Chautauqua County Federation of Sportsmen President Zen Olow, left, speaks with Steve Hurst, NYSDEC fisheries manager, at a recent sportsman event. Photo by Forrest Fisher

The Chautauqua County Federation of Sportsmen will celebrate the Harry Probst Annual Memorial Sportsmen’s Banquet on Monday at the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club. Dinner by reservation is at 6 p.m.; doors open at 5.

The event provides a public raffle to benefit the Chautauqua County Federation of Sportsmen, raise funds to support Youth Lifetime Sporting Licenses, celebrate the outdoors community of sportsmen, and recognize individuals who have provided services above and beyond to benefit the conservation. This year, raffle items include fishing, hunting and hiking gear, charter Lake Erie fishing trips, guided steelhead fishing trips on local Lake Erie tributaries, and more. Among the top items is a painting/mural of a duck/dog hunt donated by the family of the late Jim Farrell, with hearty thanks from the federation.

President Zen Olow added, “Various federation conservation organizations will present recognition awards, including Hanover Rod & Gun Club, Falconer Rod & Gun, Westfield Fish & Game and others.” Olow also mentioned that no CCFS Youth Lifetime Sporting Licenses will be awarded this year. Olow said, “At CCFS, the Youth Lifetime Sporting Licenses are not by random raffle; they are awarded when applications are provided to the federation by representatives of the federation member clubs in support of kids interested in the outdoors. The application requires a parent or mentor’s written resume citing details of why the youth deserves a free NYS Lifetime License to fish and hunt (up to $765 value, depending on age). The CCFS awarded four Youth Lifetime Licenses in 2023.

Among celebrities planning to attend the 2024 banquet event are NYS Assemblyman Andy Goddell (Minority leader), NYS Senator George Borello, Chautauqua County Executive P. J. Wendell, Region 9 NYSDEC Fisheries Biologist Jim Markham, Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit Leader Jason Robinson, several retired NYSDEC Aquatic Biologists — including Don Einhouse, Paul McKeown, and other notable NYSDEC staff; and President Jeff Jondle and members of the Erie County Federation of Sportsmen.

As we come together to celebrate the sportsmen community, we also take a moment to remember and honor the late Monte Kennedy. Kennedy, who recently passed away, was a beloved figure in our community. He dedicated his time and efforts to a program called “Kids-On-The-Fly,” a fishing initiative for children held weekly at the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club for many years. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends; we will never forget his contributions to our community.

Outdoors Calendar:

Apr. 28: Spring-Fest, Lakewood Rod & Gun Club; raffle/drawing and music from the “Black Widow”, 2-6 p.m. Visit www.lakewoodrodandgun.org.

Apr. 29: Chautauqua County Federation of Sportsmen annual banquet. Lakewood Rod and Gun, doors open at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m. Contact Zen Olow for info: 716-640-2776.

Apr. 30: WNY Trout Unlimited, monthly meeting, fly tying 5 p.m., general meeting 6 p.m., Orvis Buffalo, 4545 Transit Rd., Amherst. Seminar: trophy brook trout fishing.

May 1-31: NYS spring turkey season.

May 1: NYS fishing season opens for walleye, northern pike, pickerel and tiger musky (inland). Visit: https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/freshwater-fishing/regulations/statewide-season-sizes-catch-limits.

NOTE: Submit Calendar items to forrestfisher35@yahoo.com