Beards for Benefits holds 8th Annual Turkey Hunt

Beards for Benefits, a Southwest Georgia nonprofit, held its eighth annual Turkey Hunt on Saturday, April 6.

Beards for Benefits is a non profit organization that brings together wounded veterans and children with disabilities to turkey hunt and to enjoy the great outdoors.

Each year 15 to 20 teams participate in the hunt. A team is made up of a veteran, a disabled teen, and a hunting crew.

Klay Armstrong, the event’s organizer, said the nonprofit started in 2006 when he was in a bad accident. He started going on handicapped hunts to be able to get to a place where he could hunt again.

“If it worked for me, it will work for these vets and kids. Just put these kids and vets together and let them spend a weekend turkey hunting – free of charge – and see if we can make these vets realize it’s not as bad as they think it is,” Armstrong said.

“We have a banquet two weeks prior to each hunt to raise money for these kids; we buy wheelchairs, medical assistance and we help vets with vehicles and tires and whatever else they need,” Armstrong added.

On Friday, the attendees met at 2 p.m. for a meet and greet and to receive their hunting team assignments. A dinner concluded the 2024 Hunt Kickoff Friday evening event. Some of the attendees are provided lodging on the property, and others are put in a hotel.

On Saturday, the attendees go hunting. Some hunt all day and others hunt until the middle of the day.

On Sunday, the attendees are given lunch and then head home.

The location of the hunt rotates yearly. The hunts take place on land provided by local landowners in the Seminole, Early, Decatur and Miller County areas.

The turkey hunt is a free event. If you would like to support Beards for Benefits and its mission contact Armstrong directly at directly at 229-309-1723