The Superior Express -

The third annual Bushy Nutz Squirrel Hunt was held at the Nuckolls County Fairgrounds Saturday. Teams of two registered for the event the day before, with a bag limit of five squirrels per team. The squirrels are weighed and measured. The top five are awarded prizes. There is also a Nut and Chatter prize awarded for the largest male. This year 73 teams registered, and 37 teams braved the elements and turned in their limit.

The winning team was Hammer and Needle, aka John Reed and Spencer Holeman, bringing in a gross weight of 9.24 lbs. The second place was team America, Squirrel Police, Josh Higby and Reagen Jerred, at 8.82 lbs. Third place was Harry Old Nuts, Brett Peterson and Jarrod Wehrman, 8.58 lbs. Fourth place was The Ball Busters, Kevin Parks and Colton Lowery, 8.51 lbs. Fifth place was Rosemont Mafia, Drew Kohmetscher and Kevin Kohmetscher, 8.49 lbs

The Nut & Chatter Buck Squirrel tied this year, and winners split the prize money. Winners were Nora Nut Lickers, Cole Epley and Blake Andersen, and Huge Nuts, Kevin Ayers and Austin Mondorf.

Registration took place at D&D’s on Friday. Saturday began the hunt, and squirrels were turned in no later than five at the fairgrounds. Raffles and door prizes were awarded. This year’s proceeds went to a local family to assist with medical bills and to families affected by the recent fires.

The mastermind behind this event is Logan Schnitker. Logan said after attending a squirrel hunt in Geneva, he couldn’t help but start one in Nelson. It brings business into the community during a slow time of the year. It’s something fun to do in the wintertime. Logan doesn’t put this together on his own. He has a group of folks who dedicate time to the cause, including but not limited to, Kady and Jacobi Durre, Jarrod Wehrman, Ridge and Caroline Schutte, Andy Sole, Doug Porter, Mark Porter, Michael Porter, Ashley and Joel DeLeon, Sean Trumble, Leslie Drudik, Darren and Dawn Myers, D&D’s, Richard Carver, Willie Dougherty, Elk Creek Country Club, Royce Schott, Curtis Schier- meier and Brett Peterson.

More information about the Busy Nutz Squirrel Hunt is on Facebook.