May 06, 2019 at 08:03PM
Middle Creek Wildlife hosted their annual celebration for National Hunting and Fishing Day, which included activities for all aspects of the outdoors. John Buffone, jbuffone@ydr.com
Imagine a child getting excited to wake up at 4 a.m., go out in cold weather and sit still for hours.
Well, that's exactly what energizes 9-year-old Grace Shepheard.
Grace is a dancer, a cheerleader and, as of last month, a successful turkey hunter.
The third-grader at St. Joseph School in York bagged her first bird at Michaux State Forest just after 7 a.m. on the April 20 youth hunting day.
The gobbler has a 9.5-inch beard and 1.25-inch spurs.
"It's really hard because you really want that turkey, but you don't want to scare it away," Grace said.
More: 2019 Pa. spring turkey season guide: dates, times, regulations and more
Beside Grace throughout the process was her father, Kevin, who began hunting as an adult approximately three years ago.
"After a few years, I'm still learning, and I'm learning with my daughter, which is really cool," he said. "As of right now, she's the only one in the family that has shot a turkey, and she makes sure to remind me of that every once in a while."
Grace Shepheard, age 9, poses with her gobbler at Michaux State Forest. (Photo: Submitted)
Two family friends were also part of the team, using turkey calls to lure in Grace's gobbler.
"I was so excited," she said. "I was with my dad and my dad's friends and they started jumping up and down yelling."
"I'm still riding that adrenaline high," Kevin said. "It was so awesome to see her get that turkey."
Poise, patience and parenting
For the Shepheards, hunting isn't just about harvesting animals. It's an opportunity for a father and daughter to connect in a peaceful, one-on-one setting.
"We just enjoy spending time in the woods together," Kevin said. "We get to hang out together and see all of the different animals, and we get to talk while we're out there. Then, we get breakfast and talk about what we saw. It's just a really nice experience to have with your kid."
Possibly unbeknownst to his daughter, Kevin believes their hunting trips are also installing important life skills outside of the woods.
"I think it definitely teaches patience. It's hard enough to be an adult out there in the cold," he said. "It's rewarding as a father to see her out there, and she's sitting still, she's observing everything around her, and she isn't complaining about anything. That focus and drive is really cool to see."
For Grace, though, it's just about having fun.
"I love spending time with my dad and paying attention to what's going on and listening to all the sounds. I really like it."
After Grace harvested her turkey, the Shepheards prepared the bird for a family meal week a couple of weeks later, providing yet another lesson.
"We have talks all the time about not shooting anything that won't provide for our family," Kevin said. "She's learned to appreciate nature."
Pom poms and shotguns
A picture of 9-year-old Grace Shepheard and her dad, Kevin, is pinned on the "brag board" at Gander Outdoors in York. (Photo: John Buffone/ YDR)
If you visit the Gander Outdoors store in York, you might see the "brag board" in the front entrance The board is filled with pictures that spotlight the feats of local anglers and hunters.
More: Boast your buck or bass on Gander Outdoors' 'Brag Board'
But there was one glaring absence from the board that Grace decided she needed to fill.
"There weren't any turkeys on there. So, I thought I could really show people that I'm a girl and I can hunt turkeys," she said. "It was the first turkey on there, so I was really excited."
Grace had her dad print out pictures of her and her turkey right after the hunter so they could pin her achievement onto the brag board.
"She's a dancer, she's cheerleader, but I think she gets a kick out of telling people she hunts," Kevin said "I think that's part of her drive. As a father, you love seeing that."
Read or Share this story: https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2019/05/06/turkey-hunting-pa-9-year-old-girl-bags-bird-takes-home-much-more/3655158002/
Middle Creek Wildlife hosted their annual celebration for National Hunting and Fishing Day, which included activities for all aspects of the outdoors. John Buffone, jbuffone@ydr.com
Imagine a child getting excited to wake up at 4 a.m., go out in cold weather and sit still for hours.
Well, that's exactly what energizes 9-year-old Grace Shepheard.
Grace is a dancer, a cheerleader and, as of last month, a successful turkey hunter.
The third-grader at St. Joseph School in York bagged her first bird at Michaux State Forest just after 7 a.m. on the April 20 youth hunting day.
The gobbler has a 9.5-inch beard and 1.25-inch spurs.
"It's really hard because you really want that turkey, but you don't want to scare it away," Grace said.
More: 2019 Pa. spring turkey season guide: dates, times, regulations and more
Beside Grace throughout the process was her father, Kevin, who began hunting as an adult approximately three years ago.
"After a few years, I'm still learning, and I'm learning with my daughter, which is really cool," he said. "As of right now, she's the only one in the family that has shot a turkey, and she makes sure to remind me of that every once in a while."
Grace Shepheard, age 9, poses with her gobbler at Michaux State Forest. (Photo: Submitted)
Two family friends were also part of the team, using turkey calls to lure in Grace's gobbler.
"I was so excited," she said. "I was with my dad and my dad's friends and they started jumping up and down yelling."
"I'm still riding that adrenaline high," Kevin said. "It was so awesome to see her get that turkey."
Poise, patience and parenting
For the Shepheards, hunting isn't just about harvesting animals. It's an opportunity for a father and daughter to connect in a peaceful, one-on-one setting.
"We just enjoy spending time in the woods together," Kevin said. "We get to hang out together and see all of the different animals, and we get to talk while we're out there. Then, we get breakfast and talk about what we saw. It's just a really nice experience to have with your kid."
Possibly unbeknownst to his daughter, Kevin believes their hunting trips are also installing important life skills outside of the woods.
"I think it definitely teaches patience. It's hard enough to be an adult out there in the cold," he said. "It's rewarding as a father to see her out there, and she's sitting still, she's observing everything around her, and she isn't complaining about anything. That focus and drive is really cool to see."
For Grace, though, it's just about having fun.
"I love spending time with my dad and paying attention to what's going on and listening to all the sounds. I really like it."
After Grace harvested her turkey, the Shepheards prepared the bird for a family meal week a couple of weeks later, providing yet another lesson.
"We have talks all the time about not shooting anything that won't provide for our family," Kevin said. "She's learned to appreciate nature."
Pom poms and shotguns
A picture of 9-year-old Grace Shepheard and her dad, Kevin, is pinned on the "brag board" at Gander Outdoors in York. (Photo: John Buffone/ YDR)
If you visit the Gander Outdoors store in York, you might see the "brag board" in the front entrance The board is filled with pictures that spotlight the feats of local anglers and hunters.
More: Boast your buck or bass on Gander Outdoors' 'Brag Board'
But there was one glaring absence from the board that Grace decided she needed to fill.
"There weren't any turkeys on there. So, I thought I could really show people that I'm a girl and I can hunt turkeys," she said. "It was the first turkey on there, so I was really excited."
Grace had her dad print out pictures of her and her turkey right after the hunter so they could pin her achievement onto the brag board.
"She's a dancer, she's cheerleader, but I think she gets a kick out of telling people she hunts," Kevin said "I think that's part of her drive. As a father, you love seeing that."
Read or Share this story: https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2019/05/06/turkey-hunting-pa-9-year-old-girl-bags-bird-takes-home-much-more/3655158002/