April 2025, Volume 80 No. 4
Club Website- www.richlandrodandgun.org
Club Facebook- www.Facebook.com/RichlandRodandGunClub
2025/2026 Officers
President
Evan Kirkpatrick
(414) 534-2817
Secretary
Mike Estes
(509) 551-9066
Treasurer
Ron Moore
(509) 521-4528
I GIVE MY PLEDGE AS AN AMERICAN TO SAVE AND FAITHFULLY DEFEND FROM WASTE,
THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF MY COUNTRY; ITS AIR, SOILS, AND MINERALS.
ITS FORESTS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE. I WILL HELP EDUCATE FUTURE GENERATIONS
TO BE RESPONSIBLE CARETAKERS OF THE RESOURCES OF AMERICA.
Welcome to Our New Members
The Board approved five new memberships this month. Please extend a warm welcome to Mark Melton of Starbuck, Michael Jordan of Burbank, Jordan McCreight and family of Benton City, Bob Turner and family of West Richland, and Chris Almanza and family of Kennewick. We love seeing new family memberships!
Next Hunter Education Class Starts March 31, 2025
The next Hunter Education class begins on Monday March 31, 2025. It will be an evening class held at Grigg’s Department Store in Pasco from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. On line registration is open on the WDFW web site and at least eighteen persons have already registered for the class.
Thank You’s Received
Thank you letters were received this month from RRGC Use of Funds donation recipients Friends of the Mid-Columbia River Wildlife Refuges, USA Shooting, and the NRA Foundation. The donation to FMCRWR helps sustain the environmental education program at McNary NWR. The donation to USA Shooting helps fund preparation of the USA teams for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. USA Olympic teams are 100% funded by private donations. The NRA Foundation letter states “Your support is instrumental in advancing our mission to promote firearms education, safety, and training programs across the country and to enable us to continue efforts to preserve our shooting sports heritage, support youth programs, and ensure that the principles of responsible gun ownership are passed down to future generations.” Money well invested!
Wood Duck Nest Box Maintenance
Dale Schielke, John Merk, and their helpers have nearly completed the annual nest box cleaning and documentation of the 2024 nesting season use. As of last week 566 existing boxes have been checked and 26 new boxes installed, some of which are replacements of old worn-out boxes. Of the checked boxes, 252 were used by wood ducks, with 145 boxes hatching out 1620 ducklings. Two boxes were found with honeybees that have since been transferred to a beekeeper. We also had 78 boxes that were used by screech owls, plus 2 boxes with Saw Whet Owls. During these spring checks we recaptured 10 Screech Owls that were previously banded and captured 6 Screech Owls plus 2 Saw Whet Owls that we banded. We hope to finish the remaining ~60 boxes on the Yakima River by boat before the first of April. Dale and John are scheduled for a display at Libby Middle School STEM Day in mid-April. Banding checks will start in some of the boxes in late April or early May. The photo below shows Nature School students who helped install wood duck nesting boxes the class built at an earlier Nature School session at the Richland Library.
Guzzler Maintenance
March was a very busy month for guzzler work. On March 6 a team comprised of Larry Martin, Robert Gerhard, Bill Watson, and Wade Conant repaired Guzzler 305 near the intersection of SR 397 and Owens Road south of Kennewick. On March 14 Rex Sherburn of Pheasants Forever and Larry Martin looked for and found a way to get repair materials and equipment to Guzzler 220 which is located in the Pepiot and Blanton roads area in Franklin County. Work to relocate Guzzler 220 out of the tumbleweed infested area and install a new pair of rain catchment aprons is scheduled for March 28th. McKaden Manderbach of the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Jerry Bloom, Dale Schielke & Larry Martin replaced Guzzler 342 on March 18. The guzzler had been destroyed by fire. Guzzler 342 is located in far west Benton County, in the McKinley Springs & Farnum roads area.
Vice President
Adrian Quinones
(619) 861-9204
Photo of the Month Contest Guidelines
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Must be taken in current license year.
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May include hunting, fishing, habitat, camping.
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Must include a critter (human or wild).
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Harvested game must include the hunter or angler.
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Winners will be selected by the Board of Directors.
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All photos become property of the Club.
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Note: The Board may use discretion in applying the guidelines when selecting the winning photo.
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Please include name of photographer and date taken.
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To submit entry, email it to rrgcsecretary@gmail.com at least 6 hours before the monthly board meeting which occurs at 7:00pm on the third Thursday of each month.
MEETINGS AND DEADLINES
Next General Meeting – April 1, 7:00 PM at Richland Public Library
Next Board Meeting- April 15, 7:00 PM at Griggs Pasco Hunter Ed room
May Newsletter Contribution Deadline is April 22.
Email: admin@richlandrodandgun.org
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April 1 General Membership Meeting
7:00pm at the Richland Public Library
Bass tournament fisherman Rickey Hamilton of West Richland will share his knowledge about spring bass fishing during his presentation at our April 1 meeting. If you are itching to get on the water and catch some fish this spring, it never hurts to have as many tactics as possible at your disposal. You might pick up a tip or two from this program to add to your bag of tricks.
Become a member today!
Download the April 2025 newsletter
Photo of the Month
There was one contest entry this month. Bill Lambert’s winning photo shows Bill and his hunting buddies on a successful snow goose hunt in Walla Walla County on February 25. The photo was taken by Kevin Halazon. Bill donated sixteen snow geese for the Wild Game Dinner. Good job, Bill!
RRGC Memorial Scholarship
Applications are currently being accepted for Richland Rod and Gun Club Memorial Scholarships. The scholarship is named in memory of the club’s devoted members now deceased. Eligible applicants should be pursuing a conservation related degree such as natural resources management, fish and wildlife sciences, forest resources, range ecology and management, or similar wildlife or natural resources related program and have enough college credits to qualify as junior status by next fall. Scholarship selections are based on merit. Applications must be submitted via email no later than April 14, 2025 to rrgcsecretary@gmail.com. Contact Mike Estes (509-551-9066) for application forms or more information.
Hunter Education Pheasant Hunt Recap by Ron Ruth
Twenty-eight Hunter Education course graduates participated in the 2025 HE pheasant hunt at Limits Game Farm near Mesa on February 22. Participants started their day shooting clay birds at the Connell Gun Club followed by a safety briefing at Limits. Hunters were split into two groups with the second group arriving at Limits about the time the first group concluded its hunt. While hunters of both groups were at Limits concurrently, Ron Ruth presented a “hunting clinic” and WDFW Enforcement Officer Tom Bolt addressed the group and answered questions. Lunch was provided after the clinic by Limits Game Farm and Pheasants Forever. Approximately 100 people enjoyed Tri-Tip, chicken, and the fixings. The second group of hunters hunted after lunch.
Hunters were paired with mentors and dog handlers and directed to the hunt locations. WDFW provided funds for 100 pheasants that were released for the hunt. All of the hunters got a shot at a bird and most (maybe 65% to 75%) harvested one or more birds.
Special thanks to the sponsors of this year’s hunt: Ringold Pheasants Forever Chapter for purchasing and preparing the food; Connell Gun Club for providing the facilities and clay bird thrower; WDFW for providing the funds to purchase the birds and providing guns for those that didn’t have one to hunt with; Tom Bolt, enforcement officer, for his presentation; Richland Rod and Gun Club for providing guns to those students that didn’t have one, and a very nice monitory donation; Griggs Department Store in Pasco for the hunting ammunition; and 1st Hunt Foundation for their liability coverage. Special thanks to Ashley Reser for helping with the check-in process. Over 25 individuals volunteered this year as either mentors or dog handlers. Several PF volunteers helped with the setting up of the dining hall, did all the cooking, planted the pheasants, and showed the hunters how to clean birds. A very special thanks to Dave and Pam Piovesan of Limits Game Farm for all the help, coordination, use of facilities, and making sure this year’s Hunter Education pheasant hunt was a success. Special thanks to everyone who contributed to making this a great event. John Prather and Dave Myers submitted the following photos from the hunt.
See below for contest rules and please keep those photos coming! All contest submittals will appear on the big screen at the Wild Game Dinner in March.
Annual Meeting - Election of Officers and Trustees
Annual election of officers and trustees which comprise the Board of Directors was held at
the March general membership meeting. Board members for 2025-2026 (April 1 through
March 31) are:
President: Evan Kirkpatrick
Vice-President: Adrian Quinones
Treasurer: Ron Moore
Secretary: Mike Estes
Immediate Past President: Richard Sharp
Trustees: Maija Greer, Tim Irvin, Monte Kelsey, Paul Kison, Packy Lackey, Micah Little, Larry Martin, Karen McNiven, Dave Miller, Dave Myers, John Prather, Dale Schielke, Braydon Wodtli, and Pete Workman.
Thank you to everyone who served on the Board last year and to those who have agreed to serve for the coming year.
Membership Renewals
Annual memberships expire on March 31. If you haven’t paid your dues for the coming year yet, please do so soon because we don’t want to lose you as a member. If you need assistance or have questions about your membership, please send an email to richlandrodandgunmembership@gmail.com
KOE 2025 Fishing Events and Group Rod Assembly
The KOE Special Needs fishing event will be held on Friday, April 11 at Columbia Park Pond and the KOE Kids Fishing Day will be held the next day on Saturday, April 12 at the same location. Registration for Kids Fishing Day opened on line on March 14 and sold out in less than a day. Now we need lots of volunteers to assist with assembly of more than 1,000 fishing rods and to assist as fishing mentors, fish cleaners, and helpers at the events.
KOE has purchased two additional fish cleaning stations this year to help speed up the process. Additional fish cleaners will be needed to man those stations. Group rod assembly will be on Saturday, March 29, beginning at 9:00am at Grigg’s in Pasco. Lunch will be provided to volunteers. Rods may also be picked up that morning for assembly at home. Please save these dates on your calendar and plan to lend a hand.
MARCH 29 – 9AM GRIGGS - ROD ASSEMBLY and rod pick up for home assembly
APRIL 9 – FISH ARRIVE AT POND – SECURITY HELP NEEDED
APRIL 11 – 7AM SET UP BY CITY, 9AM FINISH SET UP – FISH CLEANING STATION
APRIL 11 – SPECIAL NEEDS FISHING 12:30 TO 6PM. VOLUNTEER DINNER 6PM
APRIL 12 – 7AM TO 4PM FISHING, THEN CLEANUP
Contact information: Marilyn Steele, momhoops46@gmail.com
Wild Game Dinner Recap
The 73rd annual RRGC Wild Game Dinner is history and what a fun evening it was! Thanks to Marilyn’s Steele’s leadership and the work of the dozens of volunteers who helped with the food preparation, cooking and baking, and event set up and tear down. Wild game and fish and fowl prepared in so many tasty ways and much more food than we could fit into the stomachs of all the attendees. Thanks to the individuals and businesses who donated prizes for the bucket raffles, door prizes, and silent auction and congratulations to all the prize winners. John Clement’s program presentation of his photography showing skies aglow with color that our eyes often miss or cannot even see was enthralling. Congratulations to Ron Moore for being recognized with a Distinguished Service Award. Mike Estes was the lucky winner of the Quality Trip with Richard Sharp drawn as the alternate winner in the unlikely event that Mike cannot take the trip.
Introduction to Fishing Class Recap
Sixteen individuals signed up for the March 1 Introduction to Fishing class in the Grigg’s classroom but a large portion did not show up, possibly because it was an absolutely beautiful warm and sunny day. Richard Sharp was the instructor. Richard received assistance from volunteers Maija Greer, Tim Irvin, Dave Meyers, Pete Workman, Silas Clayton, and Bill and Teresa Shott Wiese. Many things were demonstrated, knots were learned and tied. and hook safety was emphasized. One young angler showed particular interest in the knots and in no time was rigging his own outfit! Seeing his face and the others enjoy the class and get excited about fishing makes this event very fulfilling! Thanks
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Richland volunteer opportunities for members (richlandrodandgun.org)
Get involved in one of our Committees:
Salmon in the Classroom: Mike Estes estesm34@gmail.com or
Gene Van Liew – e.van-liew@hotmail.com
Wild Game Dinner 2025: Marilyn Steele – momhoops46@gmail.com
Wood Ducks: Dale Schielke – dahlialou@gmail.com
KOE Kids Fishing Day: Marilyn Steele – momhoops46@gmail.com
Hunter Ed: Ron Ruth – RonRuth.HunterEd@gmail.com
Guzzlers: Larry Martin - larry49martin@gmail.com
Youth Conservation Camp: Larry Martin - larry49martin@gmail.com
Membership: Karen McNiven – richlandrodandgunmembership@gmail.com
Scholarship: Mike Estes - estesm34@gmail.com
Website: Braydon Wodtli and Micah Little – admin@richlandrodandgun.org
RRGC Club Upcoming Activities
WGD Sausage Making – February 28 at 5:30pm at John Prather’s shop
WGD Sausage Making - March 1 at 9:00am at John Prather’s shop
Introduction to Fishing Class – March 1 from noon to 3:00pm, Grigg’s Dept. Store in Pasco
WGD Meatball Making – March 2 at 9:00am at Marilyn Steele’s home
Next General Membership Meeting – March 4 at 7:00pm, Richland Public Library
Chukar Prep – March 9 at Noon at John Prather’s shop
More Chukar Prep – March 16 at Noon at John Prather’s shop
Wild Game Dinner Set Up – March 21 at 9:00am at Benton Co. Fairgrounds Building 4
Wild Game Dinner Final Prep – March 22 at 7:00am, BCF Building 4
Wild Game Dinner – March 22 at 5:00pm, BCF Building 4, Kennewick
KOE Rod Assembly – March 29 at 9:00am, Grigg’s Dept. Store in Pasco
Hunter Education Class – Starts March 31, 6:00pm-9:00pm Grigg’s Dept. Store in Pasco
KOE Special Needs Fishing Day – April 11 from 9:00am to 6:00pm, Columbia Park Pond
KOE Kids Fishing Day – April 12 from 7:00am to 5:00pm, Columbia Park Pond
Salmon Summit Fish Release – April 29 and 30, 8:00 to 10:30am, Col. Park East Boat Ramp
About
Richland Rod & Gun Club is an organized group of hunters, fishermen, and conservationists who share a common interest in the outdoors. Each year the Club members volunteer in a number of work projects that improve wildlife habitat, educate young potential hunters / fisherman, and raise funds for Club projects.
Meetings
The RICHLAND ROD & GUN CLUB meets the first non holiday Tuesday of each month except July and August at 7:00
The meetings are open to the public and consist of a short business meeting followed by a program of current interest.
Board meetings are held on the third Tuesday at 7:00 at Griggs Pasco meeting facility.
The Richland Rod and Gun Club offers opportunities to work in activities associated with wildlife, the outdoors and youth education. We would appreciate your involvement with one of our projects or programs that include, Fishing, Dog Training, Scholarship, Public Lands, Youth Activities, Migratory Waterfowl, Habitat, Game Birds, Big Game , Landowner Relations.
Content contributions, suggestions, or criticism to the RRGC website should be emailed to, admin@richlandrodandgun.org