Winter not a time for sportsmen to hibernate

We’re only into early February and the number of upcoming activities has already begun to increase.

Even though the snow is still falling and the roads are a wintertime mess, the 30th Annual Anchors Aweigh Boat Show began yesterday in Anchorage at the Dena’ina Center. The show is scheduled to run through Sunday with the Alaska Outdoor Council’s 2013 banquet Saturday evening, also at the Dena’ina Center. For more information on parking, show hours or to get tickets for the banquet, Google “Anchors Aweigh Boat Show” and check the website.

The Matanuska Valley Sportsmens Association’s (MVSA) annual gun show starts tomorrow and runs through Sunday at Raven Hall on the Palmer State Fairgrounds. According to radio ads I’ve heard, if you attend the show and then bring proof of that attendance to the MVSA indoor shooting range on the Glenn Highway just south of Palmer, you can shoot for free either day the gun show is held.

Don’t forget the Alaska Board of Game (BOG) meeting which starts today at the Best Western Lake Lucille Inn in Wasilla and runs through Feb.15. This meeting represents the process regulating all the hunting you’re planning trips for with that new boat or hunting rifle you found at the other shows. There are several proposals the BOG will be addressing that will influence if, how and where you can use those new toys, so if you can, stop by to see how the process works and to voice your thoughts on proposals of interest to you. All the meeting information is posted on the BOG website, including the proposals, department comments and reports, etc.

Now that we’ve covered this weekend’s activities, let’s look at a couple of things scheduled for the near future.

Ehmann Outdoors, along with several other sponsors, is presenting the Mat-Su Kids Ice Fishing Derby at Finger Lake in Palmer on Feb. 24. Registration starts at 9 a.m. on Finger Lake in front of the Palmer Elks Lodge. The derby starts at 10 a.m. and the awards ceremony is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in the registration area. The event is aimed at kids ages 3 to 15 and costs $10 per child. Now before you stop reading because you don’t like the idea of charging a kid to participate, you need to know this derby is a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

If you’re not familiar with Make-A-Wish, the organization grants the favorite wish of children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions in order to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Unfortunately, in all too many cases, that wish often comes only shortly before the child passes on. The Washington/Alaska chapter of the organization began in 1986 in Washington and Alaska became a part of the program in 2000. Since 1986, more than 5,100 wishes have been granted by this chapter and they are hoping to grant more than 300 wishes this year alone.

I couldn’t find a definitive statement on the types of current wishes granted, but I know that Make-A-Wish used to grant wishes, among others, involving fishing and hunting activities. Several similar groups did the same until it became politically incorrect to continue doing so and everyone stopped except one or two such organizations. I think Make-A-Wish still does, but don’t quote me.

Anyway, trophies and prizes will be awarded to the three largest (length) fish in each of two age group divisions. If the fish is released alive back into the lake, an extra inch will be added to the measurement to encourage catch and release fishing. For adults, a raffle will be held for a power ice auger, an ice fishing shelter, an ice fishing suit, and a 10-year subscription to Fish Alaska Magazine. Raffle tickets are $10 each and can be purchased from Wasilla Sportsman’s Warehouse or at the registration table on Feb. 24.

For those wondering about lunch, food by Two Girls and a Grill will be available to purchase at the derby and the Elks Lodge will provide access to the lake and free hot chocolate. I hope to stop by after church and buy a raffle ticket or two. That propane ice auger would sure be nice for some ice fishing later this winter.

And finally, the Mat-Su Friends of the National Rifle Association (NRA) are holding their annual banquet at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center on March 16. Doors open at 5 p.m. For more information, contact Lori Hamann at 373-5938.

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You can leave him a message by emailing sports@frontiersman.com.