Turkey Tracks Foundation

Turkey Season will be opening here in Indiana on April 25.  That means that Turkey Tracks will have hunters in the field this weekend.  The Turkey Tracks Foundation is an organization that provides turkey hunting opportunities to individuals that are disabled or terminally ill at no cost to those individuals.

Carol Corey with her son-Eric

Eric Corey lived to hunt.  If he could,  he would hunt 24 hours a day.  In 2001 at 15 years old he was diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Mark Smith of Raghorn, INC. knew what should be done, he started making phone calls.  They were able to secure a hunt with Safari Nordik and airfare in a private plane through family friend, Leigh Smith.  Tina Pattison of Hunt of a Lifetime arranged a shopping spree to outfit Eric for hunting in northern Quebec at Gander Mountain.  The film that was captured on that trip broadcast on the Sportsman Channel where it drew the attention of the Raghorn's key sponsor-Rangemaster Outfitters.
Brian Busch, the owner of Rangemaster Outfitters contacted Mark and asked if Eric's parents would let him travel to Africa to pursue game there.  These trips were just the beginning.  Through numerous other hunting related organizations Eric was able to go on hunts that he had only imagined.

Eric told his parents that he felted he was so blessed to have had so many opportunities but he wanted to share this opportunity with other hunters with disabilities and terminal illnesses.  He wanted to give back to others in the community the opportunities that he had.

Measuring Spurs at the Annual Turkey Tracks Event

In April of 2009 Eric hosted the first Turkey Tracks.  Ten hunter's attended.  The event ran through the weekend resulting in 6 of the 10 hunters harvesting a turkey.  Eric accomplished something that very few ever will. Every year since on opening weekend hunters have taken to the field with the Turkey Tracks Foundation.  On January 18, 2012 Eric Corey passed away, leaving an incredible legacy behind.

This first weekend in turkey season the Turkey Tracks group will be together again guiding hunters in the field.  This will be our first year without Eric.  I know we will all miss him terribly but as we see the smiles on the faces of the hunters bringing in turkeys, we can measure the legacy that he planned.
If you or anyone you know would like to donate to the Eric Corey Turkey Tracks Foundation you may do so through the Northern Indiana Community Foundation.
Here is the event on Facebook.