Governor Mark Parkinson participating with former governors Graves and Hayden
EL DORADO — The 24th annual Kansas Governor’s One Shot Turkey Hunt will be held April 15-17 in El Dorado. Seventy-five hunters have committed to participate this year, including Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson and former Kansas governors Mike Hayden and Bill Graves. Seven youth, six from Kansas and one from Tennessee, will also be a part of the event.

Check-in will begin at 9 a.m. on April 15, followed by a get-acquainted social sponsored by the Past Shooters and Guides Association (PSGA). At 4 a.m. the following morning, celebrities, guides, and PSGA members will meet for a pre-hunt breakfast. Immediately after breakfast, guides and hunters will disperse to the field. Weigh-ins will be held throughout the day at the Butler County Community Center, 200 N. Griffith, where a public luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is invited to come socialize with the hunters at this $5 luncheon, sponsored by ICI Insurance and Butler County Economic Development.

Friday's hunt ends at 5:30 p.m. At 7 p.m., PSGA will hold a meeting and "Big Tom Social" for participants at the El Dorado Civic Center, 201 East Central. Attendees will include celebrities, PSGA members, guides, sponsors, and news media.

Friday's events will be repeated on Saturday, with a "One-Shot Banquet" rounding out the event from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The banquet will be held at El Dorado High School, 401 McCollum Road, and the public is invited, but tickets are required. (Phone 316-321-3835.) Introductions will be made, awards and prizes presented, and an auction held.

In 1987, former Governor Mike Hayden and former Executive Vice President of the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce Marv McCown founded this event with the concept of inviting key people from different professions as celebrities to hunt wild turkey. The purpose was to elevate awareness of local business opportunities, Kansas outdoor resources, and wild turkey conservation. This event has brought hunters from all over the world.

Participation as a celebrity is by invitation only. Past shooters may attend, on a first-come, first-served basis, only if they become a member of the Past Shooters and Guides Association.

For more information, go online to www.ksgovsturkeyhunt.com or phone 316-321-3835, 9 am. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
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