Belltown Sportsmen

The Belltown Sportsmen's Club started in June 1940 when a group of dedicated sportsmen filed articles of incorporation to create a haven for East Hampton and Marlborough residents. What began as a small operation has grown into a 57-acre facility on Markham Road (off Tartia Road) that hosts hunting, fishing, shooting sports, and dog training activities.

Membership caps at 75 Regular Members, balancing local and non-resident participation. The club has deep roots—it moved from its original Quinn Road location in Marlborough (secured around 1950) to its current East Hampton property in fall 1969.

Shooting Sports - Trap Field: Modern clay target setup with all-electric trap machine. Summer trap shoots open to the public during season. Upgraded in 1992 and 1998 with electricity and modern equipment. Originally built as a "Crazy Quail" field in the late '70s, evolved into traditional trap format. - Rifle Range: 50-yard range with covered 100-yard shooting stand, built in the 1980s - Pole Barn: Covered pavilion constructed in early 1970s, enclosed and enhanced around 1999. Main gathering space for club events

Fishing - Hammon Pond: ¾-acre private water stocked with trout multiple times per year. Named in memory of former Club President Harry Hammond. Reaches 12 feet deep, fed by natural springs. Licensed as "Private Waters" by Connecticut—no state fishing license required. Year-round fishing including through the ice in winter. Club hosts public fishing derbies, kids' derbies (with JC's and CT State Agencies), and "Take a Vet Fishing Days"

Hunting - Peach Farm Access: Partnership with Gardner's Nursery (the Peach Farm) spanning 45+ years. Provides pheasant and woodcock hunting, dog training space, and venue for annual Club Field Trial - Wildlife Preserve: Over 50 acres of private club land plus access to another 50 acres of state forest. Pheasant hunting with members and guests. Birds stocked twice weekly during season (1970-2005 tradition) - Deer Hunting: Available on club lands and adjacent state forest

Dog Training - Members can actively and safely train hunting dogs throughout the properties. Available to members only

The club's mission centers on conservation and education. Four core values guide operations:

Conservation: Active habitat restoration, responsible hunting/fishing practices, wildlife protection

Education: Youth programs teaching firearms safety, ethical harvesting, sustainable fishing, and outdoor skills

Safety: Top priority across all activities—firearm safety, boating protocols, general outdoor preparedness

Community: Family atmosphere with volunteer efforts, youth events, veteran activities, and high school scholarship program

The club maintains partnerships with Connecticut State and Federal Environmental and Fish & Game agencies, focusing on protection, conservation, and regulated harvesting of fish and game.

• •Executive Board:
• •President: Mark Rolfe
• •Vice President: Tom Dunham
• •Secretary: Chelsea Salafia
• •Treasurer: Bruce Tolhurst
• •Birds: Aaron Tupper
• •Fish: Eric Germain
• •Ways & Means: Dennis Reynolds
• •Grounds: Marty Scovill
• •Membership: Matt Walsh
• •Member at Large & Legislative Liaison: Steve Pike
• •Range Office: Chris Gulick
• •Field Trials: Brett Salafia

The club's 1969 move to Markham Road marked a turning point. The original Quinn Road property in Marlborough (secured around 1950) had featured a simple one-room ranch clubhouse with fieldstone fireplace, 50-foot pistol range in the cellar, trap field, Cattle Lot Brook for fishing, seasonal pheasant stocking, and a 150-yard sand pit for rifle practice.

Rising property taxes sparked the move, and a closely divided membership vote led to the sale and relocation. The Markham Road property has since grown into a modern facility with annual field trials, turkey shoots, ham shoots, and regular social events.

The partnership with Gardner's Nursery (Peach Farm), initiated by former members Allen Tolhurst and Jack Schmitter, has become central to the club's hunting mission—now spanning 45+ years of cooperation and respect between the club and the Gardner family.