Southern Maryland Youth Turkey Hunt Draws 70 Young Hunters
EDGEFIELD, S.C. – The NWTF Southern Maryland Chapter hosted another unforgettable youth turkey hunt, kicking off the youth season with over 70 young hunters venturing into the woods alongside assigned mentors to chase gobbles and create memories.
Early Saturday morning, mentors and mentees met at designated locations to begin their hunts. After the morning spent in the field, all participants gathered at a local farm at 1 p.m. for lunch, camaraderie and raffles. Youth hunters who successfully harvested a bird had the opportunity to weigh their gobblers and measure beards and spurs. The hunter with the top-scoring bird earned a free turkey mount, and the next couple ranking birds received free tail fan mounts.
There was also a youth turkey shoot, a target shooting event to gauge marksmanship, at the event. A fully loaded turkey vest was given to the winner. Every kid received free prizes just for participating, ranging from turkey calls, hunting blinds and seats, custom handmade knives and shotguns.
Steve Berry, the NWTF Southern Maryland Chapter president, had the opportunity to mentor his daughter in the field this year for her very first turkey hunt. They woke up on a rainy morning before sunrise and made their way into the woods. They hunted on private property owned by a local farmer who had a friend that scouted a spot for them to set up at.
Berry and his daughter strategically set up their decoys and blind, and it seemed like almost immediately after settling into their spot, they heard hens coming off the roost. The rain began to clear, and two hens started to fight right in front of them. Soon afterwards, two long beards came strutting out, giving Berry’s daughter a choice. She aimed, shot, and got her very first bird.
“It was a feeling you don’t forget,” said Berry. “Seeing the smile on her face and how giddy she was — I get more enjoyment from that than I do hunting my own birds.”
Berry shared that they plan to have her first bird mounted to commemorate the special moment.
The event saw more than 200 attendees, including mentors, mentees, volunteers and supportive friends and family. A total of 21 birds were harvested, 12 of which were first-time harvests. Joe and Diane Beuchert led the organizing of the event.