First-time turkey hunters take to Wisconsin woods

WASCOTT, Wis. — Breckin Bergquist had loads of firsts on a cool Saturday morning within the pine and oak nation of southern Douglas County.

It was his first time holding a loaded shotgun within the woods.

His first time studying to take a seat immobile within the predawn darkness, hopefully unseen and unheard by any wild turkey that could be close by.

His first time utilizing a slate name, within the woods, to imitate the comfortable yelps of a hen wild turkey, hoping to entice a tom turkey to come back into vary.

It was Bergquist’s first turkey hunt. It was his first time looking ever.

It was the primary time Bergquist, 13, heard a ruffed grouse drumming within the woods and sandhill cranes chortling off within the distance and the just-a-little-too-distant sound of tom turkeys gobbling because the solar neared rising.

He didn’t appear to thoughts the 19-degree chilly. Or the very fact his borrowed camouflage gloves had fingers 3 inches too lengthy for his still-growing palms.

The morning did not finish with what everybody concerned hoped could be Bergquist’s greatest “first”: his first tom turkey harvested. The birds have been just a bit too far-off. However there’ll possible be extra hunts for Bergquist sooner or later if his smiles after the primary one have been any indication.

“It was nice,” he mentioned.

Bergquist was considered one of 13 Douglas County ladies and boys, ages 10-16, to take part within the fifteenth Be taught to Hunt program sponsored by the

Gitchee Gumme Chapter of the Nationwide Wild Turkey Federation

. Kevin Feind, Bergquist’s mentor on this yr’s hunt, has been the coordinator of all 15 occasions.

Feind picked the spot, having seen turkeys within the space throughout current scouting journeys. He arrange the decoys and did the primary calling, then whispered to Bergquist by means of the teenager’s first makes an attempt at working a slate name throughout a hunt. You would inform boy had been working towards.

Feind is a turkey looking fanatic, with 34 turkey looking seasons behind him, the proper information for Bergquist’s first hunt. Bergquist was the proper instance of what the Be taught to Hunt program is all about — particularly getting youngsters who in any other case may not get the possibility to get out within the woods and expertise looking.

“I’ve been eager to go looking for a very long time. However nobody in my household actually hunts anymore, so I didn’t have anybody to go along with,” Bergquist mentioned.

Fortunately, his mom noticed a Fb put up saying the Be taught to Hunt program. “She was fairly nervous about it at first, about me going with individuals I didn’t know, with a loaded gun. … She watches out for me,” Bergquist mentioned. “However she mentioned ‘sure.’”

Throughout the Northland and nationally, the variety of hunters has been declining for years, slowly at first and now rather more quickly because the oldest child boomers start to age out of the outside and fewer younger hunters change them.

As society turns into extra city, with fewer connections to the outside and wildlife, there are fewer individuals with ties to buddies or household who hunt.

Different distractions and alternatives, from video video games, to workforce sports activities, to non-consumptive out of doors adventures like biking, take up enormous chunks of many youngsters’ time. Different potential hunters don’t have entry to gear, weapons or looking land.

However Feind and others concerned within the Be taught to Hunt program hope to not less than present them what they’re lacking, and the way to get began correctly, in the event that they wish to keep concerned. This yr, 4 of the 13 members bagged huge toms on the primary morning.

“It’s loads of work placing this on yearly. I’ll wager I’ve greater than 80 hours into it over the winter. We get loads of donations kind native companies, too,” mentioned Feind, who lately retired as a park ranger for the Wisconsin Division of Pure Assets. “Nevertheless it’s price it if you see the children’ reactions.”

Volunteer mentors Bob Butzler, Mark Nollet and Dan Schafter every acquired commemorative turkey calls this yr marking their participation in all 15 years of this system.

The Be taught to Hunt program is way over a weekend of looking. Individuals attended a four-hour seminar on turkey ecology, looking techniques, gear and security that was held two weeks earlier than the hunt. Then mentors and hunters gathered within the storage of the 4 Seasons Snowmobile Membership on Friday night earlier than the hunt. Many of the mentors and the entire members introduced their sleeping luggage, and native companies and others donated meals, so the children have been capable of expertise a real looking camp ambiance.

On Saturday night, the brand new hunters participated in a turkey-calling contest utilizing a commemorative, custom-engraved slate name from Luck Customized Calls that every participant acquired totally free.

“I’m simply glad we’re capable of do it once more,” Feind mentioned, noting COVID-19 precautions canceled the occasion in 2020 and 2021.

For Josh Huray, of Lake Nebagamon, this yr’s Be taught to Hunt program closed a life circle. Huray was a first-time turkey looking participant in this system at age 15. This yr, at 30, he was serving as a mentor and information.

“I’ve hunted turkeys yearly since that first time,” Huray mentioned. “I adore it. … Something out within the woods and I’m good. To have the ability to sit on the market and have the woods come alive within the morning throughout you, that’s particular. … I like taking different individuals out and seeing their eyes gentle up once they hear that huge tom gobbling up shut. That’s virtually nearly as good as taking pictures one your self.”

Mentor and veteran hunter Dan Schafter, of Lake Nebagamon, agreed.

“Thirty years in the past, I had by no means even seen a wild turkey earlier than. Now, they’re in every single place,’’ Schafter mentioned. “I’ve had a lot enjoyable doing this … and perhaps we will move this on to some new youngsters.”

By the best way, all that working towards that Bergquist did on the slate turkey name paid off. He didn’t bag a turkey, however he did win the turkey-calling contest Saturday night and practically referred to as a fowl in Sunday morning.

For extra data on the Superior-based Gitchee Gumme Chapter of the Nationwide Wild Turkey Federation and its Lean to Hunt program, contact Kevin Feind at

feindkevin@yahoo.com

.

John Myers stories on the outside, atmosphere and pure assets for the Duluth Information Tribune. He will be reached at

jmyers@duluthnews.com

.