DNR and multiple Sponsors Help Westernport Youth Hunter Shoot his First Spring Turkey

This year the DNR under the guidance of Clarissa Harris, Wildlife Response Manager of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Mt. Nebo Wildlife Management Area in Oakland Maryland worked with a number of groups and sponsors to hold its first Junior Turkey Youth Hunt in Bittinger Maryland on Saturday April 11th 2009.

The Selection process for this year's Youth Hunter started back on April 4th with a gathering of over 90 young hunters for a training session at the Western Maryland 4-H Club Education Center on Route 495 in Bittinger. The attendees where selected from the response to a mailing made by the Maryland DNR to young folks in Allegany and Garrett counties who where ages 8-16 and who purchased a 2009 Hunting License and had passed Maryland's Hunter Safety Course.

Clarissa Harris said, "The response to our mailing was overwhelming and we actually have a waiting list for next year so we have decided to hold another "Youth Hunter Field Day" this coming October 17th for a Fall Training session at the Bittinger 4-H Camp to allow the 135 young folks on our waiting list to get more field hunting training and experience for Deer Season this fall."

Ms. Harris stated, "We offered 4 fifty five minute training sessions on April 4th at the 4-H Campgrounds in Bittinger MD: Station 1, Maryland Fur Trappers Association Trapping Demonstrations and Western Maryland Dog Gun Association training, Station 2 involved Turkey Calling Demonstrations and Turkey Biology Management sessions, Station 3 covered shooting instructions with air rifles and shot guns depending on the ages of the participants, and Station 4 covered tree stand safety and Bow hunting skills."

This event would not be possible with out the support of multiple sponsors: The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Maryland Chapter of the Wild Turkey Federation, Allegany & Garrett County Sportsmen's Association, Maryland Department of Natural Resources: Wildlife and Heritage Service, Natural Resource Police, Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, Maryland Archery in Schools Program, Maryland Black Bear Conservation Program. Also involved where Maryland Fur Trappers Association, Western Maryland Gun Dog Association, Maryland Bowhunter's Society and Western Maryland 4-H Center.

Adam Doolan of Westernport Maryland was selected from over 90 participants in the Junior Hunter Field day on April 4th. This year landowner Lee Brenneman, of Golden Meadow's Hunt Club and Clays in Bittinger was the host for Adam and his hunting guide/turkey caller Professional Hunting Guide, Guy Hostutler from Pioneer Quest Game Calls in Pennsylvania and this year's Youth Hunt was video taped and will be shown later this year for the "Game on" hunting show on the Pursuit Channel of Direct TV.

"This spring turkey hunt was tough", Said Guy Hostutler , Pro-Guide from Pennsylvania brought in by the Maryland DNR to help Adam Doolan land his gobbler.

We meet at 5:30 am at Brenneman's Store in Bittinger and we drove two miles to Lee Brenneman's Hunting camp and we where out in the woods by 6:30 am calling.

It had rained all night and it was foggy and cold and damp. By first light we called in one gobbler but we could not see him thru the fog. He was twenty yards out in front but not visible. Then the worst happened the temperature dropped 10 degrees and I have hunted turkeys for 26 years and knew that when the pressure drops wild turkeys go into a feeding mode and low pressure puts them in a mating lull.

"So we went back to Lee's camp to warm up", Guy Said and after an hour it started to warm up again so we went back out in Lee's Mule and this time we saw the gobbler and some hens in the field so we circled around them and got in back of them and in position near our first calling site and started calling.The gobbler answered again and then they all came in 6 hens first then 10-12 jakes and then the big gobbler." He came in close enough for Adam our Youth Hunter to use his 12-gauge pump shotgun and he dropped the gobbler on his first shot.

So that's How Adam Doolan bagged his first ever spring gobbler, it was a 3year old according to Guy. It was 23 lbs, had a 9" beard and 1 inch spurs.

Lee Brenneman's Golden Meadows Farm is ideal for turkey and deer hunting it is situated on a 200 acre cattle farm with open meadows backed up by a inviting and picturesque Mountain ridge with streams and timber stands.

Also involved in this years Youth Hunt was John Cobb DNR Reserve Officer.

"This is my 6th year as a Reserve Officer and getting the chance to interact with live sports events like this spring's Youth Hunt which gives our future Maryland hunters an exciting new experience and a true feeling of accomplishment is what my job is all about." Says Cobb.

The Maryland Natural Resources Police Reserve Officer Program is comprised of volunteers like John Cobb an NRP officer in Garrett County Maryland who has dedicated himself to helping and inspiring people to enjoy and live in harmony with their environment.

The DNR Reserve Officers are committed to performing "non-law enforcement" duties that would otherwise have been performed by commissioned police officers.

The State of Maryland has a real need of more volunteer Reserve Officers. For more information on how to become a Reserve Officer contact: Jeff White Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources Maryland Natural Resource Police Western Region Area 7 Office 2011 Monument Road Myersville, MD 21773 or Phone Jeff White's Cell Phone 443-934-3159.