The Central Virginia Chapter is an active chapter of
the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). This chapter was originally
founded in 1987 by Dennis Campbell (NWTF Regional Director), Butch
Wilberger, and Sherwood Londeree. It was formed to serve NWTF members in
the central Virginia area consisting of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Orange,
Louisa, and Greene counties. Some refer to this area as the Thomas
Jefferson area.
The NWTF is the nation's most progressive non-profit
(501c3) conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of all
wildlife and their habitat with our main focus the wild turkey.
The Central Virginia Chapter was the first chapter in
the Commonwealth of Virginia to host a Wheelin' Sportsman spring hunt. This
hunt was developed by Charlie Durrer and Robin Clark, and with the support
of chapter members and volunteers, this hunt takes place on Carter
Mountain just outside of Charlottesville. Butch Trinca took two nice
gobblers the first two years of this hunt, and after his death, the hunt
now bears his name as the Butch Trinca Memorial Hunt. This hunt is held on
the second Saturday of the spring season. Our 6th hunt was this past
April 18, 2009, and we look forward to many more.
April 18, 2009 Butch Trinca
Memorial Hunt
We began on Friday evening, April 17, 2009 with a meet
and greet dinner, which is held at the apple barn on Carter's Mountain
located in Albemarle County. After everyone's bellies are full of Big
Jim's BQ, we paired up into 5 teams. Each team goes over the hunt property
that they will be on, where they will all meet up at and at what time
Saturday morning. They also go over their game plan and what to look for
when the gobbler comes in. The results will be later on. With the
equipment needed to put on the hunt organized and ready for the morning,
my two cousins Larry and Kenny and I camp out behind the apple barn. The
wind howled all night long, but calmed down just hours before the hunt was
to begin.
Butch must have been watching down on us, because he
ordered a perfect morning to turkey hunt in Central Virginia. Calm, sunny,
a little cool, a perfect morning. David, Larry, Kenny and I listened for
that roar from the thunder chicken on the east side of the mountain. We
watched the fog hanging over the Rivanna River as it twists and turns
throughout eastern Albemarle County into Fluvanna County. Plenty of
pictures were taken by David Coffman, who works on the Outdoor Report for
the Department of Fish and Game in Virginia.
My brightest memory of Butch is when he did a NASCAR
burnout in his wheel chair and flipped. Stuff went all over the parking
lot. Butch looked up and said "looks like a yeard sale now".
Butch climbed back into his wheel chair, dusted himself off, and laughed.
Results from the hunt!
Team 1:
Hunter: Travis Felts Guide: Bill Puso
Helpers: Bert McGhee & Travis' Uncle
Team one was into gobblers most of the morning, but the
hens came in with no follwers. Saw plenty of hens and had a great time!
Team 2:
Hunter: Michael Chenail Guide: Gene
Haden Helplers: Michael's wife & Cindy
Chandler
Team two had five gobblers across a lake gobbling their
heads off. After two hours of calling, the gobblers flew across the lake
and marched into Michael's gun range. So Michael harvested a Jake bird.
GREAT JOB TEAM TWO!
Team 3:
Hunter: Bo McLaughlin Guide: Garry
Bickers Helper: Kenny Londeree
Team three had a gobbler in a tree. It gobbles and
flies down within 50 years of the blind. The gobbler struts and gobbles as
it advances down a fence line closer and closer to the blind. Bo had a bad
angle on the bird so the bird walks within 5 years of the blind, gobbles,
then walks between the blind and a stump, around to the east side of the
mountain. Bo was very pleased with Gary's calling. Bo told us that the
birds usually run away from him, but today he came in... WOW!
Team 4:
Hunter: M.B. Southand Guide: Charlie Durrer
Team four had birds gobbling down the mountain. The
gobblers star up to them, but those HENS stop the gobblers. M.B. &
Charlie hunt all morning trying to get those gobblers. M.B. had a blast
with Charlie.
Team 5:
Hunter: Joe Fielding Guide: Donna Graves and
Russell Robertson Helper: Roger Edwards
Team five sat on an old fence row where we have seen
birds before. WELL!! Two gobblers and 5 hens strolled into the guides
calling them. Joe felt like he didn't have a clean shot on the gobbler, so
he let the bird go, but a song bird did fly into the blind with everyone.
Joe told us at the luncheon that it was the first time he made a hunt from
start to end, and had a great time viewing the birds.
Over all, all of the hunters had a safe hunt and a
great time with their guides and helpers, and enjoyed what nature brings
us. The sixth annual Butch Trinca Hunt will stay in our memories for many
years. Many thanks go out to the following, for without their support of
these fine people, this hunt would not have taken place.
Hunt
Properties
Dennis
Campbell - Crown Orchard Hunt
Club
Bill
Puso
- Panorama Hunt Club
Jim
Wynn
- Coles Hunt Club
Central
Virginia Chapter Members
Russell
Robertson - President Sherwood
Londeree - V.P. & Banquet
Chair Donna
Graves - Treasurer
Vicki
Londeree - Operation Coordinator David
Coffman - Marketing & Events Garry
Bickers - Guide
Charlie
Durrer - Guide & NWTF Life Member Larry
& Kenny Londeree - Jake Members Roger
Edwards - Member
Virginia
Wheelin' Sportsmen Members
Gene Haden - Western
Coordinator Mike
Deane - Eastern
Coordinator Cindy
Chandler - Wheelin' Sportsmen Member
Virginia State Chapter President - Robin
Clark
Carter - Big Jim's BQ - do
the Q
From all of us in the Central Virginia Chapter, have a
safe and productive spring season and we'll see you in the WOODS!
Sherwood Londeree
The Chapter will be hosting three different hunts in 2009, youth spring
gobbler hunt, The Butch Trinca memorial hunt, and a fall Wheelin'
Sportsman youth deer hunt. All hunts are in the Albemarle county area.
Also in 2009 the Chapter will sponsor food plots, a youth turkey
hunting seminar, and developing a youth NWTF chapter.
If you interested in helping with the Chapter or donating land use so
we can teach the youth good outdoor ethics, please contact Sherwood
Londeree via the web-site e-mail address info@centralvirginiachapternwtf.com
or by phone at 434-589-2416.
Hope to see you in the great outdoors.
Sherwood Londeree
Founding member, and Conservationist
Our Mission
Volunteers working towards wild turkey conservation and upholding our hunting heritage.
- Telephone:
- 434-589-2416
-
- Postal address:
- 1124 Ruritan Lake Road
-
Scottsville, Virginia 24590
-
- Electronic mail
- General Information: info@centralvirginiachapternwtf.com
Webmaster: info@centralvirginiachapternwtf.com
