EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation was awarded a significant investment from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, which recently granted the NWTF $350,000 to support conservation delivery, hunting heritage and wild turkey research across the country.
The investment reflects a shared commitment between the NWTF and Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund to conserve wildlife habitat, expand public access and preserve America’s hunting heritage.
“This investment helps us continue delivering meaningful conservation work in places that matter to wild turkeys, wildlife and hunters,” NWTF co-CEO Kurt Dyroff said. “From improving habitat to supporting research and outreach, we are thankful for the support of the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund to help us make an even greater impact on the ground across the nation.”
Funding from the grant will support a wide range of efforts across multiple regions of the country, including:
Southeast: Funding will advance the NWTF’s Habitat for the Hatch Initiative, including longleaf pine habitat enhancement efforts in Florida.
Northeast: The grant will support timber thinning and prescribed fire in Pennsylvania, along with grassland habitat improvements in Connecticut through the NWTF’s Forests and Flocks Initiative.
Great Plains: The investment will strengthen habitat work through the NWTF’s Waterways for Wildlife Initiative, including restoration efforts in Montana and a land acquisition in Kansas to conserve critical waterway areas.
Midwest: Funding will expand the NWTF’s Roots to Roost Initiative, supporting land conservation projects in Indiana and Minnesota that improve wildlife habitat and increase public access opportunities, along with prescribed fire and oak habitat restoration efforts across Missouri and Iowa.
The grant will also contribute to critical wild turkey research projects that provide state agencies with information needed to make informed management decisions. Research supported through this funding may focus on nesting initiation dates, nest success, hen survival and harvest rates for both male and female birds. Recent investments in wild turkey research have helped position the NWTF as a national leader in advancing the science behind wild turkey management. Since 2022, the NWTF has invested more than $2.3 million in wild turkey research, which has leveraged more than $22 million in partner support for projects across the country.
Beyond this, the grant will support education and outreach opportunities designed to strengthen the NWTF’s hunter recruitment, retention and reactivation efforts. Funding will help provide regional training for volunteers, partners and staff to continue growing the next generation of hunters, conservationists and outdoor advocates.
As the NWTF continues to implement its vision of “a nation united by the life-changing power of the outdoors,” support from partners like the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund helps ensure that future generations can experience healthy wildlife populations, resilient landscapes and strong outdoor traditions.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 25 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. Since 2022, the NWTF has also invested over $2.3 million in critical wild turkey research that, when leveraged with partner contributions, has resulted in more than $22 million to guide the management of the wild turkey and to ensure sustainable populations. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale to create healthy forests and wildlife habitats, clean and abundant water, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF is committed to creating a nation united by the life-changing power of the outdoors.
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