Brokenhead River Game and Fish Association
Minutes – General Meeting April 5, 2017 Beausejour Legion
Attendance: Jeffery Cottes, Ryan Keefe, Todd Buss, Bob Austman, Colette Marr, Dennis Saydak, Paul
Millan, Ian Havelock, Jason Combe, Jerry Marr, Floyd Tissot, Eugene ???, Melissa Gavage, James West,
Chad Schick, Scott Masniuk, Mark Loeppky, Ben Mikoloff, Rick Reis, Leigh Stubel, B. Carter Squire,
Debbie Draward, Glen Collard, Jim Sirois, Tim Putnam, Brett Steffes, Darren Zalusky, Jeff Pratt,
M Botru,
1. Call to Order: at 7:03 p.m. by Jeffery Cottes.
2. Additions to the Agenda:
a) Seven Sisters Shooting Skills Event – May13, 2017
b) Lac Du Bonnet Awards Night – April 22, 2017
c) RM of Brokenhead Meeting Report
d) Silver Anniversary Book
Motion to accept agenda with above additions by Paul Millan, 2 nd Glen Collard, carried.
3. Minutes of March Meeting. Motion to accept by Jason Combe, 2nd by Jerry Marr, carried.
4. Business Arising From the Minutes:
a) RM noise petition discussion – Jeffery Cottes to report under New Business/Bear Pit.
b) Tim Putnam has provided dates for all clays shooting events including an open house day.
The updated events schedule is now available on our web site.
c) The DU Green Wing presentation went well – a date needs to be set. Five youths are interested.
d) Bob Austman provided a comprehensive report from the MWF AGM.
* MWF has several bow hunting programs for 2017 with 80 spots initially available. These spots
were taken in three days. MWF is interested in partnering with groups like ours.
* Many sensible resolutions were considered with some carried and others defeated.
* Two changes were made to their constitution.
* Fish populations are plummeting due to commercial fishing pressure, illegal fishing and
unreported fishing in Lake Winnipeg.
* Policy branch speaker – elimination of night hunting is a high conservation and public safety
priority. More cooperation from first nations groups is needed for meetings & discussions.
* Wild Turkey trap and transfer activities are still occurring to establish populations in new
areas.
* Air surveys of 3 areas reveal a significant decline in Moose populations. Cause varies from predation to
habitat destruction. Elk in the Vita area are doing well. The Bisset area could not be surveyed this year
due to lack of snow.
* Approximately $65,000.00 in recent poaching fines will benefit the F&W Enhancement Fund.
However, there is a problem collecting the fines from individuals unable to pay. Options are
being considered to resolve this problem.
* Caribou herds are facing many challenges from habitat loss/fires/climate change etc. A
population decline of 50% is significant (400,000 animals in 1996 to 2000.000 in 2017).
* Chronic Wasting Disease is on the rise in Saskatchewan deer, elk & moose populations.
So far Manitoba hasn’t been affected but the situation is being monitored. The virus is next to
impossible to kill.
* Cathy Cox stated that night hunting is to be eliminated by the fall of 2017.
5. Communications:
* Brokenhead River Foundation dinner presentation invite - no one able to attend.
*There was no other correspondence.
6. Officer Reports:
Treasurer - Ryan Keefe reported account balances of:
Royal Bank - $43,229.86. Sunova Credit Union - $2,480.81.
Motion to accept Ryan’s report made by Bruce Carter Squire, 2nd by Jerry Marr, carried.
7. Committee Chair Reports:
a) Membership: Colette Marr reported we have 121 paid members for 2017 with more expected to join
at tomorrows range orientation.
b) Purchaser: No Report.
c) Big Game: Position is vacant.
d) Fishing: Paul Millan reported the Gull Lake derby was successful with 26 participants and 27 fish
caught (14 Perch, 313 Pike).
e) Archery: Position is vacant.
f) Range: Todd stated there will be an orientation session at the range tomorrow.
g) Sporting Clays: Tim Putnam has provided all dates for clay shooting events. The events schedule has
been updated. We have approximately $47,000.00 invested in various equipment and inventory items.
This includes 10 auto and one manual thrower plus $12.000.00 in targets. Event volunteers are always
welcome.
h) Bucks Draw: Continues to be a successful fund raising project.
I) Crow Shoot: An estimated 15 to 20 people attended.
J) Moose Management: Bob Austman reported that the last meeting of this committee is scheduled for
next week. The Model Forest Program has been shelved due to funds being cut off.
Motion to accept committee reports made by Paul Millan, 2nd by Chad Schick, carried.
8) New Business:
a) 2017 Range Use Calendar: The web site calendar has been updated for all known events. Bob Austman
is working on possible additions for a Green Wing event (August 26/27) and a “Hail Mary” .22 HMR
event to encourage youth participation.
Motion made to approve the calendar by Jason Combe, 2nd by Paul Millan, carried.
b) A Big Game Management meeting will be held April 19th at the Monominto Chapel in Anola.
c) Seven Sisters Shooting Skills Event will be held on May 13th. Volunteers are needed.
d) Lac Du Bonnet Awards night will be held on April 22, 2017 at the LDB Legion. Tickets are $10.00.
e) Dennis Saydak suggested we publish a Silver Anniversary Yearbook in 2022 documenting the history,
activities and accomplishments of our association. He is willing to do the publishing work.
f) A motion to donate $500.00 to the Beausejour Legion for our meetings use of the facility was made by
Paul Millan, 2nd by Bruce Carter Squire, carried.
9) “TheBear Pit”
A intense discussion took place regarding the range noise complaint we are currently dealing with. After
considerable discussion direction from the membership was given to the Executive how to proceed on this
matter.
Motion to adjourn the meeting @ 9:05 p.m.was made by Jerry Marr, seconded by Jason Combe, carried.