Burke’s been turkey hunting with his father in St. Helena Parish since he was eight years old, and harvested his first bird there three short years later. Most of what he’s learned came from his father’s and his own field experiences, and he spends much of his time now passing this knowledge on to others and recruiting them into the sport. Having chased birds throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas, Burke focuses most of his efforts to hunting near Greensburg, LA in St. Helena Parish, where he currently lives and serves as the the city’s Mayor.

Teaching comes naturally for Burke; he graduated from Northwestern State University in 2005 with a Master’s Degree in Adult Education, has taught English and Speech in the Livingston Parish school system for four years, and currently serves as the Student Affairs Officer for the Louisiana Technical College’s Florida Parishes’ Campus in Greensburg, LA. Prior to this, Burke served four years in the United States Marine Corps as a field radio operator in the 2nd Marine Division. However vast his accomplishments and busy schedule have been, they’ve never deterred him from his greatest passion—the pursuit of the long beard gobbler.