PENNSYLVANIA — Thirty-three years ago, a few dedicated turkey hunters gathered at State College, Pa., and formed the Keystone State's first chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation to promote wild turkey hunting and management.
Now the state chapter is being honored by Field and Stream magazine with a prestigious "Heroes of Conservation Award" in the November 2008 issue.
There was a time that there weren't turkeys in Pennsylvania," Jon Pries, NWTF's Pennsylvania State Chapter president told Field and Stream. "We don't have that problem anymore."
At the time the chapter was formed, wild turkey restoration efforts in Pennsylvania consisted primarily of releasing farm-raised birds into the wild.
"However, these birds lacked the survival instincts of wild birds and very few survived," said Pries. "Then we got smart and started working with the trap-and-transfer method to restore the birds. The state's population has come a long way since the chapter was formed in 1975."
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation has named Donna Leggett its vice president of development.
A native of St. Simons Island, Ga., Leggett joined the NWTF staff in 1998 after a career in fundraising in Washington, D.C. In her time with the Federation, she has worked to secure funding for many NWTF programs and projects from a diverse array of generous sources, including foundations, federal and state agencies, and individuals.
As vice president of development, one of Leggett's new projects is to help create the NWTF Foundation, which will help provide permanent funding for many NWTF programs and projects.
"I really enjoy helping people have a voice in the future of conservation," said Leggett. "It's rewarding for me to find that perfect match between a donor's interests and the goals of wildlife conservation to create a win-win situation."
OKLAHOMA - The National Wild Turkey Federation's Oklahoma chapters have budgeted $138,950 from the state Hunting Heritage Super Fund to invest in outreach, education, conservation, increased public land access and more within Oklahoma in 2009.
The NWTF Super Fund is administered jointly by the NWTF, its state and provincial chapters and wildlife agencies, and supports conservation and education programs. Since 1985, National Wild Turkey Federation chapters in Oklahoma have raised and spent more than $835,000 on wildlife habitat enhancements, land purchases, education, outreach and more within the state. NWTF chapters and cooperating partners across North America have raised and spent more than $279 million upholding hunting traditions and conserving more than 13.9 million acres of wildlife habitat since 1985.
"The Oklahoma State Chapter is dedicated to improving land access and wildlife habitat, and is backing up their commitment with the funds to make needed changes," said James Earl Kennamer, Ph.D., NWTF's senior vice president of conservation programs. "By directing Super Fund dollars to land access and wildlife habitat improvements, and strengthening outreach and education programs, the Oklahoma State Chapter is helping enhance habitat for all kinds of wildlife while contributing to a better outdoor experience."
WASHINGTON - Citing threats to mule deer, pronghorn and sage grouse habitat, as well as the federal government's failure to consider recent scientific studies in their management, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership announced its formal protest of the Bureau of Land Management's November 4 energy lease sale in Montana. The TRCP protest encompasses four parcels totaling approximately 5,200 acres in Beaverhead County, in a region widely regarded as a preeminent hunting and fishing destination where poorly managed energy development could have grievous repercussions.
Areas of habitat near or adjacent to critical big-game migration corridors in the Beaverhead National Forest are included in the sportsmen's protest. According to research by state fish and wildlife agencies, the U.S. Forest Service and academic institutions, energy projects and attendant development in the vicinity of migration corridors can lead to population declines in species such as mule deer.
To date, the BLM has neglected to apply stipulations to the protested parcels addressing migration needs. Once public lands are leased to the energy industry, a contractual obligation exists for the areas' development. Specifications for development must be defined before leases are issued if the public is to ensure that fish and wildlife resources are responsibly managed.
MISSOULA, Mont.-America's oldest and most prestigious North American conservation organization, the Boone and Crockett Club, which was founded in 1887 by Theodore Roosevelt, will be recognized during the January 8th Saturday Night Gala of the Dallas Safari Club 2009 convention as the recipient of the Peter Hathaway Capstick Hunting Heritage Award (PHCHHA).
Named after the well-known American author, whose defense of the international big-game hunting community and the role of hunting in the conservation of wildlife and its habitat made him a household name.
The Award's criteria include active involvement in education, hunting, conservation organizations, humanitarian causes, research, permanent endowments, and charitable giving. The intent of the PHCHHA is summed up in the PHCHHA Committees' words:
"The objective of this award is to bring honor and recognition to an individual, organization or group whose achievements reveal a sustained and significant contribution to the conservation of wildlife and its habitat. Additionally, the winner will have shown long-term commitment to our hunting heritage by pursuing that goal for the benefit of future generations."
Just the other day I stepped outside and realized it has started to get colder and the leaves are starting to change. I know that deer season is coming. I have started practicing with my muzzlerloader and sighting in my Tikka .308 getting a bulls eye everytime!!!
I went with my Dad down to my Grandma’s and we hung the trail camera. We checked it later that week and knew by the pictures that we had some nice trophy bucks on the property. We also got a very funny picture of a doe eating an apple. I have numerous pictures of a doe and her two fawns.
My Dad and I have gone scouting on the property and have found several scrapes. While scouting on the 4-wheeler, we saw a lot of tracks and worn down paths. We knew that this was going to be a good place to hunt. We got on the 4 wheeler and headed back up to grandma’s house and on the way there, we saw a spike. We stopped and watched him run away.
For more than 30 years the Wild Sheep Foundation has been engaged in federal land policy issues that promote restoration of wild sheep and to their native habitats.
The most important piece of policy that could ensure the future existence of wild sheep on federally managed lands is being considered in Idaho. The U.S. Forest Service, through the Payette National Forest Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS), is considering reducing domestic sheep grazing in wild sheep habitats – to further enhance the recovery of wild sheep.
However, new policy will not be decided until the public comment period has ended, which is set for December 26, 2008.
It is extremely important that you let the Payette National Forest know about your support for bighorn sheep. Your comments are needed – this is your chance to help “Put & Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain!”
In 2004 several groups, including the Nez Perce Tribe, appealed the Payette Forest Plan because they felt the Payette National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan did not provide enough protection for bighorn sheep. The Chief of the Forest Service, in his decision on the appeal agreed and said that the viability of the bighorn sheep across the entire forest were threatened by continued domestic sheep grazing in occupied bighorn sheep habitat. Because of this appeal the Forest Service has developed a draft SEIS, their plan on how to add more protection for bighorn sheep. WSF has worked closely with the Nez Perce Tribe, The Wilderness Society, Idaho Conservation League and the Hells Canyon Preservation Council to develop and promote concepts to include in the Forest Service management to protect bighorn sheep.
PENNSYLVANIA - Thirty-three years ago, a few dedicated turkey hunters gathered at State College, Pennsylvania, and formed the Keystone State's first chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation to promote wild turkey hunting and management.
Now the state chapter is being honored by Field and Stream magazine with a prestigious "Heroes of Conservation Award" in the November 2008 issue.
Since 1985 more than $4.6 million has been raised and spent by NWTF's Pennsylvania chapters on projects within the state, including more than $2.3 million improving wildlife habitat and more than $306,000 helping purchase 25,094 acres of land and conservation easements to preserve wildlife habitat and provide additional hunting areas.
"There was a time that there weren't turkeys in Pennsylvania," Jon Pries, NWTF's Pennsylvania State Chapter president told Field and Stream. "We don't have that problem anymore."
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