3/26/2007

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Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt Ends with a Bang Auburn Football Coach Wins with a 22-Pound Gobbler

Coach Eddie Gran, Auburn University’s running backs coach, was declared the winner of the 2007 Alabama Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt, held March 19-21 in Montgomery. Gran was one of 100 hunters from 19 states to participate in this year’s event in which 21 turkeys were taken. The winning 22-pound bird was taken from landowner Dan Moultrie’s property in Chilton County.

Governor Bob Riley hosted the celebrity hunt, which is an annual industrial recruiting event that also raises funds for hunting and conservation initiatives. Sponsored by the Alabama Conservation and Natural Resources Foundation, the hunt is an exciting event filled with food, fun fellowship and friendly competition on some of Alabama’s most premier hunting lands.                              

Gran was one of 100 guest hunters from 19 states participating in this year’s event. Second place went to Gregg Meunier of Evansville, Indiana and the third place bird was taken down by country music recording artist Aaron Tippin. Other celebrity hunters included NASCAR driver Jeff Green and Jimmy Houston of Jimmy Houston Outdoors.

Governor Riley pointed out that guest hunters such as Tippin, Green and Houston help bring awareness to the event that partners public and private entities together to spotlight Alabama’s abundant wildlife resources and outdoor recreational opportunities. “Nature-based recreation has an economic impact of $4.4 billion annually in Alabama. This annual hunt does a lot to successfully build relationships that result in new business and jobs in our state. Long-lasting friendships are also formed between hunters, landowners, guides, and staff.”

The Alabama Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt also contributes to the future of wildlife management.  Included in the three-day festivities were silent and live auctions that raise money for scholarships to benefit Auburn University students majoring in wildlife management. During the event, the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University accepted $50,000 in scholarship money. To date, this event has contributed more than $300,000 to the Lynn Boykin Youth Wildlife Scholarship fund. According to Dean Richard Brinker, this is the second largest scholarship fund in the School.

Commissioner Barnett Lawley, Foundation Chairman, announced the success of the event. “Once again sponsors and auction participants stepped-up to the plate and generously opened their hearts and their wallets to help raise funds for the Foundation and its many worthwhile projects. Not to mention the event brings the nation’s top business leaders together with state government officials to have a fun time for a great cause.” Hunting is big business in Alabama. Estimates are that the Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt generated nearly $1 million to the local economy of Montgomery and surrounding counties.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Parks, State Lands, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR visit www.outdooralabama.com.

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