Long time hunter Cliff Deitz of East Coulee brought a unique set of antlers from a mule deer to be scored at Antler Measuring Day held at the Drumheller Legion, Saturday, January 24. He explains the non-typical antlers were grown likely due to the advanced age of the deer.
Residents brought a good point, or more likely six, to the Legion Saturday, January 24, to have their antlers measured by certified fish & game measurers.
The afternoon event was held by the Drumheller and District Fish and Game Association.
"We used to measure just for members, but this is the second year the measuring is open to the public,” said association president Stephanie Briggs. “There’s a lot of people that have antlers sitting at home, or shot a big animal and want the antlers scored.” If the antlers exceed the Alberta Minimum Score on the Alberta Fish & Game scoring sheet, the form gets submitted to the Alberta Awards, which are presented annually in Edmonton in April.
Six sets measured on Saturday will be submitted to the Alberta Fish and Game Awards. Those include a moose taken with a bow and arrow, which scored 158 and 3/8, with the minimum score to meet being 135, and antlers from a mule deer taken with archery which scored 181, and the minimum score required is 145.
The Drumheller and District Fish & Game Association also hold their annual banquet in East Coulee to hand out their awards, this year scheduled for the end of February, which include fish, birds, big game, and a Junior Angler Award for those 14 years and under.
