CHERRY GROVE – People gathered at the Cherry Grove Hall to celebrate their hunting harvest, have antlers measured, mingle with other outdoors-people, and also had the chance to win some big prizes during the Cherry Grove Big Buck Night.
The Jan. 11 event included vendors, a concession, wildlife taxidermy displays - including a taxidermized squirrel mariachi band - and kids’ games to keep the whole family entertained.
Cold Lake Fish and Game teamed up with the Cherry Grove Ag society to host the event, and Organizer Andre Charron said the event went great.
“I was really happy with the turnout. It was slow in the morning, and I was starting to get concerned, but around 1 p.m. it really picked up. There were a lot of events that weekend, but we ended up doing very well. We had 52 heads submitted . . . If we’d have gotten much more, we would have had a hard time finding space to put them,” said Charron.
He spoke about the committee’s teamwork, and how everyone took on different tasks to collaborate and make the event happen. He spoke of the large amount of work put in by Zach and Paige Stonehocker, who took on a lot of the behind-the-scenes administrative work, as well as the many volunteers involved.
Charron explained that Zach has a computer system that scores the antlers, and that a group of volunteers received training through the Boone and Crockett Club for antler scoring.
Charron also spoke about the impotence of the event being family friendly, and how they try to engage the youth with activities.
“We had kid's games in the back. Often the biggest issue that makes families leave before they’d like to, is that their kids eventually get bored. It makes it difficult for parents, so we are constantly trying to get more things in to keep the kids entertained.”
Charron talked about the importance of inspiring the next generation to get involved with hunting and fishing.
“We're trying to bring in kids’ games that are a little more interactive towards the hunting and fishing side,” said Charron. “We’re also hoping to get back into sponsoring youth for things like getting their hunting license.”
Charron said the sponsorships are not only a way to inspire youth to get into hunting and fishing, but to financially help families who have kids who want to get involved.
“Especially with hunting, the upfront costs are the biggest problem - getting a rifle, the clothes, the licenses, it's a huge upfront cost,” said Charron.
He agreed that despite steep upfront costs, hunting and fishing can pay off when you are able to harvest an animal, and additionally Charron spoke about the opportunities hunting brings for making memories.
“It creates a lot of memories. This season I was hunting and there was a father and son that were out hunting together. There was this nice 10-point buck that was coming through and they ended up shooting it together. I remember growing up and going out hunting with my dad in Ontario, and I could see those same memories being made with that kid I saw with his father,” said Charron.
He said he finds the Lakeland area to have ample opportunities for hunting.
“We’re very fortunate here,” said Charron.
Winning Scores:
Brady Coutts: Moose – 156 6/8
Andrew Kary: Non-typical mule and blacktail deer – 164 4/8
Lindsay Rowe: Non-typical whitetail and coueś deer – 199
Jason Lafrance: Non-typical whitetail and coueś deer – 219 4/8
Keefe O’shea : Typical American elk – 342
Vivian Wolgien: Typical mule and blacktail deer – 131 3/8
Jason Miller: Typical mule and blacktail deer – 166 7/8
Shannon Fafard: Typical whitetail and coueś deer – 159 1/8
Vivian Wolgien: Typical whitetail and coueś deer – 159 1/8
Justin Sykes: Typical whitetail and coueś deer – 169 1/8
Ayden Homeniuk: Typical whitetail and coueś deer – 153 7/8
