Utica, New York –-(Ammoland.com)- The New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame proudly announces that it will induct nine new members at the Annual Banquet, April 28, 2012 in Canastota, NY.
The nine individuals represent a cross section of interests and achievements from various regions of New York State. What they do have in common is a lifetime of dedication to conservation and improving participation in outdoor sports.
- Steve Alstadt of Colden in Erie County has been active on behalf of shooting sports and second amendment rights. His involvement with Shooters Committee On Political Education (SCOPE) has often meant spending considerable time in Albany meeting with legislators to protect sportsmen’s rights, as well as serving the Erie County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and the NYS Conservation Council.
- The late Robert (“Rodge”) Case of Canandaigua was an ardent conservationist who founded the Canandaigua Lake Waterfowl Hunters Association and for over 50 years he worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in duck banding. During these decades of duck banding, he involved many youngsters and this led to an interest in wildlife and the outdoors in many of these youngsters that carried on to later life .
- Scott Cornett, a DEC Fisheries Biologist from Allegany has dedicated his career to enhancing fishing, especially trout fishing resources, in New York State. He has played a major role in planning many habitat improvement projects in Allegany County and western New York and has spent countless hours of his free time working alongside the volunteers on weekends. His work in bringing many disparate groups together has been a model for cooperation and achievement and earned him many awards.
- Mike Cusano of Clay has been active with many conservation and youth activities in Onondaga County as well as promoting bass fishing on the state level. While he was president of the Salt City Bassmasters Club the Junior Anglers Program grew to be one of the largest in the state. He has taken the lead in organizing water chestnut eradication, cormorant hazing under DEC supervision, and the Take a Soldier Fishing event.
- Joe Fischer of Cheektowaga in Erie County has distinguished himself in the outdoors world by his long record of volunteerism, including the Erie County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and the Erie County Fisheries Advisory Board’s Kids Day Clinic. Joe helped organize and expand women’s programs such as Women in the Outdoors, Ladies Rifle Training, and was one of the founding members of the New York Walleye Association. His work with the NYS Conservation Council included serving as Region 9 Director, and chairman of the NYSCC fish Committee.
- George Granger of Naples has been actively volunteering for shooting sports in Ontario County and the region for four decades, including hunter safety, archery safety instructor, and master instructor. He also served for 19 years as a volunteer coach for the Alfred State College Rifle Team. His activities in the Middlesex Conservation Club included supervising the air rifle range, organizing the hunter safety classes, and helping organize the two day Youth, Female, and Handicapped Pheasant Hunts.
- John Jeanneney of Albany County was the founder of Deersearch, Inc., a group of individual volunteers who are committed to reduce crippling loss of big game. Individuals use their skills and tracking dogs to locate wounded deer and bear. Finally the NYS legislature approved this program in 1986. His influence has extended far beyond New York State with chapters in over 20 states and Canada.
- Bob Kazmierski of Johnstown had a vision of a museum that would display the wildlife, hunting, fishing, and trapping equipment, and tell the story of sportsmen. Today his dream has been achieved with the establishment of the Wildlife Sports Education Museum in Vails Mills in Fulton County. This world-class museum displays an incredible collection of lifelike mounts and sporting instruments. It has proven to show the importance of sporting heritage and is an educational experience for school or youth groups.
- Randy Opferbeck of Cattaraugus County has devoted his life to enhancing the wild turkey, turkey hunting, and of course the National Wild Turkey Federation. He was a founder of the New York State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and served as president, board member, and currently as secretary for many years. Randy has also been heavily involved in his local chapter, the Enchanted Mountain Chapter, and is responsible for formation of JAKES (youth group), Wheeling Sportsmen (disabled sportsmen), and Women in the Outdoors in that group.
These sportsmen will be honored at the Annual Banquet on April 28, 2012. Guests and interested sportsmen are encouraged to attend. Information or reservations are available by calling 315-363-3896 or 315-829-3588 by April 21. In addition to honoring sportsmen and women for preserving or enhancing our outdoor heritage, the NYS Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame is involved in many other educational activities including seminars, fishing clinics, or youth programs. Check the web site www.nysohof.org for more information.
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