The Chamber is pleased to announce that they will be sponsoring their first “Big Buck Contest” this fall. A committee of local hunting enthusiasts and businesses involved in the outdoor sports industry have been working over the past several months to put together an exciting tournament to promote the wonderful hunting spots within Montgomery County (Charleston State Forest, Lost Valley State Forest, and Yatesville State Forest) and support the businesses that are involved in this popular industry.
The event will coincide with the hunting season and prizes will be awarded in the categories of bow, rifle, muzzleloader, female hunter, heaviest doe, and youth hunter.
The contest will conclude at the end of regular hunting season, December 20, 2011. Paid contestants will have a chance at winning a rifle and door prizes which will be presented January 7, 2012 at Loopie’s Pub in Tribes Hill.
All entries must be free-ranging whitetail deer of New York State origin, and must have been taken legally and tagged in accordance with the laws set by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
Registration forms are available at the Chamber offices at 1166 Riverfront Center, Amsterdam; and from committee members Dick Andrews, Mike Auriemma, John DiCaprio, Tom Georgia, John Havlick, Ron Kolidziej, Brent Phetteplace, Brennen Parker, Chuck Schwartz and Rick Vertucci.
They can also be downloaded from the Chamber’s website at www.montgomerycountyny.com under “forms and applications” on the homepage.
Hunting licenses go on sale August 15, and are available at Frank’s Gun & Tackle Shop Inc., 3549 State Highway 30, Gloversville, and Wal-Mart, Rt. 30, Amsterdam. You can also contact Amsterdam City Hall and your local town clerks. Be sure to visit the chamber’s on-line business directory at www.montgomerycountyny.com for a list of member businesses that can provide hunting and sports equipment and supplies and visit http://www.dec.ny.gov for more information on hunting in Montgomery County and New York State.
Base registration for the tournament is only $25 with $5 from each registration form going toward the Chamber’s scholarship fund. The scholarship program was initiated to provide an opportunity for local students to gain access to higher education through FMCC, often the stepping-stone of many educational careers. To date, The Chamber has presented over $5,000 to local high school students throughout Montgomery County including the Amsterdam, Canajoharie, Fonda-Fultonville, Fort Plain and St. Johnsville school districts.
Because of generous support the Chamber has been able to assist several students from throughout Montgomery County over the years to pursue careers in various fields including healthcare services, education, criminal justice, and human services to name just a few.
For more information call The Chamber at 842-8200.