Northern California Regional News
September/October 2008
Don Brown , MDF Regional Director
August 1st the Fortuna Chapter will have its second annual banquet at the River Lodge overlooking the Eel River.
The Fortuna chapter had a fun and entertaining first event last year and is looking to do a bigger and better banquet this year. The raffle will feature an African Safari for two. This event is dedicated for Blacktail deer habitat restoration. Fortuna’s work project for this year has been put a hold due to the size of the forest fires in Northern California. For ticket information please call Mark or Janet at 707-834-1222
A new chapter has been established in Colusa and they will be holding their first event on August 9 at the Colusa County Fair Grounds.
This banquet will have a summer time BBQ their chicken and ribs with ice-cold watermelon. Bring the whole family for an event that will have something for everyone. The Colusa chapter will have its work projects in prime Blackmail deer habitat west of HYW 5. Brent Nobles is the chapter chair and can be reached for information at 530-632-2417
The new Antioch Chapter is having its first event August 15th at the Lone Tree Event Center in Antioch. This event is gaining momentum every day. Jim & Ted Noack have jumped in with no experience just a love of what the Mule Deer Foundation is trying to do. If you want to help or just attend the banquet please call Jim Noack 510-232-8969.
Just a short note, living in California has been a challenge for the last month. Some days the smoke from the forest fires has been so bad you could not go outside. 100 plus degrees and thick smoke is not a great combination. After the first evening of lighting strikes we had over 1,100 fires burning. Now many of the small fires have burned together to form larger fires. Last week I was in Scotts Valley west of Weed, the morning was fantastic clear blue skies you could see for miles. I was able to see blacktail deer and watch trout rising in the small lake we went in for lunch and everything changed the smoke came in from the Happy Camp fire. You could not see ¼ of a mile. This fire went from 9,000 acres to 50,000 acres in 48 hours. I do not believe we have seen the end to the fires this year, as the worst of traditional fire season is still to come. My hat’s off and a great big THANK YOU for all the fire fighters working so hard to save the homes and property.
On a personal note, we have spent the last couple of days with my three teenage children. We traveled to Yellowstone National Park. As we traveled the park and looked at its many wonders we took the time to talk about nature. Looking at the scars from the 1988 fire that was so bad I had a chance to show my children the rebirth of the forest and a new growth that was evident everywhere we looked. As if on cue a trio of mule deer bucks were feeding 10 yards from our truck.