News from the Roost

http://www.nwtf.org/nwtf_newsroom/press_releases.php?id=12536

04/23/2008

Wheelin’ Sportsman Chad Sloan of Blythewood, S.C., listens for gobblers with Richard Vaughn and Tracy Phillips at SRS Saturday, April 19. Click image for print quality version

JACKSON, S.C. — Turkey talk, good food and lots of laughs were the order of the day at the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wheelin’ Sportsmen Ultimate Turkey Hunt, held at the Savannah River Site (SRS) in Jackson, S.C., April 18 to April 19.

The hunt, put on as part of the NWTF’s Wheelin’ Sportsmen outreach program, has been helping hunters with disabilities enjoy wild turkey hunting at SRS since 2004. This year, 27 hunters teamed up with SRS employees and harvested a total of 17 gobblers on a sunny Saturday morning.

“I really look forward to this every spring,” said David Cianfarano, a disabled veteran from Fountain Inn, S.C. “If it wasn’t for the NWTF and their Wheelin’ Sportsmen program, I wouldn’t be out here today enjoying myself, and wouldn’t have been able to experience the thrill of getting this gobbler,” Cianfarano said. “I’ve been here every year for five years, and I definitely don’t plan on missing next year.”

An appreciation dinner was held Friday night before the hunt, and included a silent auction and shotgun raffle to raise money for the Wheelin’ Sportsmen NWTF program. For uncle and nephew team Jack and James Laughridge from Anderson, S.C., luck was certainly in their favor. James won the raffle on a new Benelli shotgun Friday night, and uncle Jack bagged a nice bird the next morning.

“Awesome, awesome weekend!” said James, high-fiving his uncle on the way back to the truck.

NWTF Wheelin’ Sportsmen Assistant National Coordinator Illana Burkhart thanked everyone involved in the hunt, including the U.S. Department of Energy- Savannah River Operations Office, the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Wackenhut Services, Inc., Washington Savannah River Company, the Aiken County NWTF Chapter and the Aiken Sertoma Club.

“The SRS staff is great to work with, and the local chapter members always invest tons of time and work into the event,” said Burkhart. “This isn’t work for me. We love coming back to SRS to help give local mobility-impaired hunters another opportunity to enjoy the the outdoors.”

Wheelin’ Sportsmen NWTF provides all people with disabilities the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors through local chapter events nationwide. The program also provides a full-color, quarterly magazine to its members. Wheelin’ Sportsmen magazine is dedicated to the education and entertainment of outdoors enthusiasts with disabilities.

Whether it is shooting, hunting, fishing or archery, there is no limit to the outdoor opportunities Wheelin’ Sportsmen NWTF can bring to a person with disabilities who’s eager to get outside and participate in an active lifestyle.