Glenn Sapir, of Putnam Valley, N.Y., was recognized as the National Wild Turkey Federation's 2008 Communicator of the Year recipient during a Professional Outdoor Media Association conference luncheon Saturday, Aug. 2, in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Shooters from around the country are chomping at the bit to shatter clay targets at the National Wild Turkey Federation's 15th annual Turkey Shoot, held Aug. 15 to Aug. 17, 2008 at The Meadows National Gun Club in Forsyth, Ga.

The National Wild Turkey Federation's recently renewed agreement with Bank of America will help more than 500,000 NWTF volunteers and staff to continue to improve wildlife habitat and preserve our nation's hunting traditions.

On Aug. 15 and 16, the Steel Challenge World Speedshooting Championships will be offering first-time shooters a free introduction to shooting and firearm safety.  Several First Shots® seminars will be held each day starting at 9 a.m. Visitors to the range in Piru will have an opportunity to learn from professional instructors firearm safety and the basics of how to get started in handgun shooting. Afterward, seminar participants will be able to walk the competition course and see some of the world's fastest shooters as they compete for the world speed shooting title.

National 4-H Headquarters recognized Bill Stevens, retired Conservation Manager, Federal Cartridge Corporation, for his lifelong dedication to the 4-H Shooting Sports Program during the 2008 National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational in June.

Austin-area firearms dealers may have the Democrats to thank for brisk sales this summer. The prospect that the next presidential administration might favor new gun-control laws has gun enthusiasts bringing dollars and concerns to local firearms stores ahead of the November election.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public comments on its forest classification and motor vehicle route designation proposal for six state forests in an eight-county planning area in east-central Minnesota. The east-central forests include Land O' Lakes in Cass/Crow Wing counties; Hill River, Savanna, and Waukenabo in Aitkin County, Snake River in Kanabec County, and DAR in Pine County. The proposal also designates roads and trails on scattered DNR lands in Anoka, Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, southern Cass, and Washington counties.

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.

As the Olympics prepare to showcase shooters among the world's athletic elite, America's "Little League of Shooting Sports" is celebrating record participation as well as its influence on the Games in Beijing.  The U.S. Shooting Team has just eight spots for shotgun shooters. In trial competitions, 25 percent of those spots were won by alumni of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP), a national youth shooting league that's become a phenomenon across the country.

Thanks to a $10,000 donation from the National Wild Turkey Federation, raised through a unique auction, the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team is even closer to going for the gold this summer in Beijing.  The Federation donated a complete 2008 banquet package of 39 outdoor-inspired items for individual auction at GunBroker.com.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) reports that there were 19 hunting accidents in 2007, with one fatality. This is an increase of two accidents over the previous year but still a very small number considering that approximately 271,000 hunters spent more than 3 million days afield in 2006 (the latest year for which figures are available), agency staff report.

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.

Jon Gafner would be more than happy to give away the $25,000 worth of merchandise his store sign promises if Brett Favre came back to the Packers.  The marquee sign on Gafner's Jackson Street business, Jon's Sport Shop, says, "Hey Brett, $25,000 shopping spree if you come back!"

More than 1,000 sporting clays enthusiasts will pour into Forsyth, Ga., Aug. 14 to Aug. 17, for the National Wild Turkey Federation's Turkey Shoot sporting clays tournament.

Over 600 of them will shoot in the event, held at the Meadows National Gun Club. Many will stop in the local Bass Pro Shops in Macon to purchase their ammunition, and will stay at local hotels throughout the four-day shoot, pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into the local economy.

The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department is gearing up for its 14th Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop. The workshop will be held Sept. 19-21 at Outlaw Ranch, near Custer.

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The once rare gobble of the wild turkey is becoming more commonplace in areas across North America, thanks to the work of the National Wild Turkey Federation's Making Tracks program.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Legendary handgun maker and rising star in hunting rifles and shotguns, Smith & Wesson has become the newest sponsor of National Hunting and Fishing Day.

The annual celebration of hunters, anglers and conservation is set for Sept. 27, 2008.

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation recently signed an agreement with Daisy Outdoor Products that will help commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the NWTF's Women in the Outdoors outreach program.

GEORGIA — Cogongrass - a little-known, aggressive weed - is causing big problems for wildlife, having attacked millions of acres of wildlife habitat across the Southeast. But the National Wild Turkey Federation and its project partners are fighting back.

Framework for Conservation Title agreed upon, details expected early next week

– May 2, 2008 – Late last night, congressional leaders reached a framework agreement on the 2008 Farm Bill's Conservation Title. Lawmakers are still ironing out other titles to complete the new Farm Bill. Full conservation program specifics will not be publicly released until early next week, but the new Farm Bill appears to be moving forward with the possibility of floor votes in both the Senate and House next week.