EDGEFIELD, S.C. — Since 1985, the National Wild Turkey Federation's Mississippi Chapter has raised and spent more than $1.8 million on conservation, hunter education, improving land access, research and many other projects within the state.
During the last five years, the chapter has spent nearly $100,000 to help improve wildlife habitat through funding critical wild turkey habitat projects and the Federation's Seed Subsidy program. Now, the state chapter is unveiling a new strategic plan to help them do even more for conservation and upholding the state's hunting tradition.
"The NWTF's Mississippi Chapter works very closely with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks to help fund a lot of different projects," said Joe Wood, an NWTF regional director in Mississippi. "To help continue the great work our volunteers are already doing, the state chapter has created the NWTF's Mississippi Wild Turkey Strategic Plan."
The strategic plan lays out the state chapter's goals for habitat enhancement, strategies for improving hunter safety education and awareness, plans for improving hunter access and supporting NWTF's outreach programs.
"The Mississippi Chapter is dedicated to working for conservation and promoting the state's rich hunting tradition," said Joe Koloski, NWTF's regional biologist for Mississippi. "The NWTF partners with various organizations and agencies, like the MDWFP, to achieve the best possible benefits for hunters and wildlife. Last year, NWTF and MDWFP partnered to field a cooperative biologist who is working in Mississippi to further the goals of the MDWFP wild turkey program and the mission of the NWTF."
The Bigger Picture
The Mississippi plan is part of the larger North American Wild Turkey Management Plan, a compilation of objectives covering the United States, all Canadian provinces home to wild turkeys and selected areas of Mexico.
The plans are being written on a national, regional and state-specific basis and will act as a road map to the help NWTF's dedicated volunteers work with wildlife management agencies to target the most important habitat needs in their areas.
Because hunting is such an integral part of conservation, this plan will continue to support ongoing efforts to recruit the next generation of hunters as well as making sure they have places to hunt.
"The plan will be dynamic and adaptable to balance the social needs of people with the biological needs of wildlife, and will provide accurate and relevant science-based support for wild turkey management," said Dr. James Earl Kennamer, NWTF's senior vice president for conservation programs. "It will serve as a guiding light for NWTF's volunteers and will help ensure their dollars are spent in ways that will get the greatest good by having the tools needed to make informed decisions when spending their hard-earned Hunting Heritage Super Fund dollars."
According to NWTF's NAWTMP Coordinator Mark Hatfield, working with non-government organizations, government agencies, corporations and other partners in conservation gives NWTF volunteers key opportunities not only to strengthen and improve habitat, but also to forge the relationships needed for across-the-board cooperation.
"Today, the cost of even the smallest habitat project requires the resources of multiple partners whose very influence could have far-reaching effects on wild turkeys," said Hatfield. "For example, partnering with those who are improving habitat for the gopher tortoise in Mississippi, which is a threatened species, also improves wild turkey habitat. By working together, project partners can leverage Hunting Heritage Super Fund expenditures with Endangered Species Act dollars to do far more work than either group could have alone."
The NWTF will continue to work with state wildlife agencies, the USDA's Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and numerous other partners to maintain critical habitat on millions of acres of public and private properties across North America for a multitude of species.
"The NWTF's long-term relationships with these partners were key to the restoration of the wild turkey across the U.S., and having them on board is a blessing for the wild turkey's future," Kennamer said.
This year, the NWTF will celebrate 35 years of success. As rich as these triumphs have been, there is still much work to do. Find out how you can be a part of the Team NWTF by calling 1-800-THE-NWTF or visit their Web site at www.nwtf.org.
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