Words by Jill Farrell; Photos by Emily Lord & Great Bay Gunners
The Great Bay Gunners, a social hunting and outdoors club not only use the Great Bay lands and waters for their sport but they have endless respect for the land, its creatures, and its health. They live the mantra of first enjoy, then protect.
As Ted Hartmann a founding member of the club shares, “We each have an impact on the environment. The size and effect of that impact is up to us. It all adds up, we all just need to give a little of ourselves. It’s worth it.”
The Gunners are avid hunters, trappers, and outdoorsmen many of whom have grown up along the shores of Great Bay. They excitedly anticipate the start of the duck and goose season every October and as soon as the snow melts in March they’re often the first folks out on the bay. For them nothing compares to an early morning view from a blind.
As Ted shares, “Most fall mornings during duck season I am out on the bay before dawn. In one split second the first sliver of light comes over the horizon and begins to wake up the bay. As the sun hits the emerald water it’s like an alarm clock going off. The ducks and geese all know. They start to chatter and fly before heading out for the day. It’s an awesome sight that makes me realize our efforts to preserve the bay are worthwhile.”
They also know that part of enjoying a place is helping to protect it and small changes and a few hands can make a big difference. As part of the Great Bay Clean Up effort the Gunners, a snowsled, a lot of teamwork, a couple pick-up trucks and a couple of hours hauled 1,500 POUNDS OF DEBRIS from the shoreline. These guys use these lands for their recreation and enjoyment and felt that helping to keep them clean was the least they could do. They know the meaning of protecting their playground!
