Every spring, the Almond Rod and Gun Club proudly hosts its annual turkey hunt—a cherished tradition dedicated to honoring veterans who have selflessly served our country. Months of preparation go into making this event special, from securing hunting grounds and recruiting experienced mentors to organizing volunteers. All these efforts create a warm, memorable experience for everyone involved.
On March 27th, 2026, thirteen enthusiastic veterans arrived at Camp Helen Brachman in Almond, Wisconsin, eager for the adventure ahead. Over a delicious dinner, they shared stories and built camaraderie, discussing their upcoming hunts with fellow veterans, mentors, and club members.
Before dawn, in the chilly spring air, the veterans set out with their mentors to hunting blinds on private land. Excitement and anticipation filled the air—many were hoping to call in their first gobbler. Once in position, they watched closely as their mentors expertly used a variety of turkey calls, coaxing birds in from the surrounding woods.
Cameron, a Marine Corps veteran with seven years of service and still on active duty, was inspired to join the hunt after hearing about it from a fellow veteran. The chance to explore a new part of the country and pursue Eastern wild turkeys in Wisconsin was especially appealing.
Cameron and his main mentor, Johl, along with Derek and Dakota, set up their blind near agricultural fields after scouting turkeys heading to the roost the night before. “We had a great plan going into the morning—proactive instead of reactive,” Cameron noted. As his mentor used slate and diaphragm calls to lure in the birds, Cameron watched a tom and hen fly off the roost about 100 yards away on a hill. “Five minutes later, three toms came in from behind us and onto the decoys from an old logging road. I watched the tom beat on the Jake decoy for about two minutes before executing a well-placed shot.” By 6:20 AM, his turkey was down, marking a memorable and successful hunt with a score of 59.80.
Cameron’s military background provided valuable skills for the hunt—patience, discipline, and situational awareness. He finds true peace in the outdoors, crediting hunting and access to undeveloped land with helping clear his mind. Seeing such a strong community come together for something so positive, he said, was amazing. “I felt undeserving but completely grateful for the opportunity.”
Lori served in the United States Navy for 24 years, retiring in 2017 as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. On the morning of the hunt, she and her mentor, Jim Perrin, climbed into their deer stand an hour and a half before sunrise. Jon, another mentor, positioned himself below them, while Zach set up in a ground blind along the tree line.
“I got set up with my rifle out of the north window, ready to go,” Lori recalled. “I had to stay still and ready until the birds came down. The air was 20 degrees, and I had to be comfortable being uncomfortable for over an hour. As the sun rose, gobbles echoed through the eastern tree line—an unforgettable chorus.”
As the morning unfolded, Lori was struck by the sheer number of birds. “There were so many! I’d guess about 150, maybe more. Honestly, I was so nervous I would miss the bird,” she admitted. She wanted to succeed, not just for herself but for her mentors. “I really wanted to harvest a tom and have a successful hunt, but I also wanted to get one for Jim, Jon, and Zach. They put so much time and effort into making this a wonderful experience for me.”
From her vantage point, Lori could see turkeys moving through the field, but none were close enough to shoot. Jon radioed up that two toms were coming from the east. “It was suspenseful because I couldn’t see them, but I could hear them approaching,” Lori said. She waited, heart pounding, for both birds to come into view and for a clean shot, careful not to hit both at once.
“I took my shot, and then the tom walked a few yards away before he dropped. I thought I missed! As we watched him, it was clear I wounded him, but he wasn’t dead. When he picked his head up again, I took a second shot to finish him off and end any suffering. That’s when we knew he was dead. And that’s also when I had an incredible adrenaline rush—I was so excited and happy that I thought I might pass out!” Her turkey was down by 6:45 AM, marking a memorable and successful hunt with a score of 52.30.
Jim, also a veteran, brought an extra layer of understanding to Lori’s experience. He not only taught her the skills and strategies needed for a successful hunt, but also understood the importance of finding peaceful moments to quiet some of life’s chaos.
The morning continued with impressive success. Guided by mentors Gary and Eric, Dirk tagged his turkey at 6:50 AM with a score of 60.70. Just an hour later, Elliott—mentored by Mike and Eric—harvested a tom scoring 59.90. John, with the support of mentors Bob and Jeremy, tagged the biggest tom of the day at 68. In the afternoon, Ed, mentored by Logan and Landon, secured the final turkey for Saturday with a score of 60.01 at 4:30 PM.
The success continued on Sunday. At 6:50 AM, David, guided by Bill and Erick, tagged his turkey with a score of 58.70. By 10:00 AM, Jon—assisted by his mentors Matt, Cole, and Scott —tagged his bird, scoring 60.50. The last turkey of the hunt was taken by Keith at 3:20 PM, with mentors Jeremy and Bob, scoring 61.10. In total, nine toms were taken during the event.
Cameron said, “This truly felt like the opportunity of a lifetime. Connecting with other vets and sharing a hunt with genuine people was a real gift—especially in a world that can seem so chaotic. Experiences like this remind you just how special life can be.”
Lori added, “I was the only woman veteran hunter there, and sometimes that can feel isolating, but not with this amazing group of fellow vets. Everyone was eager to connect, and there was a refreshing lack of ego or machismo. We shared stories about our service, but even more about our families and lives beyond the military.”
Congratulations to all the veterans on their successful turkey hunts! Our heartfelt thanks go out to the Almond Rod and Gun Club, mentors, volunteers, donors, landowners, and Camp Helen Brachman for making these quality hunts possible for veterans who have sacrificed so much for our freedom. Your generosity and support are truly appreciated. God bless!