TOLEDO, Ohio, April 29, 2011 – The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority will host physically challenged hunters tomorrow and Sunday for wild turkey hunting on the property of Toledo Express Airport. The hunters will depart on Saturday and Sunday morning at 4 a.m. and return to an airport hangar located at 11431 W Airport Service Drive each day at noon for lunch and an opportunity for photos. The hangar is located to the right of the airport terminal buildings – turn into the West Airport Entrance and turn right on West Airport Service Drive.

This event is hosted by the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, Wheelin’ Sportsmen/National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Maumee Valley Chapter and the Ohio Division of Wildlife. The purpose of the hunt is to team-up able-bodied guides with physically challenged hunters to assist the Toledo Express Airport in their Wildlife Hazard Management Plan.
It is the responsibility of Toledo Express Airport management to mitigate and control wildlife hazards in and around the vicinity of the airport property. Recent events have highlighted the increased risk of serious aircraft damage and the loss of human lives due to bird strikes. The annual spring turkey hunt decreases the risk of such events.

Toledo Express continually focuses on safety and wildlife management and is honored to be able to partner with such a great cause to fulfill this duty. The hunters volunteer countless hours to make the annual Wheelin’ Sportsmen Event possible and this is an excellent example of how volunteer manpower transforms a necessary task into something that provides a first-rate experience for deserving members of our community.

Wheelin' Sportsmen NWTF ensures that people with disabilities are afforded the opportunity to spend time outdoors and form valuable friendships along the way. In 2009, Wheelin' Sportsmen NWTF hosted 378 events nationwide that helped more than 8,000 participants enjoy a day of fun in the outdoors.

Through dynamic partnerships with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members have helped restore wild turkey populations across the country, spending more than $306 million to conserve 14 million acres of habitat for all types of wildlife.

For more information about Wheelin’ Sportsman/NWTF, visit www.wheelinsportsmen.org or call 1-800-THE-NWTF.