Trisha Shanks
Arrow Lakes News
The Nakusp Rod and Gun Club awards night was held on February 28 at the Legion. The dinner and awards ceremony was a great success both as a fundraiser and a community builder for the club.
“We were very happy with the turnout. It was excellent. We had over 100 people and we are grateful for that,” said Vice President Shawn Coates.
The night’s big winner was Bryce Friedenberger who brought home two trophies: he was chosen as this year’s recipient of the Fred Piggott Memorial Award and the other was for his white-tail deer. Other highlights were Chad Gustafson for the biggest elk, Sara Hogaboam for her mule deer and Glen Olson who won in the fish category for a bull trout weighing ten-and-a-half pounds.
Master of ceremonies and president Hank Scown recapped some of the highlights of 2014 including the improvements to the rifle and archery range, and feedback provided on elk, deer and predator management in the West Kootenays. He mentioned the protection of access to crown land and that the club stayed active in the struggle over the Wildlife Allocation Policy which, “is another example of government short changing resident hunters.” Scown talked about plans for the upcoming year — the work being done to hold an archery instruction day, and the long-awaited removal of the fish-obstructing culvert in Fauquier at Heart Creek. Finally, he made mention of the abysmal adherence to the Provincial Fishing and Boating Safety Regulations during the recent Gord Roberts Memorial Blue Knuckle Derby — according to Conservation Officers who attended the January meeting, there was a non-compliance rate of 80 per cent.
Additional prizes were awarded to Danielle Hascarl, winner of the rifle raffle who took home a Sako Finnlight-Burris Optics Rifle package provided in partnership with Sako and Valley Fire Arms in Trail (value over $2500) and Wayne Allard, winner of the Stihl Chainsaw package provided in partnership with Marvin’s Small Motor Repairs in Nakusp (over $300 value).
“The event helps bring awareness to some of the causes and topics that local outdoorspeople are and should be concerned with,” Coates said.
The club’s official website states, “Our main focus lately has been the maintenance and development of the Rifle/Pistol/Archery Range. We also help sponsor some fish derbies and recognize members hunting and fishing accomplishments on an annual basis.”
Meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. in lower Nakusp Senior Citizens Hall on the last Wednesday of the month. The Rod and Gun Club also provides a liaison with the Ministry of Natural Resource Operations Fish, Wildlife and Habitat divisions. Memberships are available for purchase year-round from the club or the General Store. For further information on the Rod and Gun Club, visit www.nakusprodandgunclub.com
PRIZES:
Moose Northern: Gordon Dore 168 3/8
Moose Region 4: Ian Seaton 143 2/8
Black Bear: Brad Dupuis 17 6/8
White-tail Deer: Rod Dupuis 114 3/8
Mule Deer: Sara Hogaboam 119 1/8
Typical Elk: Chad Gustafson 328 2/8
Non-Typical Elk: Reiner Krissler 290 7/8
Juniors
Black Bear: Cameron Olson 16 4/8
White-tail Deer: Bryce Friedenberger 103
Senior Archery Award
Elk: Brad Dupuis 290
Junior Archery Award
White-tail Deer: Cameron Olson 79 7/8
Bull Trout: Glen Olson 10 lb 8 oz.
