First annual F3 youth turkey hunt deemed success
By Neal Hogden
The inaugural youth turkey hunt for Fur, Fin and Feather drew a crowd of 30 hunters on Saturday, April 13. Hunters met their guides at a meet and greet on April 7 and learned who they would be hunting with. They then went out to sections of land that owners had agreed to allow youth hunters to hunt on for the day. Parents were welcome to tag along as their child went on the guided turkey hunt.
After the morning session, kids, mentors, parents and even youth who were not being guided by F3 were welcome to come to the Colby Lions Shelter to enjoy a meal with members of F3.
F3 board member Matt Schnabel said the Fur, Fin and Feather has been in existence in central Wisconsin for 16 years and throughout that time, the organization’s main goal has been to get kids in the outdoors.
Schnabel thanked everyone who helped out with the event including, but not limited to, Smith Bros. Meats for catering the event, the Colby Lions Club for the use of the shelter, Big Bear Down for the discount on raffle items, the community for their support of the program as well as all the kids, mentors and landowners who made the event as successful as it was.
During the banquet, Schnabel announced that Fur, Fin and Feather would be donating the cost of mounting the tails of the first five birds that were harvested by F3 hunters. He thanked Jeff Specht of Wild Things Taxidermy for doing the mounts and paying for a portion of the mounts. Schnabel said he is already looking forward to next year’s hunt and the many other events yet to come. You can follow F3 on their Facebook page for future events.
SUCCESS ON THE FIRST DAY - Five youth hunters were surprised by Fur, Fin and Feather youth hunt organizers as they announced Jeff Specht of Wild Things Taxidermy would be doing a free tail mount for the first five hunters to shoot a turkey on Saturday, April 13. Five birds were taken throughout the day by, from left to right: Oliver Nuernberger, Jaxtin Bloome, Leo Schorer, Everly Meyer and Ellie Nuernberger. The tail mounts were donated by F3 and Specht will also be donating some of the cost.
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
WINNER, WINNER, TURKEY DINNER - The winners of the raffles are from left to right: Colt Reynolds, Cyler Pagelsdorf, Gabryella Nolan (grand prize winner of a Mossberg .410 shotgun), Emily Stephens, Levi Schjoneman, Ramsey Schjoneman, Everly Meyer and Junior Bloome.
