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November 6, 2008
Commentary
Wildlife Art Festival, federal
duck stamp exhibit Nov. 22-23
at San Bernardino County Museum
By JIM MATTHEWS
Outdoor News Service
Joshua Spies, an artist from Watertown, S.D., will be at the 26th annual
Wildlife Art Festival held Nov. 22-23 at the San Bernardino County
Museum in Redlands showing his original artwork that won the 2008
federal duck stamp art competition.
Spies’ acrylic painting of a long-tailed duck or oldsquaw and a hunter’s
decoy used to attract the birds will be reproduced on the 2009-10
federal duck stamp, which is purchased by all waterfowl hunters across
the nation.
The artwork was selected from 270 entries by a panel of judges in
mid-October, and the top entries will be on display at the county museum
from Wednesday, Nov. 19 through Tuesday, Nov. 25.
While the artist “donates” his original painting to the federal
government for use on the duck stamp, Spies will be allowed to reproduce
prints of the original work and sell those. Print sales generally earn
the artist aro und
$1 million and helps launch their art careers if they are not already
established artists.
A well-know artist, this was the first time the 35-year-old Spies has
won the duck stamp art competition, but he said he’s entered the event
“off and on” since 1994. His highest placing in past events was a fourth
place finish in the competition two years ago.
An artist since childhood, Spies graduated from South Dakota State
University with a degree in fine arts and began his wildlife painting
career shortly after.
“There are a lot of artists out there with more talent than me, but not
many work as hard. I don’t sleep a lot because I love what I do. You get
out what you put in to it,” said Spies.
An avid hunter, Spies decided to forgo an annual pheasant hunt with
family and friends to attend the judging competition in Minnesota, and
was there when he was selected as the winner. Spies said he was excited
that his artwork would be on the federal duck stamp, where 98 cents of
every dollar raised is plowed back into saving wetlands and wildlife
habitat across the country.
Spies, who does a lot of work for national hunting conservation groups
like Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation,
Whitetails Unlimited, and Safari Club International, said he still “gets
excited when I see one of my painting sell at auction, see how much
money it raises, knowing it goes to projects that will hopefully save
more of these places.”
Duck stamps have been sold for 75 years. Since 1934, the Duck Stamp
program has raised $770 million to purchase nearly six million acres of
wetlands and other wildlife habitat for the nation’s 186 national
wildlife refuges. These refuges are used by one-third of the nation’s
threatened and endangered species and two-thirds of the most important
commercial and sporting species.
While the bulk of the $15 duck stamps are purchased by hunters who are
required to buy them for waterfowl hunting, birdwatchers, photographers,
fishermen, and others who enjoy wildlife also buy the stamps, which are
available at most post offices, wildlife refuges, and many retail stores
that sell hunting licenses.
The Wildlife Art Festival was the first show ever to have the federal
duck stamp art exhibited outside of Easton, Maryland, where the
competition is usually held each year. The 1983 show was so successful
and popular that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service now takes the duck
stamp art on the road each year and moves the selection event to
different areas to promote stamp sales, wildlife art, and conservation
across the nation.
Spies, who will only be on hand Saturday and through the morning on
Sunday, will join 22 other artists at the Wildlife Art Festival this
year, including this year’s featured artist Leslie Kirchner from Green
Valley, Calif.
The San Bernardino County Museum is located just north of Interstate 10
at the California Street exit in Redlands. Unlike past years, admission
is free for this year’s event, which is sponsored by the San Bernardino
County Museum Association, and parking is also free. For more
information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org or call 909-307-2669. For more
information on Spies art, you can visit his web site at
www.joshuaspies.com.
OUTDOOR CALENDAR
NOVEMBER 11 RIVERSIDE QUAIL UNLIMITED FUND-RAISER: The Riverside Chapter
of Quail Unlimited will have its fund-raising dinner and raffle
beginning 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11. at the El Prado Golf Course, 6555
Pine Ave., Chino. Held in conjunction with Prado Olympic Shooting Park,
money raised will be used to support local wildlife habitat projecs.
Dinner tickets are $30 each. Information: 909-597-4794.
NOVEMBER 15-16 GLENDALE GUN SHOW: The Glendale Gun Show will be held 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16,
at the Glendale Civic Auditorium, Glendale. Admission is $9. The next
Glendale gun show will be March 7-8, 2009, Aug. 8-9, 2009, and Nov.
21-22, 2009 Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at
www.glendalegunshow.com.
NOVEMBER 22-23 REDLANDS WILDLIFE ART FESTIVAL: The 26th Annual Wildlife
Art Festival will be held Nov. 22-23 at the San Bernardino County
Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands. This event features the top 40
entries in this year’s federal duck stamp art competition, along with
exhibits from over two dozens prominent wildlife artists, including duck
stamp art winner Joshua Spies. Admission and parking are free.
Information at www.sbcountymuseum.org or by calling 909-307-2669.
NOVEMBER 22-23 BAKERSFIELD GUN SHOW: The Central Coast Gun Shows
Bakersfield event will be held Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 22-23 at the
Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield. The 2008 dates for the Bakersfield
gun shows include Jan. 5-6, April 5-6, June 21-22, Aug. 30-31, and Nov.
22-23. Information at www.centralcoastgunshows.com or call 805-481-6726.
DECEMBER 6 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified
hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting
Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California
hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per
person. The 2009 class date schedule has not be set yet. Sign-ups are
taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at
951-735-7981.
DECEMBER 6-7 CONCEALED CARRY WEAPON COURSE: A 16-hour California
Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) course is being offered by Firearms
Training Associates at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises this
Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $180 per person. This course meets the
state requirement for 16 hours of training to qualify for a CCW (not
valid in San Bernardino County). This is the final date for 2008
classes. Contact FTA at 714-701-9918 or 877-544-4867 for information
about this class of the 2009 schedule. The web site is www.ftatv.com.
DECEMBER 20 CALIFORNIA WATERFOWL IMPERIAL VALLEY FUND-RAISER: The
Imperial Valley Chapter of the California Waterfowl Association will
have its mid-season fund-raising dinner banquet beginning 5 p.m.,
Saturday, Dec. at the St. Patricks’s Community Center, 133 E. Church,
Calipatria. Dinner tickets are $55 per person, $80 a couple. Contacts:
Frank Bailey at 760-359-0200 or Keith Cowell at 760-455-8990. Web site:
www.calwaterfowl.org.
CALENDAR RESOURCES
For a complete list of HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES held throughout the state,
including times, dates, and locations, go to the Department of Fish and
Game’s web site at this address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/classes.aspx.
For the rules and regulations on GRUNION RUNS, along with a complete
schedule and the expected times of the runs, go to this web site
address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/gruschd.asp
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
The following is a list of hunting, shooting, and fishing clubs and
organizations in Southern California with contact information and
regular meeting dates:
976-TUNA ROD AND REEL CLUB: The 976-Tuna Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m.
the first Thursday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga. At
the December meeting a free trip to Palmas de Cortez in Baja will be
given away. Contact Phil Friedman at 310-328-8426.
CALIFORNIA STATE VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The California State
Varmint Callers Association meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each
month at the Denny's just north of the 210 freeway at Irwindale Ave.,
Irwindale. Contact Steven Childs at 626-407-8826 or steve@sdchilds.com.
Web site: www.csvca.com.
CANYON OAKS SPORTSMAN’S CLUB: The Canyon Oaks Sportsman’s Club meets the
first Tuesday of every month at it’s clubhouse in Lakeview
Terrace-Sylmar. The club has regular trap, skeet, smallbore, big bore,
handgun, and Cowboy Action shooting events. Contact Gary White at
818-998-7240, Mike Totta at 818-362-2181 or Mike Nickoloff via e-mail at
idpamike@yahoo.com.
CERRITOS ROD & GUN CLUB: The Cerritos Rod & Gun Club meets the second
Wednesday of each month at Heritage Park in Cerritos. Contact Charles
Sharp at 714-317-8290 or fish_90605@yahoo.com.
CLUB FISH: Club Fish, a 20-year-old fishing club, meets 7:30 p.m. the
second Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse,
Santa Ana. The clubhouse is located at the entrance to Riverview Gold
Course. Contact Mike Cross at 949-854-5258 or m_r_cross@yahoo.com.
DEEP CREEK FLY-FISHERS: Deep Creek Fly-Fishers meets on the fourth
Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League clubhouse in Fairmont
Park, in Riverside. Go to www.deepcreekflyfishers.org to download a map
to the club house. Contact Brett Browning at 909-793-8912.
HIGH DESERT FLY-FISHERS: The High Desert Fly-Fishers holds its monthly
meetings on the second Thursday of each month at The Apple Valley Fire
Conference Center, 19235 Yucca Loma, Apple Valley. Contact John Rose at
760-247-5966.
HIGHLAND PARK SPORTSMEN'S CLUB: The Highland Park Sportsmen's Club meets
at 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month at 2035 Colorado
Blvd., Los Angeles. Contact Mauro Garcia at 323-254-0763 or incareal@juno.com.
NATIONAL VARMINT HUNTERS: The National Varmint Hunters meets 7:30 p.m.
the second Wednesday of each month at the Veterans of Foreign Wars club
located on Grand Avenue, just west of 17th Street, Santa Ana. Contact
Mark Harris at 714-655-6954 or mhitis1@yahoo.com or Terry Mathers at
714-299-9938 or coyote@jps.net.
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert
Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6:30 p.m. the first
Thursday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club, 16699 Stoddard
Wells Rd., Victorville. Contact Dave Recce at 760-956-7092 or Dave
Halbrook at 760-553-2794.
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange
County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6 p.m. the
third Tuesday of each month at The Firing Line, 17921 Jamestown Lane,
Huntington Beach. Contact Pat Ryan at 714-373-3688 or Casey Rasmussen at
714-377-5859.
ORANCO BOWMEN: The ORANCO Bowmen meet the second Tuesday of each month
at the club range, 17504 Pomona Rincon Rd., Chino (Euclid Avenue one
block north of the 71 freeway). The range is open to the public on
Sundays 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 909-597-7582. Web site: www.oranco.org.
ORANGE COUNTY BASS CLUB: The Orange County Bass Club meets 7 p.m. the
third Monday of each month at the Garden Grove Elk's Lodge. Contact
Steve Pendergast at 949-651-8172 or prendergasts@netzero.com.
PLUNGE CREEK COWBOYS: The Plunge Creek Cowboys, a new Cowboy Action
Shooting club in the Inland Empire, has shoots the third Saturday of
each month at the Inland Fish and Game range on Orange Street in East
Highlands. Authentic or replica firearms and garb required. Information:
www.plungecreekcowboys.com.
PREDATOR CALLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY: The Predator Callers of Orange County
meet 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Denny's restaurant,
7490 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach. Contact Rickey Macy via e-mail at
rickmacey@juno.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert Chapter of Quail
Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Apple
Valley Gun Club. Contact Cruz Garcia at 760-949-6334 or fathercruz@verizon.net.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of
Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the
Izaak Walton League Clubhouse (located at the entrance to Riverview Golf
Course) in Santa Ana. Contact Craig Riedel at 714-282-1194 or criedel@mflex.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (RIVERSIDE CHAPTER): The Riverside Chapter of Quail
Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Prado
Olympic Shooting Park, 17501 Pomona Rincon Road, Chino (one block west
of Euclid, just off the 71 freeway). Contact Ron Gibbons at 909-902-9814
or gibbent@gte.net. Web site: www.quriverside.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN DIEGO CHAPTER): The San Diego Chapter of Quail
Unlimited meets 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at DFG
Headquarters at 4949 Viewridge Rd., San Diego. Contact David Preddy at
davidpreddy@cox.net or visit www.sdqu.org.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CHAPTER): The San Gabriel Valley
Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of each
month at Triple B Clays in El Monte. Contact Tim Bovard at 866-206-9070,
ext. 6715 or sgvqu@onebox.com.
REDONDO ROD & GUN CLUB: The Redondo Rod & Gun Club meets 8 p.m. every
Thursday of every month at its own clubhouse. The club has promoted
hunting, fishing, sport shooting and the outdoors since 1948. The
clubhouse is located at 2023 Vanderbilt Lane, Redondo Beach. Contact
310-379-7772.
RIVERSIDE VARMINT CALLERS: The Riverside Varmint Callers meet 7 p.m. the
last Saturday of each month at Flo's Country Kitchen, Riverside. Contact
Lance Cochrane at 909-919-4309 or Ray Gauthier at 951-785-4986. Web
site:www.californiavarmintcallers.com/chapters.html/.
SAN DIEGO SPORTING DOG CLUB: The San Diego Sporting Dog Club meets 7
p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Animal Medical Center,
600 Broadway, El Cajon. Contact Steve Sarmiento at 619-659-9393 or
sssarmi@sbcglobal.net.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The Southern California
Varmint Callers Association meets 8 p.m. the first Wednesday of each
month at the Denny's Restaurant at Pioneer Blvd and Imperial Highway in
Norwalk. Contact Granville Crow at 310-548-6221 or crowshot1@cox.net or
Skip Gildner at 562-900-9020 or mtnhigh5@excite.com.
TEMPLE CITY SPORTSMEN: The Temple City Sportsmen meet the first Thursday
of each month at the Temple City Civic Center in Temple City. Contact
Jim White at 626-201-7782 or TCSPresident2006@yahoo.com.
TURNER'S OUTDOORSMAN ROD AND REEL CLUB: The Turner's Outdoorsman Rod and
Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Marie
Calendar’s Restaurant, 2300 Foothill, Pasadena. Contact Richard Crowe at
626-960-9610.
[Want your event or club listed here? Send the information to Jim
Matthews, Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA
92427-0007 or e-mail it to
odwriter@charter.net. Following the style
used above for events and clubs makes our life easier and increases the
likelihood of it being included here.]
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