Rhett Akins Invites Jake Owen, Dierks Bentley + More to Annual Country Goes Huntin’ Charity Turkey Hunt
Later this week, Rhett Akins and his famous pals from the music and hunting world will join forces for his 11th annual charity turkey hunt, Country Goes Huntin’. Like the previous 10 years, the event will consist of a three day turkey hunt (March 22-24) in Dothan, Ala. There, pro hunters will pair with country singers/songwriters for a good time and, more importantly, a great cause.
Since Akins and his Country Goes Huntin’ co-founder Sam Klement started the event, it has evolved into something many artists, songwriters and hunters clear their schedule for year after year. Country Goes Huntin’ will start off with a Winchester 21-gun salute at camp, followed by Daryle Singletary singing the national anthem while Sergeant First Class Dana Bowman (retired from the Special Forces and the Golden Nights) conducts his emotional Jump for the Heroes parachute jump.
Following the hunt, the celebrities will come together for an all-star acoustic jam set on March 25, which is open to the public and will benefit Wounded Warriors.
“It’s always a really good time,” Akins tells Taste of Country. “It’s great that we’re raising money, but also, there are a lot of artists who have never been in the woods or never hunted, and some people just like to come and hang out. We don’t put them up in hotels or anything. We’re staying in cabins and RVs and tour buses and tents. It’s just three days of a lot of fun and being in the woods, sitting around pickin’ guitars, and raising money.”
The 2012 event will be a bit different than in years past, as it will be co-partnering with the Toadlick Festival. All artists who are scheduled to play the Toadlick Festival have an open invitation to participate in the private celebrity hunts during the mornings and afternoons, before taking the stage later that night.
“I didn’t really have to invite the artists [this year] because [of the] festival going on,” notes Akins. “There’s going to be Justin Moore, Montgomery Gentry, Rodney Atkins, Jake Owen, Billy Currington, Colt Ford, Dierks Bentley … there are going to be a lot of artists who are going to be playing Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the event. Me, Sam and the hunting guys down [in Dothan] will be taking [the artists] during the afternoon or in the morning on a turkey hunt not too far away from the event, and then they come up and play the show. This is the first year that we’ve done it in a combined fashion with an actual festival that’s going on.”
Artists anticipated to perform with Akins during the Country Goes Huntin’ acoustic jam include Daryle Singletary, Bobby Pinson, fellow Peach Picker and 2011 BMI Songwriter of the Year Dallas Davidson and plenty of surprise guests.
Tickets to the Country Goes Huntin’ acoustic jam are available online for $15 by clicking here. All donations and funds raised from ticket sales will once again benefit the Wounded Warriors foundation. Gates will open at 1:00PM with the concert beginning at 1:30PM. For more information on Country Goes Huntin’ and to see exclusive photos from the past hunts and concerts, visit the official website here.