Dowagiac club to host 23rd annual Hunter’s Rendezvous

Published 8:52 am Tuesday, January 7, 2020

DOWAGIAC — An annual event to support local youth will be returning to Dowagiac next month.

Tickets are now on sale for the Dowagiac Conservation Club’s 23rd annual Hunter’s Rendezvous, which will be hosted from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 at the club, 54551 M-51 N., Dowagiac. Though entrance to the event is free, raffle tickets are $5 each. The main raffle will include a first-place prize of a fully-stocked freezer, a second-place prize of a Ruger .350 with vortex scope, and a third-place prize of a Kong 70-quart cooler.

In addition to the main raffle, the event will feature many activities throughout the day, including 50/50 raffles, bucket raffles, an antique gun appraisal, a trophy barn display and trophy barn raffle, and a silent auction featuring several outdoor items, sporting tickets and more. Food will also be available at the event.

Many children’s activities will also be taking place throughout the day. Activities include, a youth turkey calling contest and hourly free children’s raffles.

“This is a really fun annual event that takes place in the middle of winter when people are looking for something to get out of the house,” said Adam Maxey, co-chair of the event. “The raffles are a really big draw.”

All money raised from the event will go to support youth programs put on by the Dowagiac Conservation Club, including hunter’s safety courses, archery classes, a pheasant hunt and more. Additionally, some of the money raised will be used to send local children to Michigan United Conservation Clubs summer camps.

Last year, the club raised nearly $10,000 for youth programs at the Hunter’s Rendezvous, a number Maxey hopes to reach again or exceed this year.

“[The event] is all to support our youth fund and make sure we can provide these things for local kids,” Maxey said. “We gotta give [local children] another outlet other than sports and the computer. We like to get them out and about and help them to learn something new.”

Maxey said he would encourage the Dowagiac community to attend the Hunter’s Rendezvous event to both support the conservation club and to support local youth.

“Come out and support the youth of the community,” he said. “The youth is the future, and if we don’t support them, who will?”

To purchase raffle tickets for the Hunter’s Rendezvous, contact Maxey at (269) 340-2358 or co-chair Craig Lyons at (269) 876-7998.

The Conservation Club is also still seeking sponsors for the youth raffles, which will be taking place throughout the Hunter’s Rendezvous event. Businesses and individuals looking to donate can contact Maxey by phone or make out checks to Adam Maxey, C/O Dowagiac Conservation Club, 24937 Flanders St., Dowagiac MI, 39047.