The Federation's "Blueberry Hill"
Wildlife Managment Area
Recent Federation action unlocked access to 1,100-plus acres
of State of Vermont-owned wildlife land in the Town of
Castleton. The Blueberry Hill Wildlife Management Area
(WMA) couldn't be used by the public that owned it. The WMA
was surrounded by private and restricted property.
Vermonters were locked out for more than 30 years.
An 80-acre parcel of private property abutting this WMA came
on the market in 2000. After a failed effort by the state
to purchase this property for access, VFSC stepped forward
and bought the parcel.
To date, this $100,000 project is the largest for VFSC and
the Federation's non-profit Fund for Conservation &
Training. With the generous help of member clubs,
individuals, and funds raised at VFSC annual banquets, the
mortgage was paid and, by securing a federally funded grant
obtained through the State of Vermont, an access roadway and
parking area were built on the Federation property.
Mark McCarthy photo
Thanks to
the generous donation of a granite monument by Steve Bigras of
B&B Monumental Engravers of Barre, VT, there is readily visable
signage to enable visitors to easily locate the access road.
The Federation continues to pay property taxes on this land and
contributions toward the taxes, or to fund other worthy Federation
projects can be made through:
Treasurer Harry Montague
173 Pettingill Road
Essex Junction, VT 05452
In this win-win solution to gaining public access to public
property, the Town of Castleton keeps this property on the
tax rolls and Blueberry Hill WMA is again open to all
Vermonters and visitors.
The Blueberry Hill project shows how sportsmen and
sportswomen in NRA-associated organizations contribute to
the betterment of society far, far beyond their membership
numbers.
U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, a Vermonter himself, once
said, "We cannot do everything at once, but we can do
something at once." The Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s
Clubs does what needs to be done.
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