Saturday, the Longbeards presented the JAKES Day event, which stands for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge and Ethics, pertaining to the outdoors. There were 12 learning stations set up at the spacious and beautiful Westfield Fish & Game Club, located at the end of Ogden Road in Westfield. Mother Nature tried to dampen the spirits of the youngsters, but these kids come from hardy stock and showed up for another great day of activities.

Some of the activities included: Blue bird introduction by Mr. Raska; Taxidermy by 15 year old Ava Turk; Turkey calling by Dawn and Jim Hemis; How to age deer and a beginners course on collecting deer sheds (antlers) by Scott Dibble; Fishing in the big pond by the Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club; Trap shooting by Don and Janice Johnson and Rob Graham; Hands-on archery shooting by Jill and Steve Hejza of Hide Away archery; Gary Dudek with Hunter Safety education; Jerry Kinney our local Department of Environmental Conservation law enforcement; Ted Taft on insect identification; Rich Lazarczyk on trapping, Fly tieing, and Joel Cybart along with Bruno his German wire hair Dachshund dog.

Each of the two dozen kids that attended got to assemble their own blue bird houses, which were prepared by Gary Dudek. Gary also knows his way around the kitchen, because he and his wife, Beth, provided the potato and macaroni salads and beans that accompanied the hot dogs, snacks and beverages. Everyone had high praise for the delicious corn on the cob, provided by the Hamlet farms.

It was great to sit down with the founding members of the Longbeards and JAKES Day — Scott Dibble, both Bob and Bobbie Turk, Gary Burmaster, Dudek and Lazarczyk and Bud Szumigala — along with the new faces who provide the ways and means to keep this event ongoing. When the torrential downpours hit, the activities moved indoors. When the sun shined, it moved back outside. The Westfield Fish & Game Club might have the proverbial “Fountain of Youth” on their property, because those old-timers were smiling and as happy as the youngsters who attended. A great job was done by a great crew! Thanks to everyone who made this event possible.

OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek Joel Cybart holds his partner Bruno, a wire hair Daschound. Together, they are part of the Deer Search organization of Western New York, that assist hunters on big game recovery.

Calendar: Aug. 23 and 24 are the dates for one of the last walleye tournaments locally. This event is Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge run by Jim and Diane Steel. Entry fee is $500 for the main event on Saturday and an additional $100 for the Big Fish Friday event. For more information contact Steel at 481-5348 or go to www.innovative-outdoors.com.

The 43 annual Greater Niagara Fall Classic Fish Odyssey Derby, a multi species fishing event is Aug. 17-25. Kids fish free with $14,000 in prizes. Go to www.fishodyssey.net.

The Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Fall fishing derby is Aug. 16-Sept. 2. Go to www.loc.org.

Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge out of Dunkirk is Aug. 23-24. Contact Jim Steel at 481-5348 or go to www.innovative-outdoors.com.

There will be a Hunter Safety Training Course at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club on Aug. 21 and 22 from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. Two day attendance is mandatory. There will be a bow course at the Con Club on Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The trapping course will be on Sept. 14 from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

There will be a bow Course at the Westfield Fish & Game Club on Sept. 11 and 12, from 6 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. There will be a Trapping Course at the Falconer Rod & Gun Club on Sept. 25 and 27, from 5:30 p.m. until 10. For more information Call Gary at 366-3397.

Before you know it waterfowl season will be upon us. Anyone wishing to hunt any of the national or state Waterfowl refuges or state parks, has to complete a NY Waterfowl Identification Course. First you must register for the course at https:register-ed.co/programs/new-york/129. Then complete the assigned homework before attending the class. Figure on two hours. You can get help by referencing Ducks at a Distance: A Waterfowl ID Guide found at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/92272.html. For more information call 379-6376. Remaining courses are at: Aug. 18- Alden Rod & Gun Club 12 County line Road. Alden from 8 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. – Aug. 19 at Somerset Conservation Club 1129 Johnson Creek Road, Baker from 6 to 10 p.m.

If your club or organization is holding a hunter safety training/trapping course or a turkey shoot or any other outdoors event, and would like to see it posted in the calendar, send information to the OBSERVER, 10 East Second Street, Dunkirk, NY 14048, or call the sports department at 366-3000 ext. 5 after 6 p.m.

Note: If you have a big game fishing or trapping success story you would like to share, call 366-1772, or 467-2079 and leave a name, phone number and a time you can be reached. You can also call 366-3000, ext. 5, after 6 p.m. or email sports@observertoday.com.