Brandon McGuire is turning into a good Man!

Brandon McGuire wrote the following story for a submission into the Virginia Outdoor Writers Association Youth Essay Contest! I could not be more proud of him! 17 years old and more mature then people I know who are going into their 30's! GOOD JOB BUDDY!!!

I remember that hunt very well because that is the day I knew I would be hunting with Brandon for the rest of my life!




Power line Legacy
by Brandon McGuire

Not having a father figure in my life while being raised in a single parent home by my mother made it hard sometimes and I had to learn the qualities of a man from watching other parents and examples in the community. I have been fortunate to have had several men step into my life to be role models. While attending a JAKES day event with my mother we crossed paths with Kevin Paulson. He offered to take me hunting and from then on our relationship grew. He has been able to teach me how to hunt ethically and still have an exciting time.
Two years ago I was able to go hunting with Kevin Paulson. He brought me to a farm where he had permission to hunt. His brother-in- law and nephew came down as well to hunt that day on this farm. We all arrived together, talked about where we should go and spent general time becoming acquainted. Eventually we wished each other luck and parted ways in hopes of discovering a treasured buck. We had set up our position on a long stretch of land parallel with power lines so we would have a good view of any deer crossing our path. After several hours of waiting Kevin was called away to attend to his brother-in-law and nephew. As he left he told me that I could shoot any deer I saw as long as it was not on a nearby adjoining piece of land which we didn’t have permission to hunt. A few minutes after he left a large doe appeared just on the border of the forbidden property. Here I am sitting with the crosshairs on the organs of this beautiful doe just waiting for it to step a little closer. It feels like it is trying to test my character, saying “Shoot me, I dare you.” She stands there, broadside, glancing my way from time to time as if she knows I won’t shoot at her. Although I felt like I was missing a great opportunity, I allowed the deer to pass. When Kevin came back I rushed to tell him of my unfortunate luck. He expressed that he was so proud of me that I had the moral drive to not kill that deer illegally. If I had shot it and it dropped on the other property I would most likely have not been caught but it was a moral victory for me not to do so. I feel good that through many different experiences I am developing a healthy amount of patience and restraint. These characteristics and many others are being learned while hunting.
I know that in order to become successful I need to focus on graduating from college and obtaining a degree that can be used to locate a good job. The medical field has always been fascinating to me; however, I no longer want to become a brain surgeon as I had though when I was much younger, but rather through my wrestling injury and physical therapy rehabilitation experiences, I now hope to consider the sports medicine field. My hunting experiences are helping me mature into a man I feel my family and acquaintances can be proud of.

A great story about our NWTF banquet and Brandon!

Thank you to Ken Perrotte who wrote a wonderful article about the NWTF banquet and the Scholarship for Brandon McGuire!

Reprinted Courtesy of Ken Perrotte and the : Fredericksburg Free Lance Star
Please go check out the Free Lance Star it is a great paper with a strong outdoor program.


Mentor helps youngster become hunter

Ken Perrotte's outdoors column

Date published: 4/12/2007

MEMBERS OF the Fredericksburg Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation opened hearts and wallets for a number of causes Saturday night during their annual banquet.

Nearly 230 people attended the event at the Eagles Club, according to Bill Newman, one of the event organizers. Scanning the crowded room, it appeared at least 10 percent of the attendees were boys and girls, many attired in camouflage, and ranging in age from 6 to 16.

One of the more unique stories of the evening was a $1,500 scholarship given to Brandon McGuire, a 17-year-old high school senior from Chesterfield County who plans to attend Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville.

Brandon had attended a JAKES Day (a special outdoors-oriented day for NWTF-affiliated youth) at the Fredericksburg Rod and Gun Club three years ago.

His mother, Holly McGuire, a single parent, brought him to the event in an effort to satisfy the boy's desire to become a hunter.

McGuire's cousin, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologist Steve Owens, helped Brandon develop his outdoors interests, encouraging attendance at squirrel hunting workshops and other sponsored programs that help build young hunters' education and skills. He also mentored his young nephew during occasional trips to woods and waters.

Still, according to Brandon, an important component was missing.

"I have uncles that hunt and fish, but have never really had that father figure who could take me out," Brandon explained.

Enter Kevin Paulson, local proponent for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and an ongoing partner in NWTF programs, plus a dad with a handful of kids in his house.

"At the JAKES Day, Kevin Paulson was there and I think my mom had given him our information in the hope that someone would take me hunting. Within a couple weeks, he contacted us and said, 'When do you want to go hunting?'"

Paulson became the boy's dedicated hunting mentor, taking him on a number of deer hunts. He even let him tag along on a Montana elk hunt. Brandon's turkey hunting efforts fall into the "close, but no gobbler" category, but he is optimistic success will come soon.

Paulson worked with NWTF on developing the new scholarship program, which was funded from local NWTF chapter revenues and huntinglife.com, a Web blog Paulson started and is transforming into a more complete hunting-oriented site.

Chapter officer Richard Rose said the scholarship is expected to become an annual feature at the banquet.

Paulson calls Brandon a "remarkable young man."

Between Brandon's realization of his hunting dream, his acceptance into college and last week's scholarship, Holly McGuire said she couldn't be happier or prouder of her son, adding, "This is what every parent hopes for, isn't it?"

The banquet's live auction was jump-started with bidders digging deep to win claim to a cheesecake being sold to benefit the American Cancer Society. A $1,000 bid by Hugh Cosner, a founding member of the Fredericksburg NWTF group, eventually capped the bidding.

Prior to dinner, past chapter president Tom Worrell read a self-composed "Turkey Hunter's Prayer," a heartfelt piece of prose that referenced the importance of passing along a hunting heritage. Banquet attendees who are military veterans or currently serving were also asked to come forward to receive acknowledgement and a commemorative pin from the NWTF.

Youth's Snowy Success

A number of youngsters attending the NWTF banquet had spent the morning hunting, as last Saturday was also the day Virginia sets aside annually for youngsters to hunt turkeys. The kids get to learn from adult mentors on that day, but don't have to compete with them for opportunities at a gobbler.

Hunters awakening to snow-covered trees and fields surely let out a collective groan at the less than optimal conditions. Still, enthusiasm won out over dismay at the untimely snowfall and plenty of adult-child hunting teams reportedly took to area woods.

For 12-year-old Kyle Sullivan of southern Stafford County, the snowy scene made his first taste of turkey success all the sweeter.

Kyle has successfully hunted deer before, but had never scored a gobbler. He was hunting with Eric Sullivan, who is not related to him but works with Kyle's grandfather, Robert Sullivan.

Sullivan knew his turkey-calling prowess would be challenged with the wintry weather.

"I thought we were going to waste our time," he said. After walking for about an hour, though, the hunters got a bird to gobble in response to a crow call at 7:15 a.m.

"We put a decoy out and I set up against a tree. Eric moved back and called, but nothing happened for the next hour," Kyle said.

They were close to giving up on the scenario and Sullivan moved toward Eric. Calling one more time, they were surprised when the now closer bird responded loudly.

"A hen came out first, followed by a jake [a young gobbler] with a 4-inch beard," Kyle said. When the jake was 20 yards away, the boy's 12-gauge shotgun roared and the 15-pound bird folded at the load of No. 4 shot.

"It was exciting. I had never had a wild turkey that close before," Kyle said. "Plus, it sure was a pretty hunt with the snow falling."

Primed for future turkey adventures, Kyle's parting words to Sullivan were, "So, where are we going next Saturday?"

Ken Perrotte can be reached at The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401, by fax at 373-8455 or e-mail at
Email: outdoors@freelancestar.com.

Fredericksburg, VA National Wild Turkey Banquet

Saturday, April 7th started off with snow on the ground. There has not been snow on the ground in April in like 20+ years! Luckily it was only 2 inches and the roads were nice and clear. I had a local National Wild Turkey Foundation banquet to attend and work at. The local committee has doubled up the attendance this year and the banquet promised to be a good one. I got there at 9am ready to set up and the team pulled together and got everything ready.

The raffle table being picked over for great tickets on countless prizes and some great guns.

Some of our raffles girls and auction girls.

Brandon McGuire working over at the Jakes table helping to sign up new Jakes members and raffle off a new bicycle.

Tom Worrell and our local Virginia Fish and Game Officer talking about a recent bust of a poacher in Virginia. There is nothing I hate more then poachers! They are stealing the game that belongs to us all.
John Shaw who is a local artist here in Fredericksburg and his work is absolutely amazing. Every year he donates a couple of his great works to our chapter and they always do very well for the NWTF.

Some of our committee members!


Kelly Strauss and Family! His young daughter is getting a hair cut on Tuesday, one of her very first hair cuts and the her hair is being donated to Locks of Love. For the last several years, Kelly has been donating his services as our auctioneer and he does a great job with our crew! I have been lucky enough to be a spotter at several of these banquets and love it! I get to yell and have fun, what more can you ask for! Kelly, you have an amazing family!

We gave Brandon McGuire his scholarship for college and I got a moment to thank him for being a great friend! This chapter means a lot to me because it was at their Jakes Day that I was at passing out fishing rods to the kids where I met Brandon and Holly! I look forward to many more years of hunting with Brandon as he is has become a great friend.

Holly McGuire, Brandon McGuire, Bill Newman(Chapter Chair, Fredericksburg NWTF), myself and Kevin Grubbs(Virginia NWTF Regional Director).


Veronika walking around with a Thomas Kincaide print at our banquet!

Brandon with his scholarship.

Our live auction brought in $15,360.00 dollars for wild turkey habitat and conservation! With our raffles, silent auction, and memberships the committee had a wonderful night! Thank you to all the hunter conservationists who attended this event.