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ORGANIZING YOUR HUNTING CLUB
A well-run hunting club provides many benefits to its members, as well as club officers. Most clubs will benefit from
establishing club rules and club bylaws.
Club rules guide the behavior of club members by identifying what is expected of club members as well as identifying
what is not allowed. Club bylaws set forth how the club is organized and managed. Bylaws deal with how club officers are
established, identify the responsibilities of each officer, and the length of their term in office. Bylaws may also address
how membership is established in the club, how members may be removed from the club, and how disputes are resolved.
A simplified example of a club constitution and bylaws is located in Appendix A.
There are many ways in which clubs may decide to manage themselves. Clubs may put all club decisions to a majority
vote of the membership, clubs may decide to elect club officers or a management committee that makes all management
decisions for the club, or clubs may elect to allow all decisions be made by a single person that is recognized as having
the best intentions of the club at heart.
We do not require clubs to adopt a specific leadership/management style, but we do suggest the following:
Clubs should adopt a set of rules/regulations that guide club member behavior.
Clubs should adopt bylaws that provide direction in how the club is managed and how disputes are resolved. We expect
clubs to handle their own internal disputes.
Bylaws should allow for replacement of current officers and should be ratified by the general membership.
All financial information should be transparent to club membership. Club leadership should provide club members a full
financial accounting at least yearly of all dues received and all club expenses.
COOPERATING WITH NEIGHBORS
As a large landowner, we are well aware of the benefits of maintaining positive relationships with adjoining landowners.
We rely on our neighbors for access to our properties. Additionally, our neighbors often notify us of forest insects,
diseases, or other problems. As a leaseholder, your club is expected to maintain good relationships with
neighboring landowners and hunting clubs.
Often, forest roads cross Weyerhaeuser property and continue onto adjoining land. As a leaseholder, you are expected to
cooperate in providing reasonable access to adjoining landowners and hunting clubs. In the process of developing good
relationships with neighboring landowners or clubs, your club may want to consider the following:
Introduce yourself and your club members to neighbors. Often suspicions arise because one neighbor does not know
the other. A simple introduction can be a first step to good relationships.
Invite neighbors to a club dinner or other function.
Offer to help neighboring landowners and clubs with retrieving wounded deer or with other work.
Keep the lines of communication open. If you have a problem or suspect a neighbor has a problem with your club, talk
with them.
FOREST ACTIVITIES
The area you lease is part of a working forest. Forest management activities occur during all times of the year. This may
include activities such as timber harvest, site preparation, tree planting, vegetation control, fertilization, road building, or
forest research. There may be company personnel or other legitimate agents conducting forest management activities on
your lease at any time.
Of all forest management activities, timber harvesting has the most influence on clubs. We strive to provide clubs advance
notice of timber harvests. Club Contacts are notified of scheduled timber harvests each spring prior to renewing the lease
contract. That way, clubs can make informed decisions on whether they wish to renew their lease. Club Contacts are
provided a map of the proposed harvest area. Members are advised to remove all personal property from the harvest
area. We are not responsible for damage to personal property left on the lease.
In rare cases, we have to conduct unscheduled harvests. In these situations, we attempt to provide clubs with as much
notice as possible. However, the notice may be within hours of when the harvest will occur.
Once an area has been harvested, clubs should be prepared for subsequent forest management activities such as site
preparation (preparing the area for planting) and tree planting which will occur 6 to 24 months following harvest. Once an
area has been harvested but before it has been site prepared and replanted is the best opportunity for establishing food
plots on your lease area. If you are interested in establishing food plots, please read the Food Plot document provided in
this packet or on our website.