It was a night to celebrate a successful season for local anglers and hunters.
The Beaver River Fish and Game (BRFG) Association hosted their 31st annual Trophy and Awards Night on Saturday, Feb. 2.
While the evening commemorates the past hunting season, president Cynthia Pawliuk sees the event as an opportunity to mentor people about the outdoors.
“It’s not just about hunting and fishing, it’s about learning what nature is. We’re stewards of the lands, and we make sure that we harvest the excess game and not over harvest,” she said.
This year, it was Hailey Lobe who was awarded overall master hunter. She also took home awards in the youth whitetail deer and ladies white tail categories.
“I knew I was going to win the youth, but I didn’t know I was going to win anything else,” Lobe exclaimed.
Four-year-old Rhett Thomson accepted the youth rainbow trout award with a 56-millimetre fish, while the youth lake trout and burbot awards were presented to Spencer Lobe. Lane Babb was named the winner for northern pike, and walleye went to Nicholas Tremblay, who also won the mule deer and waterfowl categories for youth hunting.
Jordon Ostashek was awarded the C.J. Hutchison Memorial Award. Black bear was awarded to Nathan Paquin.
The men’s adult whitetail deer award was presented to Allain Cote.
He said, “It was a tough hunting day, and I came across a really nice deer after a stock. I made a nice shot, and I had some help getting it out.”
Jean-Grey Tremblay walked away with the adult hunting mule deer, and Derek Babb snagged the biggest antelope trophy.
Trevor Drapaka had the largest goose for the J.R. Ward Memorial Award at 11.56-pounds.
In the moose category, Cy Hallet received the honours.
Accepting the archery whitetail deer, archery mule deer, master archer, and archery elk awards was Clint Williams.
Master fisher of the season was Morris Kolody. He also took home the northern pike award with a 1,220-millimetre catch.
Jean-Guy Tremblay won the adult walleye category, and lake trout went to Craig Babb.
In the photo category, Cy Hallett had the best wildlife photo of the season. Domini Hallett walked away with the top scenic photo, while accepting recognition for the youth scenic photo was Jordan Ostashek. The trail cam photo award went to Kyle Lafreniere.
Although the night is meant as a celebration of the previous hunting season, Pawliuk noted there’s a lot more to it.
“That’s one good thing people can take away from the evening, it’s not just about harvesting the animals, it’s about enjoying your day out that you have. A day outside is better than a day at work.”
