KAMSACK — Wildlife enthusiasts who harvested the best animals and fish during 2024 were celebrated April 12 during an awards banquet held by the Kamsack branch of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation.
With Riley Barrowman, branch president, and Tyson Leis, vice-president, as MCs, the banquet was held at the Ukrainian Catholic Hall in Kamsack and catered by the Hall’s kitchen staff. It began with draws for winners of prizes available to early bird ticket holders and the distribution of various door prizes.
Clint Raffard received the plaque for having had the best typical white-tailed deer among men members of the branch. His animal measured 156 3/8 points in the Henry Kelsey Big Game recording system.
Clint Raffard received the award for the men’s best typical white-tailed deer.
Clint Chernoff accepted the award for the best non-typical white-tailed deer that was credited to him, Lylac and Vitally Chernoff. | Photos by William Koreluik
Amber Eiffert was acknowledged for having the top animal among women hunters. It measured 139 6/8 points, while Slade Shankowsky received the award in the youth category for his deer, which measured 132 2/8 points.
Amber Eiffert received awards for having the women’s top white-tailed deer and typical mule deer in the women’s category.
Slade Shankowsky received the award for having the top typical white-tailed deer in the youth category.
Clinton, Lylac and Vitally Chernoff shared the award for best non-typical white-tailed deer, which measured 160 points.
In the typical mule deer category, Jeff Leis received the plaque in the men’s category for an animal that measured 174 2/8 points, while Amber Eiffert was called to receive a second trophy for her mule deer that measured 163 4/8 points.
Jordan Eiffert received the award for the best non-typical mule deer that had measured 163/38 points.
Jordan Eiffert received the award for men’s top non-typical mule deer.
Devan Shabatoski was recognized for having harvested the best typical elk, which had measured 340 4/8 points.
Devon Shabatoski received the award for having the best typical elk.
As an archer, Devin Leis was recognized for having harvested the best white-tailed deer that had measured 139 1/8 points.
Levi Leis received the award for having caught the top northern pike in the youth category from his father Tyson.
In the fish category, Leanne Green was presented with three awards for best women’s northern pike, which measured 41.34 inches; walleye, 31.25 inches; and perch, 13.25 inches.
Leanne Green went home clutching three plaques which she received for having had the best northern pike, walleye and perch in the women’s category.
In the fish category for youth, Levi Leis received the award for best northern pike, which measured 28 inches, while Owen Rudy received the awards for best walleye at 27.75 inches and best perch, 12.5 inches.
Owen Rudy received two awards for best walleye and best perch in the youth category.
To conclude the awards portion of the evening, the branch executive assembled to announce the Outstanding Member’s Award. The recipient is to receive a plaque in the name of longtime member Walter Lesiuk, 93. The first-ever recipient of the award is Nathaniel Shabatoski.
Nathaniel Shabatoski, right, was named the first recipient of the Walter Lesiuk Outstanding Membership Award. He received the plaque from Walter Lesiuk.
Members of the executive, in addition to Riley Barrowman, president, and Tyson Leis, vice-president, are: Chris Bowes, treasurer; Jenna Nahnybida, secretary; Walter Lesiuk, fisheries chair; Clint Chernoff, past president, and Jim Beauchamp and Jack Erhardt, members-at-large.
Clint Chernoff was named the ignominious recipient of the “tail-ender” award, which is reserved for the member with the most embarrassing or hard-luck hunting or fishing tale.
Jenna Nahnybida distributed a collection of prizes to the youths attending the banquet and attendees were encouraged to purchase 50/50 tickets and to participate in a rainbow auction.
Taking to the podium, Barrowman and Leis talked about future plans of the branch, which includes a plan to acquire the former water reservoir at Kamsack which is no longer in use. If acquired, it is to be filled with water and stocked with fish.
Much of it depends on soil tests to be undertaken by the Town, Barrowman said. “Mayor Beth Dix is “helping us out a lot.”
It was said that if the branch acquires the site, things such as the Fish in School Program could be conducted so that school kids could learn about fish, fishing and fish habitat.
It was said that it is hoped that a youths’ fish derby may be held in July, although the site has not yet been determined.
Tyson Leis said that during the past year, the branch donated $1,000 to the Kamsack Comprehensive Institute for its National Archery in the Schools program because a number of the bows and arrows used are showing their age.
An amount of $500 was donated to the Manitoba wildlife federation which is in court fighting a decision of the Manitoba government which aims to relinquish various wildlife properties to First Nation communities, Leis said, adding that if such a decision is approved in neighbouring Manitoba, it is feared a similar plan might be implemented in Saskatchewan.
Tristan Tkachyk, a conservation officer based at Duck Mountain Provincial Park, said he has worked at Duck Mountain for four of the seven years he has been a conservation officer and provided a brief re-cap of the year from his perspective.
Tkachyk encouraged persons to call the TIP line when seeing various invasive species. He said that the winter has been “quiet,” although conservation officers have been called to a couple incidents of search and rescue and to traffic violations.
“It has been another good year,” he said, adding that it has been a pleasure to work with the Kamsack branch of the wildlife federation.
Partly auctioneer, partly comedian, but mostly fundraiser for the branch, Rod Gardner took over the microphone to lead a ping pong auction, which concluded the event.
MCs for the wildlife awards banquet on April 12 were Riley Barrowman, left, president of the Kamsack branch, and Tyson Leis, vice-president.
Jenna Nahnybida, branch secretary, distributed goodies to the children attending the awards banquet.
Rod Gardner led a fundraising activity known as a ping pong auction.
Tristan Tkachyk, a conservation officer based at Duck Mountain Provincial Park, provided a brief overview of activities that he and other conservation officers had undertaken during 2024.
While waiting for the meal and program to begin, people attending the wildlife banquet had time to look over the table of items for which they could place their bids.
Jody Koroluk looked over a display of rifles at the awards banquet held by the Kamsack branch of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation on April 12, and took aim with a 6.5 PRC.
