MANITOULIN—I would like to say two things right off the bat concerning Tom’s Big Buck Roundup contest.
First, I would like to thank all those hunters who took the time to submit photos and provide information on their entry for the contest. Thank you, if it wasn’t for the photo entries you submit there wouldn’t be a contest.
Secondly, whether it be the 30 plus entries we received in last year’s contest or the eight we received this year, choosing the prize winners is by no means easy. In fact, it is extremely difficult.
township.
One of the deer was harvested by Bill Sloss. Christy Deschamps wrote, “Please find attached a picture of my brother’s (Bill Sloss)’s deer. He harvested the deer at Vidal Bay Hunt camp in Robinson township on November 21. It was a 10-point buck and weighed in field dressed at 192 pounds. It is a special deer as it was shot at our father Jim’s tree stand.”
Dave Vien of Meldrum Bay told The Expositor the buck he harvested was while hunting in Meldrum Bay on Monday, November 20. The animal was 205 pounds field dressed and was a 10-pointer. He hunts with the group at Maggies hunt camp.
Cindy Rochon of Kagawong harvested an eight-point buck weighing 182 pounds field dressed in Kagawong. Courtney Romanko reported, “Cindy is from Kagawong, and the hunt camp she stays at is called the Redneck Hunt camp, which is also located in Kagawong.”
Ryan Corbiere harvested a 10-point buck on his family farm. “I’m from M’Chigeeng First Nation. Born and raised here on the Island. Our property is near Kagawong. The weight of the deer before being field dressed was 257.2 pounds and 210.6 pounds field dressed. “I have been hunting on this property for 30 years with my family. This was my largest buck harvested to date.”
Vincent MacDonald sent a beautiful photo of the buck deer he harvested, however, we couldn’t get any information on the particulars before this week’s press deadline.
Ken Ruppel harvested his big buck on Friday, November 24 at 8 am. “I hunt in Kagawong with the Shirt Tail Hunt Club. This club has 40 plus years of deer hunting on the Island,” he explained.
“I was lucky enough to get into it through my father-in-law (Dave Calqhoun). He along with his childhood friends (Gerry and Garry Gravelle) are the founding members of the club,” Mr. Ruppel wrote. “They are now in their 70s and still get excited for the hunt every year. We hunt from opening day Monday to the Friday so it was my last day waiting all week for this guy (buck), passing on smaller bucks and some nice does.”
Mr. Ruppel’s deer field dressed at 192 pounds and had eight points with a high rack. He lives in Lively but spends summer and fall on the Island.
Dwayne Veenstra told the Expositor, “I thought I would share a picture of my first deer ever shot.” He explained, “I retired and moved up to the Island almost two years ago. I now live on Barrie Island where I shot the 10-pointer (he was not sure on the weight of the deer). I was invited to hunt with the Greenman party this year as I’m just getting into hunting. Was a very exciting experience! I’m still shaking!”
Viktoria Vernarsky shared a photo of her son with the buck he harvested. She explained, “my sons name is Laszlo Vernarsky, age 14. We live in Sheguiandah. He was hunting with his dad Laszlo Sr. at our friends’ property off Greenbush Road in Sheguiandah.”
Laszlo Jr. “shot the buck off Greenbush Road, in Sheguiandah, at 7:30 am on Tuesday, November 21. It’s an eight-point buck. I am not sure about the weight. I am sending in my son’s first hunting picture for the contest.”
And the winners are! The first place prize of a $100 gift certificate was won by Dwayne Veenstra, and the second place prize of a $50 gift certificate (both from Williamsons Up Top Sports Shop in Mindemoya) goes to Ryan Corbiere.
