HARRISBURG, PA - Just in time for turkey season, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has an expert hunter in-house.
World champion turkey caller and television personality Matt Morrett this week began full-time employment with the Game Commission. While Morrett’s impressive hunting background no doubt will assist him in his new role, it’s his marketing expertise that landed him with the agency full-time.
Morrett, a Dauphin County native who regularly hosted programming on Avian-X TV, is the Game Commission’s new marketing specialist. He’ll work to increase awareness about the agency, help build the Game Commission’s brand and, ultimately, will work to keep existing hunters involved and satisfied in their pursuits and introduce more newcomers to hunting tradition.
“I’ve spent the past 20 years working in the hunting industry, and it’s been extremely rewarding,” Morrett said. “But to work now for, what in my opinion, is the finest conservation agency in the country, is even more special and I’m excited for the opportunities ahead.”
Morrett works as part of the Game Commission’s Bureau of Information and Education. Steve Smith, who heads up the bureau, said Morrett’s work will play a vital role in recruiting new hunters.
“It’s no secret that hunter recruitment is essential to wildlife management, and the best way to recruit new hunters might just be by maintaining strong ranks of experienced hunters to mentor those who are starting out,” Smith said. “Because marketing helps to achieve such results, an investment in marketing – as the Game Commission has made with this hire – is an investment in the future of hunting and trapping in Pennsylvania, as well.”
Morrett, a Central Dauphin High School graduate, also has worked previously for Zink Calls and Hunters Specialties. He has been a World and Grand National Turkey Calling Champion, a member of the National Wild Turkey Federation’s national advisory board and a Mossy Oak National Pro Staff member.
But there’s more to Morrett than turkey-hunting prowess, said Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans. Throughout his career, his marketing work had helped to take the companies for which he’s worked to new levels, said Burhans, who noted Morrett is a great hire for the agency.
“A lot of Matt’s success stems from who he is as a person,” Burhans said. “He’s someone hunters identify as one of their own, and someone they know they can trust. That goes a long way in fostering the types of lasting partnerships that make wildlife conservation fire on all cylinders. We couldn’t be happier to put Matt’s talents to work for the Pennsylvania Game Commission to benefit the state’s hunters, trappers and wildlife.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Travis Lau - 717-705-6541
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