Meetings

PF August 12, 2025 Chapter Meeting

Attendees: Dennis Ford, Dave Leicht, Lee Schierer, Steve Dunsmore, Steve Capela, Ron Denham, Deb Denham, Ed Moss, Kevin Gathers, Brandon Shields

Financial Report

Dave Leicht informed us the chapter currently has $11,908.61 available.  He completed audits with both PNC Bank (chapter bank) and a PF representative.  All outstanding bills as of today have been paid.

Gem City Youth Field Days Event (8-23-25/Saturday)

We continue to look for chapter volunteers to help out with this event.  Ed has committed for the day and Kevin can work the morning (8 a.m. - Noon).  We need more volunteers to provide us with coverage (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.).  Remember, this is one of the chapter’s priorities … getting and keeping kids interested in the outdoors.  Let’s all do our part!

Dennis will check with Walmart to see if he can get hats for the kids.  

Brandon is going to check with the Waterford HS Trap Team to see if any students are willing to man the BB Gun Range for a multi-hour shift.  This will also serve as community service hours for those in need of them. 

Kevin will check in with Larry Daley to see if any scouts are interested in working the BB Gun Range.  Again, community service hours can apply.

If we get BB Gun Range volunteers, they will be asked to contact Ed Moss (814-528-4538) to let him know who they are and when they can donate time that day.

Sporting Clays Fun Shoot (8-24-25/Sunday)

Deb Denham has again graciously agreed to run the kitchen for us that day.  As in the past, we’ll be serving hot dogs, baked beans, chips and bottled water. We’ll also need ice.

Ed, Dennis and Ron will run the registration table and sell raffle tickets for our give-a-way, a $200.00 Shooter’s Warehouse gift card.  The raffle ticket will cost $2.00 each or you can purchase (3) for $5.00.

We are still in need of door prizes for this event.  Can you donate?

Set-up begins at 8:00 a.m. with the event kicking off at 9:00 a.m.

Ed, Dennis and Dave Leicht will help with teardown and loading up the chapter trailer.

We also purchased a case of 12-gauge target loads for anyone in need of ammunition that day.  A box will sell for $10.00.

Our regional PF Rep, Kurt Bond, is planning to join us for this event.

PF Youth Hunts (10-11-25/Saturday and 10-18-25/Saturday)

Hunt registration takes place at 7:00 a.m. with the actual hunt commencing around 8:00 a.m.  A Port-a-Potty will be available on site.

As usual, volunteers are needed to man the registration table and prepare food for the event.  Hot dogs, chips, cookies and bottled water will be served after the hunt.

Bird stocking will occur the night before each hunt at 6:00 p.m.  That’s Friday, October 10th and Friday, October 17th.  Dennis Ford, Dave Leicht and Ken Tafelski will be there with ATVs to put out the birds.  

The chapter agreed to purchase one additional bird for each registered hunter from Northwest Game Farm.  Steve Dunsmore will pick up and deliver those birds on the 10th and 17th.  These are in addition to the two-birds-per-registered-hunter provided by the PA Game Commission.

Right now, Steve Dunsmore, Dennis Ford, Dave Leicht, Matt Putnam, Brandon Shields and Tim Lucas will have their dogs available for both youth hunts.  If you’re interested in being a dog handler for the youth hunts, contact Lee Schierer (814-969-4100 or at us71na2@earthlink.net).

 

1st Annual PF Chapter 528 Veteran’s Hunt (11-11-25/Tuesday)

This special event is scheduled for Veteran”s Day at Chase’s Flying Frenzy, located outside of Meadville, PA. 

We will take up to (8) Veterans for this inaugural hunt.  Veterans will be sponsored by PF Chapter members and key on individuals who may not have hunted before and/or have some form of disability.  You’ll need to obtain some background information on your sponsored Vet including which branch of the service he/she served in, when, service occupation, etc. 

There is a dedicated space available for us to set up a trap machine, so any Vet who wants to get in some pre-hunt practice, can do so.  

There is also a garage available for pre- and post-hunt activities.  Coffee and donuts will be on site.  

We’ll take two groups of four hunters at a time.  Each Vet will be accompanied by a dog handler with dog. 

We also need volunteers to clean and prep the birds for take-home with the Vets. 

Plenty of chapter volunteers are needed to make this event a success. Please consider giving of your time for those who gave of theirs for all of us.  

A catered lunch will follow the hunt at Aunt Bee’s Restaurant located a few miles from the hunt site just off the Geneva exit of I-79. 

We are currently working with an estimated budget of $1500.00 - $2000.00.  So far, two VFWs have stepped up and made $250.00 donations, so $500.00 is now available to help defray costs.  Members are still working on additional donations.

We’ve also agreed to provide each Vet with a “Goody Bag” at the conclusion off the hunt.  Ed found special hats to help commemorate the event and chapter members voted to purchase them.

2026 PF Banquet

Next year’s banquet will again take place at the Erie Shrine Club on Saturday, March 21st, 2026.  Dave Leicht will write a check for $1325.00 to cover the cost of the deposit.

Members voted to purchase the PF Banquet Package for this event.  

Kevin will be responsible for acquiring the main raffle gun. 

Sponsorship Request

The French Creek Council is holding a Range and Target Day at the Gem City Outdoorsman’s Club on Saturday, September 20th, for scouts and youth at large.  It will include (4) hours of shooting followed by lunch.  The Council is seeking donations to help defray expenses.

Our chapter voted to commit to a $200.00 Bronze Sponsorship for this event.  However, if scouts are willing to donate their time at our BB Gun Range on August 23rd, we’ll increase our donation to a $300.00 Silver Sponsorship.  Kevin will discuss with the Council liaison, Larry Daley.