SIX WAYS TO SAFELY GET A NEW TURKEY HUNTER OUT IN THE WOODS DURING COVID
While the DNR Learn to Hunt program is currently closed because of COVID-19, there are still plenty of ways to get new hunters into the woods this spring. Here are some ideas.

1. Take a youngster aged 15 years or younger out during the Wisconsin Turkey Youth Hunt on the weekend of April 17 and 18. Young hunters can complete online hunter safety beforehand or hunt under the mentored hunting rules. Consider keeping within your household or quarantine “bubble” to promote COVID safety.
2. Be a mentor for the United Special Sportsmen Association. They will be acting as a “broker” between new hunters and mentors during the Youth Hunt weekend. For details, contact CEO Brigid O’Donoghue at 715 884 2256 or childwish@gmail.com. All prospective hunters and mentors must take COVID tests prior to the hunt, according to O’Donoghue.
3. Connect new hunters with a virtual turkey hunting class. Topping the list is the NWTF-Kalkomey Enterprises, Turkey Hunting 101 class. To register, go to https://www.todayshunter.com/turkey101/ and enter code NWTF2021354894 to receive a 30% discount on the $29.99 course. Limited spots are also available for an adult-focused virtual Turkey Hunting class sponsored by the Wisconsin DNR, NWTF, and Pheasants Forever. Contact John Motoviloff at 608 419 0041 jmotoviloff@nwtf.net to reserve a spot.
4. Let beginning hunters know that there are plenty of leftover permits available. They go on sale via Go Wild (gowild.wi.gov) on March 15 at 10 AM. Tags for early periods sell out quickly, but plenty remain available for later periods.
5. Consider taking out a new adult. That person can complete online hunter safety beforehand or hunt during under the mentored hunting law. As with mentoring during the Youth Hunt, COVID spread is minimized if hunting with someone in your household or quarantine circle
   
6. Mix turkey hunting with other spring pursuits. If the turkeys aren’t cooperating, there’s no shortage of other springtime fun to be had around the state. Trout, walleye, and panfish are easy fishing options. There’s also foraging for morels, asparagus, and wild greens. Respect landowner rights and leave the property better than you found it.   

Awards chairman Jerry Harvey and State Chapter President Greg Shermo traveled to Eau Claire to present our State Chapter Wildlife  Law Enforcement Officer of the year award. We met at the Department of Resources office to present winner Jake Bolks the award. Also present was Jake’s supervisor Jeremy Peery. Jeremy was a previous winner of the award.

Dear NWTF Members,

Once again, your State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation is offering seed and possibly other land management products to its adult members at a discount through the State Subsidy Program.

This exclusive online ordering system will give you the member the opportunity to quickly and easily pay for your subsidized order, saving time and helping us to continue to improve our efficiency.

This online ordering system will replace printed forms and eliminate the need to fax or mail your order as you did in the past. This will give you access to available products in your state and you will receive a confirmation email at the end of your order. If you do not receive an email confirmation, please check your SPAM folder.

This is a first-come, first-served program, so order early! We are unable to accept phone orders.

To view your state’s offerings and access the new online system, visit www.nwtf.org/subsidy

NOTE: To access the online ordering page, the cookies on your computer must be enabled. You must either enter your membership number or type your name and address exactly as it appears on the address of Turkey Country magazine.

On behalf of the NWTF Conservation Programs Department I would like to introduce Clayton Lenk, our new District Biologist for MN, ND, SD, WI. Clayton’s first day on the job is today and we are excited to have him join our efforts in the Central Region and the Conservation Programs department. Below is a brief bio for Clayton, and his email address is clenk@nwtf.net.
 
Clayton is married to Samantha and has two girls ages 2.5 (Clara) and almost 1 (Della). They also have two dogs, a Black Lab (Stella) and an Australian Shepherd (Lilly). Like most people in this field, Clayton enjoys most any outdoor activity from hunting, fishing, and trapping, to watching birds and just walking through the woods. Clayton brings a lot of experience to this position, having worked for a soil and water conservation district, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the Wisconsin DNR, Minnesota DNR, and AmeriCorps. Clayton is looking forward to utilizing his past experiences and is excited to learn new things in his role with the NWTF.
 
Please join me in welcoming Clayton to the NWTF flock!
 
Kindest regards,
 
Jared McJunkin
Certified Wildlife Biologist®
Director of Conservation Operations (Central Region) 
mobile: 785.844.1055
email: jmcjunkin@nwtf.net