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| The Wenatchee Sportsmen's Association (WSA) was founded in 1928. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and responsible management of fish and wildlife in their natural habitats. The WSA strives to insure the outdoor recreation, fishing, and hunting will be preserved and enhanced for future generations. Wenatchee Sportsmen's Association members are men, women, and adolescent children of many diverse backgrounds such as professional wildlife and fish biologists, educators, homemakers, enforcement officers, health care professionals, orchardists, utility workers, students, contractors, insurance agents, ranchers, attorneys and retired persons, The members appreciate and understand the intrinsic work of viable fish and wildlife populations in their natural communities. Thousands of volunteer work hours are spent on local fish and wildlife habitat work projects to preserve and enhance natural habitat. Recent club projects include providing materials to build wood duck nest boxes, planting bitterbrush in burned deer winter range, planting shrubs on West Bar along the Columbia River, and building, repairing and filling large feeders for upland birds in many locations near Wenatchee. The WSA placed numerous cisterns and water troughs near springs on WDGW Chelan Butte, and Colockum properties. These installations provide water for all wildlife while maintaining small local riparian communities. After the local major 1994 forest fires, the WSA established a wildlife fund to collect donations in order to purchase a deer feed. One hundred percent of all the money collected was used to provide nourishment for hundreds of deer that otherwise would have starved due to lack of winter forage in the burned areas. In other community activities, the WSA annually sponsored a local youth baseball team, student participants from local high schools to the Chelan County Conservation District Environthon, and several boys and girls to a conservation camp the the San Juan Islands. Association members instruct firearm safety training classes and participate, in conjunction with the Washington State Patrol and local enforcement agencies, in the "Heathy Kids Day" program. One aspect of this fine program is a firearm safety and security in our homes. Donations have been make to provide fishing gear and transportation for disabled youth and adults to participate in a free fishing day near Lake Wenatchee. The WSA recently challenged a Chelan County Commission decision to allow a housing development on private property outside the Chelan County urban growth boundary. As planned, the development would have adversely impacted calving and migration of local elk in the Colockum herd. A Chelan County Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the WSA. The case has been appealed to the Washington Supreme Court and awaits the court's to hear the case. While litigation is not a primary endeavor of the WSA, members felt it was necessary to prevent or reduce impacts on elk, mule deer and other wildlife in the vicinity. In the political arena, members of the WSA provide input to the WDFW when it proposes local seasons, harvest limits, and seasons' duration. The association is well respected by local politicos, WDFW wildlife, fish and habitat administrators, and the WDFW Commission. Often, local elected officials, as well as state and federal resource managers contact the WSA in order to solicit constituent input. Financial and political support is often given to other conservation organizations with similar agendas. The annual wildlife game feed is the club's major fund-raising event that nets thousands of dollars for out mission. Under the guidance of a local professional chef, donated wild game meat and other dishes are prepared by members. Along with a delicious meal, members participate in several raffles with many prizes donated by local merchants. The wild game feed is always well attended and provides a setting for individuals to tell their biggest lies about hunting and fishing adventures. Wenatchee Sportsmen's Association invites all interested persons to join the organization. You need not be a hunter, fisher, skier, snowmobiler, birder, etc. All general meetings are open to the public. Attend a meeting, participate in a work project and you may develop lifelong friendships with men and women while participation in a very worth while activities for current and future generations. Anyone (member or non-member) interested in volunteering time, money, or goods to a project or fund may email for more information. Those that are interested in becoming a member may also email for more information. The Department of Fish and Wildlife honored Wenatchee Sportsmen's Association as "Sportsmen's Club of the Year" in 1989. |
  Photo by David Hale  Photo by Larry Wadkins  Photo by Ron Carpenter  Photo by Mike McKee  Photo by Dick Owens  Photo by Ron Carpenter  Photo by David Hale  Photo by Ron Carpenter |