2005 Youth Turkey Hunts

     The Pecatonica River Valley Turkey Trackers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, The Sugar River Valley Chapter of Pheasants Forever, The South Central Wisconsin Archers, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Argyle Rod & Gun Club held our second annual "Learn to Hunt" Turkey Youth Hunt the first weekend of April.  We had 17 Youth and 17 mentors participating in 1 to 1 mentored turkey youth hunts on Saturday afternoon and also on Sunday Morning.  Saturday afternoon we were lucky to get 4 gobblers and a Jake.  Most of the kids graduated from hunter's safety last week. 

     On Sunday Morning we added 2 more Jakes, and missed a couple more trophy gobblers.  More than half of the kids got shooting, and several more mentors had birds close enough, but adrenalin shakes or moving the gun to shoot spooked wary Tom's away. 

Eugene Upward, World Champion Turkey Call Carver showed of some of his calls and demonstrated yelps, putts, cutts, purrs and cackles for the kids

Gene and Ritch Miller, Pec.Turkey Tracker NWTF, president demonstrated calling techniques and hunting strategies.

Birge Braun did a review of hunter safety

     After sighting in and patterning the guns, the kids headed off with their mentors to spots close to the rod and gun club to learn first hand the excitement of calling in and hunting a wild Tom Turkey.  Afterwards, it was hard to tell, who was more excited, the kids or the mentors.