Buffalo Ridge in Gary just hosted its first of what will become an annual hunting and fishing championship tournament. And it’s not just any old fishin’ tourney… this one airs on Fox Sports North news.

The tournament, called “Fins & Feathers Outdoor Challenge” is a yearly event put on by Walleye Classics, which is sponsored by Warrior Boats. The company’s owner, Corey Bohn is originally from the Canby area, and wanted to introduce Deuel County as a new sports haven to fishers and hunters around the country. 

The teams competing in the Buffalo Ridge Fins & Feathers Outdoor Challenge were the top contestants from the 2009 Alexandria Chain of Lakes Spring Walleye Classic and the Lake Minnewaska Fall Walleye Classic. Teams with the lowest cumulative point totals from these two tournaments went on to this final tournament held in Deuel County. With no pre-fishing or hunting allowed, the teams were greeted with snow as they fished at Lake Cochrane on Friday! They hunted at Dakota Ridge Hunting Preserve in Clear Lake on Saturday, and with all the sunshine, I’m sure it was a better day. Competitors compete on both individual and team levels, and the winners are indisputably top notch all-around outdoorsmen. 

The show will be aired in the 1st Quarter 2010 on Fox Sports North to over 5 million viewer households, and will likely be re-aired in August or September 2010 as well. So, look out world… here comes Deuel County, SD!!

Check out the Walleye Classics website for more info.

Sponsors for the 2009 Buffalo Ridge Resort Fins & Feathers Outdoor Challenge include: Buffalo Ridge Resort, Prairie View Golf Course, Dakota Ridge Hunting Preserve, and Deuel National Bank. Associate sponsors include: South Dakota Pheasant Hunts & Gate City Lodging, Warrior Boats, LakeMaster, Excellent Multimedia, the Walleye Classic Tournament Series, and Minnkota Outdoors TV.