NWTF Texas Pledges $191,700 to Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.


EDGEFIELD, S.C. — National Wild Turkey Federation chapters in Texas budgeted $191,700 to further the Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative within the state for 2017.

"We were very pleased to provide these 2017 Super Funds in Texas for leveraging with partners to help habitat restoration, hunting heritage efforts, wild turkey restoration, and research," said Texas State Chapter President Craig White. "This is a good fit for our recently updated state strategic plan and our vision of more turkeys, more hunters and more places to hunt." said White.

The board of directors for the state chapter approved funding for projects that will control invasive plant species, maintain productive wildlife openings, create healthier forests and help to preserve our hunting heritage.

"The support our Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative receives from our state boards and chapter members is second to none," said Becky Humphries, NWTF CEO. "This super fund money is critical for us to achieve our mission and the Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt initiative."

Projects receiving funding include, but are not limited to:

Habitat Enhancements ($87,000) – on Matador, Gus Engeling, Gene Howe, Angelina-Neches/Dam B, Pat Mayse, Muse, Chaparral, and Yoakum Dunes wildlife management areas, as well as restoration work on wild turkey habitats around Texas.

Scholarships ($10,500) – graduating high school seniors, at the local and state level and graduate students.

Outreach Events ($14,000) – JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) programing, 4-H shooting sports and the National Archery in the Schools Program, Women in the Outdoors and Wheelin' Sportsmen.

Hunting Heritage ($10,000) – American Hunting Heritage Fund, Outdoor Adventures Program and opportunities for hunter recruitment, retention and reactivation work.

Wild Turkey Restoration ($5,000) – assist Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with costs of relation efforts for Eastern wild turkeys.

Research ($3,000) – Rio Grande wild turkey research in Oak Prairie Wildlife District was funded in cooperation with the university.

To read the entire budget summary, click here.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation
When the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, there were about 1.5 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 – a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to conserve or 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.



contact Pete Muller at (803) 637-7698