CANORA - River Ridge Fish & Game held its annual antler measuring on Dec. 8 at the Canora Golf Course Activity Centre, and has also unveiled the replacement of the sign under the well-known giant replica of the world record white-tailed deer antlers next to Highway 9 near Gorlitz.
A total of 15 sets of antlers were brought in for measuring this year. Looking after the measuring once again was Floyd Hendrickson of Margo, a certified Henry Kelsey and Boone & Crockett measurer. His wife Dianne was in charge of recording the data.
According to River Ridge President Ernie Gazdewich, antlers were submitted by female, male and junior hunters.
Antlers brought in for measuring included elk, moose, mule deer and white-tailed deer. Hendrickson said the numbers of white-tailed deer trophies have been down in many areas where he has measured antlers this year, possibly due to a rising coyote population.
“The price for a coyote pelt is so low right now, nobody’s trapping them anymore.”
At the antler measuring, Brad Thompson sold tickets on the River Ridge rifle raffle, with winners to be drawn at the gun show in June. Deb Lapitsky and Cynthia Gazdewich served hotdogs and doughnuts to those in attendance.
River Ridge Fish & Game has been busy, recently unveiling a new sign at the well-known big horn site next to Highway 9 near Gorlitz. The original sign and the giant replica antlers above it were originally erected in the late 1980s to celebrate the world record white-tailed deer antlers brought in from near Gorlitz.
“River Ridge Fish & Game and game would like to thank Canora Beach Developments and the Deighton family for the generous donation to replace the sign at the big horn site,” said Gazdewich.
Working on the replacement sign project was Dustin Perepeluk, caretaker for the sight. Dustin was assisted by his father Terry, an original River Ridge member, who also worked on putting up the first sign and the giant antlers.
The next River Ridge Fish & Game awards for antlers will be handed out at the annual banquet on March 9, 2024 at Rainbow Hall in Canora.
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