Spirit of the Sportsman

Here we see yet another act of benevolence by sportsmen, this time in the great state of Delaware.

“During the 2009-2010 deer season, hunters donated 777 deer to the Delaware Sportsmen Against Hunger Program.

The donations were processed into 26,546 pounds of venison, which will provide more than 100,000 meals for needy Delawareans. DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife staff is working to distribute the frozen ground venison to more than 30 charitable organizations and food pantries throughout the state.

This venison has been processed by nine participating private butchers plus a butcher shop located at the Sussex Community Corrections Center in Georgetown. The venison processing facility is staffed by offenders who are serving sentences in the SCCC’s Violation of Probation Center, and who have been specially trained for the job.

Since the program began in 2005, the facility has processed nearly 40,000 pounds of venison. This year, the facility processed 213 deer into 8,110 pounds of venison at substantial savings to the program.”

Here we see more action by sportsmen to share with those in need. We salute everyone involved with the Sportsmen Against Hunger efforts in Delaware.

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Safari Club International put on the 7th annual Feed The Hungry Feast in Reno, Nevada. Hunters from SCI along with local charities fed hungry families with the meat harvested from local hunts.

Kudos to hunters and SCI for yet another act of benevolence and conservation.

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In times of uncertainty, many people invest in precious metals. It seems to be a wise investment.

“It sat on a shelf in the closet for years, a rosewood case containing two Civil War-era revolvers with ivory handles. The guns had been a gift from a friend to Sharlene Perez’s late husband, but they held no sentimental value for her. So in June, she decided it was time to sell them.

She slipped the case into a sturdy Lord & Taylor shopping bag and took a taxi six blocks to meet appraiser Greg Martin in midtown Manhattan, N.Y. She knew that there were engravings on the barrels, that the grips were monogrammed and that an inscription on the lid of the case indicated that townspeople in Watertown, N.Y., had given the guns to William C. Browne, a local man heading off to serve as a colonel in the Civil War.

In her most optimistic moments, Perez hoped the guns might net $20,000.

Instead, she “about keeled over,” Martin said, when he told her the guns were Colt 1851 Navy revolvers and might be worth 10 times as much. He told her there would be an auction in Anaheim in September. He told her he would set the appraisal value at $125,000 to $250,000.

Her husband died in 1995, and she put the guns away until she saw a magazine ad for gun appraisals. That eventually led to her June meeting with Martin and Sunday’s auction a continent away from her home.

After months of nervous anticipation for Perez, Bradley began the count that would alter her life. From the starting point of $50,000, Bradley’s rapid-fire delivery matched the bids coming in. Within 20 seconds, bids climbed to $55,000, $60,000, $65,000, $75,000, $85,000, $95,000, $100,000, $110,000 and $120,000. Perez sat stoically, her hands held together.

Bradley never broke stride: “$120 is bid, go $130 . . . $120 is the bid . . . $130 is bid . . . $130,000 is now bid, go $140. . . .”

But $140,000 never came, and after 50 seconds, Bradley slapped the lectern and sold the set for $130,000 to a man bidding over the telephone.

Martin congratulated Perez.”

We congratulate Mrs. Perez and are glad her late husband was able to provide for her well in a market established by gun owners.

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The state of Idaho is producing girls with their priorities straight…good for them!

“A young girl in Pocatello is loving life after she received a hunting rifle and gear from very generous donors in the Gate City.

12-year-old Chantelly Westmoreland is from Challis and had a kidney transplant in June after waiting the last seven years for a new one. She has been working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and one of her wishes was to get a new rifle to go hunting with her grandfather.

The Make-A-Wish foundation’s policy is not to give out fire arms but they have helped her by giving her a $2,400 shopping trip in August.

So the department of Fish and Game along with an anonymous donor from Bancroft, ISU Credit Union, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Snake River Firearms Instructors came together to grant Chantelly’s wish.

After growing up watching her grandfather hunt, she wants to follow in his footsteps.

“My grandpa is putting me in for elk and deer so both like he is,” said Chantelly Westmoreland, who is receiving a rifle and hunting package.

Chantelly got a new rifle, ammo and other hunting gear. She plans to go hunting with her grandfather near Challis Hot Springs next month.”

Make a wish

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NRA ILA
Wounded Warrior Project
Hunts For Heroes

If you would like any other benevolent organization listed, contact us.

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Thank You

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We’re in crazy times. Economic roller coaster, pandemic hysteria, question marks everywhere. With all the uncertainty it would be easy to retreat inward and become selfish, isolated, and anti-social. As a country, we must resist this temptation. Americans are known the world over as the most generous and giving people in history. We must live up to that truth. On Saturday May 9th, we have a perfect opportunity to be all that we aspire to be. And…it couldn’t be easier.

On Saturday the 9th of May just put a can, a box, a bag, maybe a case of food next to your mailbox before your letter carrier arrives and be a part of the largest food drive in the nation and probably the world. Now more than ever we need each other. Don’t wait for somebody else; don’t wait for the government. Do it.

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Boy Scouts of America Camp Seminole in Broward County, Florida was shut-down in 2005 after it was devastated during hurricane Wilma. The camp hosted 25,000 campers annually including many Boy Scout events.

Mostly private benefactors, most notably Downrite Engineering donated a total of 12 million dollars to renovate the facility.

Camp Seminole Renovation

” Visitors will enter on a paved, tree-lined roadway that runs along the camp’s lake. An 8,000 square-foot dining hall that can hold 300 people will be the centerpiece of camp operations, serving as a training and meeting center…

The camp will feature nine campsites with a capacity of 600 campers. One of the campsites will be handicapped-accessible and have platform tents. There will be four restroom/shower facilities, an amphitheater and a nondenominational chapel.

Recreational facilities will include a basketball court, air rifle range and archery range. An aquatics pavilion adjoining the lake will offer swimming lessons in a designated swimming area complete with a filtration system. The lake also will be used for sailboating and canoeing.

…The camp will host activities for underprivileged children and those wanting to experience their first summer sleep-away camp. Family camping will be available, as well as camping for the Venturing Program, a co-ed program for youths ages 14-20.

The second phase of construction includes a swimming pool, additional restroom/shower houses, a craft area and program pavilions.”

The Spirit of the Sportsman salutes the Boy Scouts of America and BSA supporters that promote one of the greatest character-improving organizations for boys in existence today.

Scout’s honor

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Accomplished hunter and author, Frank Minter has detailed in his book ‘The Politically Incorrect Guide To Hunting’ how hunters have a positive effect on the economy by funding conservation through licenses and fees and donating the meat harvested to the poor and disadvantaged. Here we have a story out of Ohio supporting this point.

“This past hunting season, the food bank got 198 deer, processed into 6,503 pounds of venison. That provided a source of lean protein for more than 5,000 meals, said food bank coordinator Marilyn Sloan. The food bank stocks 203 food pantries and soup kitchens throughout southeastern Ohio.”

The Second Harvest Food Bank reports that since the program was started, hunters have donated enough meat for 219,200 meals. Oddly enough that’s roughly equivalent to the amount of food Michael Moore ingests at a single feeding.

Other hunter’s benevolent organizations:

Hunters For The Hungry
Hunter’s Harvest
Hunt Of A Lifetime
Kids Unlimited
Special Youth Challenge

If you know of any notable sportsman’s benevolent organzations, let us know.

Charity

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In April we observe National Guard Day.

“The history of the National Guard dates all the way back to 1735, more than 40 years before the Revolutionary War.”

Our prayers and gratitude go to the men and women of the United States National Guard and all those who support them.

Service

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