MEDINA, Wis. — During the recent Wisconsin youth hunting weekend and while eating breakfast, Brady Wetter’s family noticed a turkey approaching from a nearby field.
Wearing just socks, he set up quickly to give his younger brother a chance at the bird.
“We grabbed all of our stuff, kind of just half asleep and we run out to the backyard and got just far enough away where we’re just out of the yard and set up a blind and set up decoys and started calling,” said Wetter.
With his father filming from the kitchen and his grandparents looking on, Wetter’s brother was able to harvest the bird. The video’s gone viral on TikTok now, but those close to Wetter know all about his dedication to helping others tag birds.
Wetter grew up in Dodgeville near the semi-famous Don Q Inn. He’s hunted turkeys since the age of 15, and wrestled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Wetter said he thinks some lessons from his wrestling days correlate to hunting.
“Not everything’s going to work. Not everything’s going to go your way in hunting. It’s the same in wrestling. If you stay on it and don’t give up, you’re going to be successful,” said Wetter.
He puts in the work ahead of time.
“I kill more birds right off roost than anyone I know and I’m definitely not the best turkey hunter by any means, but I just always put birds to bed,” said Wetter.
The night before a hunt, Wetter searches for turkeys as they fly up to roost in trees for the night.
“Now you know where birds are to start the morning tomorrow, and as soon as you know where they are, you know where to set up,” explained Wetter. “Generally, being able to set up on them right is half the battle.”
Wetter has found success and now enjoys helping others bag their first turkey.
“I get such a thrill. I get so much more enjoyment out of watching people harvest their first bird versus if I go out by myself and shoot another bird,” said Wetter.
During the recent Wisconsin youth hunt weekend, Wetter flexed his fowl-hunting skills by helping three others get birds. He preaches firearm safety to young hunters and said he thinks kids benefit from being outside and away from screens.
“They learn the value of overcoming obstacles, and they’re rewarded for their patience,” said Wetter.
And turkey hunters should have opportunities this year. The Department of Natural Resources said the turkey population looks good.
It’s one of the great comeback stories. After being completely wiped out in the state, turkeys were reintroduced in 1976.
“Through trap and relocation programs, they’re now all over Wisconsin. It’s one of those success stories about returning turkeys to the wild in Wisconsin. Every county has them,” said Bryan Woodbury, DNR Wildlife Biologist.
During the six-week spring season, Wetter takes hunters of all ages out to help them get a bird.
But he’s not a paid guide.
“Everything’s free. I enjoy it. I get just as much enjoyment out of it as anyone else. I struggle to charge for something like that,” said Wetter.
With many hunters relying on him, he said he has no problems approaching private landowners to gain access to their property.
“I’ve knocked on hundreds of doors, and I have lots of places I can turkey hunt because of it. Not everyone says yes, but there are some people who are more than happy to see you get a bird on their property,” said Wetter.
With the spring season underway, Wetter said he hopes to find success for other hunters and get them hooked on the sport he loves.