Six years ago when I experienced my first wild turkey hunt, it was necessary to travel all the way to the Augusta region to find a really dense population of birds. Each season since, gobblers have expanded their territory, often by natural migration and sometimes by transplantation thanks to state wildlife personnel. Still, turkey are predominantly scratchers and ground feeders so I figured they could never survive in Aroostook with the county’s heavy snow cover and deep frost line. Well guess what, they have arrived in Central Aroostook and more are on the way.
Last fall no less than half a dozen friends from the Bridgewater and Mars Hill area called me to tell of spotting from one to 10 wild turkeys while out deer hunting. Word is that the state is soon going to be releasing a batch of gobblers in our region, whereas the Amity area was previously the furthest north birds had been transplanted. Perhaps in a few years Crown of Maine sportsmen will actually be able to hunt wild turkey in their own back fields. It’s an exciting prospect and challenging endeavor.
For several years a growing number of Aroostook outdoorsmen have traveled all over southern Maine and even to New Hampshire and to some mid-western states to hunt turkey. A handful got so involved they started a local branch of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). Like Ducks Unlimited or the Atlantic Salmon foundation, NWTG serves to aid individual states in making sure turkey populations grow and prosper. One of the Federation’s prime tools is local fundraisers in the form of an annual banquet and auction.
On March 17, the third National Wild Turkey Federation Hunting Heritage event will take place at the Northeastland Hotel in Presque Isle. Doors will open at 6 p.m. allowing ticket holders to mingle, enjoy a favorite refreshment and view the wide array of items displayed for door prizes, raffles, silent auctions and of course the much anticipated live auction. At 7:30 p.m. guests will sit down to enjoy a sumptuous meal and stimulating conversation before everyone tries to outfox and outbid their neighbor to take home one or more of the truly unique and beautiful items up for bid. Somewhere between dessert and the first bid, Tom Nannery, senior regional director for NWTF will give a short talk regarding current plans and future prospects regarding Maine gobblers. Over 60-percent of the money raised at this evening event will stay in Maine to benefit State expansion and growth of our turkey population.
Among this year’s live auction items will be an array of wildlife and sporting prints by several nationally acclaimed artists such as Terry Redlin, Jim Killin, Dave Barnhouse and 2007 featured painter Thomas Kinkade. Country pastorals with wildlife, puppies, whitetail deer, Canada geese and outdoorsmen afield are among over a dozen beautiful prints. Also up for bid will be a number of bronze wildlife sculptures that are breathtaking in detail. Carvings, lamps made from deer and elk antlers, turkey calls, hand crafted knives, wildlife themed watches, medallions, stamps, etched glass end tables and more will be offered for bid March 17.
At least two classic shotguns will be available at auction, perhaps more if attendance is high, and there will be an expensive, artfully crafted sculpture of turkeys given as a door prize to some lucky attendee. Ben’s Trading Post, Camerons Gun Shop, L.L. Bean, Whites Exon and Huber are among the businesses making donations of auction and prize items.
Tickets for the Wild Turkey Banquet and auction are $15 apiece or $40 if a sportsman wishes to purchase an annual membership as well. Ben’s Trading Post in Presque Isle and Cameron’s Gun Shop in Caribou have tickets on hand, or they can be obtained from committee members Ron Wilcox in Crouseville, Jim Barber in Presque Isle, Jason Brewer in Easton, Wayne Bradbury in Bridgewater, Rich Wark in Mapleton or John Gagnon in Van Buren. With only a week and a half left until the banquet, better visit or call and pick up a couple of tickets before they are all gone. The delicious meal is worth more than the ticket value, let along the chance to win a wonderful door prize or take home a great auction item.
In the end, after the feeding and fun is over, it’s all to benefit regional turkey habitation, which in the long run is in every sportsman’s and gobbler hunters best interest. The chance for an additional gunning season and one of wildlife’s most challenging feathered quarries right in our own backyards is a cause worth supporting. Attend the annual Aroostook Wild Turkey dinner March 17 at the Northeastland and “gobble” down a great meal and “call” out a few bids, it’s time to talk turkey.
