Outdoor News Junior Pro Team members find success in New York’s woods and waters

Nathan Martin IV and Gunnar Morris live on nearly opposite sides of New York state, and while Nathan is a relatively new sportsman, Gunnar is already an accomplished angler.

But they also have a lot in common. Both are members of the Outdoor News Junior Pro Team, and both achieved noteworthy outdoor accomplishments this year.

For Nathan, who lives in Cohocton, in Steuben County, it was his first turkey, harvested this spring at the tender age of 12.

Gunnar, who hails from Napanoch, in Ulster County, landed a big striped bass from the Hudson River in May. And while he is only 15, Gunnar has already amassed an impressive list of trophies on the water.

Both boys also hope to go into outdoor-related fields when they grow up.

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Nathan Martin IV

Nathan had to overcome more than his age and inexperience to bag his first gobbler. He also had to overcome a serious disability.

He has spina bifida, a birth defect that impacts the spinal cord, and he has to use a wheelchair full-time due to his condition.

Fortunately, Nathan has a lot of determination, along with supportive parents who are also big outdoor enthusiasts. Nathan was outfitted with a Trackchair all-terrain wheelchair, and an extra large blind to accommodate his chair.

Armed with a Stevens single-shot break-open .410 shotgun loaded with Tungsten Super Shot turkey loads, Nathan joined his dad, Nathan Martin III, and landowner Lloyd Collins for a May 17 hunt in Almond, in Allegany County.

Nathan felt a mix of emotions when the big gobbler came strutting in to their setup, following a hen.

“When the gobbler was in front of me, it was about 20 yards away, I shot and the gobbler immediately went right down and started flopping around,” he said. “When I was ready to shoot all I could think was, ‘I hope I don’t miss.’ I was very nervous but excited at the same time. I was shaking so much afterwards. We then went and looked at my kill and took lots of photos. It was an awesome day.”

Nathan’s turkey weighed 20 pounds and had one-inch spurs.

Nathan, who also enjoys bass fishing and hopes to go deer hunting this fall, also plans to parlay his interests and experience into a career some day.

“When I grow up I would like to be a hunting guide and take other disabled/non-disabled children hunting,” he said.

Gunnar Morris

When it comes to Gunnar Morris, his big catch was almost just like another day at the office.

Gunnar was fishing with his dad, Michael Morris, when he scored his big striper.

“Gunnar was fishing the Hudson River in the vicinity of Marlboro, when the fish hit a drifted blood worm,” Michael Morris said. “It was a great fight and it was one of nine he landed that day. We were fishing on a friends’ boat, Rachel Lynn Vickers and Chris Novak.”

As impressive as that day was, it was one of a growing number of stellar accomplishments for the young angler, his father said.

In fact, do an internet search for the name Gunnar Morris, and you will find several references to record-breaking achievements and awards.

“There’s much more to Gunnar’s fishing escapades than you would even imagine. He is a two-time world record holder thru the IGFA (International Game Fish Association),” Michael Morris said.

“He also wound up entering eight qualifying fish in the New York State DEC awards program and wound up first in four different species – striped bass, American shad, fallfish and fresh water drum,” he said. “Not to mention he has tons of awards through Mepps lures, quite a few tournament wins, was named angler of the year on a gentleman’s website and now has sponsors and ambassadorships. He’s actually quite an impressive young man and wants to pursue a career in the outdoors fields.”