A successful young hunter at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge.

 On March 21, young hunters came out to the Refuge for a day full of fun.  The day began with a hunter safety and ethics class.  Each of the youth received a certificate for participation as well as some useful hunter supplies.  The National Wild Turkey Federation presented each hunter with an engraved slate turkey call as a keepsake. The Youth Outdoor Education Foundation provided lunch for the youth and their parents.  The day ended with the youth scouting for potential hunting areas.

The youth harvested seven turkeys the weekend of the hunt, despite the cold wet weather on March 28^th and 29th.  The largest turkey, shot by Hunter Odum, weighed in at 23.13 pounds and, with a beard length of 11 inches and spurs that measured one inch. Odum received a Wichester hunting knife as a reward for his accomplishment. Tyler Lukens won the drawing for a Remington 870, 20 gauge shotgun donated by the Youth Outdoor Education Foundation. Overall, the youth hunters had an experience that will last them a lifetime.  The special hunt was sponsored by the Southern Illinois Hunting and Fishing Days, Youth Outdoor Education Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.