46th Annual Awards Banquet

On Saturday, March 4, members of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club held their Annual Awards Banquet.  The banquet was held at the Antlers High School cafeteria and featured a meal of smoked chicken, ribs and pork chops with homemade yeast rolls, soft drinks and side dishes prepared by club members and their spouses.  After the meal was finished, wildlife biologist Jack Waymire presented a program on wildlife management, covering past, present, and possible future management practices, especially the importance of controlled burning to improve wildlife habitat.

After Jack had finished his presentation, members were presented their awards.  For spring turkey season, the club awards a prize based on the length of the turkey’s beard that was harvested by a member.  Billy Hensley won the award for the turkey with the longest beard.  Second place honors went to Eugene Hensley.  Both received a plaque and a check for their share of the entry fee.

Next to be recognized were the Top Ten Anglers of the Year.  Each received an embroidered patch.  They were, from number ten to number one, Mike Burrage, Colton Fleming, Colby Chandler, Joe Janoe, Chuck Beck, Johnny Ivey, Randy Janoe, Billy Latham, Ellis Silvey, and Bass Angler of the Year, Judd Thomas.  Judd also received a plaque and a check.

The Heaviest Stringer of the Year Award went to Colton Fleming.  Colton had the largest stringer weighed in by a club member in a bass tournament.  His stringer weighed 26.28 pounds and was caught on Hugo Lake.  Colton Fleming also won the award for Big Bass of the Year. His bass was caught at McGee Creek Lake and weighed 9.75 pounds.  Colton received a plaque for each event.  The club recognizes anglers that catch over 100 pounds of bass in our yearly tournaments by presenting the “100 Pound Club” award.  Seven anglers qualified for this award. No more than three anglers had ever qualified before this past year.  100 Pound Club award winners were Judd Thomas, Ellis Silvey, Billy Latham, Randy Janoe, Johnny Ivey, Chuck Beck, and Joe Janoe.  Member Colby Chandler was presented the “Oh, So Close” award for needing only 0.12 of a pound to reach the 100 Pound Club.

The club holds a contest for each of Oklahoma’s three deer seasons; archery, primitive firearms and regular gun season.  Winners are determined by measuring the deer’s antlers using the Boone & Crockett scoring system.  In the deer archery season contest, Billy Latham took first place honors with Billy Hensley finishing in second place.  For deer primitive firearms season, Colby Chandler won first place and Billy Latham came in second.  Billy Hensley won first place in the deer rifle season contest.  Eugene Hensley finished in second place for the deer rifle season contest.  Each received a plaque and a check for their share of the entry fee money.

The Grand Slam Award is given to members that harvest a deer in all three seasons; archery, primitive, and gun season.  Three members were presented this award.  They were Billy Hensley, Colby Chandler and Eugene Hensley.

Each year the club recognizes a business or person that consistently supports the club through their donations to club events.  The 2016 Sponsor of the Year Award was presented to Rainbow Home Health.

The club’s most prestigious award is the Sportsman of the Year Award.  This award is based on success in hunting, fishing, and other club activities.  Points are awarded in each of these activities.  The member with the most points at the end of the year is the Sportsman of the Year.  The 2016 Sportsman of the Year Award was presented to Billy Hensley.

The final award was presented to club president Billy Latham for a year of dedicated service to the club.  After awards, door prizes were awarded.  Every child that attended received a prize.  The ladies door prize, a $100.00 Pre-Paid MasterCard, was won by Phyllis Latham.  The men’s door prize, an ABU Revo SX Baitcast reel was won by Billy Hensley.

The club’s first bass tournament of the 2017 season will be held on Saturday, March 11, at McGee Creek Lake.  The tournament will launch from Buster Hights Landing.  Fishing times will be decided at the club’s regular meeting on Thursday, March 9.  Meetings are held at the Wildlife Heritage Center and Museum and begin at 7:30 p.m.