Youth clinic attracts hunters from across Missouri

Missouri Department of Conservation agents tell the 40 children at the turkey clinic about the rules and regulations for the Youth Weekend Turkey Hunt.

It was talking turkey time at the 11th annual Youth Turkey Hunting Clinic at Everhart's Wilderness Lodge, northwest of Clinton, last Saturday. A total of 40 children, age 9 through 15, from all across the state attended the event to learn about the rules and regulations on the upcoming Youth Weekend Hunt, April 12-13.

Cosponsored by Johnny and Linda Everhart and the Missouri Department of Conservation, the clinic featured a variety of events that taught the children the ins and outs of spring turkey hunting.

Johnny Everhart said, "The clinic starts off with a review of the rules and regulations by conservation agents. Then, we divide the kids into four groups to attend four different classes.

"In one class, the youngsters learn how to make their own turkey calls out of things you would not think of that would make a turkey call. They use things like spent shotgun shells and old film canisters.

"In the second class, the students learn how to use all the different turkey calls from veteran turkey caller and hunting guide, Steve Stokes, from Warsaw. The third class focuses on patterning their shotgun, as well as shooting sporting clay targets.

"The fourth class, taught by Jeff Falkenberry, is a scouting class, also called 'Shoot or Don't Shoot.' The kids are shown situations including, 'Is it safe to shoot this bird? Is it a legal bird?' And other situations they might encounter.

"They also learn how to set up their decoys and be concealed. They learn the importance of scouting before the season by looking for turkey signs, like finding feathers or places where the birds have been scratching."

The free clinic gives young hunters a chance to learn about Missouri spring turkey hunting from experienced hunters who have spent a lot of time in the woods and want to share their experiences. One of the instructors was Steve Stokes, of Warsaw, who has attend all of the youth turkey hunting clinics and has guided hunters from all across the country.

He said, "This is a great thing for the kids to learn the basics about turkey hunting. They may not always listen to their parents, but when they hear the same things from someone else, it might make a difference."

Stokes said he is looking forward to a very good season this spring.

"Things should be right on time as the season opens," he said. "I stress to the youngsters that getting a turkey isn't the only thing about being in the woods.

"They get to see nature come alive and learn how to read the woods, and enjoy seeing other wildlife, as well. Clinics like this one help teach the young hunters ethics and safety while afield.

"They are our future, so it's good to know that our sport will be in good hands. When a youngster gets his or her first turkey, the memory will last a lifetime."

The first special Youth Weekend Hunt was held in 2001, when the young hunters harvested 2,530 turkeys, which was the smallest total in the short history of the hunt. In 2012, the highest total number of birds was taken, as youth hunters checked 4,319.

In last year's youth hunt, there were 3,915 turkeys harvested.

Shooting hours during the Youth Weekend are half an hour before sunrise to sunset. Should a young hunter bag a bird, they can't harvest a second bird until April 28, because that first bird counts as the first bird for the regular season.

Jason Isabelle, of MDC's wild turkey management program, said spring turkey hunters should find good numbers of gobblers this year, thanks to strong wild turkey reproduction in 2011 and 2012.

Conservation Department officials say the youth season harvest doesn't affect the three-week regular spring turkey season, which opens April 21. General information about both the Youth Weekend Hunt and the regular spring season may be found in the Spring Turkey Hunting publication at any of the permit vendors in the state, or online at mdc.mo.gov/node/132.