Mike Hayden began the invitation-only turkey hunt as governor

? Former Kansas Gov. Mike Hayden has seen plenty change since he started the Kansas Governor’s turkey hunt in 1987.

The 71-year-old Hayden wrapped up his latest hunt Saturday in El Dorado. The Wichita Eagle reports that he’s the only hunter, out of thousands who’ve been invited, to have attended all 29 events.

While the first hunt was just for Kansans and held in Butler County, this year’s event invited hunters from 20 states spread across more than 20 Kansas counties. Several youths and wounded veterans were also afield, all expenses paid.

Hayden says the decoys have gotten better and the wild turkey population larger.

Over the years, he figures he’s checked in about 22 turkeys. Some years he left his permit unfilled when no trophy tom appeared.