NWTF Turkey Shoot – Where Competition Meets Family Fun

Nearly 550 shotgunners and their families attended the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Turkey Shoot at the Meadows National Gun Club in Forsyth, Georgia, helping the sporting clays event finish with a bang.

Over the course of the three-day event, shooters took aim at more than 120,000 clay pigeons and fired an estimated 200,000 shells. Master Class shooter Brandon Powell shot a two-day total of 194, earning him High Over All honors for a third consecutive year.

“This year’s Turkey Shoot was one of the most successful in the past decade, bringing in a seven-year high for shooter attendance,” said Chris Piltz, NWTF special events coordinator. “It also was nice to see youth shooters and family groups show up in record numbers.”

The NWTF hosted 151 youth shooters, and many had their parents shooting alongside of them. William Stewart of Cummings, Georgia, who had competed at the Turkey Shoot more than a decade ago, brought his entire family with him this year.

“My first date with my wife was a shotgun shoot. We introduced our two boys to shooting sports and they are now begging to shoot as well,” said Stewart. “The greatest things about the Turkey Shoot are the good old friendly competition, the encouragement received from fellow shooters and the efforts of the NWTF to attract young shooters with discounts, banquets and an incredible prize structure that lets many new shooters leave with smiles on their faces.”

While the 2015 Turkey Shoot is moving to the Palmetto Shooting Complex – the NWTF’s facility that will be the heart of the Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative – the NWTF plans to host a regional event in Forsyth, Georgia.

“For the past 15 years, the Meadows National Gun Club and its manager, Wendy Crabtree, have been gracious hosts and we plan to continue our relationship with them,” said Rhett Simmons, NWTF director of special events.

To see 2014 Turkey Shoot results, visit www.iclays.com. For more information about the NWTF, its Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative and the future Palmetto Shooting Complex, visit www.nwtf.org.

Contact:

For more information, contact Peter Muller at (803) 637-7698.

National Wild Turkey Federation

The National Wild Turkey Federation is the leader in upland wildlife habitat conservation in North America. The NWTF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving the wild turkey and preserving our hunting heritage.

Through dynamic partnerships with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members have helped restore wild turkey populations throughout North America, spending more than $331 million to conserve nearly 16 million acres of habitat. Wild turkeys and hundreds of other species of upland wildlife, including quail, deer, grouse, pheasant and songbirds, benefit from this improved habitat.

The NWTF also brings new conservationists and hunters into the fold through outdoor education events and its Women in the Outdoors, Wheelin' Sportsmen, JAKES and Xtreme JAKES youth outreach programs. Our dedicated NWTF volunteers introduce about 100,000 people to the outdoors through these programs every year.

Founded in 1973, the NWTF is headquartered in Edgefield, S.C., and has local chapters in every state and Canada. According to many state and federal agencies, the restoration of the wild turkey is arguably the greatest conservation success story in North America's wildlife history.