The Humboldt Wildlife Federation gathered at the Bella Vista Inn on April 23 for its annual Awards Night. The best of the year’s harvest in hunting and fishing were recognized and rewarded with plaques and trophies.
To open the evening, President Scott Ewen recapped the busy year for the club which made considerable progress in its programming and on its facilities just south of Humboldt on Highway 20.
Among those activities was the continued engagement with youth by providing a day when young people can come out to the gun range and education centre. With close trained supervision, young people can try out various tools of the hunting trade and learn more about wildlife, the outdoors, and their conservation.
“The Youth Engagement Day is always slated for the first Saturday in June; this year will be Saturday, June 7,” Ewen said at the event. “The first year, we had 29 people in attendance, and last year we had 44 people in attendance. This year, we’re hoping we can grow it up into at least the 60s. They have an opportunity to shoot pellet guns, .22 (calibre) long rifles, .22 handguns, archery, slingshots, and there’s even a cornhole game for the younger ones.”
The event comes with a free lunch and presentations on outdoor topics such as wood ticks and their safe removal.
Another key initiative has been the rehabilitation of hay land that’s maintained by the wildlife federation. The hay land is contract baled with the money going back into the local facilities and programs.
“The hay has never been touched, so it’s prairie grass – very thin. We’re rejuvenating it with some of the local members doing the work, the tilling the seeding, and that will allow us to negotiate a new contract. We really appreciate that Nutrien Ag Solutions donated $1800 worth of hayseed to really help the project along.”
HWF also provided additional archery equipment to Humboldt Collegiate to add to their previous donations to the high school and the Humboldt Public School.
This year, the Federation also commissioned a new trophy in memory of longtime and dedicated member Trevor Hale, who sadly passed away during the past year.
Then it was time for the awards and the celebration of the year’s accomplishments. Top prize getters were:
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Typical mule deer
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Adult male Josh Ewen
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Youth Male Ian Haeusler
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Bear – youth male (bow) - Liam Pratt
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Typical elk
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Adult female Loretta Nosbush
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Adult male Trevor Hale
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Typical white tail deer
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Adult female Kamryn Wittke
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Youth female Isavelle Haeusler
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Adult male Kim Stolz
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Youth male Ian Haeusler
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Non-typical white tail – Adult Male – Matt Schidlowsky
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Moose – Adult male – Derek Tarnowski
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Perch – Adult male – Jordan Wittke
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Northern pike – Adult male – Kim Stolz
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Lake trout
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Adult male Kim Stolz
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Youth female Paige Cherkewich
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Youth male John Cherkewich
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Rainbow trout – Adult male – Kim Stolz
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Pheasant – Adult male – Russell Wittke
Major Trophies
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Rod Earis Memorial Trophy – Kim Stolz
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Trevor Hale Memorial Trophy – Kim Stolz
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HWF Archery – Justin Zelle
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Kobby Kopp Memorial Trophy – Loretta Nosbush
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Trevor Hale Youth Memorial – Kierra Richels, Scarlett Sutherland