For the first time, BHA’s New England Chapter is sponsoring the RI Youth Mentored Wild Turkey Hunt coordinated by The Light Foundation and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s Fish & Wildlife Division. This joint initiative takes place during Rhode Island’s youth turkey weekend in late April, and brings families, landowners, and mentors together to support the youth who participate in the hunt.
“This partnered hunt strives to provide positive hunting experiences for youth while teaching them and their families the importance of conservation, firearm safety, and outdoor ethics,” said Light Foundation co-founder Matt Light, who is also a 3x Super Bowl Champion with the New England Patriots. “Our programs thrive on the support of our organizational partnerships, sponsors, and community connections, each contributing their expertise, knowledge, and enthusiasm to propel our initiatives forward.”
RI DEM’s Hunter Education Coordinator Jim Tappero added, “Hunting is an essential tool used to manage Rhode Island’s wildlife for the benefit of the public. Fostering this tradition and educating new hunters in the safe and ethical practice of hunting is one of the Fish and Wildlife Division’s goals. With support from DEM’s staff, volunteers, and our organizational partners, programs like the mentored youth wild turkey hunt are an important part of getting the next generation of Rhode Island’s hunters started on a path to respect, value, and enjoy the outdoors.”
“BHA’s New England Chapter is excited to support this year’s youth mentored wild turkey hunt,” said New England Chapter Chair Michael Woods of Saunderstown, RI. “I’ve had the opportunity to mentor youth turkey hunters through The Light Foundation and RI DEM as a volunteer for the last couple years, and through these experiences I have seen the positive impact that this program has on the participants and their families. Supporting initiatives like this one fits squarely within BHA’s mission of ensuring North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing.”
Youth seeking to participate in the 2024 youth mentored turkey hunt must be between 12 to 15 years of age on April 20, 2024, and must secure a Rhode Island hunting license and turkey permit prior to the hunt. Applicants must submit a 500-word essay addressing the theme “What Matters to You?” before the deadline of March 10, 2024 here. Top candidates will be selected by an impartial committee and will earn the exceptional opportunity to stay overnight at Pheasant Ridge Lodge in Burrillville, RI during the hunt. Learn more about last year’s Light Foundation / RI DEM Youth Mentored Turkey in this video, produced by our friends at Rhode Island Whitetails.
BHA’s support for the 2024 RI mentored youth wild turkey hunt was made possible through a generous donation from BHA Platinum Corporate Partner Gerber Gear.
About New England BHA Chapter
New England BHA is a voice for the sporting community in New England that values solitude, silence, clean and free flowing rivers, and habitat for large, wide-ranging wildlife.