The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Owner
Henderson County does have many hidden gems, and the New Crystal Lake Club in Gulfport along the backwaters of the Mississippi, is certainly one of them. It was the location of Saturday's morning Outdoorsmen Heritage Festival & Fish Fry which was put on by Friends of Henderson County Wildlife. The other gem the area has, is its people, like the Brents and the concern they share for family, for others, and for the land.
Friends of Henderson County Wildlife is a non-profit organization that was launched in 2020 by the children of Don "Butch" Brent and Beverly (Morris) Brent of Stronghurst, both who were educators and outdoor enthusiasts who loved the opportunities the Natural Resources and the local Mississippi River Valley offers local residents. They also loved educating and sharing opportunities with kids of all ages.
With ninety-three inaugural members, the organization was off to a great start hosting their inaugural event and membership drive October 17, 2020 to introduce goals to the community and to provide outdoor learning activities for both youth and adults.
Ross Bigger gave tips and tricks on harvesting your dream buck with talks on food plots, trail cameras, etc; Kerry Poulter discussed gun safety tips; Illinois DNR Conservation Officer Shafer McKune hosted a question-answer session on Illinois laws; Chad Cargill led a youth duck calling training session to nearly two dozen youngsters.
Information on Hunter Education Safety Courses was shared which came about from an Illinois law which requires any Illinois resident born on or after January 1, 1980 to have a valid Hunter Education Certificate of Competency issued by the Ill. Dept. of Natural Resources, Safety Division.
The organization will also offer an annual $500 scholarship each Spring to a high school graduating senior who lives in Henderson County, IL. which will require an essay on how their interests and future degree/training will help them support the E.C.O. goals of Education, Conservation or Outdoorsmen Heritage.
Other events was Take A Youth Fishing with 60 youngsters and a virtual Butch's 2021 Bass Fishing Tournament with nearly 100 participants. And members placed 24 Wood Duck Nesting boxes around the county to help increase Wood Duck population, held a Duck Blind Prep picture contest, Deer Shed and Deer Cam contest.
Matt Weber & Kerry Poulter of Lomax, both members of the Friends of Henderson County Wildlife, ran the Shooting & Claybird Experience Station on Saturday at the New Crystal Lake Club, Gulfport.