NWTF Wisconsin Pledges $93,500 to Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. in 2014

National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) chapters in Wisconsin budgeted more than $93,500 to further the Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative within the state in 2014.

The NWTF’s Wisconsin State Chapter board of directors reviewed and allocated funding. Valuable partners will provide $94,000 in match funding.

“The Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative is supported by our state boards and chapter members,” said Becky Humphries, executive vice president of conservation. “Hunting Heritage Super Fund money is critical to implementing the initiative, and investing in focal landscapes and hunter recruitment.”

The NWTF’s Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative is a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to give the NWTF more energy and purpose than ever. Through this national initiative, NWTF has committed to raising $1.2 billion to conserve and enhance more than 4 million acres of essential upland wildlife habitat, create at least 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting, shooting and outdoor enjoyment. Without hunters, there will be no wildlife or habitat. The NWTF is determined to Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.

The board of directors dedicated $40,000 in NWTF funding to proposed Hunting Heritage Super Fund projects that will save 592 acres of vital habitat in Wisconsin. Projects include:

• Planting mast-producing trees and shrubs to provide high-quality turkey food
• Maintaining wildlife openings and trails to create and enhance brood cover
• Treating woody invasive species that prevent forest regeneration
• Restoring native grasslands and oak savanna to provide brood cover
• Purchasing prescribed burning equipment for long-term habitat maintenance
• Mechanical treatment of mid-story vegetation to enhance oak forest
• Helping purchase a grain drill for establishing native grassland brood habitat
• Providing NWTF members with low cost seed and seedlings

The board of directors also provided $53,500 to support education, outreach and hunter access efforts to save hunting in Wisconsin. Funding includes:

• JAKES, Women in the Outdoors and Wheelin’ Sportsmen events to provide outdoor education and experience for youth, women and people with disabilities
• Scholarships and other educational programs across the state
• 4-H shooting sports, hunters sfety and National Archery in the Schools programs
• Increased access so hunters have places to hunt

Proceeds from Hunting Heritage Banquets help fund NWTF projects in Wisconsin.

National Wild Turkey Federation

The National Wild Turkey Federation is the leader in upland wildlife habitat conservation in North America. The NWTF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving the wild turkey and preserving our hunting heritage.

Through dynamic partnerships with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members have helped restore wild turkey populations throughout North America, spending more than $331 million to conserve nearly 16 million acres of habitat. Wild turkeys and hundreds of other species of upland wildlife, including quail, deer, grouse, pheasant and songbirds, benefit from this improved habitat.

The NWTF also brings new conservationists and hunters into the fold through outdoor education events and its Women in the Outdoors, Wheelin' Sportsmen, JAKES and Xtreme JAKES youth outreach programs. Our dedicated NWTF volunteers introduce about 100,000 people to the outdoors through these programs every year.

Founded in 1973, the NWTF is headquartered in Edgefield, S.C., and has local chapters in every state and Canada. According to many state and federal agencies, the restoration of the wild turkey is arguably the greatest conservation success story in North America's wildlife history.