Deer Hunters gather at VFW

The Waseca VFW hosted the annual Minnesota Deer Hunters Association South Central Chapter Bingo and Membership Drive the evening of Saturday, Jan. 31. Among the sponsors for the event were the VFW and Wiste’s Meat Market.

 

It was a very busy evening, with many people taking part. There was food for sale and the atmosphere inside was warm and friendly. Pat Hammond was sipping on a ginger ale when his name was announced for the meat raffle. They had an industrial strength Cabela’s cooler set up behind the table from which to choose meat. Hammond said, “I picked the two packs of bacon, then I ran out to my truck and put them in there, so they don’t thaw.” Asked why he got the bacon, he replied, “Bacon was the most expensive and I know I’ll eat it because it’s bacon.” He said he was feeling lucky tonight. “I also won a drink ticket earlier, and I’m on the hundred number board for the handgun.” Everyone who won their silent auction item was automatically registered to win the handgun; Hammond had about 1 in 10 chances. Sitting quietly next to him was Shirley Kunze. She was waiting for the bingo game to start. Mayor Steven Bailey of Geneva was also present. “I am a big supporter of all this,” said Bailey. “I always try to help out when I can.”

 

For the silent auction, there were wine baskets, a giant orange hoodie, a trail camera set, beer, flashlight kits, rancho road liquor, barrel gin, coffee baskets and assorted honeys.

There were also rare items like an ammo box and numerous beautiful examples of deer artwork. Tickets were available for a June 3 raffle drawing; the prize will be a lifetime Minnesota Deer Hunting License and lifetime membership to the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association. Another raffle has a Chevy Silverado 1500 as a prize.

 

Volunteer Jim Keltgen was monitoring the silent auction table. “I’m helping make sure everyone has fun and spends money. This is for conservation education for the kids. This also helps out with land projects and gets kids to camp. That’s what’s most important: getting those kids, the young kids used to hunting and camping, so they develop those skills and they’ll be so much more eager to protect the land and natural resources when they get older.”

 

Evelyn Barnes was with her husband Joe of Barnes Gunsmithing. They had just finished dinner. She said, “All funds go towards kids for a special camp. I come here every year; my husband does the background checks for the gun winners.”