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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
ALABAMA – The National Wild Turkey Federation’s (NWTF) Alabama chapters budgeted $103,655 from the state Hunting Heritage Super Fund to invest in outreach, education, conservation, increased public land access and more within Alabama 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, NWTF chapters in Alabama have raised and spent more than $1.5 million 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 nearly 14 million acres of wildlife habitat.
“The Alabama 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 dollars to land access and wildlife habitat improvements, and strengthening outreach and education programs, the Alabama State Chapter is helping enhance habitat for all kinds of wildlife while making a better outdoor experience, not just for hunters – but for everyone.”
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation reports that Alabama hunters spend $847 million and 7.6 million days afield pursuing their sport each year.
The targeted projects approved by the Alabama State Chapter Super Fund Committee include:
- $33,600 to uphold outdoor traditions through the NWTF’s JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship), Women in the Outdoors and Wheelin’ Sportsmen outreach programs, educational programs, scholarships for youth, the 4-H Shooting Sports Program and the National Archery in the Schools Program.
- $27,000 to help NWTF members purchase seed, which will be planted to benefit wildlife, especially on private lands through the NWTF’s Seed Subsidy Program.
The NWTF’s Alabama State Board of Directors dedicated $43,055 to accomplish the following Hunting Heritage Super Fund projects in 2009, which will benefit Alabama’s resident and non-resident sportsmen:
1) Assist with printing costs related to “The Wild Turkey in Alabama,” a new, state-specific book that covers wild turkey topics from physical characteristics and behavior to diseases, to habitat management guidelines for landowners and more. This tool will help educate landowners and land managers in Alabama about how to better manage their lands for wildlife.
The NWTF Alabama State Chapter allocated $5,000 for this project.
Project partners: Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (AWFF) Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
2) Mulch dense hardwood stands on the Demopolis Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Greene County to remove undesirable vegetation and improve habitat for wild turkeys to lay eggs, raise poults and forage.
The project will benefit many other wildlife species as well.
The NWTF Alabama State Chapter allocated $6,250 for this project.
Project partners: AWFF and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
3) Purchase two tractor-mounted sprayers that will help control Cogongrass – a little-known, aggressive weed – and treat unwanted weeds in food plots, and also help with fire control during controlled burns on the Scotch WMA in Clarke County and the Perdido River WMA.
The NWTF Alabama State Chapter allocated $5,560 for this project.
Project partners: AWFF and Scotch Timber Company
4) Help fund the construction of three new wheelchair-accessible shooting houses at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Prairie Creek Physically Disabled Hunting Area, which is part of the Alabama’s physically disabled hunting/fishing trail. The new houses will meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The NWTF Alabama State Chapter allocated $1,200 for this project.
Project partners: local donors
5) Improve habitat for wild turkeys and other wildlife in the Blue Springs WMA, which lies within the Conecuh National Forest. The improvements include liming, fertilizing and planting the openings, mowing and disking, planting chufa and more.
The NWTF Alabama State Chapter allocated $3,045 for this project.
Project partners: AWFF, USDA Forest Service
6) Help fund a position for the Alabama NWTF Regional Biologist, who works in Alabama to secure grants and other outside funding for habitat enhancements and hunting heritage projects within the state.
The NWTF Alabama State Chapter allocated $10,000 for this project.
7) Sponsor the National Archery in the Schools Program’s (NASP) State Championship Shoot, which is expected to draw approximately 1,000 youth competitors.
The NWTF Alabama State Chapter allocated $5,000 for this project.
Project partners: Conservation and Natural Resources Foundation, EBSCO Industries, Academy Sports and Outdoors and Alabama Wildlife Federation
8.) Provide 15 new semi-automatic .22 rifles to enhance hunter education courses. The rifles will be placed in the AWFF’s three hunter education trailers, which travel throughout Alabama to promote firearms safety and active involvement in the shooting sports.
The NWTF Alabama State Chapter allocated $3,000 for this project.
Project partners: AWFF
9) Purchase archery equipment including bows, arrows and targets to help implement an archery program at Conecuh Springs Christian School in Union Springs, Ala.
The NWTF Alabama State Chapter allocated $1,000 for this project.
Project partners: NWTF’s Bullock County Longbeards chapter
10) Purchase seed through the NWTF’s Conservation Seed Program, which makes year-old grain seed available to NWTF members for the cost of shipping and handling by the tractor trailer load. The seed will be available for use by NWTF members in southern Alabama.
The NWTF Alabama State Chapter allocated $2,000 for this project.
Project partners: Baldwin Electric Membership Cooperative
11) Purchase two shotguns and two rifles for the Chilton County Hunter Education program, which will give youth the opportunity to gain hands-on shooting experience under the direction of expert instructors.
The NWTF Alabama State Chapter allocated $1,000 for this project.
Project partners: AWFF
For more information about the NWTF’s projects in Alabama or to learn more about becoming an NWTF member, visit www.nwtf.org <http://www.nwtf.org> or call (800) THE-NWTF.
About the NWTF: In 1973, Tom Rodgers founded the National Wild Turkey Federation in Fredericksburg, Va., as a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation and education organization with a mission dedicated to conserving wild turkeys and preserving hunting traditions. Shortly thereafter, Rodgers relocated the NWTF to Edgefield, S.C., where it’s still headquartered today.
At the time NWTF was established, there were only 1.3 million wild turkeys. Today that number stands at more than seven million birds throughout North America, thanks to the efforts of state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members and partners.
Growth and progress define the NWTF as it has expanded from 1,300 members in 1973 to nearly a half million today. With that growth has come impressive strides in wildlife management as the NWTF has forged dynamic partnerships across the country to further its conservation mission. Together, the NWTF’s partners, sponsors and grassroots members have raised and spent more than $279 million upholding hunting traditions and conserving nearly 14 million acres of wildlife habitat.
While wild turkey restoration is nearing completion, the NWTF still has much work to do. Across North America, supporters are working to enhance habitat for wild turkeys and other wildlife while providing hunters with more opportunities and access to public and private land. In addition, NWTF volunteers and partners are introducing youth, women and people with disabilities to the outdoors through special educational events.
If you would like to become a member of Team NWTF, join a committee or start a chapter, please visit our Web site at www.nwtf.org <http://www.nwtf.org> or call us at 800-THE-NWTF.
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Posted By
John Stabley
STABLEY OUTDOORS
www.skinnymoose.com/stabley
www.stableyoutdoors.com
stableyoutdoors@verizon.net
618-387-1694
