By Mike Roche

Last Saturday night, the Mahar Regional School Cafeteria had a full house, and no one left disappointed or hungry.

That crowd included three generations of club members who look forward to the annual gathering of local people who enjoy sitting down and enjoying wild game prepared well and great company. Among those assembled were some who were members of the original club when Mahar Regional School opened its doors in 1957. The tradition began with a Father and Son Banquet for the club whose members were high school boys. The meal was provided by the ladies of the Congregational Church in Orange. A number of those original club members have had children and grandchildren who were or are part of the school club which now has put on a game supper for 21 years.

A lot has changed besides the menu in the last 64 years. Girls were admitted to the club membership in 1969 and a middle school club was later established to allow any and all Mahar students to participate in the club, which is focused on the outdoor activities of hunting and fishing, which are so much a part of life in the towns that comprise the Mahar Regional School District. Regular events over the years include trap shoots, ice fishing derbies and annual deep sea fishing trips. Other club activities have included fly tying classes, programs by MassWildlife professionals on various wildlife and fishing topics, and trips that have included canoe adventures to the Boundary Water Wilderness Area in Minnesota and 10 days touring Alaska.

Like everything in our lives, the club’s activities were curtailed by COVID, but the past two years have shown a strong comeback with many students, particularly middle-schoolers, eager to get involved in outdoor activities. If Saturday night was an example, the sky is the limit for these young boys and girls. Master of ceremonies was club President Jeffrey LaPlante, and he did an outstanding job keeping things moving and letting everyone know what was going on. There were many door and raffle prizes, and local businesses really stepped up to support the club. There were also some really great club T-shirts and sweatshirts for sale and the designs were created by the students themselves.

Club officers were recognized, and club awards presented. Officers this year are Jeffrey LaPlante, president, Audrey Elwood, vice president, Stella Moore, secretary, and Rory Minty treasurer. Two awards to outstanding members were presented and the Button Buck Award, given to an outstanding middle school member, went to Cory Tanner, while the Founders Award, which goes to an outstanding high school club member, was presented to Audrey Elwood. Each year the club recognizes former club President Fran Driscoll from a fund established by his family. This fund provides a sponsorship to attend the Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp and the recipient was Ronnie Suojenen. Mike Donnelly, long-time Massachusetts Ducks Unlimited supporter, presented club Treasurer Rory Minty with the Massachusetts Ducks Unlimited Greenwing Award, recognizing the sophomore’s strong commitment to conservation.

The club also continued the tradition of awarding state and local conservation awards. The local award recognized Rodney Flagg for his many contributions to the Fish’N Game Club and the area. His amazing prowess at tying great flies that catch fish was well-know across the country and he always provided great advice to anyone who stopped in the shop. That shop was an institution and it also served as a check station for both deer and turkey seasons. His generous support for the club over the years was noted and greatly appreciated.

This writer was indeed humbled when club Advisor Evelyn Cunha presented me with the State Award for Service to Youth and Conservation. My time as advisor to the Fish’N Game Club after taking over from my father, club founder John E. Roche Jr., was very enjoyable and rewarding. It was indeed a real pleasure and the chance to work with so many great young men and women over the years was most rewarding. Working as a counselor and later camp director at the Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp and also serving as a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor for many years also provided the same satisfaction and allowed me to make a difference. Seeing the Mahar Fish’N Game Club keep the tradition alive driven by the next generation of young outdoorsmen and women is truly inspiring.

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In his remarks, LaPlante recognized the Mahar School administrators in attendance and both Principal Scott Hemlin and Superintendent Elizabeth Zielinski spoke of their respect for the club and appreciation of the value that outdoor recreation like hunting and fishing have to people in the region. That support has been critical to the club’s longevity and success, and both are unique. The special learning opportunities that the Mahar Fish’N Game Club has provided for so long has had a significant impact on students. In the Mahar cafeteria Saturday night there were hundreds of examples enjoying the food and camaraderie.

The club wanted to give special thanks to Mahar cafeteria manager Jackie Dillenback and Mark Kovalsick, Chuck Neveu and Anthony Cunha for their roles in food preparation. Significant meat donations were provided by Kurt French, Astro Minty, Rick and Ruth French and the Massachusetts Environmental Police.

Please be aware that this year promises to be a nightmare as far as ticks are concerned and they are already out in numbers. Just yesterday one was discovered embedded on my shoulder. The dogs were also found to have a few in the last week, but thanks to the protection provided by their collars, all were quite dead. There are a number of very effective products on the market to protect your dogs. My experience with both collars and ingested medications has been good. Years ago, Fran Phillips, who worked with me at Mahar and really knows hunting dogs, recommended Soresto Collars and they have proved to be dependable for up to eight months unless you dogs are regularly in water, which limits the potency by a few months. Bravecto, an oral product, has been equally effective. Prior to using these products, my dog Dinah contracted Lyme disease and required Doxycycline, which is now part of my hunting bag’s essentials. Do your research, choose a treatment and start now.

Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the MaharFish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, has been a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.