Recently, the 19th Annual Wheelin’ Sportsmen/Savannah River Site (SRS) Ultimate Turkey Hunt took place, in which disabled sportsmen had the opportunity to hunt eastern wild turkey across designated areas with their hunting escorts.
This is sponsored by the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), Department of Energy-SRS, United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service- Savannah River, and The Outdoor Dream Foundation. The hunt took place across SRS’s 170,000 acres of woodlands.
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“The collaboration between the different SRS entities and nonprofit organizations are invaluable because they unite a wide range of resources to accomplish a shared objective,” said Tal Mims, U.S. Forest Service Savannah River wildlife program manager. “These partnerships foster an environment where the hunters feel welcome and, hopefully, will leave SRS with unforgettable memories.”
Hunters were able to hunt a vast area that had been managed by forest management to ensure forest conservation and diverse habitats.
One of the hunters in this year’s event was Steve Fleming. He suffered a stroke in 2007 that left him with a mobility impairment on his left side. Fleming was given the necessary assistance during the hunt to experience a pleasant and successful weekend in the woods.
“I wouldn’t miss this hunt for anything,” said Fleming. “Thanks to this event, I was able to take home two turkeys and a lifetime of memories.”
Fleming’s wife joined him on the hunt.
“Each year, we look forward to being drawn for this event,” said Tracey Fleming. “We are thankful for the sponsors, volunteers, and staff who put this together so that sportsmen like Steve can continue doing what they love.”
Each hunter is paired with an SRS employee who is familiar with the hunting areas and safety protocols as a way to ensure safety. Before heading to their assigned locations, each pair is given radios to coordinate their location and potential emergencies with event staff.
“The morning of the hunt begins with an extensive safety briefing followed by the hunters being escorted to and from their designated hunting locations across the Site,” said Mims. “The hunt escorts are the heart of this program, ensuring a safe and successful hunt for all involved. We could not do it without them.”
“I look forward to the Wheelin’ Sportsmen Turkey Hunt every year,” said Curtis Crenshaw, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) Construction Coordinator and an escort for the hunt. “Experiencing the excitement of the hunter’s face when they hear the first gobble of the hunt is priceless. It’s a great event that is helping people get back in the outdoors doing stuff they thought they would never be able to do again.”
Several SRNS employees participated as escorts for the hunt. Some escorted kids who were sponsored by The Outdoor Dream Foundation, an organization that grants kids with terminal or life-threatening illnesses an outdoor adventure.
Nine birds were harvested at the end of the two-day hunt. The birds were measured by the U.S. Forest Service wildlife biologists, and the turkeys’ weight, beard, and spur length were recorded. This information will help future research on the management of wild turkeys.
