Making ‘Turkey Hunting Great Again’

April 15, 2016

By Christian Betancourt The Duncan Banner

Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation President Lyle Roggow hands Donald Trump Jr. a shotgun he won for his participation during the Oklahoma Lt. Governor’s 30th Invitational Turkey Hunt. Christian Betancourt/The Duncan Banner

Donald Trump Jr. and former Dallas Cowboy and OU safety Roy Williams along with several businessmen shared their hunting stories at the Simmons Center Thursday night.

All were hunters for the Oklahoma Lt. Governor’s 30th Invitational Turkey Hunt, an event sponsored in Duncan by Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation (DAEDF).

The hunters began their day at 4 a.m. to start the hunt with their designated guides. Once all the turkeys were weighed and the feathers from boots were cleaned, the group gathered to compare birds, mock those who came back empty handed and praise the winners.

Trump, who has participated in this Duncan event before, was guided by Duncanite Chuck Siess. The pair got two birds.

“They put me back with Dr. Siess again this year,” said Trump. “Both of the birds I shot were taken with one shot. All this was done on purpose. We’re here to make turkey hunting great again. We had a great time and thank you for inviting me here again. It’s been an honor to be back here and I look forward to next year.”

Siess responded after being paired with Trump last year, he decided to try a different hunt approach this week.

“This year I let him do whatever he wanted do and see if he knew what he was talking about,” he said. “Well he ‘trumped’ me. He is really a unique individual.”

Williams was not as lucky, as his partner Tony High and himself were not able to get any birds during the competition.

“Turkey. He didn’t get away from us. We never saw him,” said Williams joking with the crowd. “I’m very competitive and my blood is boiling right now because I didn’t get anything. I had a great time. See you guys next year.”

Wounded veteran Jonathan Wilson took fourth place with a 20 pound turkey and told his tale about the kill.

“We set up and we made a perfect shot on the bird,” he said. “This bird flops into this (electric) fence and it shocked him right back to life.”

His guide Matt Labyer, however, had a different version of how the event transpired.

“This really happened,” he said. “He shoots. When he pulled the trigger I was expecting something to die right there. The turkey was not dead. He walked into the electric fence, so hard that feathers burned on the electric fence. I grabbed this turkey by the neck and it’s blinking at me. This bird is alive. This bird got shot by a 10  gauge shotgun, electrocuted, shocked and stabbed and it kept going. I think it’s an honor to be able to take someone who has done so much for our country.”

Wilson received a shotgun for his service. He also won a second shotgun during a raffle and gave it to Randall West, the man that brought him to the hunt.

DAEDF President Lyle Roggow reminded the group what the hunt was all about.

“This is about being sportsman about it,” he said. “It’s also about the privilege and the opportunity to go about and enjoy the outdoors. It’s about creating relationships. This is an opportunity for our community to shine, while entertaining these folks who may directly or indirectly aid in the development of our state and local economy. The connections made with these guests may lead to the investment and jobs in Oklahoma and the Duncan area.”