Inaugural Smith Memorial Turkey Hunt set Saturday, April 8

The one-day Kaytlyn Smith Memorial Turkey Hunt is slated to take place on Saturday, April 8 in Franklin County with participants able to hunt for prized gobblers on their private land, leased property or public land.

Check-ins, which begin at 8 a.m., and an awards presentation will be held at the home of Les Hill at 1005 Hill Road Southwest in Meadville.

Registration to participate in the hunt is under way now through Wednesday, April 5 with a $50 entry fee for adults (ages 16 and older) and $25 for youth. ‘Advance registration forms are currently available at Larkin Veterinary Clinic, Homochitto Hollow Gunworks and Copiah County Co-op.

Prizes will be awarded in both the adults and youth divisions. Scoring for top honors among hunters will be on a formula of weight, spurs and main beard from submitted turkeys.

Those taking part will also be treated to freshly prepared jambalaya at the check-in site and live entertainment featuring The Lincoln Outfit will take place between 5 and 8 p.m.

Additionally, a raffle for numerous donated prizes is under way with tickets available for $2 each or three for $5 and can be purchased by contacting Shannon Zimmerman, Sara Good, Emilee Whitehead, Korbyn Cummings, Sarah Stebbins, Hope Johnson or Adrian Newell.

The raffle will start at 11 a.m., with winners called every hour throughout the day.

Organizers also noted registered participating hunters will automatically be entered into prize drawings associated with the fund-raiser.

The hunt was created to honor the memory of Smith, 22, who died July 4, 2022, in an all-terrain vehicle mishap.

Proceeds from the hunt will benefit a scholarship fund in Smith’s honor with future presentations planned for a Franklin County High School student along with a Copiah-Lincoln Community College student involved in the respiratory therapy program on the institution’s Natchez campus.

Smith, from Meadville and who was the daughter of Chad Smith and Shannon Zimmerman, had worked as a registered respiratory therapist at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Brookhaven at the time of her death, and had a great love for the outdoors — especially anything associated with hunting and fishing.

Additional information related to the competition, associated activities, raffle items and sponsors can be found on Facebook via the “Kaytlyn Smith Memorial Turkey Hunt” page or by calling 601-597-3882 or 601-384-6462.