As most of you are probably aware the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) has made the decision to: “Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.”

At least it should be known that the NWTF isn’t going to stand by and continue to watch our resources dwindle until its too late to reverse things. It’s a well known fact that Habitat is being lost at an alarming rate and hunters numbers are declining nationally as well as turkey numbers are starting to slide.

The NWTF has many weapons to combat these issues but none can be successful without our great committees who host fundraisers and banquets throughout Missouri.

The simplest way each of us can help is to sign up kids 17 and under into the JAKES Program. This will get more kids and families involved and at least give a positive reflection of the NWTF and information into the homes of these new young members about what the NWTF does and what we stand for.

The local Chapter, The Crowley's Ridge Limbhangers,  has made it a goal to sign up at least 100 kids.  They will gather chidren's names and addresses now and submit them with the local Chapters Banquet to be held in Dexter on Friday, June 20th at the Eagles Lodge. Some of our Chapters are signing up 400 or more kids and getting many more people involved. It’s a Win Win.

Many of us aren’t personally involved in Habitat work unless its on our own property but the NWTF experts out there looking for opportunities to create and improve habitat and also looking for new areas to access or open up for public use. Where the local Chapters can really shine is recruiting the kids and new hunters, young or old, male or female, through mentoring, WITO and JAKES events.

No one else has the Outreach the NWTF has nor the people power to execute it as we do. IT IS UP TO US and I don’t want to ever look back and say, “I wish I had done more”.

WE are doing this for the GREATER GOOD and for those youngsters not even born so they may one day hear the thunderous gobble of the wild turkey and see the beautiful sunrise through the strutting tail fan of an approaching longbeard.

The TIME IS NOW and it’s the future of the hunt that’s at stake here and We have the power to make things better and leave things better than they were when some of us were young and new to hunting.  I thank you all for everything that you do.
 
Sincerely,
 
Larry
 
Larry L. Neal
Regional Director South Missouri
National Wild Turkey Federation

If you would like to join JAKES and come to the annual JAKES Day just contact Dale Kemp at 624-1283.  The event will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2014 and all children in Stoddard County under the age of 17 are invited to participate, but please register in advance.

Find them on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Shown in the photo is Bobby Shipman demonstrating bow shooting at the Annual JAKES Day in 2013.  It's hands-on so the students get an opportunity to shoot bow and shotguns as well as see much more.