The Alabama Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) recently allocated more than $143,000 in Hunting Heritage Super Funds and Tag Funds for wild turkey projects in Alabama.
“We are proud to partner with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) on the conservation of wild turkey in Alabama,” said Craig Harris, Alabama NWTF Chapter President. “Working together, we can ensure this important natural resource is available to future generations of Alabamians.”
“We thank NWTF and the Alabama Chapter Board of Directors for helping to support the conservation of wild turkey in Alabama,” said Chris Blankenship, ADCNR Commissioner. “With their assistance, we will continue working to ensure the future of this resource for generations to come.”
$35,392 was donated to the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) to fund projects, including wildlife habitat management and the publication of the annual wild turkey report, ‘Full Fans & Sharp Spurs.’
$107,655 was approved for other turkey projects statewide.
That funding allows the state to draw down $786,712 in matching funds provided by other conservation partners available to positively impact approximately 126,000 acres statewide through the enhancement of turkey habitat.
The funding also supports efforts to increase access to hunting opportunities and investigate why we are experiencing wild turkey declines in parts of the state.
Most of the funding donated to WFF will be used on Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) and Special Opportunity Areas (SOA) throughout the state to support habitat management and other wild turkey programs. Some of the donation will also be used to purchase much-needed wildlife habitat management equipment.
“More than $23,000 of this generous donation offers us access to federal matching dollars, which makes the donation go even further,” said Chuck Sykes, WFF Director. “Since federal matching dollars play such a major role in how our division is funded, contributions like this are extremely important.”
The WFF is primarily funded by money generated through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. That money is then matched on a nearly three-to-one ratio by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through funds allocated to Alabama from the Pittman-Robertson Act. WFF does not receive any appropriation from the state’s General Fund.
In addition to the monetary donation, the Alabama NWTF chapter provides financial support for prescribed burn projects that help manage quality habitat in public hunting areas, costs associated with public hunting land acquisitions, the Adult Mentored Hunting Program, the Archery in the Schools State Championship, and the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program.
Five species of wild turkeys are native to North America, and wild turkeys live in all 67 Alabama counties. The eastern wild turkey is found throughout forested habitats in Alabama, from the Appalachian Mountains in the north to the Mobile-Tensaw Delta swamps in the south.
The NWTF estimates that there are 300,000 wild turkeys living in the state of Alabama, which puts the state somewhere in the top seven states nationally for wild turkey population.
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management, and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through four divisions: Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries.
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