USA -(Ammoland.com)- The New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame proudly announces that it has inducted eight new members for 2017. These inductees represent all areas of the state and many fields of endeavor.
The NYSOHOF is an organization dedicated to honoring those individuals who have spent many years preserving our outdoor heritage, working for conservation, or enhancing our outdoor sports for future generations.
James Daly of Onondaga County has served as the volunteer director of the Angler’s Association of Onondaga annual youth fishing program for decades and has also been a longtime volunteer instructor for outdoor education and youth fishing programs with the Liverpool School District’s environmental education programs.
He is a board member of the Onondaga Sportsmen’s Federation and has helped organize the annual Sportsmen’s Days weekend at Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery. Jim Daly has also been a volunteer with Izaak Walton League’s Family Fishing Days, building waterfowl ponds, pheasant releases, and Boy Scouts of America.
Burnell (Burnie) Haney of Jefferson County has been involved with conservation, education, and promoting fishing most of his life through his blogs, magazine articles, and seminars, and by volunteering at many events, including the Casting Kids program.
As Conservation Director of New York BASS and as Chairman of the Jefferson County Sport Fisheries Board he has addressed important issues including access, fish care, and invasive species. He organized the Take a Soldier Fishing event which annually involves over 200 soldiers experiencing fishing on Oneida Lake.
Mark Hettler has been active in conservation and youth groups and activities in the Onondaga County area for many years. He has served as president and treasurer of the Friends of Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery in addition to being a major fundraiser and spending countless hours of volunteering for their events and programs such as the Sportsmen’s Days.
Hettler also been active as a volunteer at Open House at the hatchery and a youth fishing instructor there in addition to DEC Family Fishing clinics, Time Out to Fish Pond for seniors or youth, and Friends of Wildlife at Webster’s Pond.
Phil Hulbert of Delaware County recently retired as Head of Fisheries after a career of working for the Department of Environmental Conservation. He was primarily responsible keeping the Rome Hatchery open and the rehabilitation for the NYS fish hatchery system.
His efforts to promote NYS heritage brook trout populations and their habitat led to the Eastern Brook Trout Venture and he played a vital role in establishing the Delaware River cold water releases which are essential to the fisheries there.
Jason Kemper from Saratoga County he has been actively involved with the county fish stocking program and the Great Sacandaga Lake Fisheries Federation in his role with Saratoga County Council of Fish and Game Clubs. Kemper is currently the chair of the Conservation Fund Advisory Board which oversees the NYS Conservation Fund and its expenditures making sure that money is spent wisely.
He has been a tireless fighter to gain access for sportsmen and the average citizen in Adirondack land acquisitions. He has attended nearly all of the Adirondack Park Agency hearings on Boreas Ponds to address the issues of reasonable recreational access and usage.
Ken Rose of Dutchess County has spent a lifetime volunteering and helping promote conservation and outdoor sports. Rose created a “Get Hooked On Fishing” program that has introduced thousands of children to fishing and taught them about sportsmanship and conservation.
He also developed a youth pheasant hunt and launched a program called “Hunters Helping the Hungry” in Dutchess County which provides venison for the needy in the community.
Frank Sanza of Monroe County has played an important role in the Lake Ontario fisheries for many years and currently serves as Chair of the Monroe County Fisheries Advisory Board. He helped form the Lake Ontario Charter Boat Association and represented views of the charter boat industry in dealing with various agencies in addition to promoting the Lake Ontario fishery.
Sanza took an active role in involving youngsters in various youth outreach programs and helped educate many people about the fishery and potential issues with his seminars and outdoor tv show broadcasts.
Anthony Scime was one of the founders of the Niagara Musky Association in 1994 and has been the mainstay of that organization for the past 23 years.
He was the driving force behind the increases in muskellunge size limits for Buffalo Harbor and Niagara River from 30 inches in 1994 to the 54-inch limit, initiated the important Muskellunge Angler Diary Study and helped establish fish holding structures in the Upper Niagara River.
Scime was one of the leaders behind the catch and release musky ethic of today and helped popularize this and the safe handling and release techniques used by musky anglers.
The new inductees will be honored at the annual banquet and will have their plaques displayed at the NYSOHOF Museum in Vail Mills, NY. These inductees will be formally inducted at the annual banquet on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at the Rusty Rail in Canastota, NY.
Family and friends are invited to join in this evening of celebration. Registration and social hour will begin at 5 pm with dinner at 6 pm followed by the presentations. Reservations must be made by April 22 by calling (315) 363-3896 or (315) 829-3588 or by e-mail at [email protected] or [email protected].
About NYSOHOF:
The main function of the New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame to honor the sportsmen and women who have made significant contributions to conservation or preserving the heritage of outdoor sports. These people are inducted into the Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame and honored at the annual banquet. Plaques highlighting their achievements are displayed in the Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame for all to see.
For more information, visit their website.