Alabama Chapter of SCI has always done things a little differently. We try to participate in the local hunting expos, we help score deer racks for the state deer breeders association, we collect and donate venison to the local foodbanks, we have bi-monthly meetings and now we are conducting hunts to help get members involved in more fun socialization and less on the work side of things.
If you can get your members involved, it will help your organization grow, and with growth comes strength. We hosted a dove hunt in the last quarter of 2016 and it went well with a lot of participation. Based on its success, the current chapter president, Chris Williams, decided to host a continental pheasant hunt. The hunt was booked with a slotting of 20 guns. I think we ended up having 21 or 22 guns, and some folks stood together so everyone could participate and to boost the camaraderie. We are currently making a chapter wild hog hunt that with big bore rifles and maybe even some of the Bill Jones collection in attendance for extracurricular shooting.
When organizing such events, you have to be able to accommodate as many folks as possible with the cost being very competitive for all walks of life. The animal you chose to hunt also needs to be something that will yield great success for all, or at least most, who participate in order to continue getting the participation and support. Bird hunts and even wild hog hunts are things that yield great success and are easily organized. Alabama plans on continuing organized functions in the future that include hunts, and hopes to grow our chapter more in the coming years. Thank you to all who participate in any SCI functions to make this great organization what it is. Happy hunting.–Jonathan Lehr
