PREECEVILLE - The Preeceville Wildlife Federation held its annual meeting and antler measuring on January 15, at the Preeceville Community Hall.
“Attendance was not the greatest with it being such a nice day to be outdoors and only seven white-tailed deer, four mule deer, three moose, and two elk were brought in for measuring,” said Heather Gawrelitza, secretary. Blair Mitchell was the official measurer for both Preeceville and Sturgis Wildlife antler measuring.
During the meeting, Owen Myhr, president, talked about how important the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF) and the Fish and Wildlife Development Funds (FWDF) lands are now with the new trespassing law taking effect.
“Permission to the SWF land is written on the back of your membership card so make sure to get your club memberships renewed for 2022. Our club has assisted with the purchase of more habitat trust lands in our local area and will continue in the future. There will be a firearm safety course in the spring and a big thank you to Norman Johnson who has been running the program for the last 30 years with help from Brady Steppan and the conservation officers,” said Myhr.
Myhr also thanked Lyndon Gawrelitza, the campground caretaker, and his parents for taking good care of the Preeceville Wildlife Campground. The club supported many community projects and provincial SWF projects. The club always donates to the Sturgis Wildlife to allow access for its members to the Sturgis Gun Range. The club assisted with a large tree-planting project on SWF lands of 40,000 white spruce seedlings.
“The drought was very hard on the seedlings and Tree Canada will be back to access the situation and replanting may be needed. We are currently planning our next fundraisers and would like any ideas passed on to the executive. Thank you to all who make an effort to make our club a success and for supporting me as president,” Myhr concluded.
Heather Gawrelitza, club secretary/treasurer and acting membership chairperson reported there were 452 memberships sold last year, an increase of 36 from the year before which is always nice to see.
Gawrelitza also recited what the award had stated about the club who received the award in February 2020, “The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation takes great pleasure in presenting this award to the Preeceville Wildlife Federation for donations in excess of $100,000 to the Habitat Trust Fund.
“On behalf of the Preeceville Wildlife Federation, we would like to thank the many individuals and businesses for always being very generous with our fundraising efforts. The club was very fortunate to have a successful online auction fundraiser which was really good since we were unable to have our annual fundraising banquet and awards night due to COVID,” said Gawrelitza.
The Wildlife, Your Choice Raffles were successful with Valerie Steciuk winning in 2020 and choosing the $1,000 Preeceville Archery certificate and 2021 winner Kelly Maupin choosing the Tikka rifle.
Trophy Chairman Kelly Maupin gave a reminder to get fish and bird entries in for awards, and thanked individuals and businesses that sponsor the trophies year after year. Last year a slide show was held on Facebook of the award winners since the awards night was canceled due to COVID.
Greg Gawrelitza gave a report on the Preeceville Wildlife Campground and the improvements there and the successful year the campground had during the 2020 summer thanks to the essential workers that were allowed to camp there after the town sewer upgrade.
Norman Johnson, Firearm Safety Chairman, reported there will be a class in the spring for new hunters and hopes to keep it more hands-on learning then online if possible.
Conservation Officer Johnny Petryshyn from the Preeceville branch was also in attendance and gave a brief summary of the season.
Preeceville Wildlife Federation executive board that were elected included: Owen Myhr, president and membership chairman; James Bodnar, vice-president; Heather Gawrelitza, secretary/treasurer; Norman Johnson, firearm safety chairman; Colin Masko, fisheries chairman; Eugene Panasiewich, habitat chairman; Kelly Maupin and Colin Masko are trophy chairman, and Greg Gawrelitza is the campground chairman.
Directors include: Nathan Draper, Steven Geistlinger, Trevor Bilan, Kirby Pankratz, Lukas Ziola, Howard Bilan, Arden Jakubowski, Taylor Sliva, Alex Nagy, Des Penner, Shane Schutte, and Tony Steciuk.
Prize winners at the meeting were: Stacey Alberts, who took home the Home Hardware gift card for general admittance; Lyndon Gawrelitza won Co-Op gift card for junior measure and the Preeceville Archery Gift Card for adult measure winner was Jason John.
