First Success
Nathan Hunter Lee, 10-year-old grandson of the author, got his first gobbler on April 4, 2009.
The happy hunter was with his dad, John C. Lee III, when he shot the big bird on an early morning hunt in Kershaw County, South Carolina.
The turkey weighed 18 pounds, had a 10-inch beard, and 1-inch spurs. Nathan is another "novice wild turkey hunter."
He had previously accompanied his dad on hunts related in Novice Wild Turkey Hunting in South Carolina.
"John Lee's career with the wily wild turkey very closely approximates my
own experience. I, too, began chasing the crazy birds in the 1980s and
have learned the one thing imminent in Lee's accounts -- no day in the
turkey woods, no matter the outcome, is
ever wasted."
Pat Robertson, Outdoors Writer, The State newspaper,
December 2007.
Visit to the National Wild Turkey Federation
Before I published Novice Wild Turkey Hunting in South Carolina, it seemed appropriate to visit the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) in Edgefield, South Carolina. I had intended to visit the Federation and its museum years earlier.
When the planned visit arrived I went with my son, Johnny, and my wife, Maureen, to see the NWTF headquarters, museum and store. Approaching the main building, we were impressed by the sculptures of wild turkeys and hunters before we entered for our guided tour.
Our designated NWTF staff member began with a short history of the wild turkey and the success of modern conservation efforts. He described the trapping and relocating of wild turkeys that began in the 1950s. We were told about the federations’s cooperation with other organizations in research and habitat improvement for turkeys. NWTF’s hunting safety initiatives were also described.
We saw vivid taxidermy, memorabilia, hunting guns, transport boxes for relocating turkeys and many displays related to the wild turkey and to the NWTF’s history. Eager to learn about the work of the NWTF and to know more about this 125-acre complex, we followed our guide into the museum.
The recently renovated and enlarged facility is a first-class museum. With 10,000-square feet of exhibits and interactive displays, the museum is an outstanding resource for school children and adults. The latest technology is evident in the life-like mechanical people who tell their story:
- an Indian tells 14 stories from an earlier America
- an old grandpa relates some wild turkey history
- a hunter in camo tells hunting experiences.
Each character seems almost alive as he opens his mouth, blinks eyes, moves hands and arms while the stories play.
There is so much to learn in the museum:
- the five subspecies of wild turkey: Eastern, Merriam, Oceola, Rio Grande and Gould.
- stages of development of wild turkeys from eggs to mature birds.
- the history of how wild turkeys almost disappeared in America and the story of their restoration to more than 7 million today.
- a demonstration of the trap and transfer process.
- the story of the NWTF in the Dave Harrelson Theater.
Before we left the building to walk some of the nature trails and see the five-stand shooting range, we went into the television studio. Here NWTF produces 78 half-hour shows per year plus videos for the museum. Also, three television shows are produced here for the Outdoor Channel.
After thanking our guide and saying our goodbyes, we walked the grounds on our own. We enjoyed the rustic scenery and shared impressions of the morning. We agreed that NWTF, with its staff of over 150 in Edgefield and another 100 regional people, is an impressive national, non-profit organization. With more than 500,000 members across the Untied States, NWTF has specialized programs for women, youth, and people with disabilities.
Re-entering the headquarters building, we headed for the gift shop. We all got things we wanted and gifts for friends and family members. There will be more tee shirts, neckties and caps sporting wild turkeys in the Lee family.