Among the most fortunate people attending the awards banquet held by the Kamsack branch of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation on February 25 were children aged 10 years and under because they all received new fishing tackle boxes.
“Last year we gave the kids attending fishing rods, so this year they’ve got tackle boxes and are ready to enjoy the sport of fishing,” Riley Barrowman, president of the branch, said during the banquet. The branch had 36 tackle boxes to hand out to the children.
Barrowman welcomed everyone in the packed Ukrainian Catholic Hall to the banquet and then called for a moment’s silence in memory of branch members who have died in the past year.
Expressing appreciation for the “great turnout” to the banquet, Tyson Leis, vice-president, mentioned the Kamsack reservoir proposed project that would have been a site of not only a winter fish derby but a place to hold such events as the Classroom on Ice project, but said that proposal is no longer feasible.
He said that a gun range and facility for archery shooting are still being considered but acquiring the land for such developments has become an issue and asked members if they know of likely sites to contact the branch’s executive committee.
Leis thanked the committee that made and served the banquet and all the members and guests who were attending and invited people, not yet members of the branch, to consider becoming members.
“We meet once a month,” he said.
“Input is good,” Barrowman said, referring to the branch’s campaign to encourage new membership.
He thanked the Kamsack air cadet parents for tending the bar and pointed to the many tables containing the raffle items.
The first award presented was the “hard-luck award,” which is a trophy made of the rear of a deer, and is presented to the member or members with the saddest hunting or fishing story of the year. The recipients were Tanner Chutskoff and Ashley Dyck.
Riley Eiffert received the award for the best typical elk, which measured 282 4/8 points.
Tyson Leis was recognized for the best non-typical mule deer, which measured 210 points.
Crystal Leis had the best typical mule deer shot by a woman. It measured 152 5/8 points.
Trent Leis had a typical mule deer that measured 147 6/8 points.
Craig Salahub had the best non-typical white-tailed deer which measured 172 5/8 points.
Kelly Salahub was the female hunter with the best typical white-tailed deer which measured 94 3/8 points.
Lorne Leis had the best typical white-tailed deer which measured 147 6/8 points.
Austin Leis had the best non-typical white-tailed deer shot by a junior hunter. It measured 152/28 points.
Ethan Krawetz had the best typical white-tailed deer shot by a junior hunter. It measured 100 6/8 points.
Brandt Bloudoff was recognized for being the junior fisherman with the best pike. It measured 24 inches in length.
