Hunting and fishing enthusiasts from across northern Ontario and as far away as Newfoundland gathered at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 374 in Richards Landing for the 22nd Annual Wild Game Dinner hosted by the St. Joseph Island Hunters and Anglers Association.
Club president, John Paterson said, in his opinion, it's the well-prepared quality food with exceptional chefs on hand that results in a sell out crowd year after year.
All 216 tickets were sold out shortly after going on sale January 2.
The club is fortunate, Paterson said.
It has developed a large following of like-minded hunters and anglers who enjoy the comradery of getting together.
“There is a great mix of people and they enjoy themselves when they are here,” Paterson said. “It’s more than just the food.”
The format regarding the sale of prizes has changed due to lottery regulation, as well as the gaming commission and how it impacts the club’s revenue.
“By changing our format to an auction format, the club can use 100 per cent of moneys brought in rather than a percentage,” Paterson said. “The Firearm and ‘snake bit’ raffles still fall under the lottery license. Everything runs pretty smooth now.”
Vernon Bailey was on hand to auction off 16 large items through a live auction process. All items have been donated from individuals and businesses through out the region.
The evening dinner and auction is the main fund raiser for the Island organization raising from $6,000 to $10,000 each year.
Moneys generated go toward the operational cost of the Conservation Centre and club related programs and activities.
For the past three years, committee chair, Ross Bishop under the guidance of former chair, Ray Nelson, has led the committee to the successful event it is today.
“It is big shoes to fill,” Bishop said describing his predecessor. “In my third year I am still going to Ray, asking what do we do Ray.”
Nelson is still a big part of the dinner, Bishop said even though he is not on the committee anymore.
“Ray is the type of guy if he sees something has to be done, he does it, he doesn’t ask someone to do it.”
The main task in hosting an event of this size are the pleas for meat, Bishop said.
“A lot of deer hunters did not have a good season, not just locally. Moose season was bad as well, not only the weather but with respect to hunting regulations.”
The committee begins calling for successful hunters to consider sharing with a donations of wild game in early November.
Game is stored in two dedicated freezers until the event.
“Usually when we are ready for the dinner, they (freezers) are both full,” he said. “But it’s never enough. Thank goodness for the game donated considering the year we had.”
The menu this year included game dishes such as bear, white tail and mule deer, moose, caribou, beaver, goose, spruce grouse, ptarmigan and whitefish and pickerel.
The committee also purchased pheasant.
Volunteering at his first event, Executive Chef, Yves Lafond.
The Ottawa-native has traveled the world returning to Canada January 26 from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, spent a few days visiting with family then headed north to St. Joseph Island.
“It’s a big event to put on with a lot of volunteer help,” Lafond said. “Everyone has a task and it’s runs very well.”
Onni Hill of Jocelyn Township has attended all 22 dinners and indulged in a wide variety of game meat with no favourite dish.
“It’s all good,” he said.
Hill is also a member of the Hunters and Anglers, and has volunteered in the food preparation in the past.