MEEKER, Colo. – On a cold, breezy weekend in early April, seven young turkey hunters and their mentors huddled quietly on pristine private land on the outskirts of Meeker, scanning the terrain for their elusive quarry. Participating in their first turkey hunt, the youngsters battled the frigid air and their own nervous excitement, listening to whispered suggestions and tips from their expert advisors. When at last, a turkey comes into view, the young hunters put their newly learned firearm safety education into action, carefully aiming their shotguns, and pulling the trigger.
While four of the seven young hunters were able to take a turkey home for their family’s dinner table this year, in keeping with the mission of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Hunter Outreach Program, the focus of the hunt was education, ethics, and safety.
The annual hunt – held in honor of CPW Officer Jon Wangnild who died in 2013 – is led by Meeker South District Wildlife Manager Bailey Franklin. Along with fellow CPW officers and volunteers, they provide the critical mentorship the novice hunters need to hunt in a safe and ethical manner.
“All of these kids dreamed of hunting turkeys but couldn’t for a variety of reasons, primarily because they did not have a mentor,” said Franklin. “Because of the expert advice and equipment provided by CPW, the hard work, dedication and generosity of many local people, these young hunters now have experience and knowledge. Most of these kids can now hunt wild turkey on their own, and may become mentors themselves in the future.”
Hunting is one of Colorado’s most treasured traditions and is critical for the successful management of the state’s wildlife, today and into the future. In addition, it encourages youth to maintain a healthy lifestyle with outdoor activities as a priority.
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