Youngest successful hunter..
Colin Kopetoske, 12, was the youngest successful hunter in Gourley's annual buck-and-doe contest.
Gourley's Variety
It was the healthiest deer season in three years, with lots of deer,
particularly doe and fawns.
Ironically, Gourley’s Variety and Gas Bar buck-and-doe contest
also featured a huge buck that didn’t even figure in the big prizes.
That buck weighed in at an eye-opening 249 pounds dressed.
However, the hunter thought to have hit the mark (Keven MacDonald) learned a
fellow hunter, not registered in the Gourley’s contest, had actually taken the
successful shot.
MacDonald, who lives in Ottawa
but grew up in Eganville, learned only one bullet had hit the buck, and that
one belonged to his Eganville brother-in-law, Jerry Losee.
“It’s not right to take credit for something you didn’t do,” said
MacDonald, who’s been hunting for 35 years.
“I’m not going to take the glory from someone else.”
Contest organizer Keith Gourley was so impressed he named
MacDonald the winner of the sportsmanship award.
The buck-and-doe contest also featured a record 356 registrants,
up from last year’s record 336. Sixty-four deer were weighed in, the same
number as in 2010.
That biggest official buck, at 224 pounds, also had 15 points.
That won Scott Zadow, who grew up in Eganville but now lives in
Renfrew, a gift certificate from taxidermist Rob Reinert for the rack with the
most points.
BIGGEST BUCK
For the biggest buck, Zadow took home $250 cash and a $250
Gourley’s gift certificate.
Grant McNulty of Renfrew was second at 204, and Lori Gibson at 202
pounds.
Matt Hazen of Renfrew took home $150 and a $150 Gourley’s gift
certificate for the biggest doe, at 156 pounds. He just beat out Don Pilatzke
(154) and Paula Campbell (152).
The oldest and youngest successful hunters were Henry Rosien (81)
and Colin Kopetoske (12), while the mystery weight winners were Jason Pasco,
Harold Eady, David Buote and Joe Cleary.
The random winner of the Excalibur crossbow was 12-year-old
Timothy Meighen.
On behalf of the registered hunters, Gourley’s donated $1,000 to Renfrew Victoria Hospital’s
Call to Action campaign.