NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The Best Inaugural Event Award is presented to chapters that have hosted an exceptional first-time hunting heritage event, including JAKES, Wheelin’ Sportsmen and Women in the Outdoors.
North Carolina’s Union County Chapter, Minnesota’s Struttin’ Blackbeards Chapter and Oklahoma’s State Chapter accepted Best Inaugural Event Awards during the 44th annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show.
This year’s recipients received their awards for the following:
Union County Chapter, North Carolina – The Union County Chapter hosted the Lethal Ladies Deer Hunt, a one-on-one women’s mentored deer hunt with the object to teach hunting techniques to women with no prior experience. By providing these women a foundation for hunting, the Union County Chapter is expanding hunter participation in their community.
Strutting Blackbeards, Minnesota – The Minnesota chapter teamed up with Pheasants Forever and Viking Sportsmen to host a youth activity day. During the event, youth and family participated in hands-on activities, including ax throwing, fishing, BB gun shooting, muzzle loading, firearm safety, shotgun patterning, cross bow shooting, rope making and mountain climbing, among many other activities. With 2,105 youth in attendance, the event was a large success and will be held again Aug. 25, 2020.
Tri-City Sportsmen Chapter – The chapter hosted a deer hunting workshop designed to assist new or novice hunters who do not have the benefit of a friend, family member or colleague to mentor them. This workshop provided attendees with the tools and knowledge needed to get started hunting and improve their experience when they go out on their own.
“NWTF outreach events are so important to our mission,” NWTF CEO Becky Humphries said. “By creating new ones, our local chapters are continually tailoring their events to fit the needs of new hunters in their areas.”
About the National Wild Turkey FederationWhen the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, there were about 1.3 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million turkeys. To succeed, the NWTF stood behind science-based conservation and hunters’ rights. The NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative is a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to conserve enhance more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruit at least 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting. For more information, visit NWTF.org.
