By June How
The Norquay branch of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation held its annual banquet and awards night April 9 at the Norquay Communiplex.
The banquet was catered by the Whistle Stop Family Restaurant. The menu included turkey, deer ham, bear ham, moose sausage, wild rice dressing and assorted salads and desserts.
About 200 persons attended the banquet.
Dale Lindgren, the club president, was emcee for the evening. Tickets were sold for the table raffle, Pick of the Litter game, Lucky Buck game and a 50/50 raffle. Prizes were donated by many individuals, local businesses and club members. There were 85 items in the raffle and 20 for the silent auction.
Bob Lumley, the branch’s fisheries representative, gave an update on the Miracle Lake Park which is located 3.2 km southwest of Norquay on land that had been donated by Hudye Farms and the families of Ben and Greg Hudye.
The park was named after Larry Knutson, a longtime supporter of the community and club, Lumley said. The park, a major project for the club, includes a daytime use picnic area with tables, fire pits and a grassed area, an aluminum dock, boat launch and washroom. The area is fenced and identified with signage. It is adjacent to the Prairie and Pine warm-up shack, which can be used by the public as well.
“A new project we have started is a walking trail around the perimeter of the lake that will open this summer,” Lumley said. It will be approximately a one-mile round trip. Both summer and winter fishing has been enjoyed by a large number of fishermen during the last two years.
Large numbers of perch, the primary catch, with better numbers of pike have been caught this past winter, he said. “In the past years we encouraged catch-and-release practices. Now the numbers and size of both perch and pike are at sustainable levels, retention of table fare is suggested, keeping in mind this is catch-and-release, with reduced size and limit totals.”
Lumley extended a special thanks to Fritz Yungworth from SaskFisheries for his help in stocking and monitoring the lake and said that his last function was when oxygen levels were found to be at acceptable levels.
“Fritz is retiring in July and we wish him well,” he said.
Dale Lindgren, the club president, presented jackets to four long-term members of the Norquay SWF. Each jacket was embroidered with the name of the club and years of service.
“These men have been key to many positions,” Lindgren said.
“George Riddel has been bar chairman and the Hides for Habitat co-ordinator for the past 20 years.
“Wilf Romanow has been our secretary for many of the past 27 years and has been the key to the success of many projects, including Miracle Lake.
“Dale Lindgren has been our club president for years and has been the glue that has held our club together and pushed us forward. He has been our horn measurer for the past 20 years and has worked on many of our committees over the last 30 years.
“Jim Predinchuk was our club treasurer and membership chairman for many years. Jim also worked on many projects to ensure our club remains successful.”
Lindgren introduced the guest speaker for the evening: Ruth Kost, a student at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, who has completed a degree in resource science and is now working on feral wild boar distribution across western Canada.
Ron Waugh, a resource officer at Preeceville, gave a report on wildlife conditions and regulations in this area.
The Lucky Buck raffle was won by Larry Nystrom. The prize was a 20-gauge shotgun. The Pick of the Litter game was won by Laurie Lozinski, and the 50/50 draw was won by Lane Butterfield. There were also numerous winners of door prizes.
Kirby Mirva won the trophy for the best white-tailed deer which measured 161 4/8 points. The trophy was donated by Skull Lodge Outfitters. Placing second for an animal measuring 145 5/8 was Curt Warkentin and the trophy was donated by Heskin Backhoe Services.
For junior white-tailed deer, measuring 134 6/8, Reece Dahlin won the trophy for first place. The trophy was provided by Norquay Pharmacy. In second place was Kale Musey for an animal that measured 133 5/8 and the trophy was provided by Lindgren Farms.
Miles Abrahamson won the trophy for best elk which measured 336 4/8. The trophy was donated by Larson’s Auto and Ag Hardware.
Duncan Nokinsky won the trophy for best moose which measured 148 1/8. The trophy was donated by the Whistle Stop Restaurant. Placing second for moose was Gerald Freese for an animal measuring 136 7/8. The trophy was donated by Cherewyk’s Backhoe Service.
Delvin Sopel received a trophy for best mule deer, which measured 136 7/8 and he received a trophy that was donated by Affinity Credit Union.
Leora Nokinsky won a trophy for a bear measuring 20 1/16. The trophy was donated by Norquay Co-op. Kale Musey won a trophy for junior bear which measured 17 2/16. The trophy was donated by Danbury Garage.
There were more trophies for fish this year than in other years, it was said.
For walleye, Norleen Bork won the trophy donated by Tomko Electric for a fish that weighed seven pounds, two ounces. For walleye, the junior category, Taylor Wasylyniuk, for a fish weighing two pounds, six ounces, received the trophy donated by Corner Gas and Car Wash.
Kortney Wasylyniuk took second place in the walleye category for a fish that weighed two pounds, two ounces.
In the northern pike category, Jayden Heskin took first for a fish that weighed eight pounds, six ounces and received a trophy donated by Norquay Agencies, while Ty Clark, with a fish that had weighed four pounds, placed second and received a trophy donated by S and D Dollar Store.
For a Canada goose weighing 14 pounds, 15 ounces, Tyler Quist received a trophy donated by Prairie Soil Services.
Members of the executive committee of the Norquay branch of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation are: Dale Lindgren, president; Jordan Lindgren, vice-president; Wilf Romanow, secretary; Ted Kreklewetz, treasurer; Bob Lumley, membership co-chair; Bob Lumley, fisheries chair; Jim Predinchuk, habitat chair, and Leanne Butterfield, photography and communications. Members of the fundraising committee are: Harold Ferstl, Kevin Ebert, Ken Newell, Ken Nystedt and Barry Bogucky. Directors are George Riddell, John Knutson, Kelly Butterfield and Duane Hicks.
