The North Dakota Wildlife Federation recognized several area sportsmen and women on Jan. 6 at its annual convention in Fargo. Among those recognized was Rodney O’Clair, Jamestown, who received a special recognition award for his work as treasurer and longtime board of directors member of the North Dakota Wildlife Federation and for his work representing the North Dakota Hunter Education Association.
Also recognized was Brad Dokken, Grand Forks, as the Conservation Communicator of the Year. Dokken, a writer for the Grand Forks Herald, was noted for writing outdoor articles covering hunting and fishing adventures and topics in North Dakota, Minnesota and Canada.
Rebecca “Becci” Truesdell, a member of the Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club in Wahpeton, was recognized as the 2024 Sportswoman of the Year, and the Cass County Wildlife Club received the 2024 Affiliate Club of the Year award.
Jan. 10—FARGO — The North Dakota Wildlife Federation recognized several area sportsmen and sportswomen at their annual convention Jan. 6 in Fargo.
Brad Dokken, longtime outdoor writer for the Grand Forks Herald, was named “Conservation Communicator of the Year” by the Federation. Dokken’s outdoor articles cover hunting and fishing adventures and topics in North Dakota, Minnesota and Canada.
“Brad, writing for the Grand Forks Herald, has become something of an ‘endangered species’ as the only outdoor writer for a daily newspaper in the state,” said Kerry Whipp, president of the North Dakota Wildlife Federation. “His writing brings the sights, smells and sounds of his outdoor forays to his readers.”
Rebecca “Becci” Truesdell, a member of the Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club in Wahpeton, North Dakota, was recognized as the “Sportswoman of the Year.”
“Truesdell is the driving force behind the club’s annual fund-raising event, the co-chair for the club’s annual youth fishing derby and manages the club’s website,” Whipp said. “Becci is responsible for the success of the many Red River Area Sportsmen’s club’s events and programs.”
John Bradley, the Federation’s executive director, presented the Cass County Wildlife Club, based in Casselton, North Dakota, with the “Affiliate Club of the Year” award.
“The Cass County Club owns and maintains a trap range and rifle range that are open to the public,” Bradley said. “Club members teach Hunter Education classes, host youth hunting and fishing events and support local ‘Archery in the Schools’ programs.
“Cass County also has partnerships with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Cass County Park Board to develop and maintain habitat and recreation facilities on local wildlife management and fishing areas,” Bradley added.
The Wildlife Federation honored Rodney O’Clair of Jamestown with a “Special Recognition” award for his work as treasurer of the Federation, his longtime service on the Board of Directors and his work representing the North Dakota Hunter Education Association.
Attendance: Greg Gerou, Rich Truesdell, Curt Mund, Justin Kratz, Kelly Turgeon, Charles Loy, LeRoy Smith, Kevin Manock, Jerry Oren, Cindie VanTassel, Melissa Schumacher, Kelly Carlson, Becci Truesdell
Guests and New Members
Welcome new member, Charles Loll.
MSC (Kelly C., Kevin M.) to approve the October 19, 2023 meeting minutes.
President Report
Chahinkapa Zoo Wild Game Night is Friday, November 17. Usually would present a check to at the event from the money raised on the game during the smoker but the total from the fundraiser game hasn’t been calculated. The club is also donating a shotgun to the event.
North Dakota Wildlife Federation Annual Conference is January 5-7, 2024 in Fargo. Greg G. will be attending. Anyone interested in attending the social can register online.
There will not be a December club meeting, we will have our annual holiday party on December 15.
The Board of Directors will need to meet to discuss the budget before the January 2024 club meeting.
Consideration of appointing a Building Committee to look into a permanent building for the club
The two 2-wheel carts for the speakers need new inner tubes. Rich T. recommended foam tires instead, he will follow up with replacing them.
The System for Award Management (SAM) Administrator renewal (currently done by Wayne Beyer). This is needed for the club to continue to apply for federal grants. Greg G. will take over as the club contact.
November 11 was Veteran’s Day – With respect, honor, and gratitude, thank you to all Veteran club members and their families for their service and sacrifice
Secretary Report
Need to start mailing out meeting reminders and minutes to a handful of members. NDWF has a membership software that may be available to the club to use.
Treasurer Report
$96,913.05
Bills – $550 for last year’s dumpsters, $25 late fee on insurance payment
Incoming – $822 (2022 Deer Hides)
MSC (Rich, Curt) to approve the Treasurer’s report.
The Quickbooks is on a computer in Brad’s office and it would be good to transfer it to a computer owned by the club.
Cindie sent around registration for the holiday party in December. Information to RSVP will be emailed out to the club membership.
ND Game & Fish is now requiring all applications for Fishing Tournaments to be done online, $75 fee. This only applies to tournaments that have a registration fee.
MN Roundtable is the third weekend in January – Cindie will be attending
April 18 is the possible date for our Spring Banquet
General Committee Reports
Jr. Wildlife Club
Moved Archery meeting to Nov. 19 due to location availability. Jan. 16 meeting is Air Rifle.
Public Relations
Zoo Boo – Melissa and Denise help out Cindie and represented Jr Wildlife and handed out giveaways and candy
Working on sharing hunting/fishing/activity photos on our social. Please send to the club any photos you have from your hunts, etc., or of your kids. Make sure to include some details we can include on the post.
Seasonal Committee Reports
Neil Heitkamp Ice Fishing Derby
Will be on February 17 at Heitkamp Pond again this year.
Fall Youth Pheasant Hunt (Sept 29 & 30)
Was held at Chuck’s place. Had a great turnout of 15 youth and they all got birds.
Hunters Smoker (Oct 21)
The event started out smoothly but had a couple of small stumbles. Decent turnout of approx. 350 people. Next year’s goal is to be done around 10 pm. Anticipated profit to be about $35,000.
Greg B recommended an additional tip to the bartenders. Agreed on a $50 gift card (MSC Rich, Kelly)
Items to check into for next year: ND Attorney General may be changing some of the gaming laws. Hog Hunt needs to be checked into more closely. The current company may not be a positive as we originally thought. Kelly will do some research on other options.
This is Dave Pauly’s last year helping with our gun registrations. He received a $100 gift card as a thank you. Proposed to present him with a plaque or something during our Spring Banquet. A custom knife from Burkett Knives was suggested – Rich will check into it.
Ladies Rooster Roundup (Oct 21-22)
Successful event. The ladies enjoyed attending the smoker Saturday after completing their hunting. Had 12 hunters plus 5 mentors.
Will continue to have it the same weekend as the smoker. The Her Wildnerness organization that is partnering with us would like to see all the hunt participants volunteer during our fundraiser.
Internal Club Contests
Submissions were made for Youth Deer – Carter Gerou (spike buck) & McKenna Manock (4×4 buck), Adult – Justin Kratz 4×4 Whitetail Buck & 21-¾” Pheasant Tail
New/Old/Unfinished Business
Deer Hide Dumpsters
Over the hunting weekend did a reminder social post about want & waste due to carcasses being dumped with just the backstraps removed
We should check into cameras for next year
Recommended for next year to put pallets in the bottom to prevent the hides from freezing to the dumpsters
Curt recommended to give a thank you gift card for $50 to a restaurant to each of the managers (Tractor Supply and Blazer Express) for allowing the club to have the dumpsters on their property – MSC Kelly, Kevin
WAHPETON — The Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club (RRASC) has partnered with TG Sanitation, Tractor Supply and the Blazer Express to place deer carcass and hide collection dumpsters for the 2023 hunting season.
In late October and early November, a carcass dumpster and a hide dumpster will be in the parking lot of Tractor Supply of Wahpeton. A hide dumpster will be in the north parking lot of the Blazer Express in Breckenridge, Minnesota. Signs will be posted on the dumpsters.
These dumpsters will be in place through the muzzleloader deer season.
We ask that the public be respectful of the businesses and keep the area around the dumpsters clean. These are carcass and hide collection dumpsters only, do not put regular garbage in them.
Thank you to TG Sanitation, Tractor Supply and the Blazer Express for helping the Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club to provide this service to the hunters of the area. Thank you to the North Dakota Wildlife Federation for sharing the cost of the dumpsters.
“This is our big fall fundraiser. It drives everything we do,” Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club President Greg Gerou said about the 34th Annual Sportsmen’s Smoker.
The Sportsmen’s Smoker has traditionally been the Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club’s flagship fundraiser, and this year was no exception. An ample crowd gave support at the Wahpeton Community Center.
Gerou gave that reminder Saturday, Oct. 21, before a growing crowd at the Wahpeton Community Center. As they have for more than 30 years, Southern Red River Valley residents came out to support local youth programs, wildlife projects and Chahinkapa Zoo in Wahpeton.
“I think the mission of the club is really what drives it,” Gerou said leading up to the Smoker. “We’re focusing on getting youth outdoors locally, in Wahpeton, Breckenridge and the two counties. When people ask what we do with the money, we say it stays here. It stays local. The other side of it is that we work very hard to make this a fun night. There are a lot of things going on that people can enjoy.”
Aaron Petersen, ‘pit boss’ for the grill package raffle, said he has seen many sportsmen use their grills from the convenience of their truck beds. The grill package was one of several impressive prizes offered.
Fun was had in a variety of ways, from exciting table games to the thrill of browsing and bidding on silent auction items. When guests wanted to take a break from the marketplace and gaming, they could enjoy hearty wild game chili and wild game stew, as well as socializing.
“A lot of what we’re doing on that night is driven by local people and businesses when they’re donating. It’s local products that people are familiar with and have a use for,” Gerou said previously.
Denise Herding and Wyatt Longhenry, 15, a member of Wahpeton’s trap team, teamed up to collect money and distribute the playing cards for a 50-50 raffle. Guests responded enthusiastically to the cause.
Attendance: Greg Gerou, Greg Braun, Pat Brejcha, Abby Carlson, Kelly Carlson, Brad Edwardson, Brad Glarum, Kevin Manock, Curt Mund, Melissa Schumacher, Leroy Smith, Becci Truesdell, Rich Truesdell, Kelly Turgeon, and Cindie VanTassel
Guests and New Members
New member, Kelly Turgeon, introduced himself. Recently moved to Wahpeton from Hallock, MN to be closer to family.
Guest, Mason Miller, gave a presentation on his Eagle Scout project which was a bench at Brushvale landing. He requested funding for the cost of the concrete ($697.16). MSC (Brad Glarum, Kevin Manock) to provide a donation of $697.16 for Mason Miller’s Eagle Scout project.
MSC (Brad Glarum, Kevin Manock) to approve the September 21, 2023 meeting minutes.
President Report
Recommended making donations to ranges that provided use of their facilities for RRASC-sponsored hunts. Previously have donated $100 for each hunt. Head of the Red Gun & Archery Range was used for the Youth Waterfowl Hunt. Joe Pikarski Trap Range was used for the Youth Pheasant Hunt and Band of Brothers Hunt. MSC (Pat Brejcha, Kelly Carlson) to make donations of $100 to Head of the Red Range and $200 to Joe Pikarski Range for use of their facilities.
Vice President Report
Planning to present a $500 check to the HS trap club at the smoker.
Treasurer Report
The current balance is $57,807.76. Expenses paid out to members for purchases of guns and other smoker supplies, youth hunts, Ladies Rooster Roundup, Jr. Wildlife, and ZooBoo.
MSC (Rich Truesdell, Cindie VanTassel) to approve the Treasurer’s report.
General Committee Reports
Parks & Recreation
Brad Edwardson reported that the docks are out and they will be cleaning the kidder lines this week.
Jr. Wildlife Club
Cindie VanTassel reported that 8 kids attended tonight. Sgt Devan Medhaug from the ND Army National Guard presented on Outdoor Survival Skills.
Mooreton Pond Projects
Greg Gerou reported that the docks were pulled out today.
Seasonal Committee Reports
Fall Youth Pheasant Hunt
Greg Gerou provided a recap on the hunt. There were 25 kids. They shot trap the night before, hunted in the morning, and learned how to clean the birds after. Each kid went home with something. They kept one bird to have mounted. Dean Bellmore gave away a Benelli shotgun to one of the participants. The name drawn was McKenna Manock.
Hunters Smoker
Rich Truesdell provided an update. He noted that more sponsorships were received this year. Greg Gerou recognized Rich for stepping into the Chairperson role and thank the whole committee for their efforts to get everything planned in a short period of time.
Set up on Friday – Asked people to arrive at the Community Center by 5 pm and sooner if able. Some will be starting earlier in the day. Food prep will be at St. John’s. Greg Gerou will be picking items up from Fairmount and Great Bend.
Saturday – 2-3 more helpers could be used to help with the games. Workers are asked to arrive by 4 pm on Saturday so they have time to make rounds around the games and get in place for doors to open at 5 pm. Brad Edwardson will get the ATM filled. People can also run cards through the club for cash. Planning for Paul Sinner to monitor the chili and stew roasters during the day.
Games & Prizes – There are 34 guns that will go out; one was donated by T&G sanitation. There will be a couple of new games this year. The raffle boards will be a flat rate per square instead of offering a “3 for” deal. In addition to gun boards, there will be raffle boards for a goose hunter package and an ice house package. The number of meat raffles will be reduced to five and we will be adding five 50/50 raffles. There will be 100 or more general raffle items valued around a minimum of $50 each. There are at least 30 silent auction items. Cash, check or credit card will be accepted for payment. The club purchased 30 prints, a gun, and a game cam from Cliff Barth. A selection of the prints will be included in the silent auction. There are also 3 youth guns that will be drawn for the participants of each of the youth hunts.
Ladies Rooster Roundup
Abby Carlson reported that there are 12 hunters registered. There will be 5 mentors from Her Wilderness. The group will arrive at 2 pm on Friday. They will shoot trap and they have a dog demonstration. They will hunt Saturday morning, clean the birds after, and will be attending the smoker that evening (18 expected to attend). Invoices will be turned in after the weekend.
Internal Club Contests
Submissions were made for a tail feather of 21” (McKenna Manock) and a 10-5/16” turkey beard (Mark Althoff).
Other Upcoming Events
ZooBoo (October 28th) – Cindie VanTassel is managing the booth again this year.
For Good of the Order
Greg Gerou shared thank you’s from the Youth Pheasant Hunt, Pikarski Trap Range, Band of Brothers Hunt, Fergus Falls Game & Fish, and the Youth Archery Club.
St. John’s Church would like to use the club’s large tumbler for their Mardi Gras event. There were no concerns about this.
A certificate was received from Tracks Magazine for the club’s sponsorship.
Four out of twelve deer were harvested during the Twist of Fate hunt.
The Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club’s 34th Annual Sportsmen’s Smoker will be held Saturday, Oct. 21, at the Wahpeton Community Center. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club (RRASC) President Greg Gerou visited with Daily News about this year’s event. It is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21, in Wahpeton.
What’s new?
The Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club’s 34th Annual Sportsmen’s Smoker will be held Saturday, Oct. 21, at the Wahpeton Community Center. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Can anyone attend?
Yes, this is a public event. A $20 ticket allows guests the chance for a fun evening. The Smoker traditionally includes raffles and games, including the popular general raffle, ladies’ raffle, silent auction, and meat raffles.
What’s on the menu?
The price of a ticket allows guests all they can eat wild game chili and wild game stew. Including venison from deer, the foods will be served until they are gone.
Are tickets guaranteed to be available at the door?
No. It is strongly encouraged to buy Sportsmen’s Smoker tickets in advance. Guests can do so by calling Rich at 701-640-5136 or Becci at 701-403-9010.
What benefits do I get if I buy an early bird ticket?
Well, besides peace of mind, buying an early bird ticket — available until Thursday, Oct. 19 — allows a guest entrance into an exclusive additional gun raffle.
What to know about the 34th Annual Sportsmen’s Smoker – A $20 ticket allows guests the chance for a fun evening. The Smoker traditionally includes raffles and games, including the popular general raffle, ladies’ raffle, silent auction, and meat raffles.
I’m a parent, can I bring my child to the Sportsman’s Smoker?
Yes. Guests who are under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. (Note from Club – This is an adult-orientated event and it is recommended not to bring young children. All attendees still pay the $20 ticket price)
What does the money go towards?
“Proceeds are used to support local youth programs, wildlife projects and the Chahinkapa Zoo,” RRASC stated.
What are some of those projects?
They include improving development of and access to the Red, Otter Tail and Bois de Sioux rivers, the Junior Wildlife Club, which provides outdoor activities for ages 8-16, youth fishing derbies in the spring, summer and winter, youth duck, goose and pheasant hunts, and college scholarships for students enrolled in wildlife management or enforcement courses, among other things.
Why does the Sportsmen’s Smoker endure?
“I think the mission of the club is really what drives it,” Gerou said. “We’re focusing on getting youth outdoors locally, in Wahpeton, Breckenridge and the two counties. When people ask what we do with the money, we say it stays here. It stays local. The other side of it is that we work very hard to make this a fun night. There are a lot of things going on that people can enjoy.”
How beneficial are partnerships?
“A lot of what we’re doing on that night is driven by local people and businesses when they’re donating. It’s local products that people are familiar with and have a use for,” Gerou said.
Is there another example of a good partnership?
“We’re very fortunate where we are able to use the kitchen facilities at St. John’s Church,” Gerou said. “We’ve asked them if we could do that and they’ve been very gracious in allowing us to do that. We come in, doing our food prep the night before the Smoker, and then we make sure to clean up. I make a point of coming back on the following Monday, checking with the staff about how we did in cleaning up. I don’t want to mess up that relationship.”
How can I learn more about RRASC’s work?
By visiting www.rrasc.net. The Wahpeton Community Center is located at 304 Fifth St. S. in Wahpeton.
Attendance: Greg Gerou, Greg Braun, Kelly Carlson, Abby Carlson, Kevin Manock, Cindi VanTassel, Jerry Oren, Leroy Smith, Pat Brejcha, Justin Krantz, Rich Truesdell, Becci Truesdell, Brad Edwardson, Brad Glarum, Melissa Schumacher
MSC (Brad Glarum, Kevin Manock) to approve the August 17, 2023 meeting minutes
Board of Directors Reports
President
Vice President
Secretary – Mary Rausch is moving away from Wahpeton and has to resign from the Secretary role. Becci Truesdell volunteered to serve in the role until May elections.
Treasurer – After receipts that were submitted during the meeting, current checking balance is $64,297. Expenses were paid out to club members for youth hunts, smoker items and Jr. Wildlife. Trigger Sports was paid for ammo and donation made to Band of Brothers. Grant money has been received for the Ladies Rooster Roundup.
Directors – Rich Truesdell reported that the zoo has decided to move ZooBoo to the Saturday before Halloween from now on. Tom contacted Rich about potential conflict with the smoker. Will plan for the smoker to be held on the 3rd Saturday of October moving forward to avoid conflict. If 5 Saturdays, it would be held the 4th Saturday.
General Committee Reports
Parks & Recreation
Brad Edwardson reported on youth hunt registrations.
Jr. Wildlife Club
Rich reported on the evening’s event on dog handling held at Truax Kennels. Next month is Outdoor Survival Skills being coordinated by Brad Edwardson. Becci Truesdell brought up ideas for promoting and growing attendance.
Wayne Beyer Scholarship
No applications have been received.
Public Relations
Website – Online registration is being used for Jr. Wildlife events. Working well but trying to work out some of the formatting.
Community Events – NDSCS Homecoming Parade is October 7th and ZooBoo is October 28th. Becci ordered pens to pass out during the Smoker.
Online Store – Becci has been working on some updated logo design. Recommended to keep current logo for standard print materials and select different designs for clothing. Discussed printing some shirts to have at the smoker. Brad Edwardson noted that the Parks Dept has extra shirts in inventory and a heat press that could possibly be used by the club.
Mooreton Pond Projects
Greg noted the docks are planned to be removed sometime in October.
Seasonal Committee Reports
Fall Youth Goose Hunt
Held September 9th & 10th. Limited to 8 participants. Registration filled on the first day. Cindie VanTassel noted that the MN law changed the age limit will change to 17 years old instead of 16.
Marv Manock Youth Waterfowl Hunt
Held September 16th. There were 12 participants. Kevin Manock reported that the hunt was good and Greg Gerou handled the breakfast.
Fall Youth Pheasant Hunt
Scheduled for September 29th & 30th. 12 have registered through Parks & Rec and a few online registrations have been received. Have some mentors lined up but more may be needed.
Hunters Smoker
Donations – Need to be in by October 13th in order to get the raffle permit. The City is requiring the application to contain a detailed list of all items that will be given out that night.
Games – Some planned changes include cutting down on the number of meat raffles, adding some 50/50 raffles, guns boards will be $10/square with no “3 for” deals, there will be no ice house board this year, and adding a goose hunting board.
Food – Could use carrots, onions and peppers if anyone has excess in their garden.
Volunteers – A sign-up sheet was passed around for volunteers to help with set up and food prep on Friday night and to work the smoker on Saturday.
Ladies Rooster Roundup
The hunt is full and there are 2 people on the waiting list. They cut back to 12 participants this year. Going to the trap range on Friday night, staying at AirBnB in Wahpeton, hunting Saturday morning and then attending smoker that night.
Old/New/Unfinished Business
Twist of Fate (September 21st) – Chuck Haus is attending
WB Chamber Mix & Mingles (October 12th) – Not sure if attending yet. Don’t believe we gained any members after attending last year.
RAP Auction – Greg Gerou and Greg Braun attended the RAP auction
Thank yous we’ve received from the two recent youth hunts and the MN DNR.
Attendees: Brad Glarum, Brad Edwardson, Cindie VanTassel, Kevin Manock, Leroy Smith, Joe Keller, Curt Mund, Mary Rausch
Approve Minutes from the previous meeting – MSC Cindie, Kevin
Vice President Report
$500 grant from ND NWTF for a virtual machine for youth trap team
Feb 2, 2024 banquet
Parks & Recreation
Fish cleaning station at Kidder Rec is in – once all bills are in, P&R may ask for contribution from RRASC
Mike Manock donated 10 fishing rods
Jr Wildlife Club Committee
Aug: went to Milnor to see a honey bee live hive and extraction
Sep 21: Dog Handling
Oct 19: Outdoor Survival Skills
Nov 16: Archery
Public Relations
Website – Becci worked out glitches with registration through the site; may go through P&R as a backup plan if necessary – Cindie has updated waivers for this year’s events
Facebook/Instagram – please share RRASC posts!
Cindie watches for members or family members that pass away for sympathy cards – see any let her know
Community Events
Cindie shared an idea to have pens with the club name and website to give out at parades, events, etc – Becci will get some pricing put together
There is a company in Hankinson that can put the club logo on sucker sticks
Pop-up online store (Abby) – looking into additional/alternative options – the link is currently expired
Online clothing store; will include stickers, cozies, coffee mugs, etc.
Becci has some ideas she will bring to the club for possible logo rebranding for clothing
Red River Projects
Brad E has an idea for placing the fishing pier at Bois de Sioux near Welles Park on the ND side; he will go check it out for next year
