2010 WHEELIN’ SPORTSMEN
HUNT OF A LIFETIME
April 16 and 17
Twenty-five lucky Wheelin’ Sportsmen members will be selected at random. State chapters may sponsor an applicant for the hunt. Applications available beginning October 1, 2009. Contact Jean Plunkett at (800) THE-NWTF or jplunkett@nwtf.net to apply.

Wheelin Sportsmen Turkey Hunt

Wheelin’ Sportsmen recently received a grant from our partner Disabled American Veterans. As a renewed commitment to working together to better the quality of life for disabled veterans, a $25,000 grant through the DAV Charitable Service Trust allows NWTF chapters to partner with DAV chapters on hunts for disabled vets on military bases across the Southeast.

Illana Burkhart
Wheelin' Sportsmen Coordinator

Opportunity of a Lifetime

This spring we held the inaugural Wheelin’ Sportsmen Hunt of a Lifetime at the US Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in Aiken, SC. Twenty-five Wheelin’ Sportsmen members from all over the United States came together for a weekend turkey hunt at one of the Southeast’s most pristine turkey hunting locales. With only 12 percent of the 198,000 acres used for nuclear industrial purposes, the rest is home to pines and hardwoods, wetlands, streams and wildlife.

SRS is only turkey hunted ONE time a year, a privilege exclusively granted Wheelin’ Sportsmen. And this year, the Hunt of a Lifetime lived up to its name — 27 birds were harvested during the two-day event, with several hunters bagging the four-bird limit.

However, the weekend was more than just a great turkey hunt. It gave Wheelin’ members and volunteers a chance discuss the current state of the program and brainstorm ways to grow our efforts in their home states. I left the event energized by the great things we are doing to help move the program to the next level.

"This unprecedented level of exposure for the program speaks volumes about the importance the NWTF places on Wheelin’ Sportsmen and all of its outreach programs."

I’m sure by now you’ve noticed some of the changes taking place within the Wheelin’ program. The biggest, and most exciting, is the combination of all of our magazines under one flagship publication: Turkey Country. By combining our efforts into one streamlined approach we can give you more of what you want — information about how to enjoy your favorite outdoor pastimes! It also allows us to share with the entire NWTF membership what our Wheelin’ Sportsmen volunteers are doing to help increase access to hunting, fishing and shooting for people with disabilities. This unprecedented level of exposure for the program speaks volumes about the importance the NWTF places on Wheelin’ Sportsmen and all of its outreach programs.

There are many more changes in store for the coming months: an updated Web site, better volunteer resources and more opportunities for our members to be involved with the program. As each new stage is unveiled we will communicate changes to you through Turkey Country. So stay tuned and don’t miss this opportunity of a lifetime for Wheelin’ Sportsmen! — Illana Burkhart