JAKES Hunt of a Lifetime: More Than a Hunt, A Life-Changing Experience

On April 4, families from across the country came together at Comstock Premier Lodge for the National Wild Turkey Federation’s 10th annual JAKES Hunt of a Lifetime. This special event gives youth a chance to experience the life-changing power of the outdoors firsthand, guided by dedicated NWTF volunteers and staff. Each year, the NWTF randomly draws from a national pool of active JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) members, offering them the opportunity to take part in this unforgettable hunt.  

“This experience is open to everyone — all it takes is becoming an NWTF JAKES member, which costs just $10,” said Barry Woods, NWTF national director of event fundraising. “Youth who are drawn are invited to take part in an all-expenses-paid hunting adventure, along with a chaperone, making it a truly unforgettable opportunity.” 

This year, two lucky youths were selected through the drawing, while two additional spots were secured through hunts sold at the 2025 NWTF Convention and Sport Show. 

“When I was told I had won a turkey hunt, it definitely caught me off guard,” said Bryce Draper, one of the lucky winners of the JAKES Hunt of a Lifetime. “I thought that my dad and grandad were messing with me, but they weren't — it was real! I was drawn for a turkey hunt of a lifetime.” 

As the sun dipped below the horizon that first night, the lodge buzzed with energy. The youth hunters — each a member of the NWTF’s JAKES program — were already fast friends. Laughter echoed through the lodge halls as they explored their temporary home. For these kids, one thing was clear: this event was about more than turkey hunting. It was about building memories and sharing a space where they felt seen, supported and inspired. 

Saturday morning arrived with the kind of energy only youth hunters can bring. Over breakfast, they excitedly listened to turkey tales from NWTF staff and volunteers, asking questions about the areas they’d be hunting and sharing their hopes for harvesting the biggest longbeards during the afternoon hunt. With three days of hunts scheduled, spirits were high as each hunter prepared for their shot at pursuing either a Rio Grande or Merriam’s wild turkey.  

“This hunt is something I look forward to every year,” Woods said. “I hunt a lot of turkeys myself, but there is nothing more rewarding than seeing a child kill their first turkey or helping a child who has only killed a few get to have this great experience with their parent or grandparent.” 

It didn’t take long for the excitement to turn into success as Draper, from Mississippi, and Gavin Colvin from North Carolina each harvested their first birds early in the weekend, returning to camp beaming with pride and stories they’ll tell for the rest of their lives.  

“My guide was Mr. Barry,” Draper said. “We went on our first hunt Saturday afternoon. We were there for a few hours, and we hadn’t heard anything. My dad started calling a little with his crystal pot call, and one gobbled. Then a jake yelped, and two to four minutes later, three gobblers came into the decoys. They finally separated, and I shot one of them. It was amazing — the best day of my life was complete. I did it!” 

Over a celebratory dinner, they proudly shared their stories and photos, reliving every thrilling detail. As the evening wound down, the spotlight shifted to the two remaining hunters, still eagerly awaiting their shot. Strategies were discussed and with anticipation building, we turned in for the night, ready to chase gobbles at first light. 

Saturday’s hunt brought frosty air, and as we sat in the blind waiting for first light, you could see the look of excitement in the young hunters’ eyes as gobblers stirred in the distance. As the woods came alive with the sounds of songbirds and wood ducks, anticipation hung heavy in the blinds. Under the guidance of Woods, a longtime mentor and NWTF staff member, the hunters remained patient and focused, responding to each subtle change in the woods with attentiveness and patience. 

Though no shots were made, and no turkeys made an appearance that day, the experience was far from a loss. With every hour spent in the woods, each hunter’s determination grew and deepened their connection to the hunt. 

Many turkey hunters know that while a successful hunt is rewarding, it usually doesn’t come without hard work and persistence – a sentiment shared throughout the weekend as the young hunters waited for their opportunity.  

On Monday morning, their patience bore fruit. Bianca Cook of Minnesota, hunting for the very first time, harvested a mature jake. Her excitement was infectious as she and her mentors returned to the lodge — Bianca beaming with pride. From that moment forward, she was hooked. She spoke eagerly about future hunts and her newfound love for America’s greatest game bird. 

“It was really fun. I got to meet new friends, and we were all hanging out and cheering each other on to get a turkey,” Cook said. “It was actually kind of hard, but I liked the challenge. When I took the shot, I was shaking, but it was the best kind of nervous. I couldn’t believe it actually happened.” 

Later that same day, Kaleigh Thurman, an experienced young hunter who had traveled from Virginia for a chance at a Nebraskan longbeard, saw her perseverance rewarded. On the final afternoon hunt of the weekend, she harvested a gobbler — a hard-earned bird made all the sweeter by the wait. 

“I was the first one to see the group of turkeys coming in, and when I saw them, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh that’s a big tom,’” Thurman said. “My heart started pounding and I was shaking, and when it happened, I don’t think I felt the gun go off. But I saw the turkey drop and it was over.” 

During Thurman’s final hunt, all eyes were on the blind visible from the lodge. As she lined up her shot, the anticipation was shared by everyone watching from afar. When she made her successful harvest, cheers erupted across the property — audible even from her spot in the field. It was a one-of-a-kind moment, and the outcome couldn’t have been more perfect. 

As the JAKES Hunt of a Lifetime drew to a close and the families prepared to return home, the impact of the event was undeniable. These young men and women weren’t just there to fill a tag. As active members of JAKES, they were part of something much bigger — a nationwide movement to instill a love for conservation and the outdoors in the next generation. Through events like the Hunt of a Lifetime, youth get hands-on experience and mentorship that builds confidence, encourages curiosity and helps them see their role in the future of our natural world. 

Through events like this, the NWTF continues to invest in the future of conservation — one young hunter at a time. 

“Taking time to introduce youth to the outdoors is an important component of what we do here at the NWTF, it is in our mission statement — ‘Conservation of the wild turkey and preservation of our hunting heritage,’” Woods said. “Today’s youth are tomorrow’s conservation champions and hold the key to future generations having the same opportunity we have all had growing up in the outdoors.  

“Hearing a turkey's gobble, witnessing the white-tailed deer rut and seeing flocks of migrating waterfowl cannot be taken for granted and must have a future generation of hunters and conservationists working to protect them. I commend all the mothers, fathers, grandparents and mentors who take their kids away from the daily grind of social media and countless other distractions and take them to the outdoors where they can witness a true escape and the peace and serenity that comes with spending time in God's creation.”  

The NWTF would like to thank Comstock Lodge and its owners Mitch and Roxanne Huggins for providing the lodge at no cost for this amazing hunt each year. In addition, thanks to Mossy Oak for its commitment to supplying each hunter with full camo, and Mark Selman with Selman’s Hand Crafted Turkey Calls, who makes a special call for each youth and all volunteer guides.