聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Members of the Norquay branch of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation who had success as big game hunters and with rods and reels, were recognized at the group鈥檚 annual awards banquet held April 1 at the Communiplex.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In addition to it having been an awards banquet, the event was a fundraiser, said Wilf Romanow, secretary of the organization. Katherine Conkin, who works with wildlife management for the department of the environment in Regina, was the guest speaker and she talked about the big game draw allocations.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Jayden Heskin, a Norquay student who had attended a youth conservation school at Candle Lake in July discussed his experience, he said. Dave Knihniski, a resource officer at Preeceville, talked about fish disease, particularly cancer in fish.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 About 200 persons attended the banquet which was catered by Donna Toffan of the Whistle Stop restaurant, he said. On the menu were moose cutlets, stir fry and meatballs, elk sausage and walleye.
鈥淲e received many compliments on the food,鈥� Romanow said.
Terry Warkentin won the trophy for the best white-tailed deer, which measured 150 2/8 inches, and received an award sponsored by Skull Lodge Outfitters. Clayton Twerdoclib, with a deer measuring 134 1/8 inches placed second in the category and received an award sponsored by Heskin Backhoe Services.
Duncan Nokinsky, who had the top elk, which measured 303 4/8 inches, received a trophy sponsored by Larson鈥檚 Auto, Ag Hardware.
Awards for the best moose were presented to Delmer Kucharyshen for an animal that measured 152 7/8 inches and received an award sponsored by the Whistle Stop Restaurant, and Ken Newell had the second-best moose which measured 121 戮 inches. He received an award sponsored by Cherewyk Backhoe Services.
Gerald Freese had the top mule deer which measured 178 5/8 inches and received an award sponsored by the Affinity Credit Union.
Dan Johnson, who had the top bear, which measured 17 6/16 inches, received a prize donated by the Norquay Co-op.
The junior hunter with the top white-tailed deer was Jayden Heskin whose animal measured 86 7/8 inches. He received an award sponsored by Norquay Family Pharmacy.
In the fish category, Norleen Bork caught the largest northern pike which weighed 17 pounds, two ounces and received an award sponsored by Johnson鈥檚 Grocery market; TJ Ebert caught the largest walleye in the junior category, which weighed four pounds, six ounces and received an award sponsored by Corner Gas and Car Wash, and Ty Clark caught the largest northern pike in the junior category which weighed three pounds, eight ounces. He received an award sponsored by Norquay Agency Ltd.
No birds were entered in the competition.
Winners of the Fred Predinchuk Memorial Wildlife Art Contest, which is for students in grades 4 to 7, were Mia Butterfield, who placed first; Kortny Wasylniuk, second, and Sierra Dawn, third.
Working with Romanow on the group鈥檚 executive committee are: Dale Lindgren, president, and Jordan Lindgren, vice-president.聽
