Hunters compete by feeding the hungry
By Bobbi Mlynar
Originally published 01:55 p.m., October 23, 2007
Updated 01:55 p.m., October 23, 2007
Some of Emporia’s needy will be better fed this winter because a group of fishing buddies decided to organize a Hunt for Hunger tournament during the off-season.
“There’s about six of us who’ve really come together, pushing on this,” said Chuck Gardner, whose friends welcomed his idea to raise food and funds for charities. “To win this tournament, you’re really going to have to strategize and hunt hard, be safe and be fair. ... there’ll be guys on teams, they’ll barely sleep.”
Beneficiaries of the tournament will be the Salvation Army, the Emporia Rescue Mission, Farmers Helping Feed the Hungry and the Make a Wish Foundation.
The tournament has been a learning experience for organizers, Gardner said, with interest growing among hunters across Kansas.
“It’s been more fun organizing this thing and seeing it all unfold,” he said of the group effort. “We’ve been best friends for years, and this is why it’s going to work.”
Hunters and trappers who take part in the two and a half-day tournament will pair off into teams of two to bring in freshly killed meat animals, birds and fur-bearing animals. Deer, geese, pond ducks, pheasants, quail and prairie chickens each have different numbers of points assigned for the competition, as do the bobcats, foxes, badgers, beavers, coyotes and raccoon furs.
All tournament entries must be fresh kills, with appropriate wings or legs still attached, according to tournament regulations. Full information for participants is available at www.huntforhunger.com, a Web site created by Crystal Williams, wife of another organizer, Joel Williams.
Other organizers are Don Hatch, Chris Keith, Scott Wilkerson and Jeff Brown.
No frozen meats can be entered in the tournament, but hunters who want to donate frozen meat from previous hunts are welcome to bring in packages, Gardner said. Meat that has been “shot up” or not properly maintained will not be accepted, nor will points be counted on those.
“If you can’t sell it or wouldn’t eat it or feed it to your family and friends, don’t bring it in,” the hunt’s Web site cautions.
Entry fees will pay for prizes awarded to winners. Hunters may choose to bring in 10 canned goods for $10 credit toward the $60 per-person entry fee. Donations for prize drawings and other assistance already have been made by Cabella’s, Bluestem Farm & Ranch Supply, Days Inn and Fairfield Inn, Coffelt Signs, S & S Propane, and Matt Peek and Carol Clock of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and organizers still are soliciting for additional sponsors.
“We’re not done by any means,” Gardner said. “We’ll still be knocking on doors. We’ll take any donations, any certificates.”
Money from the sales of furs will go to the Make a Wish Foundation, Gardner said.
Arrangements have been made for cooperation from meat lockers around the state.
Birds will be brought in to a cleaning site, where fresh water and propane heat will be available.
“There will actually be a cleaning session at the Salvation Army,” Gardner said.
Salvation Army Capts. Jeremiah and Hope Burris are looking for clients to help cut and pack the fowl meat after hunters have finished their cleaning, and that meat will be available to those who need it.
“As long as we’ve got supplies, they can have it,” Gardner said.
An awards dinner for the hunters is being planned for 6 p.m. on Dec. 9. Organizers are negotiating for a site for the dinner.
“We don’t want to have any expenses,” Gardner said. “We want to make this as pure and simple as we can.”
For information, call Gardner at 343-0225 or Williams at 340-7628.