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PVCI- A Unique Organization
PVCI has a rich history. Being a varmint caller means a lot too many individuals. During the past 30 years, the membership has swelled to over 300 and shrunk to less than 15. The club seems to represent more than just a forum were individuals with similar interests can meet. Members of the PVCI are among the most sincere, dedicated sportsmen to be found in any organization. Many have welded life long friendships with fellow members. Through the years the PVCI has been the catalyst providing the enthusiasm for the outdoors and respect for wildlife that has produced outdoor writers, animal biologists, photographers, wildlife managers and qualified Game and Fish commission candidates. But most important of all, through sharing skills and techniques it has allowed us to excel in a unique sport virtually unequaled for action, excitement, and self-satisfaction. General Information about Monthly Meetings.
Club History
The Arizona Varmint Callers Association (early name of
Phoenix Varmint Callers Inc.) first came into existence
in the mid 1950s as a result of a promotional
demonstration by representatives of a predator call
company based in Texas. Several individuals at the
demonstration recognized the potential for reducing the
number of predators, in particular coyotes, and
consequently increasing deer and antelope fawn survival
rate, and at the same time improve marksmanship, sharpen
hunting skills, and enjoy the outdoors.
The early members of the club included such well known
sportsmen as Ben Avery, outdoors editor for the Arizona
Republic; Pete Brown, writer and outdoors editor for
Field and Stream; George Bohm and Lucky Wade, both
owners of prominent valley gun stores; Jack Cain, one of
the founders of Circe Calls; and Del Western, guide and
producer of Coyote Safari, one of the first promotional
films on varmint calling. Other individuals that made
significant contributions throughout the club's growing
up period were: Fred Farnbach, the Arizona Game & Fish
Department first Hunter Safety Chief; John Doolin, who
helped put together the early big bore rifle matches and
was a participating member on almost every work detail;
Bob Hirsch, father of the Sportsmen Against Vandalism
Everywhere (SAVE) program; and Bill Dudley, an
exceptionally good caller with national fame who gave
the club tremendous exposure through calling
demonstrations at sporting goods stores and trade shows
throughout the state.
The Early Years
The new club struggled at first trying to find an identity and
attract members. Varmint calling was virtually an unheard of sport
at the time. According to Avery, someone suggested a judged calling
contest, well publicized, with an open invitation to the public to
participate or just watch. The first contest was held in 1957 with
Del Western winning first place. The event was so well received it
started the annual tradition, which became known as the Arizona
State Calling Contest, a tradition still alive today. In 1960 the
newly formed Circe Calls Inc., located west of Phoenix in Goodyear,
donated a revolving trophy to be handed down each year from the
previous winner.
In the early years the Phoenix club sponsored prairie dog hunts in
areas where sprawling "dog towns" were a hazard to grazing cattle
prone to break a leg trying to recover from stepping into one of the
cavernous underground runways. Another control activity was aimed at
porcupines in an effort sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service to
minimize damage to young pine trees. Club members conducted urban
coyote surveys in Maricopa and Pima counties where animal control
officers were concerned about rabies outbreaks in near epidemic
proportions. Volunteer members participating in this night calling
coyote count were subjected to an experimental rabies vaccine for a
program directed toward finding a substitute for the painful
“Pasteur Treatment”.
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