Fan Mail
TURKEY COUNTRY FEEDBACK — ROUND TWO
I enjoyed the first issue of Turkey Country so much that I should have commented sooner. However, I had to contact you after the second issue arrived and inform the NWTF what a great hunting magazine we have. Karen Lee must be commended for pulling four magazines into one and expanding the scope of our organization under a single magazine.
For those who believe we have too many ads, my response is: Great, and in a recession no less! Our sponsors and advertisers know beyond a shadow of a doubt that our organization is top notch.
For those who may complain that we talk about more than wild turkeys: Great, the NWTF is also about preserving our hunting heritage and one of our old magazines, Get in the Game, included all kinds of great articles on more than managing for turkey habitat.
For those who complain about too many articles aimed at women, my response is to quote the title of one of the best articles in the November/December issue: “A Woman’s Place is in the Woods.” My wife and I both share a love of hunting and hopefully that will never end. We need more women, and young people, active in the conservation movement.
As an upland bird hunter I loved this issue, which had information on woodcock, rabbit, deer and wild turkey.
I have mentioned to my cohorts at work that the NWTF is the best wildlife conservation organization in North America and I can prove it with our magazine, Turkey Country.
To all the staff of the NWTF, to all our great sponsors and advertisers, I give heartfelt thanks for keeping the NWTF at the forefront of the conservation movement.
Charlie Nichols, W. Va. State
Chapter President
The new magazine is huge, but full of items that really do not pertain to me as an avid turkey hunter. I only turkey hunt and do not chase deer, quail or other animals.
This new magazine is awful and I am not enjoying it at all. I used to wait for Turkey Call to arrive and read it cover to cover. I can’t do that anymore.
I waited for my second issue to arrive so I could be as fair as I could. My honest opinion is that someone made a decision based on one of two things or a combination of both; economics and political correctness. Both are valid ideas, but not in a hunting magazine.
The cost of printing separate publications can be daunting I am sure. As for political correctness, we should be able to treat each other well and see male and female, race or religious view with respect, but to use these factors to turn Turkey Call into the “Better Homes and Gardens Turkey Magazine” is a shame. I may be wrong about the factors of this merger, but the outcome is the same.
Sometimes economics cause a restructuring of companies and, as was stated in the first issue of Turkey Country, the NWTF is not immune. I am sure the economy has caused valued members to drop the extra expense of an NWTF membership from their budgets. This caused the NWTF to drop some income and makes ends harder to meet. Instead of doing what we have to do in the real world — trim the fat and remove less successful publications — the NWTF trimmed the fat by combining many things into one, watering down the value so to not upset anyone left out. This in essence makes my valued magazine now a waste of my precious income, and I can honestly say as much as I hate to do it, if the NWTF continues this course of action my money will go elsewhere.
Eric D Housman, Indianaplolis, Ind.
OUR FAN CLUB
The November-December 2009 issue of Turkey Country is even better than the first. The Biospeaking about rifles and turkey hunting by James Earl Kennamer was excellent and informative. The high fatality rate of rifles versus shotguns should be a wake up call to all states in considering banning rifle use at least in the spring. We should all strive to make turkey hunting as safe as possible.
Brian Smith, Maine State Chapter President
I just finished flipping through the premier issue of Turkey Country and wanted to drop a note saying WAY TO GO! The magazine looks great, and your team did an outstanding job. It was also cool to see the mention of Wild Turkey TV joining the Pursuit Channel.
We sincerely appreciate the support and the partnership.
Tack Robinson, Mossy Oak Brand Camo
I have been turkey hunting since 1997 and a member of Women in the Outdoors since 2000. I love the new magazine, Turkey Country.
I would like to see more articles written by hunters about their turkey hunts. When I get the magazine, I can’t put it down until I have looked it over from cover to cover. I love to look at the snapshots of other people’s successful hunts, and bigger pictures are a great improvement.
My husband, Roger, said this is a really nice magazine. He is a member in the NWTF and has been turkey hunting for more than 30 years. He wants to see more articles on turkey hunting, turkey habitat and food plots.
Treva Layne Campbell, Eagle Rock, Va.
OUR mistake
In the last issue, we stated in the article titled “Kansas: It’s Hip to be Square” that , since 2005, the NWTF Super Fund has contributed $9,000 toward state habitat improvement projects. The amount should have been $75,000.