already one.
Thanks again to you all,
Gary Dunn, President WCFGWA
Volunteers Wanted!
Yes, we want you. If you have an interest in becom-
ing more involved in the Club, we have opportunities
for you.
Nursery Committee: We can always use more
fish feeders.
Stocking Committee: Stocking season is upon us
and help is appreciated.
Stream Improvement Projects: We can never have
too many workers at these events. Check the
schedule of work days at the website
www.wcfgwa.org in the "Calendar" section.
Trout and Bass Rodeos: Come help make these days to remember for the youth
who participate by helping them learn how to fish.
Hunter Safety: We need people who are trained instructors as well as members
who are willing to become trained as instructors.
If you are interested in getting involved in any of these activities, please contact us at
[email protected] and the appropriate person will respond to you.
Page 3 News & Views
Nursery Report by Mike Colley Now that winter is upon us all is very cold but well at the nursery with excellent wa-
ter flow and no ice forming inside the holding pens. The extremely cold weather does cause
the fish to stop feeding since the water temperatures are often in the 30’s and they cannot
digest food as well due to their slowed metabolic rate. Other than reducing their growth rate,
this does not cause problems for the fish.
We received a request from Brandywine Trout Club for 5 bags of trout food since
they were running short of food for their fish. I delivered the requested food which will be
replaced or paid for by their organization later this spring.
Finally, I would like to offer special thanks to all of you on my feeding team that
volunteer for the twice daily fish feeding through these unusually persistent adverse weather
conditions.
Fish Stocking at West Valley Creek
The WCFGWA will stock the West Valley Creek with fish from our nursery on the following dates:
Saturday, March 22nd at 10:00 a.m.
Friday, April 11th at 6:00 p.m.
Friday, May 9th at 6:00 p.m.
Additional dates could be added if necessary. Volunteers are most welcome. You will need boots and must be
able to carry buckets of trout that can weigh up to 35 pounds. Children are welcome to come and watch, but must stay
on the sidelines. Our nursery is located on the Paradise Farm Camp property at:
1300 Valley Creek Road,
Downingtown, PA 19335
If you would like to volunteer contact us at [email protected].
Let’s Go Fishing!
This year, we are again holding three Youth Fishing Days for those 15
years of age and younger.
Annual “Chip Gibson” Memorial Trout Rodeo - April 12th
Trout Rodeo -May 10th
Bass Rodeo—June 21st
These are all open to the public and families are welcome, so please let
friends and neighbors know the dates for these events. Our nursery is located on the Paradise Farm Camp property at:
1300 Valley Creek Road
Downingtown, PA 19335
See our web page for more information - http://wcfgwa.org
Page 4 News & Views
Bluebirds By Debbie Athens
The bluebird carries the sky on his back.
Henry David Thoreau
Though it may seem hard to believe, spring is upon us. For most of us, the greater
amount of sunshine and warmer temperatures cannot come too soon. And so it is
with our feathered friends who will shortly be on the lookout for the perfect place to
build a nest. Over the past decades, modernization, housing, industrialization, and
general urban sprawl have led to more and more habitat loss for the wonderful native
creatures that also share the area where we live. Bluebirds are some beautiful neigh-
bors to contemplate at this time of year. Their extraordinary color is a feast for the
eyes and because they feed mainly on insects, they are good friends to welcome into
your garden. Unfortunately, because of habitat loss and the introduction of non-
native species such as English sparrows and starlings that are more aggressive, blue-
bird populations have been in decline. This is where we come in. Consider con-
structing one or more bluebird houses to entice these exquisite birds into your yard
or to share with a friend for their yard .The houses are simple to make and are readi-
ly accepted by bluebirds. The full instructions are included in this newsletter and can
also be printed from our website at www.wcfgwa.org under Newsletters. We want to
remind everyone that “WILDLIFE” is part of our organization’s name. Here are a
few additional tips to help guarantee your success.
Cedar and redwood are ideal materials, although other types of wood can be used. Just don’t use treated lumber.
Do not use a perch.
The entrance hole should be 1 ½” diameter.
Avoid mounting your bluebird house to a fencepost or tree that can be easily accessed by raccoons; instead con-
sider using a smooth, round piece of pipe.
Mount bluebird houses so that the entrance is approximately 5 feet above the ground.
Houses should be spaced 100 to 150 yards apart, since bluebirds are territorial.
Bluebirds usually nest in late March or early April, so have your new bluebird house placed (or old ones cleaned
out) by mid-March.
Bluebirds usually have two broods a year, so remove the old nest after the first brood has fledged to ready the
box for a second brood.
If you are closely monitoring your bluebird house, remove house sparrow nests immediately. Bluebird nests are
cup-shaped and made of fine grasses with occasional pine needles and have 4-5 (or up to 7) light blue (but occa-
sionally white) eggs. House sparrow nests are canopy-style and made of course grass, feathers, and trash with 5-6
gray-white eggs speckled with dark brown.
I hope you enjoy watching bluebirds in your yard as much as I do in mine.
Photo courtesy Jake Dingel, PGC
The full scale drawings are also available on our website at www.wcfgwa.org under Newsletters.
Page 5 News & Views
Page 6 News & Views
News & Views Page 7
Kids in the Wild
We want to hear about your adventures fishing, hunting and wildlife watching! So please email your stories and
pictures to News & Views at [email protected] and receive an official WCFGWA T-shirt!
Once In A Lifetime Buck by Nick Hogg
It was Saturday October 26, 2013 and the pre-rut activity
was going strong. I was looking forward to hunting with my Dad
and some of our friends in Southern Chester county. There was
light frost, no wind and temps. in the low 30’s.
About mid morning we saw a buck slowly moving to an
opening at about 45 yards. We initially thought it was a 6 or 8
point; it didn't seem big as we were concentrating to get a
shot. The buck paused at the opening for a few minutes, which
seemed like an hour. I told Dad I couldn't get a clear shot, but
then the buck took several steps and it looked like he turned
broadside. I pulled the trigger on the crossbow and the buck took-
off, with the common tail-down sign of a hit. I thought I saw the
arrow hit back a little, but I wasn’t certain. The buck had headed
downhill, toward the creek, we followed the trail down a walking-
path heading downstream for few hundred yards. Suddenly, the buck jumped-up and ran about 80 yards and
crashed. We inched ahead and the buck took one last run, down into the creek. We worked our way down and
pulled him out. We couldn’t believe how big it was. We recovered the arrow with the buck in the creek.
The rack has ten points, a 21 inch inside spread and the weight-estimation tape wrapped tightly around the
chest indicated a 204 pound live-weight. The buck had corn, grass and acorns in its stomach. My Dad says it was a
once in a lifetime buck. He's now got a spot on the wall in my room.
Nick Hogg is 12 years old, and is currently a 6th grade student at Collegium Charter School.
Duck Hunting by Colin Finn
Over Christmas break I went to North Carolina to go duck hunting with my
uncle. According to all the people in North Carolina, they said the ducking hunting
was bad. But as far as I could tell,
there were a lot of ducks. The
weather was nice, about 50 degrees
and sunny.
One day we did get a little
bit of rain but that was it. My uncle
and I, not having the best shot,
missed just about every shot. But we
did get a total of 3 ducks in 3 days
which I thought was good especially since I've never been duck hunt-
ing before. I go deer hunting about two or three times a week, but
duck hunting is a totally different experience. If you hunt but have never gone duck hunting you have to try it.
Colin Finn is 16 years old, and is currently a 10th grade student at Henderson High School.
Decoys and ducks on the Core Sound
West Chester Fish Game & Wildlife Association
P.O. Box 511
West Chester, PA 19381-0511
Upcoming Events
Executive Committee meets the second Monday of each month at the East Bradford Township Building.
March 29, 2014 Regional Opening Day of Trout
Season
April 11, 2014 Trout Stocking
April 12, 2014 Annual "Chip Gibson" Memorial-
Trout Rodeo
May 10, 2014 Trout Rodeo
Mentored Youth Trout Day
June 21, 2014 Bass Rodeo
Please remember to send your email to:
West Chester Fish, Game & Wildlife Association
Membership Application
Date:_______________
Full Name (Please Print Clearly) □ New □Renewal
_____________________________________ □ Regular $25.00
Address:
_____________________________________ □ Family $30.00
City, State, Zip:
_____________________________________ □ Junior $10.00
Telephone No.:
_____________________________________ □ Life $250.00
E-Mail Address:
______________________________________ □ Donation $______
Make your check payable to:
West Chester Fish, Game & Wildlife Association
P.O. Box 511 West Chester, PA 19381-0511
Gordon’s Sports Supply 129 Pottstown Pike
Chester Springs, PA 19425 Phone: 610-458-5153
