2006 YOUTH ESSAY CONTEST

Winner bags a two-day guided hunt

PRATT -- This spring, young hunters can write a story and win a guided spring turkey hunt with KDWP's Jared McJunkin. McJunkin guides annually for the Kansas Governor’s Annual One-Shot Turkey Hunt held each spring in El Dorado and loves to introduce fellow hunters, especially youth, to turkey hunting. This is the fourth year of this contest, and past winners have all harvested a mature gobbler.

Youth 16 years and younger from Chase, Coffey, Greenwood, Lyon, Morris, Osage, and Woodson counties are eligible to participate. In 500 words or less, authors must describe their most memorable hunting experience and why the experience means so much to them. Participants must have completed a hunter education course, be available to hunt during the 2006 spring turkey season, and, if chosen, purchase a Kansas spring turkey hunting permit.

The lucky winner will receive a two-day guided spring turkey hunt during the 2006 spring turkey hunting season. The winner also will receive a turkey hunting vest and other turkey hunting items donated by Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply of Emporia.

To compete, submit an essay — including name, age, address, and phone number — to Jared McJunkin, 10295 Bluff Creek Rd., Blaine, KS 66549 by March 15. The winner will be notified by March 31. Lodging will be provided if the winner is not from Emporia or the surrounding area. A parent or guardian is welcome and encouraged to accompany the youth on this hunt. For more information, contact McJunkin at 785-396-4466.

The contest is co-sponsored by the Flint Hills Gobblers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Lyon County Hunter Education Program, and Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply of Emporia.

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