FORT RILEY, Kan. -- Nine-year-old Dillon Schembera's eyes grew large at the sight of the huge gobbler approaching the decoys.
Coached by his mentor, Dillon held his breath and his shot until he the bird was squarely in his sights. Then he squeezed the trigger and had his first spring turkey.
The annual Fort Riley, Kansas, Outdoorsmen Group, spring youth turkey hunt had begun. The event is designed to introduce children of active-duty, DOD civilians and deployed family members to outdoor recreational opportunities on Fort Riley.
Through the year volunteers hold special events for youth like deer hunts, fishing events, water fowl, dove hunts and they teach gun safety, hunter education, archery and organize skeet and trap shoots.
This year, nine participants from age nine to fifteen hunted; Olivia Drummond, Sadie and Lauren LeBlanc, Cody Robison, Bailey Fernandez, Zack Fredmonski, Trevor Erickson, Hunter Sheffield and Dillon Schembera.
The event was also supported by the Directorate of Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation staff and F.R.O.G mentors; Don Wright, Ollie Hunter, John Adams, Gordon Allen, Kyle Stellpflug, Jon Vaughan, Steve Capizzi and Roy Rikoric from MWR.
Thursday evening the youth were paired with mentors for a safety course at the Fort Riley Trap and Skeet Range. Some were unable to hunt during the scheduled Friday and Saturday hunt will go with a mentor at a later date.
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