As it works to advance its mission of promoting wildlife conservation and preserving our hunting heritage, the National Wild Turkey Federation distributed more than $152,000 in December of 2009 to states and programs through the NWTF Hunting Heritage Super Fund, according to a release by the organization.
To date, the NWTF and its partners have invested more than $306 million in upholding hunting traditions and conserving nearly 14 million acres of wildlife habitat.
Some of the Federation’s Hunting Heritage Super Fund projects include improving wildlife habitat, supporting hunter education and providing opportunities for women, youth and people with disabilities to experience outdoor fun through outreach programs.
December’s Hunting Heritage Super Fund spending totaled $152,858 and included:
* Land Purchases: Spent $25,000 to purchase land or conservation easements to conserve wildlife habitat and provide additional hunting areas.
* Youth Education: Spent $21,486 to fund scholarships and educational projects, introduce youth to shooting sports, provide education boxes and conduct 4-H workshops.
* Volunteer and Professional Education: Spent $17,791 to provide educational opportunities, purchase staff equipment and more.
Habitat Enhancement: Spent $12,457 on programs to improve wildlife habitat including supporting the NWTF’s fall seed subsidy and Conservation Seed programs, purchasing equipment to improve habitat, creating wildlife openings and more.
Wild Turkey Restoration, Management and Research: Spent $12,102 to improve wildlife habitat by purchasing trapping and law enforcement equipment, providing research grant support and more.
JAKES: Spent $10,150 to introduce youth to outdoor activities, conservation and hunting through the JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) program.
Hunter Safety: Spent $1,800 to support hunter safety classes and initiatives. Purchased hunter safety materials and equipment such as interactive shooting systems.
Wheelin’ Sportsmen NWTF and Women in the Outdoors: Spent $1,700 to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in outdoor activities and learn about wildlife conservation through Wheelin’ Sportsmen and Women in the Outdoors outreach events across North America.
Hunting Heritage: Spent $500 to protect and promote our hunting heritage including contributions to the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
NWTF chapters invested an additional $49,870 in other special NWTF projects. In addition to helping fund projects like these, NWTF Hunting Heritage Super Fund banquets combine fun, fellowship and dedication to the wild turkey. They’re a great place to meet friends who are passionate about the outdoors, win valuable prizes and buy items unique to the NWTF. By placing the highest bid, attendees can take home sporting art, hunting guns, knives, calls, outdoor equipment and more.
The Hunting Heritage Super Fund supports the NWTF’s multitude of conservation and education programs with money raised from NWTF Hunting Heritage Banquets, donated by corporate sponsors and given to support wildlife conservation.
