Federation of Fish and Game Clubs

The Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club is an active member of the Federation. Other members include the Malone Fish & Game Club, Tupper Lake Fish & Game Club, Alexander McDonald Fish & Game Club (St. Regis Falls), Chateaugay Fish & Game Club, and the American Legion Fish & Game Club. The organization has been active since the early 1970s and meets each month on the third Tuesday, except for the annual meeting, which is held on a Friday in September. Meetings are held at various locations announced at the previous meeting, including Paul Smith’s College, Deer Valley (Santa Clara), and Hosler’s Restaurant in Malone. Dinner is at 6:00 p.m., followed by the meeting at 7:00 p.m. During the summer, meetings are hosted by various clubs so members may attend and delegates can visit different clubhouses. Clubs may send as many members as they wish, but each club is limited to a maximum of three votes per meeting. Each club pays annual dues.

The Federation maintains a paid membership in the New York State Conservation Council (NYSCC). Each county federation has an official delegate and alternate delegate to this statewide sportsmen’s organization. Several of our members serve on statewide committees, including the Legislative, Archery, Fish, Firearms, and Small Game Committees, representing Region 5. Region 5 also has a regional director who attends NYSCC board meetings throughout the year.

The NYSCC holds a seat on the Conservation Fund Advisory Board (CFAB), and Region 5 also has representation on that board.

Federation meetings typically include a representative from the Region 5 DEC to facilitate the exchange of information. This representative may be a conservation officer or a member of the fish or wildlife office. In addition to the usual officers, the Federation has a Legislative Vice President who serves as spokesperson to the Regional DEC headquarters, helping communicate and coordinate cooperative efforts on matters of concern. The Federation represents organized sportsmen of Franklin County to county government and receives some funding from the Franklin County Legislature.

The Franklin County Federation of Fish and Game Clubs maintains a sportsman’s building at the Franklin County Fair in Malone each year. Each club is required to set up a display and staff the building for two days of the fair. This involves constructing displays prior to the opening of the fair and dismantling them afterward, as well as providing four club members per day. One shift runs from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and a second shift from 4:00 p.m. to about 9:00 p.m. The Federation also raises funds by selling tickets and registering children for drawings to win fishing rod and reel combinations. The fair is an important outreach opportunity, allowing the Federation to engage county residents by sharing information about organized sportsmen’s activities such as fish stocking, hunter and trapper education courses, land management plans, and youth fishing tournaments. In recent years, the Federation has built a handicapped-accessible fishing site and purchased a mechanical deer for DEC use in anti-poaching efforts.

Through the NYSCC and the Franklin County Federation, our Fish and Game Club is able to provide and receive county, regional, and statewide input and feedback. This ensures that our members are represented at all levels, kept informed, and able to act proactively on issues of concern. Members are encouraged to attend Federation meetings to learn more and become involved.