NWTF California Chapters open 2012 with a bang.

The NWTF Bakersfield Chapter was the national winner of the “Best of the Best Local Chapter Award” in February at the NWTF National Convention and Sport Show attended by more than 44,000 people at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn. Bakersfield also won two national fundraising awards.                                                        

The NWTF Women in the Outdoors Chapter in Bakersfield was also dominant, winning the Best Local Membership Achievement Award for the sixth straight year. Bakersfield, which had the nation’s largest Women in the Outdoors event with more than 560 women at Tejon Ranch, also won for Best Overall Sponsor Membership Achievement.

Joey Slaton of Linden and his father were the big winners at the NWTF Golden State Open Calling Championships at the ISE Show in Sacramento in February. Joey Linden won the open division and a spot in next year’s Grand National Calling Championship in Nashville. Joey’s father won in the friction division.

With strong NWTF support, San Diego County once again won approval of a two-day turkey hunt, March 17-18 at the Santa Ysabel East Preserve. In a crucial interpretation, the majority on county council determined that the preserve was an “open” preserve, not a “turkey” preserve. The NWTF is in full support of programs that provide opportunities for youth, women and the disabled to enjoy the outdoors and our hunting heritage.

Sixty-four hunters gained access through a special lottery to hunt turkey at Lake Sutherland at the NWTF’s Spring Turkey Tune-up Feb. 25 at San Vincente Reservoir in Lakeside. The Turkey Tune-up is an educational seminar and recreational event that informs the public about turkey habitat, conservation and ethical hunting practices. The Lake Sutherland hunts are sponsored by the City of San Diego Public Utilities Department.

The NWTF welcomes news chapters in Jackson and Granite Bay. For information on joining those chapters, please contact Brian Azevedo at (916) 295-4883 or bazevedo@nwtf.net.

-          Submitted by John Brasier

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