Saranac Lake Fish & Game Club

The Saranac Lake Fish & Game Club was founded on the first Thursday of October 1905 when eleven men met by lantern light in the Harrietstown Town Hall basement. They started with a mission to stock local waters—literally wading into Lonesome Pond to plant whitefish—and that conservation ethic still drives the club today. From meeting in the back room of John Hogan's Drugstore to acquiring their current property in 1928, the club has been a cornerstone of the Adirondack sporting community for over a century.

The clubhouse features a 50-foot indoor range equipped for pistol and .22 rifle shooting. The outdoor range accommodates rifles and pistols of any caliber, with target placements at 25, 50, and 100 yards. A covered concrete firing line allows multiple shooters to engage targets at different distances simultaneously.

The club hosts New York State Hunter Education Program courses throughout the year, taught by state-certified instructors. Training is available for:

• •Gun hunting
• •Archery
• •Trapping

Successful completion results in the required New York State hunter education certificate. Sign up through the state's registration system at register-ed.com.

10 Gun Raffle & Picnic (September) The club's biggest fundraiser features 11 chances to win firearms including a Mossberg Maverick 88 12-gauge. Raffle tickets sold through the club only—contact Nancy Borden at 518-637-4662.

Gun Shows (January & July) Dealers from across the North Country set up at the clubhouse to buy, sell, and trade firearms, ammunition, and accessories.

Kids Fishing Derby (Father's Day) Held at Lake Colby, this event features prize categories for ages 6 & under through 13–15, with competitions for trout, salmon, perch, and bass.

Colby Classic Ice Fishing Derby (First weekend of March) Two-day event on Lake Colby with prizes for perch, trout, salmon, and northern pike. Northern pike can be fished from local waters within the Saranac Lake School District boundary.

Trudeau Big Buck Contest (Annual, 100-year tradition) Hunters can enter archery, muzzleloading, or rifle categories for $20 per season. Registration required at Woods & Waters (255 Broadway, Saranac Lake). All entries weighed there. Top prize includes trophy placement and cash award.

Christmas Pie Sale (December) Traditional 30-year fundraiser featuring homemade pies, cakes, cookies, and stollen. Held the Saturday before Christmas at Coakleys.

Critter Dinner (February) Potluck dinner for members and families featuring game dishes from recent hunting seasons.

The clubhouse includes banquet facilities available for member rental, making it a resource for group events and gatherings.

The club also manages campership programs for children and maintains affiliations with the Federation of Fish & Game Clubs and the Adirondack Conservation Council (which was organized at the clubhouse in 1947).

Saranac Lake Fish & Game Club 726 Bloomingdale Avenue, Bloomingdale, NY 12913 P.O. Box 588, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 📞 518-891-2560 📧 [email protected]