Another Year of Hunting Heritage Success: North Carolina’s Pirate Classic

Nearly 350 young hunters registered for the North Carolina Pirate Classic this turkey season, marking one of the largest youth hunting events in the country. The Pirate Classic, held in Farmville, North Carolina, near East Carolina University has been held annually for youth 17 or younger and continues to grow thanks to founders Miles Minges and John Tate, along with its many partnerships including Mossy Oak and the NWTF North Carolina Pitt County Chapter.

“We could not pull this off without the help from so many volunteers from the NWTF Pitt County Chapter, judges, sponsors and the NC Pirate Classic committee members,” said Minges. “It certainly takes a village.”

Youth hunters from all corners of North Carolina registered (ncpirateclassic.com) prior to the hunt and then hunted with a mentor on April 1. Youth hunters without access to hunting land were provided property by Pirate Classic organizers and NWTF volunteers with the help of private landowners.

Successful hunters brought harvested gobblers back to the event in Farmville where the birds were scored using the NWTF Wild Turkey Records scoring system. Total scores were displayed on a large board at the event throughout the day. Participants received an NWTF JAKES membership, door prizes and the opportunity to win a North Carolina lifetime hunting license, firearms and more.

The event provided an area for kids and families to hang out and celebrate the outdoor lifestyle and share stories with one another, plus a delicious BBQ lunch.

“The event is much more than just scoring the kids’ birds,” Tate said. “It is a way to bring together the entire community to talk conservation, wild turkey and about how everyone’s hunt went. Whether kids harvest a bird or not, this event is designed to get youth afield and to make turkey hunting a perennial activity in their lives.”

This year, 101 youth harvested a bird, 34 for the first time. Additionally, 20 North Carolina lifetime hunting licenses were given to youth. Fifteen were donated by The NC Strut Masters Championship, and the remaining five were donated by the North Carolina Wildlife Habitat Foundation by Michelle Bridges in memory of her father.

In addition to the NWTF, Mossy Oak and the NC Wildlife Habitat Foundation, the 2023 sponsors included: Springhill Outfitters, Carolina Caliber, Yeti, Hayden Outdoors Real Estate, Sam Jones BBQ, Mossberg, Leupold, Nomad, Woodhaven Custom Calls, Higdon Decoys, BigRock Powersports, Retay, Blackgate, Down East Gear, CamoSpace, RedLine Bow Hunting, Carolina Ice, Whitetail Properties Real Estate, Carolina Quality Air, Doug Henry of Farmville, RA Wood Farms, Simply Natural Creamery, Robinson Law Firm, Old North State Trust, ASAP Event Design, The Overton Group, Hilton Hotel of Greenville, United Rentals, IDM Mulching, Smiles by Shaw and Coffman’s Mens Wear.