This Page About Off Target: Changes are coming for Hunting and Fishing Days

Off Target: Changes are coming for Hunting and Fishing Days

There have been a few rumors floating around Southern Illinois concerning the demise of the Southern Illinois Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Days. The celebration is not going away. However, it is undergoing significant changes.

The event began as a small tribute to the hunting and fishing culture of Southern Illinois. The executive committee is taking Hunting and Fishing Days back to its roots.

The first Southern Illinois versions of National Hunting and Fishing Days were held at Rend Lake. The event soon outgrew that venue, moving to John A. Logan College.

The celebration grew bigger and bigger each year until, as in the past few years, most of the John A. Logan College parking lots were under tents.

To quote Jerry Seinfeld, "Not that there's anything wrong with that."

The event grew into something spectacular, something that attracted outdoor luminaries such as Fish Fishburne, Byron Ferguson, Maynard Reese, The Duck Commander and Southern Illinois' own Chad Morgenthaler.

The event had an annual budget of several hundred thousand dollars.

In effect, the event grew too large for the volunteer committee to handle.

The committee met in October to discuss the future of the event. After considerable soul-searching, and a few tears, one thing became obvious - no one wanted to see National Hunting and Fishing Days go away.

Several ideas were floated, but nothing was settled at that initial meeting. The committee took a couple weeks to mull things over, and then reconvened to formulate a plan.

What emerged was a scaled-down version of the event, one that will be held at John A. Logan College. In essence, it is an opportunity for the committee to refocus. Most of the attractions devoted to adults and their toys will be gone, but the kids' attractions will remain.

Obviously, that will result in smaller crowds. However, the integrity and intent of National Hunting and Fishing Days will remain.

A lot of things will be stripped away, but the essentials will remain. The event will be centered on the campus pond, literally and figuratively.

In addition to the fishing, kids will still be able to shoot BB guns, and try their hands at archery, retriever demonstrations and possibly trap shooting. There will still be wildlife shows and other attractions - not all the plans have been finalized.

In light of the changes, several things need to be mentioned.

First, people of Southern Illinois need to realize what an outstanding public citizen John A. Logan College has been.

Ever since the Southern Illinois Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Days moved to Carterville, the administration of John A. Logan has essentially turned its campus over to the committee.

Make no mistake about it; the event never would have continued to grow without the enthusiastic support of the college's administration. The fingerprints of the college were all over the event's success.

There have been rumors circulating that the college has pressured the committee to cut back the size of National Hunting and Fishing Days. Not true - this move is just a natural progression.

Second, there is the committee.

I've been a member of that committee for 18 years. Essentially, the same core of people has been there throughout my tenure.

The dedication of this group of people is nothing short of amazing.

They have worked long, hard and for the most part, behind the scenes. Once a year, at the annual benefactors' banquet, the committee would honor one of its own.

Other than that, the work was done behind the scenes, without fanfare or complaint.

In fact, during my involvement with the event there have been only one or two squabbles between committee members. Egos took a back seat, National Hunting and Fishing Days came first. Many people in Southern Illinois feel that way.

Time marches on. Change is inevitable. However, hopefully some things won't change.

Hopefully, residents of Southern Illinois will continue to support the event. Continue to learn more about hunting, please visit Southern Illinoisan.

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