Author: Rebecca Truesdell

Wahpeton Daily News – October 11, 2024

By Wayne Beyer 

The Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club (RRASC) has been one of the premiere wildlife clubs in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Club members are working hard for the annual Sportsmen’s Smoker fund-raiser on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 4:00-10:00 p.m. at the Wahpeton Community Center. Delicious venison stew and chili, prizes, games and comradery make it a topnotch event.

There are many reasons to support RRASC.

Archery, including the National Archery in the Schools Program, air rifle shooting and art (Jr. Duck Stamp Contest) get support.

Brunk’s Carp & Sucker Derby reminds young fishermen about the diversity of fish in the Red River. Birdwatching field trips include Tewaukon Refuge and Prairie Wetlands.

Canada Goose Hunt for youths is offered in Minnesota in early September.

Dick Bell Catfish Tournament has been held over Carousel Days, now Blue Goose Days, since its inception. Deer hides and deer carcass disposal sites are offered in November.

Education for conservation is a priority, including Prairie Wetlands Learning Center membership.

Fishing on the Red River and Mooreton Pond is supported by piers and docks.

Grants to Head of the Red and Mooreton Joe Pikarski trap shooting ranges support local shooting sports.

High school trap shooting teams receive grants for practices and tournaments.

Ice Fishing Derby named after Neil Heitkamp is held on Heitkamp Pond in February.

Junior Wildlife Club has had a monthly activity since April, 2002.

Kidder Recreation Area riverside benches and Henry Knight Shelter have been sponsored.

Ladies Pheasant Hunt gets the gals hunting each fall.

Marv Manock Youth Waterfowl Hunt hosts kids hunting on sloughs around Tewaukon Refuge. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources support includes projects like walleye rearing ponds.

North Dakota Game & Fish (NDGF) is a frequent partner, like Advisory Board Meetings and Aquatic Nuisance Species / zebra mussel prevention. North Dakota Wildlife Federation is the voice for North Dakota sportsmen, especially during Legislative sessions. Club members Greg Gerou (Vice President) and Joe Keller (Board Member) are officers.

Outdoor Adventure Foundation helps make outdoor hunting and fishing dreams come true for children and young adults with life-threatening illnesses.

Parks & Recreation receives local funding matches from RRASC for NDGF projects.

Queen bees and pollinators support natural habitat, a priority of the Prairie Pothole Partners, another RRASC membership.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation fundraiser includes RRASC sponsorship.

Scholarships are awarded to college students seeking wildlife management degrees. Scouts receive grants for Eagle Scout projects. The Southeast Sportsmen’s Club gets all the local wildlife clubs together.

Twist of Fate Deer Hunt offers a quality deer hunt for people who have physical challenges. TRACKS conservation magazines are sponsored for every Wahpeton and Breckenridge 4th grade student.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service / Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge projects include the Smith Waterfowl Production Area south of Lidgerwood. RRASC was the first known wildlife club to sponsor a WPA.

Vince Herding Youth Fishing Derby gets the fishing season started on the first May Saturday at the Kidder Recreation Area.

Wild Turkey Federation is supported by a sponsorship of the Renegade Toms fund-raiser in Mooreton.

X-factor – RRASC has positively impacted getting many kids outdoors.

Youth Pheasant Hunt gets kids hunting ring-necks on the prairie of Chuck Haus’s Hankinson farm.

Zoo support is annually provided for the Chahinkapa Zoo ‘Wild Games’ fundraiser.

The Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club is a shining example of the ABC’s of a great wildlife club.

Wahpeton Daily News – September 6, 2024

By Wayne Beyer

The upcoming hunting seasons are opportunities for outdoorsmen to mentor young hunters.

The Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club (RRASC) offers a Youth Waterfowl Hunt on Saturday, Sept. 14 and a Youth Pheasant Hunt on Saturday, Oct. 5. Kevin Manock / ducks and Mark Althoff / pheasants both organize super mentored hunts that include trap shooting practice, identification, safety, ethics, a box of shotgun shells, delicious breakfasts, game processing and lifetime memories. Both youths and mentors can register at rrasc.net.

Mentoring young hunters continues an important outdoor recreation tradition. Consider mentoring your child, grandchild, a relative, the neighbor kid or guide somebody new at the RRASC hunts.

Anytime we can get a child outdoors and hunting is a gift. Egg yolk sunrises with orange skies are best seen peering from the camouflage of cattails alongside a prairie pothole. Walking the prairie for ring-necked pheasants, immersed in browning grasslands habitat, is why October is treasured. Mentors can help foster a love for the outdoors.

Mentors teach youths the right things about hunting, including ethics. Sportsmen only shoot at what they will consume or use. There will be other wildlife like cormorants, muskrats and blackbirds around, only to be observed. All birds and animals have their place in nature. One of the most fun aspects of mentoring youths is identifying other wildlife.

Mentors are valuable to teach patience, letting young hunters know ranges, the right time to shoot and identification. Fair chase is important so youths act responsibly and respectfully.

Safe hunting practices need to be emphasized. Youths are required to have hunter education certification. There are no second chances after the trigger is pulled so mentors are diligent about safety. Dogs are often used for quality hunting that brings other important safety measures.

Mentoring hunters afield offers many teachable moments about the value of conservation and healthy habitat. Duck hunting is fantastic on Waterfowl Production Area sloughs that have been purchased with hunters’ duck stamp purchases. Pheasant hunting is often on private land like the youth hunt on the farm land of Chuck Haus, Hankinson, a superb conservationist.

Mentors model the importance for respecting the environment, picking up after themselves, including spent shotgun shells. They even pick up after anybody who has left any litter.

Every hunt has fun, memorable times. Learning to call ducks takes time and experience so might as well start. Blue-winged teal will fly through the decoys at 45 mph. A ring-necked rooster will cackle and bust cover a few feet away.

Take pictures in the field. Cell phones make it easy. Starting a journal or scrapbook is something that will be treasured later in life.

Appetites are ravenous after outdoors exercise and pancake and sausage breakfasts are gobbled up. It is a good time for young hunters to bond, enjoy social time and swap stories.

Take time to show young hunters how to process game. Roasted duck, stir fry pheasant and pheasant dumpling soup are tasty recipes.

Volunteering to be a hunting mentor is time to give back. Consider it payback for the mentors in your life.

Mentoring a young hunter is one of the best investments a sportsman can make to ensure hunting for the next generation.

Annual Vince Herding Spring Fishing Derby Draws Families for Fun in the Outdoors

The Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club (RRASC) held its annual Vince Herding Spring Fishing Derby on Saturday, May 4th. This event, which has been a tradition for over three decades, welcomed boys and girls aged 18 and under to Kidder Recreation Area for a day of angling excitement.

With the sun shining down, approximately 65 youth and their families gathered along the riverbanks to cast their lines. The event, which honors the memory of one of the RRASC’s founding members, Vince Herding, was a testament to his community spirit and love for the outdoors.

Participants were treated to lunch and the chance to reel in trophies for the top catches across various fish categories and age groups. Moreover, everyone who took part went home with a thank-you bag filled with goodies courtesy of the RRASC. Here are some of the top placers:

Largest fish caught in each age group:

• 6 & under – Max Isom 8.5 lb. Catfish 
• 7 to 12 – Finn Reddy 12.25 lb. Catfish
• 13 to 18 – Ciara Nguamsanith 2.75 lb. White Sucker

Casting contest winners (closest to the target):

• 6 & under – Grantley Kruger 7’2”
• 7 to 12 – Oliver Hoffert 1’2”
• 13 to 18 – Kenna Manock 4’2”

The event’s success wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of sponsors and contributors. From local businesses to community organizations, their contributions played a vital role in making the day memorable for everyone involved.

The RRASC extends its heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed, recognizing their role in supporting not only this event but also the club’s ongoing efforts to provide free activities for children and champion conservation initiatives across Richland and Wilkin Counties, as well as North Dakota and Minnesota.

Thank you to Smith Tire & Tread, Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative, Minn-Kota Ag Products, Inc., Doosan Bobcat, Wahpeton Kiwanis, Wahpeton Optimist Club, Comstock Construction Inc., Bremer Bank, Red River Valley & Western Railroad, Heitkamp Construction, Farmers Union Insurance – Kyle Devries, FlexTM, Hornstein Family Chiropractic, State Farm Insurance – Amanda Fredricks, Bell Bank, Wahpeton Lion’s Club, McDonald’s, Burkett Custom Knives, Old 81 Gourmet / JC’s Smoked Spitz, Fastenal, Wahpeton Deli, EconoFoods, Blazer Express, ND Game & Fish.

For more information about the RRASC and its upcoming events, visit www.RRASC.net, and stay updated by following them on Facebook and Instagram.

We extend our gratitude to all our members who generously dedicate their time to our organization and community. The individuals mentioned here are just a few examples of the deserving members who wholeheartedly support our club’s mission.

Thank you to Tom and Kathy for attending and sharing stories and updates about the Chahinkapa Zoo.

2024 Sportsperson of the Year

• Justin Kratz
• Becci Truesdell
• Cindie Van Tassel

Lifetime Achievement

• Abby Carlson
• Heitkamp Construction – Gary Page

Landowner / Conservationist

• Clint Arndt

Distinguished Service Award

• Dave & Katie Pauly

2024 Wayne Beyer Scholarship

• Joe Pfaff

Wahpeton Daily News – Submitted by Becci Truesdell

In the wake of the passing of Denis Luebke, his wife Rhonda McGee Luebke wrote a heartfelt letter to the Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club, outlining a special request to honor her husband’s memory.

Denis, a passionate outdoorsman originally from Mantador, North Dakota, had a love for hunting, fishing, snaring and trapping, and many other hobbies that got him into the great outdoors. In fact, he and Rhonda met during a hunting trip.

Rhonda’s letter, received by the club last month, expressed her desire to continue Denis’ legacy by supporting the club’s youth-focused outdoor initiatives. In a gesture of generosity, she enclosed a $1,000 check, earmarked specifically for youth activities and projects within the club. Her intention was made clear during the club’s March meeting, where her letter was read aloud, ensuring all members understood her wishes.

Moved by Rhonda’s gesture and dedicated to honoring Denis’ memory, the club is now in the process of developing plans to utilize her gift effectively. The aim is to maintain and expand youth-oriented events while paying homage to Denis’ passion for the outdoors.

As a testament to the club’s tradition of camaraderie and respect, a living tribute will be established at the Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge, where a tree will be planted in Denis’ honor.

Expressing profound gratitude, the Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club acknowledges Rhonda’s trust in their commitment to providing quality outdoor experiences for young people. Central to the club’s mission is the propagation of outdoor heritage, passing down a love for nature to future generations. Rhonda’s contribution will play a vital role in fulfilling this mission.

The club extends an invitation to all who share their passion for the outdoors to join their cause. Whether as donors or active participants, individuals are encouraged to contribute to the preservation and celebration of outdoor enthusiasts’ legacies.

For more information on how to get involved or donate, visit www.rrasc.net and become part of the Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club’s mission to propagate our outdoor heritage.