Contact Pete Muller at (803) 637-7698

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation applauds the passage of the Natural Resources Management Act (S. 47), a public lands package containing critical conservation program reauthorizations and provisions benefiting sportsmen and women nationwide. Senators Lisa Murkowski, R-AK, and Maria Cantwell, D-WA, introduced the bill in January.

The permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund — the vital piece of legislation created to protect land and water resources and provide recreation opportunities expired September 2018 — is included in the Natural Resources Management Act and is a huge achievement for the outdoor community. The act also sets aside 3 percent of LWCF funding specifically to provide public access projects to federal lands.

Other beneficial provisions include:

• Reauthorizing the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, a voluntary program to provide financial and technical assistance for private landowners to restore and conserve fish and wildlife habitat
• Requiring federal land management agencies identify opportunities for hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation on public lands
• Clarifying all federal public lands are open for hunting and fishing unless specifically closed
• Allowing qualified volunteers to manage wildlife populations through hunting on national parks

“We thank the senate and house for prioritizing conservation and public access through this bipartisan lands package,” NWTF CEO Becky Humphries said. “Lack of access is a significant problem faced by the outdoor community, and provisions in the Natural Resources Management Act will help afford more opportunities for our nation’s hunters and anglers. We look forward to President Trump signing this important legislation into law.”

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. The NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative is a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to raise $1.2 billion to conserve and enhance more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruit at least 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting. For more information, visit NWTF.org

National Wild Turkey Federation
770 Augusta Rd., Edgefield, SC 29824