The Light Foundation & RI DEM’s 4th Annual Mentored Youth Turkey Hunt a success

Photos: RI DEM provided

For the fourth year in a row, The Light Foundation in collaboration with DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) hosted the Annual Youth Turkey Mentored Hunt.

The two-day event kicked off with a dinner on Friday, April 19th at Addieville East Farm. Eleven youth hunters and their families, staff from DEM and the Light Foundation, along with landowners who granted permission to the young turkey hunters, and many more joined together. Youth hunters and their families got to meet their mentors who spent many hours searching for turkeys in preparation for the hunt. In addition, youth hunters were able to thank landowners for allowing them access to their property.

Matt Light and DEM Director Terry Gray addressed the crowd to thank everyone for their hard work leading up to this event, dedication to youth development and wildlife conservation, and how these young hunters are true conservationists who are actively helping protect our natural resources. 

A safety briefing was given by Environmental Police Officer Kyle Murray from DEM’s Division of Law Enforcement to ensure all participants handled firearms safely and reminded participants that maintaining safety was everyone’s number one priority. DFW Upland Gamebird and Wild Turkey Biologist Lizzi Bonczek gave a brief history of the wild turkey in Rhode Island and the current research she’s conducting to improve our knowledge of the population. 

Following a dinner catered by GottaQ BBQ and Big Bear Hunting and Fishing, mentors and youth hunters headed out into the field to roost turkeys in preparation for the next morning’s hunt. Afterward, youth hunters headed back to the lodge for a leadership discussion and the overnight stay.

Saturday morning started as early as 2 AM for some youth hunters who had a long drive to southern RI. Despite sleepless nights from excitement and less-than-ideal weather conditions, the youth hunters were all smiles. Every youth hunter had great hunting experiences – from harvesting a bird first thing in the morning to spending all day hunting with their mentors learning about Rhode Island’s wildlife.

Successful hunters tagged and reported their turkeys, which is a critical step in wildlife conservation and provides DEM with valuable data to help manage our state’s turkey population. Once out of the field, the turkeys were processed for consumption. DEM Hunter Education staff also prepared wild game appetizers, including turkey bites and wild boar carnitas donated by Matt Light and other mentors for everyone to sample. All participants then had lunch provided by Wright’s Chicken Farm. Those who harvested the largest birds were given a gift card from local taxidermists. Lastly, the youth hunters shared their stories of how their hunts went, which is always interesting to hear from the young hunters’ perspective.  

This annual event’s success wouldn’t be possible without the partnership of the Light Foundation. The relationship and collaboration that DEM has developed grows stronger every year. DEM hopes to expand the hunt next year by increasing capacity for additional youth participants. As space is a limiting factor, DEM is currently seeking additional lodging opportunities for the annual event. 

DEM extends its thanks to the many sponsors that made this event possible, including Addieville East Farm, Pheasant Ridge Lodge, Mossy Oak, Thompson Center, Big Bear Hunting & Fishing, OnX Hunt, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers – New England Chapter, Gloucester Land Trust, Sam Dalti Video, Desmos Photos, Wright’s Farm Restaurant, Quaker Boy, Bill Embacher Decoys, and Hevi-Shot, ALPS Outdoorz, NWTF, Primos, Woodhaven Custom Calls, NWTF, Bass Pro Shops, Freedom Ridge Taxidermy, North Rhodes Taxidermy, The Social, Prosperity Promotions, Haynes Group, Twelve Points Wealth Management, and Granite Telecommunications.