Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics, and Sportsmanship (JAKES) is a National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) youth program designed to help pass on the tradition of hunting, teach the principles of turkey population and habitat management, hunting ethics, and safe and responsible hunting principles, and to instill land and resource conservation ethics. The USDA Forest Service often cooperates with the NWTF in co-sponsoring JAKES Events on National Forest lands. The NWTF and Forest Service recognize the number of turkey hunters is growing yearly, and increasing numbers of young people are learning to hunt without the benefits of an older mentor. Since there is no standard format for conducting a JAKES event, organizers can be creative in making the event fun and entertaining for kids. This outdoor conservation program has been well received across the country. The NWTF and Forest Service combine resources to enhance the awareness of natural resource conservation to future hunters and anglers.
