The previous saying, “Time flies while you’re having enjoyable,” rings very true for Ohio’s Gallia County Longbeards NWTF Chapter, because the chapter held its annual youth turkey hunt for the twenty fifth time this 12 months in Gallipolis, Ohio.
However for Mark Baldwin and the numerous passionate volunteers of the native NWTF chapter, internet hosting the hunt 12 months after 12 months is as a lot about enjoyable as it’s the preservation of our searching heritage.
“The youngsters are my motivation,” mentioned Baldwin, who has been a volunteer of the Gallia County Longbeards for over 20 years. “I get extra of a thrill seeing a child kill a turkey than searching myself, or watching their faces gentle up once they hear that first gobble. We’re blessed to be part of this yearly.”
With the occasion occurring for 1 / 4 of a century, the volunteers of the Gallia County Longbeards have witnessed the success of the occasion all through time: making turkey searching a perennial exercise within the contributors’ lives.
“We’ve had quite a few youngsters from our occasion develop out of the occasion (contributors have to be 17 or youthful), however then they arrive and assist mentor the youthful hunters,” Baldwin mentioned. “We aren’t solely passing on the custom of turkey searching, however we’re passing on the custom of passing on the custom. That’s what it’s all about.”
This 12 months’s occasion — held April 12-13 — was one other one for the books, with 59 youth contributors occurring a guided turkey hunt. Twenty-four turkeys had been harvested, eight of which had been harvested by hunters who’ve by no means killed a turkey.
However turkey searching is half of the enjoyable for youth on the two-day occasion. Younger hunters additionally get to affix in calling contests, studying/security seminars from Ohio Division of Wildlife officers, lure taking pictures and prize raffles, amongst rather more.
“We offer night meals for everybody each days of the occasion,” Baldwin mentioned. “We additionally give prizes to the highest three winners of our calling contests in two age teams and to the highest 4 turkeys harvested, in keeping with the NWTF measurement scale. Earlier than we depart on Saturday night, we give door prizes to every participant, from shotguns to something associated to the outside.”
“The Gallia County Longbeards have created one thing actually particular in southeast Ohio,” mentioned Shawn Dicky, NWTF regional director. “Chapters like this are why the NWTF mission to preserve the wild turkey and protect our searching heritage is alive and effectively.”
All through the occasion’s historical past, youth from throughout Ohio have heard their first turkey gobble, have discovered turkey name, have harvested their first chicken and have discovered the significance of sharing the expertise with others. The native chapter needs to make sure this occasion stays a staple in southeast Ohio.
“Our aim is that ten years from now, the following technology is internet hosting this occasion for the native youth and carrying the torch,” Baldwin mentioned.
Baldwin additionally famous the significance of the mother and father and grandparents who convey their youngsters, the guides, the volunteers and committee members, native enterprise and the ODW.
“This occasion wouldn’t be doable with out them,” he mentioned.
Established in 1981, the NWTF’s JAKES program is devoted to informing, educating and involving youths 17 and youthful in wildlife conservation and the smart stewardship of our pure assets. JAKES occasions assist go on the traditions of accountable searching, and educate the rules of habitat administration, searching ethics and security, identical to the Gallia County Longbeards Chapter’s annual youth hunt.
For $10 a 12 months, JAKES obtain a 12 months subscription to JAKES Nation journal (4 points), an opportunity to win a hunt of a lifetime and a membership card.
Along with JAKES Day occasions, NWTF chapters throughout the nation host varied occasions that interact youth within the outdoor, together with mentored hunts for a wide range of recreation species.
The NWTF has devoted workers, volunteers and companions in search of to introduce nonhunters to the out of doors way of life and to share within the larger conservation story.
Be taught how one can get entangled as a volunteer with the NWTF, or search for an upcoming JAKES occasion in your space.
