EDGEFIELD, SC — During the first weekend in May, the NWTF’s Wyoming State Chapter held its annual Veterans Spring Turkey Hunt in Newcastle, Wyoming.
Since its inception in 2018 with two veteran hunters, the event has grown steadily and was proud to host four veterans this year. The state chapter diligently raises funds to cover various expenses associated with the hunt, including lodging, meals, and licenses for honor participants.
Prior to the hunt, Joe Sandrini, a biologist with the Wyoming Department of Fish and Game, met with local property owners in the area to obtain permission for veterans to hunt on their property. In addition, the volunteer guides took it upon themselves to install blinds on the properties prior to the event to help ensure a smooth and successful hunt.
The Friday before the hunt, a special dinner was held at the local VFW, which donated their venue for the event. The meeting provided an opportunity for hunters to register and prepare for the next hunt. In addition, the dinner served as an opportunity to express gratitude to the dedicated guides and generous landowners who contributed their effort, time, resources, and support to make the event possible.
The next day, veterans were treated to breakfast burritos to fuel them before the hunt, and received packed lunches donated by local businesses. The collective efforts and shared commitment to honoring our veterans were manifested in a remarkable achievement during this year’s hunt: all four participating hunters successfully captured a wild turkey.
“We couldn’t make this event happen without all the amazing volunteers who gave back to those who gave so much,” said Joan Eisemann, NWTF Wyoming state chapter president.
Veterans participating in the hunt were offered the unique opportunity to have their wild turkey fans mounted by local taxidermist and NWTF member Kyndell Flint of Talking Tom Taxidermy, who donated her time and expertise to support the event. In addition to donating the taxidermy work, she also helped organize the lunches and dinners for the event.
Following Saturday’s hunt, another dinner, open to the public, provided an opportunity for the community to come together and show support for our veterans. A significant highlight of the dinner was a silent auction, with the goal of raising funds for next year’s hunt. Generously donated by businesses and individuals across the state, the auctioned items raised funds to begin laying the foundation for future hunts, ensuring continued support and opportunities for veterans.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested more than half a billion dollars in wildlife conservation and has conserved or improved more than 22 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The organization continues to advance wildlife conservation, forest resiliency, and robust recreational opportunities across the US by working beyond borders at the landscape scale.
2023 is the 50th of the NWTFhe Anniversary and an opportunity to push the organization’s mission into the future while honoring its rich history. for his 50he Anniversary, the NWTF has set six ambitious goals: positively impact 1 million acres of wildlife habitat; raise $500,000 for wild turkey research; increase membership to 250,000 members; dedicate $1 million to education and outreach programs; raise $5 million to invest in technology and the people of NWTF; and raise $5 million to build a $50 million endowment for the future. Learn how you can help us achieve these lofty goals.