EDGEFIELD, S.C. — Recently, local conservation enthusiasts and those with a thirst for knowledge gathered at the Cache Bar and Grill in Logan, Utah, for a special Knowledge on Tap event featuring Chuck Carpenter, NWTF district biologist for Utah, Idaho, Arizona and New Mexico. Carpenter delivered a timely presentation, Gobbleology 101: Utah’s Wild Turkey History, just in time for the Thanksgiving season.
In his 20-minute talk, followed by an open Q&A, Carpenter walked the crowd through a crash course on all things Meleagris gallopavo. From fun facts and national population trends to Utah-specific insights, attendees enjoyed a lively, approachable look at one of America’s most iconic game birds.
“The main objective of this presentation was to get people engaged with turkeys and provide some public outreach to hopefully decrease animosity toward nuisance birds as we move into winter,” Carpenter said. “It was also meant to be educational, since most of the attendees were academics, and to add a little fun trivia with the Thanksgiving holiday coming up.”
Carpenter introduced the audience to the National Wild Turkey Federation and its mission, laying the foundation with a sweep through wild turkey history, subspecies and distribution across North America. He highlighted the remarkable comeback story behind modern wild turkey conservation — a success built by hunters, state agencies and the NWTF’s decades-long commitment to habitat stewardship.
Shifting to a Utah-centric lens, Carpenter explored the deep roots of wild turkeys in the region, sharing archeological, cultural and material evidence of their presence during the Puebloan era. He then covered Utah’s more recent history with reintroductions of turkeys beginning in the 1920s, offering a fascinating look at how today’s populations came to be.
Carpenter also emphasized a growing priority: the need for targeted research across the West to establish accurate population estimates and to better understand why turkey populations are thriving at such exceptional levels. In many areas, wild turkeys have become so abundant that they are now considered a nuisance. Research is critical, and the NWTF is leading the way. Since launching its Request for Proposals Program in 2022, the NWTF and its partners have invested more than $22 million into cutting-edge wild turkey research, working proactively to understand emerging challenges and ensure sustainable flocks for generations to come.
The Knowledge on Tap event delivered exactly what it promised — engaging conversation, actionable knowledge and a renewed appreciation for the wild turkey and the people working tirelessly to conserve it.
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 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats and Healthy Harvests for future generations.
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