Carolina Rendezvous is NWTF Classic

The U.S. Forest Service put on a prescribed fire demonstration for groups of children throughout the day on Saturday.

Just one day into the New Year, National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) members from all parts of South Carolina met for a special weekend of fun, and the celebration of a new slate of officers and NWTF state chapter award winners.

This year's NWTF South Carolina Rendezvous, held at Hickory Knob Resort and State Park outside McCormick, S.C., evoked feelings of friendship, reward, and challenges for the New Year.

A new slate of South Carolina officers was introduced during the state board meeting on Sunday morning. For a complete of the new S.C. officers please refer to the S.C. Rendezvous press release.

"This weekend is a celebration of our past year's successes and what we hope to accomplish in the coming year," said Terry LeCroy, South Carolina senior regional field supervisor. "This time together is about having fun. The kids have activities all day long while we're meeting and Hickory Knob is a great place to host this event."

The weekend began with a welcome party, awards banquet, dinner and silent auction on Friday night, which warmed everyone's spirits for Saturday's main events. The next day found bunches of JAKES members rising early for a full day of fun. The JAKES program, (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) is for children ages 4 to 17, who are interested in learning about the wild turkey, conservation, and our hunting heritage. The kids broke into groups and visited five different stations throughout the morning: an exciting talk on the life of a wild turkey and tour through the woods with NWTF biologist Luke Lewis, a live prescribed fire demonstration put on by the U.S. Forest Service, an archery course that featured five different 3-D targets, and finally, a round of camouflage hide and seek in the woods and the Make One, Take One trailer hosted by the South Carolina DNR and hunter safety instructors.

After Saturday night's award banquet and dinner, the lights were turned low and the dance floor filled with dancers of all kinds.

This trailer offers a bb gun shooting range and video hunting program that teaches children about hunting safety. South Carolina DNR officials and instructors take the trailer to different events in the state.

While the kids made their rounds, the adults had their choices of golf, clay shooting and a still-target competition held at the shooting range.

"This year's activities made the event an attractive sell to people who had never attended before," said Steve Cobb, newly inducted South Carolina State Chapter president. "It's really a treat for everyone to come together, have fun and be rewarded for what they do for the wild turkey."

Jeff Montjoy from Greenwood, S.C., and many other clay shooters took part in Saturday's shooting activities at Hickory Knob Resort and State Park.

Steamed oysters by the bushel were the precursor for Saturday night's awards banquet and dinner. Everyone from young to old huddled around bowls of butter and cocktail sauce, breaking open the tasty morsels. From there it was on to the awards ceremony where a number of individuals and NWTF chapters received honors for working for the wild turkey.

"This was an opportunity to recognize chapter volunteers is a priority in South Carolina," said J.D. Harris, South Carolina regional director. "We are especially proud of this state and how everyone can come together for the wild turkey and support our hunting heritage.

For more information about projects and events happening in S.C. or to learn more about the NWTF, call 1-800-THE-NWTF or visit the Web site at www.nwtf.org.

NWTF South Carolina Fact Sheet

Newly elected South Carolina State Chapter President Steve Cobb comes out of the woods with a JAKES member who had been playing a game of camouflage hide and seek.

The NWTF national headquarters in S.C., was founded to assist wildlife agencies in bringing back the wild turkey from nearly extinction at the turn of the century and to help improve habitat for not just the wild turkey, but for all wildlife.

The NWTF created a Super Fund to help raise money for conservation and outreach projects and events.

Currently, there are more than 17,000 members that are part of 51 chapters across S.C. who are dedicated to conservation and preserving our hunting heritage.

In 2003, South Carolina chapters contributed a lot of time and money on State Super Fund Projects that included:

• $250,000 spent on land purchases across the state
• Over $2,000 in scholarship money was awarded to outstanding S.C. students interested in conservation and hunting through the state's JAKES program (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge Ethics and Sportsmanship)
• 44 NWTF Education Boxes were purchased for S.C. public schools, the education boxes bring the NWTF's conservation message to public school children across the country. Inside the boxes are lesson plans that teachers can use to explain the comeback story of the wild turkey in North America.
• Habitat Enhancement partnership with the Long Cane Ranger District

The Saturday afternoon oyster roast, put on by Tom Shealy, with Belly's Southern Pride Barbecue, was the perfect appetizer party before the night's meal and awards banquet.

Since 1985, more than $2.3 million has been spent by S.C. chapters to improve wildlife habitat, provide youth scholarships and sponsor education and outreach programs geared towards women, children and people with disabilities in S.C.

New South Carolina State Board of Directors Officers

• President: Steve Cobb
• First Vice President: Gary Caughman
• Second Vice President: Don Going
• Secretary/Treasurer: Mac McEwen
• Shooting Chairman: Myron Johnson
• JAKES Chairman: Tarri McKinney
• Wheelin' Sportsmen Chairman: Dr. Dan Robinson

New Board Members

Dr. Bob Aitken, Summerville, S.C. Hubert Cox, Seneca, S.C.

South Carolina Rendezvous Award Winners
Certificate of Appreciation
Top Women in the Outdoors Events

• First place: Beaufort event
• Second place: Orageburg event
• Third place: Edgefield event

Most JAKES Members

• First place: Neil Gobbler Cost, 471
• Second place: Black Creek, 439
• Third place: Golden Strip, 400

Most Women in the Outdoors Members

• First place: Swamp Fox, 312
• Second place: Salkehatchie, 162
• Third place: Black Creek, 145

Most Regular Members

• First place: Golden Strip, 381
• Second place: Neil Gobbler Cost, 357
• Third place: Swamp Fox, 312

Most Sponsor Members

• First place: Neil Gobbler Cost, 167
• Second place: Black Creek, 148
• Third place: Golden Strip, 140

Highest Net/Gross Percent

• First place: Black Creek, 70%
• First place: Swamp Fox, 70%
• Third place: Golden Strip, 69%

Most Net/Net Dollars

• First place: Swamp Fox, $26,146
• Second place: Edgefield, $17,082
• Third place: Neil Gobbler Cost, $15,242

Most Net Dollars

• First place: Swamp Fox, $67,505
• Second place: Neil Gobbler Cost, $64,061
• Third place: Golden Strip, $56,156

Trophies and Plaques

South Carolina Still Target Champion: Jimmy Moss

Appreciation Plaque and Diamond Life Plaque: Dave Baumann, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Turkey Project Leader

South Carolina Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer of the Year: William Poole

Past President's Plaque: Roger Bishop

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