The first meeting of the Fulton County Sportsmen’s Leagues was on February 5, 1944. At this first meeting Paul Knepper was elected President, Merrill Seville for vice president, H.C. Welsh for secretary, and S.R. Hess for treasurer. There were 12 paid founding members. (F.S. Ambrose, Daniel Gunnel, J.T. Brechbiel, S.R. Kremer. Wayne Batdroff, Paul Knepper, Orlen Bard, S.R. Hess, Norman Hess, Jack Davensizer, Claude Bardroff, and John Burkett). Founding member dues was set at $1.00 a year for 1944. During subsequent meetings a Constitution was developed and approved.
Highlights From Past Sportsmen’s’ Meetings
February 5, 1944 – First Fulton County Sportsmen’s’ meeting
March 3, 1944 – By-laws adopted
April 21, 1944 – First request for fingerlings in Roaring Run, Cowan’s Gap, and Little Aughwick
June 11, 1944 – First stocking of fingerlings reported
Sept.15, 1944 – Approved a Christmas turkey feed for members
Jan. 1, 1945 – Approved a fox hunt for in the Narrows
Feb. 16, 1945 – Junior division approved
March 16, 1945 – 9400 trout approved for stocking in Fulton County. Approved a snake killing contest paying 10 cents for each snake tail turned in
April 20, 1945 – 200 pheasants and 100 pheasant eggs were obtained
May 18, 1945 – 2500 fingerlings were stocked in Spring Run
July 20, 1945 – Combined picnic at Cowan’s Gap for the Sportsmen and the fire company members
Nov 16, 1945 – 20 dozen rabbits were purchased
March 15, 1946 – 400 ring neck chicks were purchased and a crow shoot was organized
May 17, 1946 – Approved $200 to restock wild turkeys
Aug 16, 1946 – First gun raffle organized
Nov 22, 1946 – 100 largemouth bass were stocked in Cowan’s Gap, 30 dozen rabbits were purchased
Sept 26, 1947 – 20 turkeys were purchased at $5 each
March 18, 1949 – By-laws were read and a committee was approved to formulate and approve new by-laws
July 28, 1950 – Approved a float for the Centennial Parade
May 18, 1951 – First state trout stocking of Cove Creek, 1200 brown trout
June 19, 1952 – Decision to not meet in July and August
August 22, 1950 – Fulton County Sportsmen’s League is incorporated as a nonprofit Corporation under the Non-Profit Corporation Law and registered as such in the Fulton County Courthouse.
Dec 18, 1953 – Carl Jarrett introduced as the Fulton County Game Protector
Feb 19, 1954 – Approved 80 turkeys to be stocked
May 21, 1954 – Stone quarry had been leased from Isabel Patterson as a rifle range
Feb 18, 1955 – Three farms approved to be surveyed for purchase- the owners were- Allen Deaver, Russell Deshong, and Foster Everetts.
May 20, 1955 – New by-laws adopted, purchase of Foster Everett’s farm approved, and mortgage of $3000 executed. Mortgage held by Dr. McLucas.
June 1955 – Farm boundary surveyed and marked
Sept 16, 1955 – Hunting dog-training area established on farm
Oct, 1955 – Proposed club house on the farm discussed
Feb 17, 1956 – C R Kirk found an area on the farm suitable for a pond
March 16, 1956 – Farm placed in first A.C.P. Program, 9000 trees and 21,000 shrubs to be delivered
June 15, 1956 – Pine seedlings to be planted at farm
Jan, 1957 – Banquet held at the fire hall $1.50 charged
Feb 15, 1957 – Preliminary survey for dam at Meadow Grounds
March 15, 1957 – Motion to repair old house on the farm
Jan 18, 1958 – No grouse shooting on the farm
March, 1958 – 18,840 state trout for the county
Nov 1958 – Construction of Meadow Ground Lake approved by the state
May 1959 – Survey to harvest 8-9 acres of trees at the farm
May 1960 – Chicken barbeque approved
Jan 19, 1961 – Meadow Ground Lake survey work completed
Feb, 1962 – Approval to cut paper wood at the farm by John Lynch
June 1962 – Meadow Ground Lake construction starts at a cost of $200,000
Sept 1962 – Two bears seen in the Narrows are reported by Carl Jarrett
Oct 1963 – 400 pheasants released in the county
Nov 1965 – Shooting match at Wilbur Keefer’s
Feb 1969 – Ray Koontz showed movies of his big game hunts
May 1969 – 150 acres burned by a forest fire on the Meadow Grounds Mountain
Jan 16, 1970 – Fish nursery at D.K. Morton farm first discussed
May 25, 1970 – 6 ft. by 150 ft. raceway approved by Cooperative Nursery Program at a cost of $823. Lease agreement with D.K. Morton for raceway.
June 4, 1970 – Nursery site approved; H.B. Mellott to excavate the site.
Sept 1970 – Nursery completed, Harry Elvey engineered. Started with 2000 fingerlings.
Feb 1971 – Approved stream improvement to Esther Run
April 1971 – Purchased 2000 brook trout fingerlings. 7000 fish were ordered from Cooperative Nursery Program.
June 1971 – Additional raceway constructed
April 1972 – Tagged fish released in county streams for prizes
May 1972 – 607 members on record. Road past the nursery to be paved.
To view the Constitution of the Fulton County Sportsmen’s League click here
To become a member of the Fulton County Sportsmen’s League click here