EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The New York State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation helped purchase a small UTV tow-behind seed drill last summer, and over the course of the year, the equipment has been restoring wildlife habitat within the Cicero Swamp Wildlife Management Area, replacing invasive phragmites and knapweed with wildlife beneficial vegetation.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation staff first sprayed the project site, a large grassland area within the WMA, to remove the invasives, and the seed drill was used to drill a warm-season grass mix into the soil, helping limit the colonization of more invasive species and enhancing the vegetative community to benefit wild turkeys and other species of wildlife.
When NYSDEC biologists recently visited the site, they were already able to see how the landscape has changed for the better. While there are still spots that need to be retreated, the site is making a strong transition.
“The NWTF has long supported DEC’s mission to improve wildlife management areas and maximize habitat for wild turkeys that also benefits other wildlife,” said Adam Perry, NYSDEC wildlife biologist. “The purchase of this UTV-sized drill is just the latest example of their continued dedication to helping DEC provide the best habitat possible on our lands.”
This summer, the NYSDEC is working to keep the successful momentum going with a small project in the Pharsalia Wildlife Management Area, where biologists plan to use the same equipment to drill a meadow-pasture grass mix that will create ideal brood-rearing habitat for wild turkeys.
This one piece of equipment has already benefited multiple areas by creating and enhancing small woodland openings, roadsides and other grassland-type areas. Since it is a smaller drill, it has been able to reach smaller areas that traditional, larger agricultural equipment cannot, allowing the NYSDEC to enhance many more acres in the central portion of the state.
“The tow behind seed drill is a great tool for the NYSDEC to use for their wildlife opening management program,” said Mitch Blake, NWTF district biologist. “The drill is more efficient and cost-effective than broadcasting seed and greatly improves germination. It can handle multiple different native seed mixes, making it versatile and critical for creating both brood-rearing and nesting cover. The NYDEC will be able to use this tool for many years and impact a lot of acreage for wild turkeys.”
As an added benefit, the NYSDEC hopes to create and install NWTF cooperator signs at project locations where NWTF funds or equipment were used, which NYSDEC biologists have done after previous collaborative work.
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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