The Shadows on the Wolf Clintonville Chapter maintains a strong tradition of honoring its hunting heritage and is dedicated to introducing turkey hunting to the next generation. In 2005, they partnered with the United Special Sportsman Alliance (USSA) to teach children with disabilities and those living with life-threatening illnesses about a sport they personally cherished. Initially, seven children participated in the first group hunt; this year, that number has increased to 17. Over the past 20 years, they have facilitated over 180 hunts.
On April 4, 2024, young hunters aged 9 to 17 participated in an indoor training session, followed by a sight-in clinic in Wittenberg, Wisconsin. The next morning, just before dawn, the children, accompanied by their parents and mentors, headed to their hunting blinds on private property, eagerly anticipating their first chance to hunt for an elusive gobbler.
The morning hunt got off to a strong start, with eight hunters, guided by their skilled mentors, successfully bagging a turkey. Their smiles were infectious as they returned with their birds to share in the excitement.
Brody, who is 13, shared his experience: “We saw around 50 turkeys, with about 4 or 5 toms among them. One tom turkey came out of the corn, fanning its tail before wandering off. Then, some hens flew away from it, and the tom ran down the trail. My mentor, Greg Shermo, got it to stop, and I took my shot, but I think I hit it too low. It flew about 100 yards before we found it under an evergreen tree. I shot it again and finally got it. I was really excited! The best part of my hunt was shooting my turkey!” Brody’s turkey weighed 22.7 lbs, had a 10 ½-inch beard, and 1 ¼-inch spurs.
Dekin, who is 17, and his stepdad and mentor, Mike Tuss, weren’t sure where the turkeys were roosting, so they settled beneath some pine and hemlock trees. Suddenly, turkeys began flying out from above them in the darkness, signaling that they had disturbed them. More turkeys burst out shortly afterward, while others followed later. After about an hour and a half, they decided to move to a different area, going through the swamps to avoid being seen by the turkeys in the field. Dekin recalled, “We started calling and heard one hen. Just as we were about to leave, we heard a turkey and realized we were in the right spot. Two toms came out along with two hens, and then the toms separated. Mike told me to take the one on the left, and I said, ‘I’m on it,’ and boom, it dropped!” Dekin’s turkey weighed 19.2 lbs, had a 9-inch beard, and 3/4-inch spurs.
During the productive morning hunt, Samantha bagged a turkey that weighed 13.6 lbs and had a beard measuring 2 1/8 inches. Owen’s bird weighed 21.12 lbs and featured a 9 1/2-inch beard. Allahna’s turkey weighed 19.4 lbs and had a beard of 9 3/8 inches and 3/4-inch spurs. Noah’s tom weighed 22.12 1/2 lbs and had a beard measuring 9 1/4 inches and an additional 7/8-inch beard. Austin’s turkey also weighed 19.4 lbs and had a 9 1/2-inch beard and 3/4-inch spurs.
The afternoon hunt was also successful, with the kids bagging four more turkeys. Levi’s turkey weighed 21.5 1/2 lbs and featured a 9 3/4-inch beard and 1 1/8-inch spurs. Michael’s turkey weighed 20.2 lbs and had a 9 1/2-inch beard and a 3/4-inch beard. Lastly, Thorn’s turkey weighed 14.1 lbs and had a 3 1/2-inch beard and 1/4-inch spurs, while Arianna’s turkey weighed 13.6 lbs and had a 7 1/3-inch beard and 1/8-inch spurs.
On Sunday morning, Annabelle bagged a turkey weighing 22.1 lbs, with a 9 1/2-inch beard, and 7/8-inch spurs. Hadley’s bird weighed 21.5 lbs. with a 10 1/2-inch beard and 1-inch spurs. Overall, 14 of the 17 hunters bagged a turkey during the hunt!
Mike Tuss reflected, “Our 20th Anniversary is fantastic, I can’t believe it’s here so quickly. You never think about your anniversary like this, but I remember our first hunt and will forever remember our last hunt. But, there are alot of memories, more than just 20 memories, there are gazillions of memories!”
Congratulations to the Shadows on the Wolf Clintonville Chapter on receiving the USSA Excellence Award for 20 years of outstanding service, mentoring turkey hunts for USSA recipients.
We sincerely thank Shadows on the Wolf and its coordinators, Mike Tuss, Brenda Strebe, Shannon Dewhurst, and dedicated volunteer staff for their tireless efforts and commitment to facilitating this memorable hunting experience.
Our heartfelt gratitude extends to the dedicated mentors, gracious landowners, and generous financial sponsors whose contributions made these rewarding hunts possible. Your support and commitment to the USSA’s mission are deeply appreciated. Congratulations to all the participants who engaged in their first turkey hunt! God bless!
If you are a landowner interested in mentoring a child or donating your property for a special hunt, please contact us at [email protected] or (800) 518-8019.