On Saturday, March 4, members of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club held their 52nd 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, spaghetti and chicken Alfredo along with salad and bread prepared by Roma’s Italian Restaurant. For the first time in forty years, Phyllis and I were not able to attend due a case of Covid. Members were recognized for their achievements during the 2022 hunting and fishing contests.
The first awards to be
presented were for the 2022 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
2022 were (from number 10 to number 1) Forrest Cave, Mike Williams, Billy
Hensley, Billy Latham, Randy Janoe, Craig Bartlett, Kane Miller, Andy Cripe, Judd
Thomas, and Bass Angler of the Year, Ellis Silvery. Ellis 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 2022
Top Ten Tournament was Judd Thomas. Judd
received a championship plaque for his win.
The Big Bass of the Year
award was presented to Andy Cripe. Andy
caught a bass weighing 7.31 pounds at McGee Creek Lake during the September
bass tournament. Andy Cripe also won
the award for the Heaviest Stringer of the Year. He had a stringer weight of 21.40 pounds that
was caught during a tournament in April on Pine Creek Lake. He was presented with a plaque for each award.
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.
Fiver members were able to catch over one hundred pounds. Those members were Craig Bartlett with 101.91
pounds, Kane Miller with 111.60 pounds, Andy Cripe with 115.63 pounds, Judd
Thomas with 136.61 pounds and Ellis Silver with 138.24 pounds. Each received a plaque.
In the club’s deer archery
season contest, Judd Thomas won first place honors with Colby Chandler 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.
Billy Hensley took first
place honors in the deer primitive firearms contest. Billy Latham finished in second place. Both received a plaque and a share of the
entry fee money.
In the rifle season contest,
Billy Hensley won first place and Royce Chandler 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,
Colby Chandler and little brother, Royce Chandler were able to harvest a deer
in all three seasons. Both received
plaques.
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 Simple Simon’s Pizza, owner Jimmy
Chandler, in Hugo, and Antlers Pharmacy, Shawna Bingham, owner.
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 2022
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-six years as club president.
The ladies door prize, a
$100.00 prepaid Visa Card, was won by Karlie Hensley. The men’s door prize, an ABU Garcia Revo XS baitcast
reel, was won by Colby Chandler. As
always, every child that attended was awarded a door prize consisting of games,
sports balls, fishing equipment and more.
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