Post by Woody Williams on Apr 14, 2010 17:03:05 GMT -5
Blind teen bags big bird in first turkey hunt
Jack Young (left) helped Charlie Wilks, who is blind, line up his shotgun during practice for a youth turkey hunt.
ELMO, Mo. | When Charlie Wilks went turkey hunting Saturday, he didn’t get to see the big gobbler that strutted across a field and put on a show in front of him.
Wilks, 14, has been blind since age 6, when a brain tumor took away his sight.
But that didn’t keep him from shooting a trophy bird on his first turkey hunt.
Against all odds — and with a lot of help from a couple of mentors who went to great lengths to organize the special hunt — he accomplished the seemingly impossible.
“Even though I’m blind, I don’t let it hold me back,” said Wilks, who lives in Emporia, Kan., and was hunting on his grandfather’s land in northwest Missouri. “I don’t look at myself as any different than anyone else.
“Sometimes, I need some help. But I can do a lot of things that people wouldn’t think I can.”
Saturday was an example
As he sat in a blind flanked by Jack Young, president of the National Youth Hunting Association, and Chris Parrish, world-champion turkey caller, Charlie heard the two suddenly speak in excited whispers.
“There’s a hen in the decoys,” Young whispered. “Get ready.
That’s like having live bait out there.
“This is the peak of mating season. There have to be some gobblers not far away.”
No sooner had Young said that than he looked up to see two big gobblers sneaking out of the woods toward the decoy.
“Get your gun up,” Young whispered.
Sitting directly behind Charlie, Young helped the boy line up the shotgun. When the big gobbler stopped for a second, the mentor instructed Charlie to take the safety off and shoot.
“Did I get him?” Charlie asked in anticipation.
“You sure did,” Young said as he gave the boy a big hug.
Soon, Charlie was feeling the smooth feathers and the bristly beard of a 24-pound turkey — and was already talking about the pictures he would be posting on his Facebook page.
“I’m excited,” Charlie said. “I was hoping I would be able to shoot a big bird and I did.”
ESPN 360 did a feature on some of the things Charlie can do. He was a defensive lineman on Emporia High School’s freshman football team and did well despite not being able to see.
Charlie’s teammates told him “go” when the ball was snapped and helped direct him.
“He even had a quarterback sack,” said his proud mom, Jennifer Cunningham. “How he knew who had the ball and where he was, I don’t know. But he tackled him.”
But hunting?
Many would worry about the safety issue. Others would say it would be nearly impossible to hit a target you can’t see.
But Charlie allayed those concerns. He started by attending a hunter safety course and passed with ease. Then he talked his grandfather, Al Reynolds, a former Chiefs lineman, into taking him deer hunting on their land in northwest Missouri.
The boy shot a big buck with the help of his grandpa and then took another deer on his second trip.
When it came to turkey hunting, Reynolds professed to needing some help. That’s when he called Young, who runs an organization dedicated to giving youths hunting opportunities.
Young jumped at the chance to help, as did Parrish, who is a multiple world-champion turkey caller.
Young did some scouting on the farm and worked with the boy on hunting safety and target practice. Which brings us to Saturday, the opener of the two-day youth turkey season.
Accompanied by a cameraman for the “Knight & Hale’s Ultimate Hunting” television show, which airs on The Outdoor Channel, they headed into the woods.
Parrish called up three jakes early in the day, and Charlie was able to pull the trigger but he missed.
“That’s OK,” Young said. “We all miss.”
But later in the day, Charlie was able to fulfill his dream.
Young and Parrish also presented the teenager with everything from a youth shotgun to a variety of calls to camouflaged clothing and boots — donated by sponsors such as Sportsmen’s Warehouse, Knight & Hale, and Redhead.
At lunch Saturday, Charlie reached into the box and began practicing with each of the calls.
“Prepare to be annoyed,” he joked to his mom.
But the gifts were just the icing on the cake. Taking a turkey — against all odds — was what Charlie will be talking about for months.
“When he was walking out of the hospital after brain surgery, he was telling other kids, ‘Don’t give up,’ ” his mom said. “And that’s how he has lived his life.
“He’s a special kid.”
Charlie Wilks (center) posed with the turkey he shot Saturday. He was flanked by two men who helped him - Chris Parrish (left) and Jack Young.
Jack Young (left) helped Charlie Wilks, who is blind, line up his shotgun during practice for a youth turkey hunt.ELMO, Mo. | When Charlie Wilks went turkey hunting Saturday, he didn’t get to see the big gobbler that strutted across a field and put on a show in front of him.
Wilks, 14, has been blind since age 6, when a brain tumor took away his sight.
But that didn’t keep him from shooting a trophy bird on his first turkey hunt.
Against all odds — and with a lot of help from a couple of mentors who went to great lengths to organize the special hunt — he accomplished the seemingly impossible.
“Even though I’m blind, I don’t let it hold me back,” said Wilks, who lives in Emporia, Kan., and was hunting on his grandfather’s land in northwest Missouri. “I don’t look at myself as any different than anyone else.
“Sometimes, I need some help. But I can do a lot of things that people wouldn’t think I can.”
Saturday was an example
As he sat in a blind flanked by Jack Young, president of the National Youth Hunting Association, and Chris Parrish, world-champion turkey caller, Charlie heard the two suddenly speak in excited whispers.
“There’s a hen in the decoys,” Young whispered. “Get ready.
That’s like having live bait out there.
“This is the peak of mating season. There have to be some gobblers not far away.”
No sooner had Young said that than he looked up to see two big gobblers sneaking out of the woods toward the decoy.
“Get your gun up,” Young whispered.
Sitting directly behind Charlie, Young helped the boy line up the shotgun. When the big gobbler stopped for a second, the mentor instructed Charlie to take the safety off and shoot.
“Did I get him?” Charlie asked in anticipation.
“You sure did,” Young said as he gave the boy a big hug.
Soon, Charlie was feeling the smooth feathers and the bristly beard of a 24-pound turkey — and was already talking about the pictures he would be posting on his Facebook page.
“I’m excited,” Charlie said. “I was hoping I would be able to shoot a big bird and I did.”
ESPN 360 did a feature on some of the things Charlie can do. He was a defensive lineman on Emporia High School’s freshman football team and did well despite not being able to see.
Charlie’s teammates told him “go” when the ball was snapped and helped direct him.
“He even had a quarterback sack,” said his proud mom, Jennifer Cunningham. “How he knew who had the ball and where he was, I don’t know. But he tackled him.”
But hunting?
Many would worry about the safety issue. Others would say it would be nearly impossible to hit a target you can’t see.
But Charlie allayed those concerns. He started by attending a hunter safety course and passed with ease. Then he talked his grandfather, Al Reynolds, a former Chiefs lineman, into taking him deer hunting on their land in northwest Missouri.
The boy shot a big buck with the help of his grandpa and then took another deer on his second trip.
When it came to turkey hunting, Reynolds professed to needing some help. That’s when he called Young, who runs an organization dedicated to giving youths hunting opportunities.
Young jumped at the chance to help, as did Parrish, who is a multiple world-champion turkey caller.
Young did some scouting on the farm and worked with the boy on hunting safety and target practice. Which brings us to Saturday, the opener of the two-day youth turkey season.
Accompanied by a cameraman for the “Knight & Hale’s Ultimate Hunting” television show, which airs on The Outdoor Channel, they headed into the woods.
Parrish called up three jakes early in the day, and Charlie was able to pull the trigger but he missed.
“That’s OK,” Young said. “We all miss.”
But later in the day, Charlie was able to fulfill his dream.
Young and Parrish also presented the teenager with everything from a youth shotgun to a variety of calls to camouflaged clothing and boots — donated by sponsors such as Sportsmen’s Warehouse, Knight & Hale, and Redhead.
At lunch Saturday, Charlie reached into the box and began practicing with each of the calls.
“Prepare to be annoyed,” he joked to his mom.
But the gifts were just the icing on the cake. Taking a turkey — against all odds — was what Charlie will be talking about for months.
“When he was walking out of the hospital after brain surgery, he was telling other kids, ‘Don’t give up,’ ” his mom said. “And that’s how he has lived his life.
“He’s a special kid.”
Charlie Wilks (center) posed with the turkey he shot Saturday. He was flanked by two men who helped him - Chris Parrish (left) and Jack Young.
For Sure!
................turkey scout
