By Jack and Kay Danchak
KAUNEONGA LAKE — April 28, 2006 – The Sullivan County Sportsmen’s Federation, along with its co-sponsor Sullivan County Democrat, held its annual Awards Banquet and Wild Game Dinner on Saturday, April 22 at the Kauneonga Lake Firehouse.
Winners of the Fish and Game Contest for 2005 were invited along with Federation club delegates. All wild game and fish was donated and it was prepared by Norm and Barbara Weiss, Sharon and Jim Carroll, Edna Calkin, Hank and Fran D’Auria and Kay Danchak.
The hors d’oeuvres table consisted of smoked wild turkey, venison kielbasa, beer battered walleye, seviche perch, elk chili, spicy pheasant fingers, wild game paté, venison summer sausage, and cheese and crackers.
Dinner consisted of venison roast, moose, bear, black buck, wild boar, wild turkey, pheasant drummies, pheasant thighs a la mushroom, pheasant breast scaloppini, Basque pheasant breast, caribou sweet and sour, caribou pepper steak, bear BBQ, elk sauerbraten, beaver, fish scampi, black buck stroganoff, black buck alfredo, moose cranberry meatloaf, bear meatballs in kraut, rabbit, baked salmon with apricot stuffing, fresh trout, and baked salmon with shrimp stuffing. The side dishes included red garlic mashed potatoes, gravy, string beans and applesauce. The dinner was topped off with cake and beverages.
Several Federation officers and committee chairmen present were acknowledged.
The awards ceremony began with a presentation of college scholarships to Andrew S. Rosenberger, a senior from Sullivan West Central School and Carrie Endriss, a senior from from Livingston Manor Central School. The scholarships were for $1,000 each and will be used for their college education. The Federation was able to offer these two scholarships because it recently won a Sullivan Renaissance Grant.
Fish mounts were presented to two youngsters who caught the palamino trout from the fish pond at the 2005 Youth Day Event. The fish mounts were presented and donated by Fernando Neves of Neves Taxidermy of Bethel. The recipients were Wayne Hicks and Gabriel Surina.
Certificates of Achievement and $20 cash plus a gift bag of assorted prizes were awarded to all youth winners. The Youth Fish Division winners were: Pickerel – Andrew Ritz, 5 lb., 25 inches; Sunfish – Nick Shevak, 10 oz., 9 1/2 inches; Bullhead – Brook Huebner, 1 lb., 10 oz., 14 1/2 inches; Brook Trout – Bruce Gettel, 13 oz., 14 inches; Largemouth Bass – Sara Ingoglia, 4 lb., 12 oz.; Crappie – Andrew Yager, 2 lb., 7 oz, 14 1/2 in.; Perch – Andrew Yager, 2 lb., 4 oz., 14 in.; Rainbow Trout – Robert Kelly, 13 oz., 12 1/2 in.; Rainbow Trout (fly rod) – Scottie Herbert, 3 lb., 7 oz., 20 inches.
The Youth Game Division winners were: Spring Turkey – Andrew Yager, 20 lb., 9 inch beard; Deer Archery – Kristina Millis, 3-point buck; Red Fox – Josh Campfield, 13 lb., 12 oz.; Grey Fox – Josh Campfield, 10 lb.
A drawing was held for all youth fish and game winners and Brook Huebner won a free fishing day to Hunter Lake in Bethel.
The Adult Fish Division winners were: Brown Trout (lake) – Russell Keesler, 9 lb., 9 oz., 27 inches; Brown Trout (river) – Barbara Weiss, 2 lb., 10 oz., 19 1/2 inches; Largemouth Bass – Mark Murphy, 6 lb., 9 oz.; Smallmouth Bass – Bryan Bury, 4 lb., 3 oz.; Brook Trout – Bill Danchak, 1 lb., 15 oz., 17 1/2 inches; American Eel – Bill Danchak, 28 inches; Rainbow Trout – Bill Danchak, 2 lb., 14 oz., 17 3/4 inches; Bullhead – Bill Danchak, 2 lb., 6 oz., 16 3/4 inches; Striped Bass – Gary Davitt, 7 lb, 26 inches; Shad – Gary Davitt, 4 lb., 5 oz, 23 inches; Walleye – Lou Gocek, 10 lb., 32 inches; Channel Catfish – Lou Gocek, 10 lb., 25 1/2 inches; Crappie – Tom Yager, 3 lb., 1 oz., 16 1/4 inches; Perch – Tom Yager, 2 lb., 9 1/4 oz., 16 1/2 inches.
The Adult Game Division winners were: Spring Turkey – Tim Kautz, 22 lb., 14 oz., Largest Rack Deer – David Travis, 11 pointer, 80 points; Heaviest Deer – David Travis, 160 lb., Heaviest Bear – Richard Heinz, 401 lb., 13-inch Beagle Trial Winner – John Way; 15-inch Beagle Trial Winner – Ray Christian.
The Past Junior Sportsman of the Year were introduced: 2002 – Andrew Yager; 2003 – J.C. Sommers and 2004 – Johnathan Levy. Chairperson Kay Danchak then announced the 2005 Junior Sportsman of the Year – Kristina Millis. Kristina was presented with a green embroidered Federation Jacket and a Federation Certificate.
Federation Vice President Tom Yager then presented the Art Terbush Memorial Award (a Buck 100-year anniversary knife) to Josh Campfield.
Kay Danchak presented gifts of appreciation to those who helped with this event: Norm and Barbara Weiss, Sharon and Jim Carroll, Fran and Hank D’Auria, Edna Calkin and Kay’s mother, Frances Loughery.
The adult cash awards were then drawn: $100 cash donated by the Sullivan County Democrat to the Fish Division-winner Bill Danchak; $100 cash donated by the Sullivan County Democrat to the Game Division-winner Richard Heinz, Federation Donated Grand Prize $300 cash to winner Tim Kautz.
The Renaissance Raffle grand prize – a black powder 50 cal. muzzleloader with scope – was won by Allan Schadt. 50-50 raffle winner was Edna Calkin who received $93. Door prizes were drawn after.
Chairperson Kay Danchak must be commended for putting together another outstanding and successful Awards Banquet and Wild Game Dinner. The Kauneonga Lake Firehouse was filled to capacity and everyone enjoyed this popular event.