OXBOW — The Souris Moose Creek Wildlife Federation (SCWF) has hosted its first Big Buck night since the pandemic shut it down several years ago.
In the spring of 2024, SCWF board members Zac Martens, Nolan Batt and Mark Cogswell attended the Henry Kelsey Scoring Clinic in Moose Jaw to obtain their scoring licenses. This two-day course gave them the opportunity to score entries for future events if the Big Buck night was reinstated.
Feeling the time was right, the SCWF organized the event on Jan. 8 at the Oxbow Legion, which sold out with a crowd of 60 attendees, mostly hunters.
The meal, provided by Â鶹´«Ã½AVeast Butcher Block, featured beef on a bun along with several side dishes.
Nolan Batt said organizing the event took extensive planning, involving numerous phone calls to vendors, caterers and committee members.
“We’re glad we did it and hope to keep the event going as an annual tradition, just like before,” he said.
Batt, Martens and Cogswell, who are also avid hunters and close friends, shared a passion for the event. Each species of animal entered is scored differently. For instance, animals with antlers are scored using the Henry Kelsey method, which considers length, width and mass. The highest-scoring animal in each category receives a prize.
To participate in the Big Buck night competition, entrants must be members of the SCWF. They can contact a scoring member to arrange for drop-off or submit a copy of their score sheet and a photo of the skull with the person's name if scoring has already been done. Participants must also be of legal hunting age.
The competition includes various categories, such as walleye, typical and non-typical whitetail deer, typical and non-typical mule deer, elk, moose, and special awards for ladies and juniors. Categories also specify whether the animal was taken by rifle or archery, and several fish categories are included.
The following winners received plaques for their achievements:
- Walleye: Rick Wainman, 27 ¾”
- Typical Whitetail Deer (Rifle): Roberta Carpendale, 166 5/8”
- Non-Typical Whitetail Deer (Rifle): Joh Parker, 178 3/8”
- Non-Typical Mule Deer: Coty Pranke, 174 3/8”
- Typical Mule Deer: Travis Markowski, 204 1/8”
- Typical Whitetail Deer (Muzzleloader): Zac Martens, 165 2/8”
- Typical Elk: Marlin Cogswell, 289 5/8”
- Moose: Kevin Kirby, 132 6/8”
- Whitetail Deer (Archery): Harlan Martens, 141 7/8”
- Ladies Non-Typical Whitetail Deer: Leia Martens, 129 7/8”
- Ladies Typical Whitetail Deer: Sydney Parker, 134”
- Junior Mule Deer: Hunter Kirby, 154 4/8”
- Junior Whitetail Deer: Kane Boyes, 140 3/8”
The SCWF hopes to continue this annual event and see it grow stronger each year.
