On Saturday, March 2,
members of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club held their 53rd Annual Awards
Banquet. The banquet was held at the Wildlife Heritage
Center and Museum. Members and their
families were treated to a meal of lasagna and chicken Alfredo along with salad
and bread prepared by Roma’s Italian Restaurant. Members were recognized for their
achievements during the 2023 hunting and fishing contests.
The first awards to be
presented were for the 2023 spring turkey season contest. The length of the turkey’s beard determined
winners. Winning first place was Billy Hensley.
He was the only member entered into the contest that harvested a
bird. Billy received a plaque and a check
for a share of the entry fees.
The Top Ten Anglers of the
Year were recognized next. Each angler received
a year plate for their perpetual plaque, or if this was their first time to
make the Top Ten, they received a perpetual plaque with the year plate attached.
Each year an angler makes the Top Ten, he will receive a year plate to be added
to his plaque. The Top Ten Anglers for
2023 were (from number 10 to number 1) Aubrey Davidson, Forrest Cave, Johnnie Ivey,
Terry Thurman, Billy Latham, Tony Derby, Randy Janoe, Billy Hensley, Ellis
Silvey, and Bass Angler of the Year, Judd Thomas. Judd received his plate for his perpetual
plaque, a plaque for the Angler of the Year, and a check for $100.00.
Fishing season ends each
year with the club’s Annual Top Ten Tournament that allows the Top Ten Anglers,
along with up to five wild card anglers, to compete against each other in one
final tournament. The winner of the 2023
Top Ten Tournament was Billy Latham.
Billy received a championship plaque for his win.
The Big Bass of the Year
award was presented to Judd Thomas. Judd
caught a bass weighing 7.85 pounds at McGee Creek Lake during the September
bass tournament. Tony Derby won the
award for the Heaviest Stringer of the Year.
Tony had a stringer weight of 17.16 pounds that was caught during a
tournament in May on McGee Creek Lake. He
was presented a plaque.
The “100 Pound Club” award
goes to members that are able to catch at least one hundred pounds of bass
during the club’s bass tournaments in a season.
Only two members were able to catch over one hundred pounds. They were Ellis Silvey with 109.62 pounds and
Judd Thomas with 123.09 pounds. Each
received a plaque.
In the club’s deer archery
season contest, Billy Latham won first place honors with Judd Thomas winning
the award for second place. Winners are
determined by measuring the buck’s antlers using the Boone and Crockett scoring
system. Both received a plaque and a
check for their share of the entry fee money.
Judd Thomas took first place
honors in the deer primitive firearms contest.
Billy Hensley finished in second place.
Both received a plaque and a share of the entry fee money.
In the rifle season contest,
Judd Thomas won first place and Ellis Silvey finished in second place. Each received a plaque and their share of the
entry fee money.
The Grand Slam Award is
given to members who are able to harvest a deer in all three seasons; archery,
primitive and rifle seasons. This year, Judd
Thomas was the only member to complete this task. Judd was awarded the Grand
Slam plaque.
Each year the club
recognizes a sponsor that consistently supports the club and the Big Bass
Rodeo. This year, two sponsors were
recognized and presented a plaque. The
“Sponsor of the Year” award was presented to Mill’s Quick Lube and Clean, owner
Bradley Mills, in Antlers, and Brannan’s Bass Shop in Powderly, TX.
The club’s most prestigious
award is the Sportsman of the Year Award.
The winner of this award is determined by a point system based on club participation
and success in the field. The 2023
Sportsman of the Year was Billy Hensley. Billy received a plaque and a check
for $100.00.
Each year the club recognizes
the president of the club for his service and dedication. This year, club president Billy Latham, was
awarded a year plate for his perpetual plaque acknowledging his service of
twenty-seven years as club president.
The ladies door prize, a
$100.00 prepaid Master Card, was won by Karie Larkins. The men’s door prize, a Lew’s KVD LFS baitcast
reel, was won by Forrest Cave. As
always, every child that attended was awarded a door prize consisting of games,
sports balls, fishing equipment and more.
The club’s first bass
tournament of 2024 will be at McGee Creek Lake on Saturday, March 9. Launch site for the tournament will be the
Buster Hights boat landing. Fishing
times for the tournament will be from 8:00 to 4:00. Club meetings are held at the Wildlife
Heritage Center on the second Thursday of each month and begin at 7:30 p.m. You
can keep up with club activities on Facebook or on their web page at www.pushcountysportsmanclub.blogspot.com.
