Members of the Kamsack branch of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, who were successful in hunting and fishing during the past year, were recognized on February 24 during the group’s annual awards banquet.
Held in the Ukrainian Catholic Hall, the event began with Riley Barrowman, branch president, welcoming everyone to the banquet and said that the branch and its endeavours are growing. He pointed to the large banner stretched across the stage and said that the group had it made during year and was displayed during a children’s fishing derby held last summer.
Barrowman encouraged members and guests to look over the items for the silent auction, which featured “phenomenal prizes” that had been donated. In particular he mentioned a toy tractor and two hand-crafted benches.
After a moment’s silence in honour of members who died during the past year, Tyson Leis picked up the topic of the children’s fish derby in July saying that the event was great and involved children who were not preoccupied with their phones and iPads.
“We’d like to see more of those,” Leis said, explaining that there were plans to extend a dock at Jackfish Lake in April and volunteers would be needed to complete the job.
Leis mentioned the outdoor education program that is held annually at the Kamsack Comprehensive Institute which is supported by the branch and the National Archery in the School Program.
“It’s nice to see kids enjoying things like that,” he said.
As the evening’s guest speaker, Heath Dreger of Yorkton, the president of the SWF, explained that 2018 marks the 40th year of the SWF’s Habitat Trust Program and to date 67,000 acres have been purchased.
“We encourage growth in the program,” he said, mentioning the adopt-an-acre program. He talked of new SWF signs and explained how SWF lands are no accessed only by foot and encouraged members to use the TIP (Turn in Poachers) line when seeing infractions.
“We need to protect our natural resources,” he said, adding that members should expect changes in the big game draw with a proposed “D” pool.
The youths will still be left in the “A” pool, and there will be a Legacy Pool, which will be like a Super A Pool, he said. Between 100 and 200 SWF members qualify for the Legacy Pool.
Dreger encouraged members to fill out and return a survey, dealing with the government’s plan to change land access, which the SWF plans to send to SWF members and land owners.
He encouraged members to attend the SWF awards banquet in Weyburn on April 21 and told the Kamsack members to “keep up the good work.”
Scott Green, who is working to establish an archery club in Kamsack, talked about his work, saying he has already identified a suitable building for the club and is developing a committee to oversee the project.
Barrowman encouraged members to consider working on the branch’s executive committee, a task which takes only a couple hours a month, and asked members to keep an eye on its Facebook page.
In the awards portion of the evening, Glen Becenko of Kamsack was the most decorated hunter. He was presented plaques for having taken the best non-typical elk, which measured 339 4/8 points; the best typical white-tailed deer at 166 1/8 points, and the best typical mule deer at 159 5/8 points.
Walter Lesiuk had the biggest northern pike, which weighed 22.03 pounds, while Liam Shabatoski had the best pike among junior members. It weighed six pounds.
Austin Leis received the plaque for having taken the best typical elk, which measured 327 3/8 points and Ethan Shabatoski had the best white-tailed deer among junior hunters. It measured 122 4/8 points.
Trevor Shabatoski received the award for having the best black bear (20 1/16 points), Tyson Leis ahd the best moose among the men hunters, and Laurie Leis, the best moose among women hunters, 131 1/8.
Jeff Leis had the best non-typical white-tailed deer (165 6/8); Leanne Green, the best white-tailed deer among women hunters (140 2/8) and Chloe Koroluk received the award for having the best white-tailed deer among junior girl hunters.
The “foul luck” award, which is a mounted plaque of the rear of a deer and is reserved for the member with the most unfortunate hunting story, was presented to Cindy Erhardt who was attempting an easy shot of a deer only about 60 yards away, and “two clips later and with her fingers bleeding,” the deer ran away.
Door prizes and a ping pong ball auction for which Rod Gardner was the auctioneer, concluded the evening.
