National Wild Turkey Federation facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | NWTF |
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| Formation | 1973 |
| Type | Wildlife Conservation |
| Headquarters | Edgefield, South Carolina, United States |
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Region
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North America |
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Membership
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More than 250,000 |
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Key people
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Becky Humphries, CEO |
| Website | https://www.nwtf.org/ |
The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) is a group that works to protect wild turkeys and keep hunting traditions alive. It's a non-profit organization, which means it doesn't aim to make money. Instead, it uses its funds to help wildlife.
The NWTF has over 250,000 members. These members are in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and 14 other countries.
Contents
What is the NWTF?
The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) is a private group. It was started in 1973. Its main goals are to protect wild turkeys and to keep hunting traditions going.
More than 250,000 members and volunteers help the NWTF. They work with wildlife groups and companies. Together, they have helped wild turkey numbers grow. Now, there are over 7 million wild turkeys in North America.
The NWTF has also helped improve land for wildlife. They have worked on more than 17 million acres (about 6.9 million hectares). They have spent over $372 million on protecting habitats and teaching people about nature.
Through its programs, the NWTF has taught many kids, women, and people with disabilities about outdoor skills. They have programs like JAKES, Women in the Outdoors, and Wheelin' Sportsmen. These programs help people enjoy nature. They also teach why it's important to manage wildlife and appreciate hunting.
Helping Wild Turkeys and Habitats
The NWTF supports scientific ways to manage wildlife. They work on public, private, and company-owned lands. Experts on wild turkeys help the NWTF. They give advice on research, management, and education programs.
The NWTF works with many partners. These include wildlife agencies and companies. They sign agreements to work together. This helps improve millions of acres of land for wildlife. NWTF experts share information. They help partners use the best ways to manage forests and open lands.
Bringing Turkeys Back: Making Tracks
Making Tracks is a program that helps bring wild turkeys back. The NWTF works with state and federal wildlife groups. They move wild turkeys to new areas where they can thrive. Since 1990, wild turkey numbers have more than doubled!
Here's how they do it:
- Catching turkeys: In places where there are many turkeys, they use nets to catch them.
- Moving turkeys: The caught turkeys are put into special boxes. Then, they are released in areas that have good homes for them but few or no turkeys.
- Providing help: The NWTF gives equipment and boxes for trapping and moving turkeys. They also help organize these transfers between states and countries.
Since the 1950s, over 192,000 wild turkeys have been moved. The NWTF, started in 1973, helped speed up this work. They provided equipment, money, and volunteers. Today, there are over 7 million wild turkeys in North America.
The NWTF also works on other projects. These include:
- Creating areas where people can hunt.
- Planting food for wildlife.
- Developing water sources.
- Using controlled fires to improve land.
- Hosting outdoor learning events for women, children, and people with disabilities.
- Helping to bring back the Gould's wild turkey in Arizona.
Planning for Turkeys: North American Wild Turkey Management Plan
This plan uses special computer maps (geographic information systems) to find good places for wild turkeys. It has helped create turkey populations on about 2 million acres (about 809,000 hectares) in North America. In the future, the plan will focus on finding important areas for turkeys in each state.
Saving a Special Turkey: Go for the Gould's
Since 2003, the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the NWTF have moved 320 Gould's wild turkeys. These turkeys came from Mexico and Arizona. They were moved to mountains in southern Arizona. This is an area where Gould's turkeys used to live but had disappeared. The NWTF has spent over $428,000 to bring these turkeys back.
Helping Landowners: Project HELP
Project HELP (Habitat Enhancement Land Program) helps landowners improve their land. The NWTF gives advice and offers seeds and young trees at good prices. Since 1992, this program has helped plant over 161,000 acres (about 65,000 hectares) for wild turkeys and other animals.
Local Habitat Programs
The NWTF has programs that provide seeds and tree seedlings to local groups and landowners. There are eight different programs across North America, including:
- Operation Appleseed (Northeast)
- Operation Oak (Southeast)
- Operation Heartland (Midwest)
- Operation SOS (Upper Midwest and Ontario, Canada)
- Operation Big Sky (Great Plains)
- Guzzlers for Gobblers (West)
- Southern Great Plains Riparian Initiative
- Northern Plains Riparian Restoration Initiative
Since 1997, the NWTF has planted 1.5 million young trees. They have also built 856 water sources. These programs have improved over 5.7 million acres (about 2.3 million hectares) for wildlife.
Learning and Outdoor Fun
The NWTF has many programs to help people learn about the outdoors.
Families Afield
The NWTF helps create more chances for young people to hunt. They work with other groups to remove rules that make it hard for new hunters. So far, changes from this program have helped over 87,000 new hunters get started.
JAKES and Xtreme JAKES
- JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) started in 1981. It teaches kids up to age 12 about wildlife and safe, responsible hunting. It also covers other activities like fishing and hiking.
- Xtreme JAKES started in 2002 for teens aged 13 to 18. This program offers more advanced outdoor challenges for older teens.
NWTF Academic Scholarship Program
Each year, the NWTF gives out scholarships to students. They offer a $10,000 national scholarship. They also give many $1,000 state scholarships and $250 local scholarships. The NWTF also works with the FFA. They give a $5,000 scholarship to a student studying wildlife or agriculture. Each year, nearly $500,000 in scholarships are available to JAKES and Xtreme JAKES members. So far, over $2.2 million has been given out.
Wheelin' Sportsmen NWTF
This program helps people with disabilities enjoy the outdoors. Local groups across the country host events. These events include hunting, fishing, and shooting.
Women in the Outdoors
This program teaches women outdoor skills. They hold events across the United States and Canada. Women can try activities like hunting and hiking.
More Places to Hunt
This NWTF program helps create more land for hunters. They work on both public and private land. Since 1987, the NWTF has spent nearly $10 million. They have also helped get over 400,000 acres (about 162,000 hectares) of land for hunters.
Many hunters stop hunting because they can't find places to go. When fewer people hunt, wildlife agencies lose money. This money is used to protect habitats and create hunting areas. The NWTF is trying to fix this by buying land, making agreements to protect land, and working with lawmakers.
NWTF on TV and in Magazines
The NWTF shares information through TV shows and magazines.
Television Shows
The NWTF produces shows on the Pursuit Channel:
- "Turkey Call" is a fast-paced show about wild turkeys.
- "Get in the Game" gives tips on managing land to attract wildlife.
- "Primos Truth about Hunting"
Magazines
- Turkey Country is the main magazine of the NWTF. It has stories, research, and new product info for turkey hunters and conservationists.
- JAKES magazine has news and info for young people.
- Xtreme JAKES is an online magazine just for teens who like the outdoors and hunting.
Online Resources
- www.nwtf.org is the NWTF's website. It has the latest news, turkey hunting tips, and info about wild turkeys. You can also find links to their programs, message boards, and an online store.
- MyoutdoorTV.com has NWTF TV shows available to watch anytime.
See also
