Kansas One Shot Turkey Hunt successfully relaunched | TrueTimber Camo & Turkeys For Tomorrow help drive reinvention of beloved event
EL DORADO, Kan. — The first new edition of a tradition three decades old was a smashing success. When organizers of the Kansas Governor’s Annual One-Shot Turkey Hunt retired the name and the organization last year, there were plenty in the El Dorado community who weren’t ready to let its energy disappear. This spring, the Kansas One Shot Turkey Hunt was formed and held its first event April 13-15, following in its predecessor’s pattern.
“Given it was our first year and this was a ground-up development, it was a phenomenal success,” said Jarrod Nichols, one of the event’s key organizers. “All of the hunters, guides, volunteers, corporate sponsors and community sponsors had a great time, and we did a lot of good.”
The event drew a full field of 48 hunters and 48 guides. It drew more than 100 to a town hall discussion on the future of wild turkey conservation, and it brought more than 300 participants and supporters to the Chase Holton concert, auction and banquet on its closing night. It also involved key figures in the wildlife community, from Brad Loveless, Kansas Secretary of Wildlife and Parks, to title sponsors TrueTimber Camo and Turkeys For Tomorrow. Final figures on funds raised aren’t yet available, but organizers are confident the books will close well into the black with a strong net-positive. More importantly, this inaugural reinvention of the beloved event laid a firm foundation on which the future may be built.
“We had an unbelievable amount of support from industry professionals and elected officials, and everyone had a smile on their face the whole time,” Nichols said. “That’s a sign of a great program and a great event, and it certainly put a smile on my face as well.”
Title sponsor TrueTimber Camo was the event’s leading supporter, supplying camo clothing for every participant.
“We were thrilled at the opportunity to support this event and further support the TFT mission,” said TrueTimber CEO Rusty Sellars.
“The plight of the wild turkey needs attention brought to it and money raised to reverse it,” said Ron Jolly, co-chairman of the board of TFT. “It’s an honor to work with TrueTimber. Their support helps do a great deal of both.”
The event focused on mentoring youth in the outdoor traditions, honoring members of the military and first responders, raising money for research and regeneration of wild turkey populations in Kansas, all while promoting economic development in Butler County and throughout the state.
“We’re already making plans for improvements to include in next year’s event,” Nichols said. “People come here to hunt but leave with a new group of lifelong friends. All the connections you make at the event are unique and can only happen here.”
To learn more about TrueTimber Camo, visit www.truetimber.com.
To sign up for next year’s Kansas One Shot Turkey Hunt, go to www.kansasoneshotturkeyhunt.org.