Hunting group says it’s time to ‘talk turkey’

Talk about it

“Wild turkeys in Carlton County? No way!” some might declare – and with a justifiable degree of skepticism. Well, a group of hunters 120-members strong would beg to differ.

The brand, new Carlton County Cutters Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, established in 2007, is poised to host a banquet on Thursday, March 27, at the Lost Isle in Carlton to raise funds to help create a better environment for wild turkeys in Carlton County.

According to chapter member Bob Olean, funds raised will go toward improving wild turkey habitat in the county, specifically by planting unused fields with corn.

“The Laveau family has already put about 12 acres of their land into corn and left it in for the turkeys,” said Olean, “and there’s a landowner in Kettle River who is willing to do the same. This not only helps out the wild turkeys, but also deer, grouse and other animal life.”

Olean said the local chapter hopes to release wild turkeys in the county “in the very near future,” though he said some can already be found here, most of which have likely gravitated here over the county line from adjoining Douglas and Pine counties.

This year will also mark the first-ever wild turkey hunt in Zones 156 and 183, which fall on either side of I-35 and include most of Carlton County.

The upcoming fund-raising banquet will start with a social hour at 5:30 p.m., followed by a roast beef and chicken dinner with all the trimmings. The evening will include live and silent auctions as well as numerous prize drawings and raffles. Olean said among the evening’s premium prizes will be numerous firearms, as well as a trip for two to Kansas during this year’s turkey hunting season and a fishing trip to Cloquet native Butch Michaud’s Canadian fishing lodge.

Tickets for the event are $45, which includes a membership in the chapter as well as dinner. Other ticket options are also available, and reservations can be made by calling Brent Olean at (218)879-3812 or from any of the chapter members.

Olean said the local group hopes to continue to expand its membership and engage young people in its “Jakes” group (named after the term used for juvenile turkeys).

The NWTF, according to its Web site, is a grassroots, nonprofit organization with more than 550,000 members in 50 states, Canada, Mexico and 14 other foreign countries. It supports scientific wildlife management on public, private and corporate lands as well as wild turkey hunting as a traditional North American sport.

Juveniles under the age of 12 may apply for a license; however, a parent or guardian must accompany them while they hunt. The accompanying adult does not have to be licensed unless they also wish to hunt.

Minnesota’s spring archery season opens on April 16.

Tags: northland, outdoors, hunting