During the last five years, volunteers from the National Wild Turkey Federation's 62 New York chapters have raised and spent more than $490,000 through Hunting Heritage fundraising banquets. These dollars have helped fund habitat enhancement projects, outreach and education programs and research within the state.

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With Governor Paterson signing New York's Junior Hunting bill July 23, the total number of states adopting legislation to reduce barriers to new hunters has climbed to 27 since the Families Afield program began in 2004. New data shows that across the United States, this program has opened doors to more than 131,000 youth and adults new to hunting.  New York state's Assembly Bill 11033 is expected to do the same as it lowers the age for mentored big game hunting to 14. Before this legislation was passed, New Yorkers had to be 16 years old, which was the oldest minimum age for big game hunting in the nation.

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