The National Wild Turkey Federation – Working to “Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.” Across Montana By Jason Tarwater, NWTF Regional Director jtarwater@nwtf.net
Founded in 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) is a 501 (c) (3) not for profi t organization dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage. The NWTF has a membership base of over 220,000 and is represented by chapters in all 50 states. Through its team of professional conservation and fi eld operations staff, along with dedicated grassroots volunteers, the NWTF works to conserve critical wildlife habitat and preserve the nation’s hunting heritage. Today, it is commonly recognized by the conservation community, that current levels of state and federal wildlife conservation funding are inadequate. As an important component of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, wildlife conservation is funded primarily through hunting license sales and federal excise taxes (Pittman-Robertson funds) on fi rearms, ammunition and archery equipment purchased by hunters and shooters. If this important source of funding is to continue to benefi t all species of wildlife, we must work to ensure that suffi cient hunter numbers persist well into Montana’s future. Critical issues facing the hunting community include the loss and degradation of wildlife habitat, lack of public hunting access, and declining hunter participation. The NWTF has responded to these issues by recently launching its “Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.” initiative. This is a far reaching national effort essential to the future of wildlife conservation. Through this initiative, the NWTF has committed to raising $1.2 billion to conserve or enhance 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, create 1.5 million hunters, and establish 500,000 new acres of hunting access during a 10 year period. What does this mean for Montana? These “Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.” goals are broken down within each state. In Montana, our goals are to improve the quality on 35,000 acres of forested habitat, restore and enhance 5,000 acres of riparian habitat, increase hunter access by 20,000 acres, recruit 500 new hunters, and promote ways to get new hunters and shooters active. These are lofty goals, but through fundraising efforts at our local banquets across the state, our volunteers believe these goals will be achieved.
Examples of projects that the National Wild Turkey Federation has helped fund across the state last year include the North Plains Riparian Restoration Initiative (NPRRI), which is a comprehensive landscape habitat initiative developed by the NWTF to address the future management of riparian areas and the conservation of this vital ecotype. Since 2007, over 41,650 acres have been conserved with over $5.6 million. Various prescribed fi re and forest thinning projects on U.S. Forest Service and BLM lands in the Ekalaka area and the Ashland Ranger District, to the Missouri River Breaks, Snowy Mountains, and Frenchtown area. The NWTF also provided funding to Montana’s Block Management Program to aid in opening up more public access for spring turkey hunting. At a national level, our Chief Operations Offi cer, Becky Humphries has testifi ed in front of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Federal Lands, to address forest policy reform, and encourage active forest management. “Active forest management benefi ts numerous wildlife species and their habitats as well as overall forest health. It’s matched with economic benefi ts to local economies and public recreational opportunities,” said Humphries. “Additionally, increased active forest management on federal lands will help prevent wildfi res and make it easier and less costly to fi ght them when they do occur.” NWTF volunteers were also active in recruiting new hunters through mentoring beginning hunters during last year’s spring turkey season. A few generous landowners allowed volunteers to take these young hunters turkey hunting for the fi rst time. In total, 11 youth, and 2 wounded veteran hunters participated, and harvested 9 turkeys. We are looking to spread this program across the state, and also in other hunting seasons, with our Save the Hunt Coordinator, Brandon Lavinder, from Bozeman (406) 600-6125. If you know of a new hunter, someone that has never hunted at all, or would even like to get involved as a mentor please let us know. A place to take these individuals is also something that we need in order to make this successful. Our Jakes Take Aim (youth), Women In The Outdoors, and Wheelin’ Sportsmen (physically disabled) programs are our way of helping to get everyone involved in the outdoors. The National Wild Turkey Federation has embarked on a mission to make signifi cant change across the nation in regards to wildlife habitat, public access, and recruiting new sportsmen and women. All of this work comes at a cost, and would not be possible without our great volunteers that organize various fundraisers across the state each year. If you would like to become active in what the NWTF is doing across the state, please contact your local chapter to see how you can get involved. We are always looking to build new chapters in other communities as well.