LYMAN — Hunting and fishing are part of Maine’s outdoor heritage ”“ pastimes that have brought families together for generations. The York County Fish and Game Association is marking 75 years of carrying on those traditions, and its anniversary offers not only a chance to look forward to the club’s future, but also to celebrate its past.

Joseph Stickney, for whom the Stickney Lodge was named when it was built in 1941, founded the association in 1937. Stickney was a Maine warden and fly tier who was involved in the state’s fish stocking and wildlife restoration programs, according to history on display at the lodge. Stickney was also an architect, said past president Tom Belanger, and he designed the lodge. When he died only four years after it was built, it was named after him.

Belanger has been a member for 40 years and is active with teaching the hunter safety course at YCF&G. He said the association has had its ups and downs in membership, with a low of about 100 during a difficult period in the 1980s, but there are a “bunch of real active people now,” and the association is in “the best shape it’s ever been.”

“I think it’ll continue to grow,” said Belanger. “There’s plenty of interest, good people in the club who really want to see it prosper. It’s going to do well.”

The association has come a long way since its start.

YCF&G began as a conservation group, said President Jordan Wessels, who has been learning about some of the history by reading old meeting minutes.

“It’s interesting to see where it started,” said Wessels, noting that he saw an ad for a dance at the Stickney Lodge in the 1940s.

“It’s cool how many things this floor has seen,” he said. “It was the hub of everything that happened in this area for years.”

The association minutes show that 214 people attended a lodge dinner in 1948, but the suppers died off during the 1970s and haven’t been held since.

“It’s to our loss that we don’t have community things anymore,” he said. “I think people are starting to miss that, and when they come to a place like this, all of a sudden they start to realize they don’t need to watch TV on Sunday morning, they can do something with the guys and gals over here.”

During those early years, the club was heavily involved in working with the state on where trout were released from the hatcheries, he said.

“Whatever these guys said, it went,” said Wessels, adding that the club was “big into fishing” at that time.

The club’s activities ebb and flow with the popular interests of the day, members say. Black powder shooting has died down, while archery is picking back up after a decade-long lull, and striper fishing is the fad for those who prefer the reel.

“There’s a lot of renewed interest in shooting activities,” said Wessels. “We’ve had a huge upsurge in people wanting to do concealed carry.”

Member Ray Dumas said he rejoined the club in February and uses the range to shoot his .22 rifle.

“Everybody’s friendly, cooperative and helpful,” he said. “I have a lot of friends here.”

Wessels, an Arundel resident, said he joined the club in 2011 after driving by on his way to work ”“ a route he’s taken for 17 years. Now that his children are grown, he’s joined up and said “it’s been nice to have a range this close to home.” His daughters often join him in target shooting, he said.

“It’s the friendliest club,” he said. “Everybody’s welcoming.”

Members, who number about 340, hail from as far as Massachusetts and Florida, along with many from the area. Older people often join for the community aspect of the club, while younger people tend to be into archery or the shooting range, he said. It’s open to “anybody who’s an outdoor enthusiast,” said Wessels. “It was put here as an outdoor club, not just a gun and fishing club.”

At one time, some senior members came just to enjoy the people, recalled past president Jim Thyng, of Arundel. “Could we get back to that? Gosh, I’d love to see it. The club has a lot of things to offer.

“We’re growing all the time.”

Today, the association is a charter for Cub Scout Troop 399, offers the hunter safety courses, youth air rifle courses, archery indoors and outdoors, and a basic handgun course. Located on either side of Route 35 in Lyman, with most of its property along the Mast Road, the club boasts 350 acres of land open for public recreation, much of it willed to the club by past members. The club also supports the area ATV and snowmobile clubs by providing trail access through its property, said Thyng. Across the street from the lodge are the popular outdoor shooting ranges that include skeet and trap. Shooting competitions and events are held regularly, and national skeet shooting association 2011 state champion Dave Dulong is a member.

Giving back to the community is also a key part of the club’s activities, from offering free memberships to veterans to donating use of the lodge to the town for Halloween activities. Recently, the club has put local youth through a conservation camp, hosted youth field days and introduced more than 5,000 young people to archery and fishing, said Wessels. In the winter, Round Pond, located just behind the lodge, is open only to youth fishermen, who can take up to two trout from the state-stocked pond, due to the association’s agreement with the state.

To celebrate the club’s 75th anniversary, several events are in the works that will be open to the public, said Thyng. Under consideration are events such as canoe races and a black powder shoot, tentatively planned for late summer. Events will be posted at the YCF&G website, ycfga.com.

— Kristen Schulze Muszynski can be contacted at 282-1535 Ext. 322 or kristenm@journaltribune.com.