Dan Neuland
apter (MVC) of the National Wild Turkey Federation has recently sponsored two local youth events, promoting outdoor recreation, hunter preparation, and conservation.
The first event was the annual JAKES Youth Field Day held on April 6, at Catoctin Fish and Game Protective Association in Myersville, Maryland. A jake is a young male turkey and JAKES is an acronym for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship.
Over 100 youth attended the outdoor event that began with trout fishing in the stocked pond at the club. The youth were divided into five groups that moved to a variety of outdoor activity stations throughout the day.
Activities included an archery range, hosted by the Tuscarora Archers; shotgun patterning on the gun range; fur trapping; and turkey-calling demonstrations. In addition, a Woods Walk station was led by expert turkey hunters to help prepare young hunters for the upcoming spring turkey season. The station featured plenty of practical hunting advice with an emphasis on hunting safety. The names of young hunters, who have successfully completed a hunter safety course or have purchased an apprentice license, were randomly drawn for the mentored turkey hunt.
According to MVC president, Russ Leith, a total of 24 youths were paired with mentors for the Junior Turkey Hunt on April 13. A successful turkey hunt is, foremost, a safe hunt with participants watching the sunrise while listening carefully for distant gobbles from lonely tom turkeys. The hunt is a wonderful opportunity for the youths, whether they successfully harvest a turkey or simply enjoy a memorable day afield while learning from experienced hunters.
Later that morning, after the hunt, the mentors and all the participants met at Thurmont Conservation and Sportsman Club for lunch, provided by the MVC. A total of five youths were successful at tagging a turkey that day. Congratulations to Eli Yokum for tagging a 24-pound tom turkey, the largest bird taken that morning. Yokum will receive a free turkey mount, courtesy of Carder Taxidermy in Ijamsville, Maryland.
Congratulations to Regan Austin, Mark Stotler, Eli Yocum, Landon Hahn, and Luke Bucheimer for successfully harvesting a wild turkey on April 13.
Youth participated in archery, just one of the many activities at the JAKE’s Youth Field Day.
Youth practice their turkey calls as part of the JAKE’s Youth Field Day, hosted by Monocacy Valley Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.
