The Okanagan Region of the BC Wildlife Federation (OKBCWF) is pleased to announce that we’re once again offering an incentive program with cool prizes for hunters to submit cervid heads for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing. With the threat of CWD on our doorstep, and the latest positive case of CWD being north of Spokane Washington, we need at least 300 samples per year from Region 8 to have confidence that our region is CWD-free.

Thanks to the generous support of our OKBCWF member clubs and Westside Stores, we’re offering a free entry into a random draw for every 2025 Region 8 hunter-harvested cervid (white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose) head that is submitted to an Okanagan drop off location for CWD testing.

The Okanagan’s Regional CWD Coordinator will supply us with all the ear tag serial numbers from CWD samples submitted, from which four lucky winners will be randomly drawn. This will ensure your anonymity, as only contact information will be supplied to OKBCWF for the winners of our draw to be held in early 2026.

Eligible head samples will be collected from Okanagan drop off locations, which can be found at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/wildlife/wildlife-conservation/wildlife-health/chronic-wasting-disease/cwd-surveillance-and-testing#dropoff or scan the QR code on the poster.

PRIZES:
First prize – Zeiss Terra ED 10×42 binoculars, retail value $800
Second prize – $250 gift certificate to Westside Stores
Third prize – $175 gift certificate to Westside Stores
Fourth prize – $100 gift certificate to westside Stores

Please visit www.westsidestores.ca for store location and to support our generous partner!

Fine print: Winners must answer a skill testing question (don’t worry, it’ll be easy!) and accept the prizes as awarded. There is no fee to enter the draw. Your head sample must be harvested from Region 8 during a lawful 2025 hunting season.

Questions? Contact us at [email protected]

Check out the Kelowna Fish & Game Club’s gun show coming up on August 24. See the poster below for details

The Okanagan Region of the BC Wildlife Federation are hosting a Chronic Wasting Disease Info Session in July, at the Oceola Clubhouse.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. You do not need to be a member of a club, this information session is open to members of the public as well as club members.

Due to the serious nature of this disease, and the implications on our wildlife, is it extremely important to share information and details on what steps we can all do to help prevent the spread.

There will be presentations, demonstrations, and questions and answer period, followed by a complimentary lunch.

Please share this with your social networks! Come out to the Oceola Clubhouse on July 26th, located at:

11888 McGowan Rd.
Lake Country, BC

For more information, please contact:
Nick Kozub: [email protected]
Jodi McKay: [email protected]

Fishing Day with CMHC – Saturday June 14

A fun day at the lake fishing with the best people you’ve ever met. We could use a couple of volunteers to assist CMHA clients to bait their hooks and cast for fish at Lakeshore Park (near Kin Beach) from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Please call Clint at 250-550-5290 or email [email protected]

Scoot & Shoot ORV Biathlon – Saturday June 21

You may not fit into the spandex or cross-country ski like you used to so that’s why we’ve invented an ORV Biathlon. Bring your dirtbike, quad or side x side and we provide the rest.

Teams of two compete together for the top score across four stages: 

• 22LR Pistol Target Shooting 
• 22LR Rifle Target Shooting 
• Becker Lake Off-Road Vehicle Loop 
• Bardolph Lake Off-Road Vehicle Loop 

A home cooked lunch is included and there are lots of prizes to be won. A limited number of spots are available for Adult Teams (2 Adults) and Youth Teams (1 Adult and 1 Youth) so find out more and register today on the Vernon Range Day website – www.vernonrangeday.ca

If you’re not able to participate but want to experience Scoot & Shoot, we need a few more volunteers. Please call Clint at 250-550-5290 or email [email protected].

Kalamalka Fly Fishers 2025 Polson Pond Kids Fishing Weekend

Saturday, May 3 –  9am – 4pm

Sunday, May 4 – 9am – 3pm

The Polson Pond Kids fishing weekend will be held for the last time in 2025! It will be run as usual rain or shine, so your children can learn the joy that comes with catching a fish.   This is a free event for kids up to the age of 14. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Kids can bring their own fishing rod and tackle, or gear will be provided; all the rods, tackle, including worms and it’s all for free. If you need help, that’s free too. The kids can keep 2 fish each per day and the volunteers will even clean them for you. Nothing like fresh fish for supper.

There is a concession stand where hotdogs, chips, pop or water will be available for lunch.

Huge thank-you to the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, who donate about 1,000 rainbow trout weighing about 3/4 of a pound for the kids to catch.

The fun starts with the cleaning of the Polson Park Duck Pond the Sunday before the big event. Come on down and watch. We start draining the pond about 7 am and then use fire hoses to clean out the bottom of the pond. We want the pond nice and clean for the rainbow trout when they arrive. It is after all, a duck pond, and usually takes 4-5 hours to clean. After a thorough cleaning, we string some nets up in the pond to keep the trout spread out. Once that is done, we close the gates and let the pond fill back up.

Bring in the fish. The Wednesday before, the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC bring in and release 1,000 rainbow trout, each about 10-12 inches long, into the pond. The trout are spread out in the different areas so everyone has a chance to catch fish. These trout are raised by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC at the Summerland hatchery. Check out the hatchery for tour dates and times. The fish are a little confused when they first arrive but recover quickly and start looking for something to eat.

Let the fishing begin. By Saturday morning the fish are hungry and easy to catch. As the afternoon rolls around, especially if it is one of those sunny Okanagan days, the fish start looking for cover and the catching slows down a little. Sunday morning and the fish are looking for breakfast. There are always still lots of fish left to catch and they readily take the hook and worm again. If the kids are having some trouble getting the trout to bite, grab one of the Volunteers. We know a trick or two that may work. We do not want any child to go home without catching a fish.

Sunday April 27th: 7 am to 1 pm – pond cleaning

Wednesday April 30th: usually around noon the fish arrive

Saturday May 3rd: Fishing starts at 9am to 4 pm.

Sunday May 4th: Fishing starts at 9 am to 3 pm.

Check out the Kalamalka Fly Fishers website

Poster

We’re a few days into the snap Federal Election.  The BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF) has worked with the National Fishing and Hunting Collaborative (NFHC) on National Priorities for a couple years. 

The NFHC is a coalition of twelve organizations representing 375,000 anglers and hunters across Canada.

The NFHC has identified 5 priority issues, and BCWF has added a 6^th around DFO/Federal fisheries.  

From the NFHC website: “On behalf of our members and all conservationists in Canada, the NFHC requests meaningful commitments to these five priorities from the parties seeking to form the next federal government.”

BCWF has launched this webpage https://bcwf.bc.ca/2025-federal-election/ with the backgrounds and accompanying documents.  OFAH has a similar page:  https://www.ofah.org/nfhc/

BCWF has also created a ‘cheat sheet’ for  clubs and members: https://bcwf.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Election-cheat-sheet-printable.pdf .

We need our club members to engage their MP candidates with the cheat sheet to raise awareness.  Also let them know the NFHC sent questions to all parties and we want a response.

Finally, Club members on social media will see that the BCWF/NFHC have launched a series of videos and will continue to do so.  Please share and feel free to tag your MP Candidates.

The North Okanagan Trap & Skeet Club (NOTSC) are extending a special invitation exclusive to Vernon Fish & Game Club members, to participate in a Shotgun Event at their premises on Sunday, May 25th.  

*IMPORTANT* 
To participate in this event, individuals MUST RSVP via email to Paul Munroe at:  [email protected]
*The deadline to RSVP is Tuesday, May 20th
 

The message below is from NOTSC:

Greetings to all Vernon Fish and Game Club Members!

The North Okanagan Trap and Skeet Club invites you to attend a Shotgun event at the NOTSC club’s premises on Sunday morning, May 25.

At that time, we will welcome you (and your shotgun) to try your hand at our skeet and/or trap facilities. New to the game? We will help you to get started. There will be no charge for the trap/skeet shooting that you do.

So, here’s the outline.

• Arrive by 9:45 a.m.
• Bring your own shotgun. Most of us use a 12 gauge but a 20 gauge would do the job.
• Bring your own ammunition –  #7-1/2 or #8 loads.
• Both trap and skeet fire 25 rounds.  Should you do both, you will need to bring two boxes.

1. Welcome/Registration
2. Safety protocols at NOTSC
3. Brief orientation re: both Trap and Skeet procedures
4. Vernon members meet hosts
5. Select your venue and proceed to location

At the conclusion of the shooting portion of your visit, please join in the complimentary luncheon with your hosts.

To register for this event, please forward your name and contact information via email to Paul Munroe at:
[email protected]

DEADLINE Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
 

North Okanagan Trap & Skeet Club – Directions:
From Vernon, drive towards Armstrong. Turn right off the Highway 97A opposite Pleasant Valley Road turnout (which turns left off the highway) at the concrete building with the For Sale sign on it. Take the frontage road back towards Vernon, take your first left (if you hit Tolko Reforestation Center, you went too far – back up) and head up the windy dirt road to the top of the hill.

GPS Coordinates:
50.398261 – Latitude
-119.209355 – Longitude
 

There are only a few tickets left! Don’t delay, get your banquet tickets from Fisher’s Hardware or Meier’s Building Products before they’re sold out!

Tickets are $60 each.

Date: Saturday, March 15th 2025
Location: Coldstream Community Hall – 9909 Kalamalka Rd
Doors open: 4:30pm
Cocktails: 4:30 pm – 9:30pm
Dinner: 5:30pm
Catering provided by Overlander
*There will be a beef option available

Banquet Poster