Wednesday, April 14, 2021

NWTF Launches Online Wild Turkey Record Form

EDGEFIELD, S.C.—The National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wild Turkey Records Program began in the fall of 1982 and has since been the authority of wild turkey records for anywhere wild turkeys are legally harvested, accumulating over 27,000 registered birds. And with recent upgrades to the NWTF’s website, the program will now allow harvests to be submitted digitally.

“The NWTF Wild Turkey Records Program houses some of the greatest birds ever harvested,” NWTF Chief Information Officer Jason Burckhalter said. “As more folks are getting outdoors and just in time for this spring season, we are excited to streamline the submission process. We also recognize some folks prefer the traditional submission process, and we will continue to accommodate them.”

NWTF members will be able to record their bird’s beard length, weight and spur size on the online form. Once approved, a score will be awarded, and the turkey will be accounted for on NWTF’s interactive map, allowing individuals to see how their wild turkey ranks among others in their county, state and throughout the country. It also allows users to search for the highest-scoring turkeys ever registered.

“We encourage everyone to register their wild turkeys,” Burckhalter said. “This is a fun way to engage after the hunt, see where other birds are harvested throughout the country and how yours compares.”

For those seeking to complete any of the Wild Turkey Slams, birds must be registered through NWTF’s Wild Turkey Records Program.

For more information on registering your bird online or the Wild Turkey Records Program, visit www.nwtf.org/hunt/records.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation

When the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, there were about 1.3 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million turkeys. To succeed, the NWTF stood behind science-based conservation and hunters' rights. Today, the NWTF is focused on the future of hunting and conservation through its Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative. Since 2012, this 10-year initiative has already eclipsed goals of conserving or enhancing more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruiting or retaining more than 1.5 million hunters and opening access to more than 500,000 acres for hunting and other recreation opportunities. This critical work will continue to impact wildlife habitat and our great outdoors in the final years of the initiative.

Contact Pete Muller at (803) 637-7698 or pmuller@nwtf.net