Here is a quick update of the turkey tracks hunt. We had 19 hunters in camp this year. 9 more than last year. I put one of the knives donated into the pool for the first kid to kill a bird. It was a secretive pool that all the guides put money into for the family of the first child to kill a bird. We had twenty guys as primary guides and 20 guys helping carry equipment and what not for the guides while they worked with the kids. The pool was around 200 bucks we were all said and done. Some of you may know first hand and others have an idea just how expensive some of these wheel chairs and health care supplies can be for the kids. So the 200 bucks was money well spent for the family. I tossed in one of the knives for the boy so he didn't go empty handed after seeing cash handed over to his mom. His name was Matt. He was born with almost no use of his right arm. Within 30 minutes of fly down he had a 22 pound bird in the dirt. His excitement over his first turkey was rejuvenating and the smile his mom had was worth more than anyone can imagine. When I handed him the knife he said, "make sure you tell your friend I said thank you very much!" Prairie Boy your knife made a kids day.
The second knife I decided to give to the young man that spearheaded this entire event. Over the last six months or so I have gotten to know a guy by the name of Eric Corey very well. He is now unfortunately the youngest case of ALS in the world. He has lived with the disease for quite sometime and on the day he was told he had ALS his first response was, it may take a lot of things, but there is no way in hell it is taking away my hunting. Watching his mom read his story to the audience at the kick off dinner Friday night put a tear in everyone's eyes. He is a good man that loves the outdoors more than most. Turkey tracks was his idea and through the hard work of his family it has become an organization that has kids coming from around Indiana to participate and the community support is outstanding. Eric is the real deal and his disease is a bastard that will eventually take a great person from the world.
On the last day I had a chance to sit down with him and thank him for letting me be a small part of something bigger than all of us. We have a hunt planned for a rio turkey next year to finish his slam. I handed him the second knife and told him he better bring that along next year to finish the cleaning of that final slam bird. His response was, "Son you are alright. I don't care what your wife says about you" Then he gave me a hand shake and said to go get a bird.
I will post pics up when I get some rest and get them transferred from the camera to the computer.
If anyone is interested in donating money to the organization please PM me and I can get you guys information.
Thanks again to everyone for at least considering the idea of helping out and a big thank you to the two gentlemen that donated their works of art.
Dustin
Topic: Turkey Tracks Youth Hunt (Read 698 times)
