BONNYVILLE – The Beaver River Fish and Game Association hosted its annual Buck Fever Night, where hunters brought in antlers they harvested for official scoring.
Nathalie Thomson, hunting chair and event organizer, said the event is a way for people to get together and see what is being harvested in the area.
“It’s a great opportunity for people to show off their harvest. Everyone is out looking at each other's animals and it’s a great opportunity to see what’s been harvested around their community,” said Thomson.
Thomson explained that there are a lot of opportunities for hunting and fishing in the area and agreed that it is a big part of the local culture.
“This time of the year, everyone wants to come and show off their animals,” said Thomson.
A fair number of children ran around the event, clustering around the largest and most unusual antlers. The event included a youth category, and Thomson explained that they aim to encourage the youth to get involved in the sport of hunting.
Youth Leah Dicks, who qualified for the 15 to 17-year-old category, ended up winning the big game category with her set of moose antlers, referred to as moose paddles.
A particularly unusual set of white tale antlers, brought in by Lindsay Rowe, won the fan favourite category. They are such an exquisite set of antlers, Rowe said they were a real once-in-a-lifetime find and she will be mounting them on a wall.
Vivian Wolgien won the typical whitetail in the ladies’ category, while Ryan Kolody won for the men’s category.
Alexa Rice won the non-typical white tale in the ladies' category, while TJ Rempel won for the men’s category.
In the shed category for elk antlers that had been found, not from harvesting an animal, Bret Babb took home the prize of a set of binoculars.
In the 15 to 17-year-old youth category, Spencer Lobe won with a deer he shot with a bow.
In the 12 to 14-year-old category Axel Getz took home the prize.
Winning scores:
TJ Rempel: Whitetail-non-typical – 211 2/8
Linsay Rowe: Whitetail-non-typical – 196 6/8
Ryan Kolody: Whitetail-typical – 159 5/8
Leah Dicks: Moose – 147 2/8
Spencer Lobe: Whitetail –typical – 147 2/8
Vivian Wolgien: Whitetail-typical – 147 4/8
Axel Getz: Whitetail-typical – 147
Alexa Rice: Whitetail-typical 140 7/8
Bret Babb: Elk-typical shed – 87 5/8
