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2012 Arizona/New Mexico NWTF State Leadership Convention & Banquet
The 5th Annual Arizona/New Mexico State Leadership Convention & Banquet took place Jan.27-28 in Albuquerque, NM. Hosted by NWTF~DFS Michael Jasper and lovely wife, Anne. More... |
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Jones Mill Annual Hog Killing Celebrates Old Time Values
Most of my Field Notes posts are about my travels and hunting adventures, however, this one is all about community, tradition, sharing and self-reliance. The Jones Mill Annual Hog Killing takes place in early January. More... |
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Reelfoot Duck Hunt Benefits Wheelin' Sportsmen
I am the first to admit that I am not a passionate waterfowl hunter, however, I do enjoy being out on the water with good friends and having the opportunity to fire my shotgun every once in a while. More... |
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Second Annual Mallard's End Girlfriends Hunt
What a delightful welcoming committee when we landed in Mississippi for the second annual Mallard's End Girlfriends Hunt. More... |
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Montana Mule Deer Adventure
The Rocky Mountains were showing off their finest fall colors when I arrived to hunt mule deer with Central Montana Outfitters. More... |
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Wyoming Youth Hunt
Eastern Wyoming and the Black Hills area of South Dakota are one of my favorite places. The variety and population of game animals is astounding, especially when so much of the land, at first glance, appears to be barren. More... |
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Bass Pro Shops Land and Wildlife Expo
This was the inaugural year for the Land and Wildlife Expo held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and grounds. It was fantastic and I look forward to being a part of it again next year. More... |
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South-Central Regional Rendezvous Entertains and Educates
What a fun and laid back evening at the Kokopelli Golf Club in Marion, Illinois when representatives from several southern Illinois NWTF chapters gathered for a Diamond Life Dinner. More... |
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North Louisiana NWTF Hosts Wheelin' Sportsmen Benefit Banquet
What a fun and laid back evening at the Kokopelli Golf Club in Marion, Illinois when representatives from several southern Illinois NWTF chapters gathered for a Diamond Life Dinner. More... |
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Brenda and Southern Illinois NWTF Chapters Enjoy Diamond Life Dinner
What a fun and laid back evening at the Kokopelli Golf Club in Marion, Illinois when representatives from several southern Illinois NWTF chapters gathered for a Diamond Life Dinner. More... |
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Brenda Joins Broad River NWTF Chapter for Memorable Banquet
Members of the Broad River Chapter of the NWTF enjoyed a packed house banquet, May 23, at the Rollins Cafe' in Forest City, NC. Chapter President, Scott Walker and NWTF Regional Director, Bobby Phibbs, did a great job hosting this event while Wayne Rollins and his staff prepared the delicious dinner. More... |
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600 WITO Women Celebrate Outdoor Living at Bakersfield Event
The Bakersfield, California NWTF Chapter has the largest "Women In The Outdoors" event in the nation. This year 600 outdoor gals attended the 2-day program of learning, fun and camaraderie at the famous Tejon Ranch. More... |
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Stormy Weather Puts Damper on Turkey Hunt, but not Hunters
The tornado warnings and horrific thunderstorms I drove through on my way to Holly Springs, Mississippi, last week should have been a predictor of things to come, but "hey" I'm a positive turkey hunter who is always looking for sunny skies and big gobblers! More... |
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Ups and Downs Can't Detract from the Beauty of these Nebraska Gobblers
Among my favorite things are meeting new people and hunting in new places. Recently, Allen Treadwell invited me to hunt turkeys at one of his old haunts, Paxton, Nebraska. More... |
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Gaylord's "Once in a Lifetime Hunt" Inspires
Tim Samples of Gaylord Entertainment, and Charlie Tollett, NWTF Regional Director, are passionate about what has become a spring treat for many of us: the Gaylord, "Once In A Lifetime" Hunt. More... |
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Turkey Trio Enjoys Woods Tonic
Two of my longtime friends Peggy Ann Vallery, from Arizona, and Donna Leggett, from Georgia, joined me in Tennessee recently for a turkey hunt. The warm spring weather and solitude of the woods was perfect for clearing the senses and shedding winter blahs. More... |
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Super Succesful Osceola Family Hunt
My first turkey hunt of the season was nothing short of phenomenal! Last August an opportunity to hunt with me for oceola turkeys was auctioned off at an NWTF Banquet. Mr. Richard Boliek bought this hunt for his grandchildren, Kassidy and Zach. More... |
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Bodcau Purring Hen's Annual Women In The Outdoors Event
I attended the Bodcau Purring Hen's annual Women In The Outdoors event March 12 outside Shreveport, LA. This was one of the most fun and educational such events I've been to. More... |
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2011 NWTF Convention
The 2011 NWTF Convention will go down as another whopping success in every way... More... |
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Season Ender Special
A group of special friends and I got together to send the 2010-11 hunting season out in style... More... |
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All-Ladies Muzzleloaders Hunt Brings Fun & Friendship
This is the third consecutive year I've enjoyed a successful whitetail hunt at Wolf River Outfitters near Hiawatha, Kansas. The Bass Pro video crew has been with me each year to capture the hunt and share it on the Bass Pro TV show... More... |
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Winter Wonderland, Big Bucks at Tulloch Creek
I recently returned to one of my favorite mule deer destinations, Tulloch Creek Ranch, near Big Horn, Mt. to film another great segment of the Bass Pro Shops award winning TV program, 100% REAL Hunting. More... |
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Valentine Family Thanksgiving
The Thanksgiving holiday gave the Valentine family the opportunity to enjoy the beauty and bounty of the Tennessee woods. More... |
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Valentine Family Tennessee Muzzleloader Season
The 2010 TN muzzleloader season literally came in with a bang for the Valentine family. This is the second great buck that 12-year old grandson, Justin McElroy, took with his .50 cal Thompson Center. More... |
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Hunting Watipi at The Timbers at Chama, New Mexico
The area around Chama, New Mexico, and the Brazos mountain range is famous for its natural beauty and abundant wildlife. More... |
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Jakes Day at the Holly Fork Shooting Complex Thrills Youngsters
On Sept. 18, the Tennessee River Longbeards Chapter of the NWTF hosted a Jakes Day at the Holly Fork Shooting Complex. More... |
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Brenda Likes...
As promised, here are more new things I've added to my "LIKES" list. Hunters Safety Systems has an all new buckle design on their life-saving fall restraint safety vests. The new... More... |
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Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame
The following is a random group of photos taken by the staff photographer at the recent Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame induction in Nashville, TN. More... |
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Brenda Likes...
With all of the "Likes" and "Favorites" tabs on Face Book I was reminded of a few of the things I'm really "liking" as I get ready for the upcoming hunting season.... More... |
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Field Day Fun in Gillette, Wyoming with Brenda Valentine
The Gillette, WY NWTF Chapter held its second annual field day at the Gillette Gun Club July 17. Pictured are a few of the NWTF volunteers helping some of the youth participants with registration... More... |
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Western Jakes Hunt of a Lifetime in Hulett, Wyoming
For the past few years, Russ and Wanda Roberts, owners of Western Gateway Outfitters, have donated a merriams turkey hunt for two youths to the NWTF Convention Grand Auction.... More... |
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Second Annual Veteran's Turkey Hunt by Gaylord, Bass Pro, NWTF
April 8 kicked off the second annual Gaylord, Bass Pro, NWTF Veteran's Turkey Hunt in Nashville, Tennessee. Sgt 1st Class Ronnie Gullion and Staff Sgt (retired) Adam Peacock, both from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, and their families were the honored guests for this event. More... |
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Bringing in the Gobblers at Chattokee Lodge
April 5, I'm back at one of my favorite places, Chattokee Lodge in northeast Alabama, for a turkey hunt. Harlan Star and his lovely wife and daughter own and operate this 5-star operation. More... |
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Learning Country Basics with the NWTF Women of Cuthand, Texas
Where else can a gal go to learn skills such as archery, blacksmithing, canning, CPR, Dutch oven cooking, fishing, handgun shooting, tomahawk throwing, shotgunning, turkey hunting, shot shell crafts, and even how to change a tire among other useful stuff every lady should know how to do? More... |
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7th Annual Aiming for a Cure Hunt and Banquet
The Aiming for a Cure Foundation was formed by the family and friends of the late Ben Ries whose life was snatched away by childhood cancer. The mission of AFAC is to raise funds to benefit children and families served by the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. More... |
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Maumee Valley NWTF Chapter Celebrates 20th Anniversary
The Maumee Valley Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, in Toledo, Ohio, celebrated its 20th anniversary with a record attendance banquet. Regional Director Skip Markland and his extensive team of tireless volunteers work throughout the year on a variety of NWTF projects. More... |
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20th Annual NWTF Banquet, Rock Hills SC
On March 9, I was fortunate to spend the evening at the 20th Annual NWTF Banquet of Rock Hill, SC Chapter . Regional Director, Scott Martin and Banquet Chairman, Cindy Davis, and a team hardworking committee members certainly put on an excellent fundraiser. More... |
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43rd Annual NWTF Convention
For the second year in a row the National Wild Turkey Federation Convention and Sports Show has broken all previous attendance records. Over 45,000 outdoor enthusiasts roamed the elegant Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, February 18-21. More... |
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Winter Fun with the Family...and a few turkeys too
The unusual amount of snowfall in our section of TN has not only thrilled the school children but the rest of us who are young at heart and can appreciate the quiet beauty of a temporary white world. Here are a few photos I've taken around the neighborhood. More... |
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Cumberland Gap Chapter Annual NWTF Banquet and Auction
NWTF National Spokesperson Brenda Valentine travels to East Tennessee to help tell the story and the mission of the National Wild Turkey Federation. More... |
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Bob Cheyne, Stained Glass Artist, Creates Masterpieces
Wildlife Artist and Stained Glass Master, Bob Cheyne, poses by the window he designed for Brenda's dining room. The merriams turkeys as well as the trees, rocks, and wildflowers depict those native to the Black HIlls of eastern Wyoming. More... |
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A Savory Visit to Chattokee Lodge
Chattokee Lodge in N.E. Alabama was the most recent hunting destination for myself and the Bass Pro cameras. This magnificient lodge is owned and operated by Harlan & Sheila Starr who ran a cattle operation on the property before diving in to a full-fledged outfitting business. More... |
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Montana Mule Deer
It was another super successful trip to one of my favorite hunting destinations, Tulloch Creek Outfitters, near Big Horn, Montana. This was my 5th hunt on the ranch and the folks there have become an almost second family. As in the past, my hunt was filmed by the Bass Pro Video Department and will air next year on Real Hunting on the Verses network. ...More... |
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Third Annual
Women in the Outdoors Event
NWTF members, Randy & Mary
Phelps of the KY Twin Lakes Chapter, hosted the
third annual Women In The Outdoors fall turkey hunt.
Over a dozen lady turkey hunters gathered for a
weekend of fun, food, laughter, and fall turkey
hunting. ...More... |
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Kansas
Whitetail Hunt
Hello everyone! I just returned
from a successful muzzleloader whitetail hunt in
Kansas where I hunted with Wolf River Outfitters
near Hiawatha. The hunt was filmed by the Bass Pro
Shop for its "Real Hunting" program on Verses
Network. ....More... |
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Boss Hoss
and Barbecue Liven Up the Weekend at Paris Landing
The Boss Hoss annual convention
and Burn Out BBQ Cook-Off rolled into Paris Landing
State Park on Ky. Lake Sept. 17-20, hosted by the
Paris Landing Tourism League. Each day there was an
exhausting agenda that offered something fun for
everyone....More... |
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VANGUARD®
Products are Designed to Impress
Recently, it
was my pleasure to visit with
the management staff of the
VANGUARD USA, Inc. facility
in Whitmore Lake, Michigan. ...I had no idea they
also offered such an extensive line of hunting
accessories. VANGUARD®
is a privately owned international company.....More... |
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The Turkey
Shoppe on Main Offers Guns & Ammo, Fishing Supplies,
Outdoor Apparel, Home Decor and Framing
Townspeople of historic
Edgefield, SC turned out in full force for the Grand
Opening of the Turkey Shoppe on Main, September 4 &
5. Edgefield is home to the .....More... |
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Eight
Inducted into Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame
The guest list of this years
"Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame" induction
banquet read like a Hollywood Who's Who of the
Hunting and Fishing world. Eight new inductees as
well as an organization and several individuals were
honored during....More... |
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14th Annual
NWTF Tennessee State "4-C The Future" Awards Banquet
The 14th annual NWTF Tennessee
State "4-C The Future" Awards Banquet was held in
Nashville on August 13. Hosts for the event were
NWTF State President Keith Hickman...More... |
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Hunting
Pro's and TV Celebrities Visit Outdoor World Stores
During Bass Pro Shops' Fall Hunting Classic
Bass Pro Shops' Fall Hunting
Classic was "THE" place to be the weekend of August
7-9. Teams of Hunting Pro's and TV Celebrities made
personal appearances during this time at every
Outdoor World store.....More... |
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13th Annual NWTF
4-State Jamboree Helps Hunters Network in Fun,
Informative Environment
The 13th
Annual
NWTF 4-State Jamboree kicked
off on July 30th with a Wheelin'
Sportsmen fundraiser banquet in
Bossier City, LA. Don & Barbara
Davis, owners of Mr Butt's
Barbecue....More... |
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Women's
Contributions Highlighted in Camo & Pearls Event
The Firelake Grand Casino
"Event Center" in Shawnee, Oklahoma, was the setting
July 11 for the NWTF, "Camo & Pearls" ladies
appreciation event. It was a night of fun,
fellowship, and a celebration of women's
contributions to the conservation of wildlife and....More... |
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Porter
Wagoner Conservation Cup Benefits NWTF Wheelin'
Sportsmen Outreach Program
The gorgeous
Gaylord Springs Golf Course was
the setting June 13 for the
Second Annual Porter Wagoner
Conservation Cup to benefit NWTF
Wheelin' Sportsmen Outreach
Program....More... |
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Women in the Outdoors,
Making Memories
Judy Rhodes, founder of the
Divas (a women's outdoor skills
organization) and Brenda discuss
the success of the day's event....More... |
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Western Turkey Tour:
Third stop....Wyoming
The Western
Jakes Hunt of a Lifetime is one
of the most popular items on the
auction block at the NWTF
National Convention. This years'
auction winners, Kate-Lee and
Daniele, hunted with Brenda and
Michael ...for a segment of
Turkey Call TV....More... |
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Western Turkey Tour:
Second stop....Colorado
We rolled in to the
Keyah Grande Ranch near Pagosa Springs,
Colorado on May 3. None of our crew was really
expecting such an elegant place to hunt turkeys....More... |
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Western Turkey Tour: First
stop....Montana
Brenda
finished the 2009 spring turkey
season with a multi-state
merriams marathon which began at
one of her old haunts, Tulloch
Creek Ranch near Big Horn,
Montana. Last year Brenda hosted
a group of lady turkey hunters
at the ranch. The gals had...More... |
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Yucatan
Adventure Yields Ocellated Prize
For Beth Thornton, Peggy Vallery,
and myself the months of
planning and anticipation were
finally over. In mid-March we
three "Turkey Ladies" plus Brian
Combs, NWTF videographer, headed
to the Mexico state of Campeche
in search of the ocellated
turkey...
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33rd NWTF Convention is Largest
Ever
More than
43,000 attendees made the 33rd
National Wild Turkey Federation
Convention the largest in NWTF
Convention history...More... |
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TNDEER.com's "The Vous"
Educates, Entertains
On February 7
deer hunters from every corner
of Tennessee and beyond swarmed
to Henry Horton State Park for
the TNDEER.com annual
rendezvous, better known as "The
Vous" by members of that
organization...
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Short
Takes
November,
2008—Brenda took this big mule deer Nov.9 at
Moon Creek Ranch near Miles City, Montana. The
Bass Pro cameras were rolling and you'll see
this exciting hunt next season on "REAL HUNTING"
on Verses Network...
More... |
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Seventh Annual Legends of the
Outdoors National Hall of Fame
Induction and Awards Banquet
If you were
to cross a family reunion with
an inaugural ball, and throw in
a smidgeon of Grand Ole Opry,
early American history...
More... |
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New
Products Add Excitement to the
Upcoming Hunting Season
It happens this time every
year, so I've come to accept it as normal: that
antsy anticipation of the upcoming hunting
season that starts off mild and builds in
intensity with the passing of each Dog Day of
summer.
More... |
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Once
in a Lifetime
Over the years I can’t count
the number of personal appearances, seminars,
and dinner speeches I’ve made but never have I
been as honored and surprised as recently during
the Ozark Safari Club International Chapter
banquet.
More... |
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A
Photo Tour of Brenda's Recent
Africa Safari
The intrigue
of hunting cape buffalo has been
a nagging itch that grew worse
with each passing year. I longed
to experience the feelings
described by Ruark, Capstick,
and Boddington.
More... |
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Lady Yelpers Invade Big Sky Country
The long awaited trip to hunt
Merriam’s turkey near Big Horn, Montana, began
on April 24th for a group of women nicknamed the
“Lady Yelpers”.
More... |
