For those of you who have young people ages 9 - 18 who will be on spring break during the second week of March (9th - 11th)our chapter will be holding an event to teach young people about eastern wild turkeys and wildlife management through predator control.

We will be camped out on the Gus Engling WMA Monday through Wednesday and we will have biologist out talking to the young folks and participating adults about eastern turkey restoration in the area. One of our forum members here will be giving a rocket net demonstration to show how turkeys are trapped and we will also have the opportunity to triangulate the location of some of the birds wearing radio transmitters using Telemetry equipment. If time permits we may even have the opportunity to call in some birds so the kids can actually see some eastern birds. Though there's hunting season I'm sue it would be just as exciting actually see and get some video footage of a gobbler coming in responding to calls.

In the predator control segment we will have trappers from Texas Fur Trappers Association out to do a session of various traps and how to set them while actually taking groups in the field and setting traps to catch predators such as coyotes, bobcats, coons..etc. They will take the groups on daily rounds to check traps and teach them how to put down and skin whatever is trapped. Last year out of the few traps set the day we arrives we managed to catch a bob cat, a few coons and possums. This year trappers will arrive and set a lot of traps the day before we arrive.

Also as part of the predator control segment there will be a feral hog eradication segment. Youth/guardian teams will go out with TPWD biologists and TYHP Huntmasters to set up over several baited locations to take out a few pigs and also set a few hog traps. Youth participating in this segment must have completed a Hunters Ed course.

Besides the predator control we will also have a TPWD aquatic specialist out to teach an aquatic Ed and take the groups fishing, and we will also have an archery session. We will provide the food and drinks and also camping gear for those that need it. The cost to participate is $65.00 and we will take up to 25 youth. If you have a kid you'd like to participate or if you would just like to come out yourself and support in some form, either to help with skinning, cooking, teaching archery, sponsoring a kid...etc send me a PM. Thanks and hope to see some of you forum members out.

Hey TJ

Sounds like you've put a lot of time and effort into your east Tx outing. Good opportunity for some kids to see a lot of nature. Not getting much love on here yet though... Maybe in the Turkey section it misses some folks who may be interested cuz you are doing much more than just learning about turkey.

Yep...thought about posting it in the general hunting section but since it's an NWTF event that is surrounded around restoration and management of Eastern wild turkeys and their predators I'd post it here. Even though this isn't the Youth Turkey Hunt we'll be doing the following week we still couldn't used a couple of callers on to call in a few birds for the kids and get on video. Just figured some guys would like to learn a bit more about the eastern turkeys that have been released in the area and have a hand in teaching some of these young folks sportsmanship and maybe harvest a hog. I'll be contacting you in the next few days and give you some more info on the youth turkey hunt in Brackettville. Will also be sending out an email to all of our previous guides within the next week. If need be I'll make an additional post on here for help with guides...

Cannot make it to this one but will see you in Bracketville, if all goes well. Scoop, are you going to be in Bracketville this year?

I will be back in Brackett this year. Hated to miss last year, but I was in a pretty big fight to get back on my feet... Did enjoy getting pics and updates on how it was going.