From 2015 to 2019, President Jimmy Carter and President George H.W. Bush served as honorary co-chairmen for the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, MO. They paid tribute to the role hunters and anglers continue to play in conservation. For more than ten years now, Bass Pro Shops, with Johnny Morris at the helm, has donated more than 10% of their annual earnings to support conservation.

President Carter passed significant environmental legislation, including creating the Department of Energy and expanding the National Parks. To honor the late President Jimmy Carter’s lifetime commitment to conservation, Bass Pro Shops are pledging one million dollars to support the causes that President Carter championed for many years. All of these causes are aimed at helping introduce more kids to the joys of fishing, hunting and the great outdoors. The $1 million pledge will be distributed to support the following conservation organizations near and dear to the former President’s heart.

Donations like these are made possible in part due to the generous support of customers like you and me rounding up through the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Fund when we check out.

These organizations include the American Wetlands Trust (aligned with Ducks Unlimited), the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies supporting law enforcement agents, Vamos A. Pescar Education Fund engaging Hispanic youth with fishing, boating and conservation, and the National Wildlife Federation.

Turkey conservation includes managing land to create suitable habitat, ensuring sustainable hunting practices, and providing others with insight to helping restore wild turkey populations. The local Lakeshore Longbeards are part of the National Wildlife Turkey Federation supporting youth involvement. Photo by Joe Forma

President Carter was from Georgia and Georgia’s Gateway to Fishing Program, providing fishing opportunities for urban youth to access the joys of fishing.

President Carter wrote, “Throughout my young life, I was obsessed with hunting and fishing, and I was not alone. It was what my father, families on the farm, and all of us boys wanted most when we were not working. We read, thought, talked, recalled past experiences and made future plans, all about hunting and fishing. I had a fishing pole in my hands as early as I can remember, and I would go hunting and fishing with Daddy long before I could have anything to shoot other than a BB gun.”

President Carter was an avid outdoorsman; one of his passions was turkey hunting, which has long been a tradition in the country, especially in the South. He greatly supported sustainable hunting practices, recognizing the need to balance wildlife conservation and recreational hunting, particularly turkey hunting. RIP President Carter, you will be missed.

Locally, the NWTF Lakeshore Longbeards are asking for your support in conservation and support for youth in the outdoors. The 26th Annual Conservation and Hunting Heritage Banquet Event, open to the public, is set for Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at the Blessed Mary Angela Parish Center, 324 Townsend Street in Dunkirk. This is their annual fundraiser supporting Jake’s Day, held annually at the Westfield Fish and Game Club. Local support at this event is crucial to the Longbeards’ mission. It allows them to purchase insurance and supplies to conduct the event where dozens of youths are introduced to firearm safety, fly tying, fishing, flora and fauna; they build bluebird houses, can sign up for turkey hunting, trap shooting and more. These lessons are conducted through individual learning stations set up at the club. A single ticket for the fundraiser is $50 and includes dinner and membership, and a couples ticket for two is $85. The banquet event will feature gun raffles, auctions and fun stuff for all ages. Call Bob Turk at 716-680-3715 or Scott Dibble at 716-673-6703 to purchase tickets. Tickets are also available on-site at the next Longbeards monthly meeting, set for this Monday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m., at Liberty Vineyards on Route 20 in Sheridan. Stop in to say hello to Gary Burmaster, master turkey hunter and wine-maker.

Gotta love the outdoors.

Outdoor Calendar:

Nov. 23-Jan. 19: Late Canada Goose Season – South Area. See syllabus.

Jan. 4: Clays-for-Cash sporting clay shoot, Hanover Fish and Game Club, 780 Overhiser Rd., Forestville, 8AM start, last clay:11AM. Info: 716-480-2202.

Jan. 4: Free Fur-Handling Workshop, Collins Conservation Club, 2633 Conger Rd., Collins; 9AM-1PM, call Patti Wattengel, 716-337-2556 for info.

Jan. 4-5: Hamburg Gun Show, 5820 South Park Ave., Hamburg, 9AM open, $10 entry, Info: nfgshows.com.

Jan. 5: Bear Lake Rod/Gun. Monthly meeting, 4PM, 4391 Cassadaga-Stockton Rd., Stockton, NY, 716-960-9043.

Jan. 6: Lakeshore Longbeards monthly meeting, 7PM, Liberty Vineyards, 2861 US-20, Sheridan, NY, Info: 716-680-3715.

Jan. 7: Niagara Musky Association, monthly meeting, 7PM, Eldredge Club, 17 Broad St., Tonawanda.

Jan. 16: Southtowns Walleye Association, monthly meeting, 7PM start, 5895 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg.

Jan. 18: NWTF Lakeshore Longbeards 26th Annual Conservation and Hunting Heritage event, 5PM start, Blessed Mary Angela Parish Center, 324 Townsend St., Dunkirk. Call for tickets: 716-680-3715 04 716-673-6703.

NOTE: Send Calendar info or related outdoor news to forrestfisher35@yahoo.com.