Eleven year quest for turkeys documented in 
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Comanche Creek Wheelin' Sportsmen hunters pose with their prize.
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Wheelin' in the Texas panhandle
Nature provided beautiful sunrises, sunsets and the excitement of the Rio Grande's thundering gobbles as Dunn's Sporting Goods, TRUGLO and Smokin' Tex hosted the inaugural Comanche Creek Wheelin' Sportsmen hunt in April.
All the hunters came back from the field with incredible stories, such as Russell Kirkland missing a mature gobbler at 17 yards on his first day in the field before finally harvesting a different longbeard the next day.
Curtis Cooper missed four shots at different birds over four days. Cooper finally got his mature tom with the fifth shot.
Carlos Turic passed on a gobbler on opening day, just to watch a large flock of birds establish dominance over each other.
"I cannot see this sitting on my sofa at home," he said.
Kirk Black from San Antonio scored the Rio of a lifetime with three beards and a couple of lengthy spurs.
Volunteer David Boon took Wheelin' Sportsmen participant David Stabler, who has muscular dystrophy, on his first hunt.
"David was so excited about our trip," Boon said. "Upon arrival at the Comanche Creek Lodge, David was ready to get in the woods, and most of the hunters felt the same. So we headed out to the blind. It only took minutes before David was amazed at the wildlife. He made some remarkable comments. 'That is the biggest cardinal I have ever seen. Wow, that is the first roadrunner I have ever seen. I have never seen a wild turkey.' We started to keep track of his 'firsts' because it became funny and interesting for myself as his guide."
David took his first bird at 14 yards and plans are already in the works for next year's hunt. — Steven Dieck, Florida State Chapter President
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The combat-wounded veterans who participated in the South Polk Long Beards' hunt. |
South Polk Long Beards host hunt for wounded combat veterans
In March, Florida's South Polk Long Beards Chapter hosted an Osceola turkey hunt for combat wounded veterans.
Seven of the 10 hunters took birds, and all the hunters had shot opportunities. Hunters also took a Sitka deer and two wild hogs during the event.
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Hunters and guides take a break from the Wheelin' in the Hills deer hunt for a group photo. |
Wheelin' in the Hills event held in Louisiana
The Corney Creek Longspurs, of Bernice, La., hosted their first Wheelin' Sportsmen event in December. Eleven hunters with disabilities participated in the Wheelin' in the Hills deer hunt.
The NWTF, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the State of Louisiana provided special equipment for the hunt. NWTF state board member Steve Chamberlain helped train the hunters in using the guns and gear.
More than 60 volunteers were on site to help the hunters on the cold winter morning. Two hunters killed deer, and each hunter was given a duffle bag filled generously with donated items from local businesses.