NWTF:
The National Wild Turkey Federation is a national nonprofit conservation and hunting organization that, along with its volunteers, partners and sponsors, has worked for the conservation of the wild turkey and preservation of our hunting heritage. When the NWTF was established in 1973, there were only 1.3 million wild turkeys. Today that number stands at more than seven million birds throughout North America and hunting seasons have been established in 49 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico, thanks to the efforts of state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members and partners.
In 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in Fredericksburg, Va., as a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation and education organization with a mission dedicated to conservation of the wild turkey and preservation of our hunting heritage. Shortly thereafter the NWTF relocated to Edgefield, S.C., where it's still headquartered today
Growth and progress define the NWTF as it has expanded from 1,300 members in 1973 to more than 350,000 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 $306 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.
JAKES/XTREME JAKES: The NWTF’s youth outreach program is designed to introduce young people to conservation and the hunting tradition. The JAKES/Xtreme JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) program continues to influence the future of hunting by hosting more than 1,000 JAKES/Xtreme JAKES events nationwide each year.At Porter Wagoner JAKES/Xtreme JAKES events, young people learn about conservation, firearms safety, archery, and game calling and hunting in a fun, hands-on way.At Xtreme JAKES events participants also have opportunities to try kayaking, mountain biking, plant and animal identification, wise stewardship of our natural resources and other outdoor activities geared toward teens.
WOMEN IN THE OUTDOORS: Through Women in the Outdoors, women of all ages learn about conservation, hunting and the outdoors. Since 1998, the Women in the Outdoors program events provide expert instructors to teach women a variety of fun activities women can share with their families, such as archery, outdoor cooking, camping, hunting, hiking, bird watching and gardening for wildlife. The NWTF’s Women in the Outdoors program held nearly 400 events in 2009 alone.
WHEELIN' SPORTSMEN: The NWTF Wheelin’ Sportsmen provides people with disabilities opportunities to experience hunting, fishing and shooting by partnering them with able-bodied men and women who enjoy helping others. They also learn how to continue taking part in these activities independently.Great satisfaction comes from sharing the outdoors experience with those who couldn’t participate otherwise.That’s what Wheelin’ Sportsmen is all about; sportsmen and women reaching out to others and enriching their lives through the outdoors.
TURKEY HUNTERS CARE: The NWTF’s Turkey Hunters Care program is a prime example of how NWTF volunteers are providing more than just meals for those in need in their community, they are bringing hope to people’s lives when they need it the most. Over the past year, 366 chapters in 43 states and the Canadian Province of Ontario donated 19,120 turkeys to families in need during the holiday seasons of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. From 2001 to 2008 NWTF members have donated 90,856 turkeys to their communities and fed more than a half million people.
FAMILIES AFIELD: The NWTF has led the charge in promoting youth hunting opportunities to remove youth hunting barriers across the nation. While we've made progress the job is far from done. For this reason, we've developed tools to help others understand the importance of Families Afield.
EDUCATION: The NWTF believes education is the key to cultivating future stewards and support for the conservation of the wild turkey, our natural resources and the outdoor heritage we treasure. NWTF education resources, scholarships and museum programs are designed to educate and empower students of all ages while also equipping educators with the tools to teach conservation principles through the greatest wildlife conservation success story of all time - the return of the wild turkey!
In 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in Fredericksburg, Va., as a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation and education organization with a mission dedicated to conservation of the wild turkey and preservation of our hunting heritage. Shortly thereafter the NWTF relocated to Edgefield, S.C., where it's still headquartered today
Growth and progress define the NWTF as it has expanded from 1,300 members in 1973 to more than 350,000 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 $306 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.
JAKES/XTREME JAKES: The NWTF’s youth outreach program is designed to introduce young people to conservation and the hunting tradition. The JAKES/Xtreme JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) program continues to influence the future of hunting by hosting more than 1,000 JAKES/Xtreme JAKES events nationwide each year.At Porter Wagoner JAKES/Xtreme JAKES events, young people learn about conservation, firearms safety, archery, and game calling and hunting in a fun, hands-on way.At Xtreme JAKES events participants also have opportunities to try kayaking, mountain biking, plant and animal identification, wise stewardship of our natural resources and other outdoor activities geared toward teens.
WOMEN IN THE OUTDOORS: Through Women in the Outdoors, women of all ages learn about conservation, hunting and the outdoors. Since 1998, the Women in the Outdoors program events provide expert instructors to teach women a variety of fun activities women can share with their families, such as archery, outdoor cooking, camping, hunting, hiking, bird watching and gardening for wildlife. The NWTF’s Women in the Outdoors program held nearly 400 events in 2009 alone.
WHEELIN' SPORTSMEN: The NWTF Wheelin’ Sportsmen provides people with disabilities opportunities to experience hunting, fishing and shooting by partnering them with able-bodied men and women who enjoy helping others. They also learn how to continue taking part in these activities independently.Great satisfaction comes from sharing the outdoors experience with those who couldn’t participate otherwise.That’s what Wheelin’ Sportsmen is all about; sportsmen and women reaching out to others and enriching their lives through the outdoors.
TURKEY HUNTERS CARE: The NWTF’s Turkey Hunters Care program is a prime example of how NWTF volunteers are providing more than just meals for those in need in their community, they are bringing hope to people’s lives when they need it the most. Over the past year, 366 chapters in 43 states and the Canadian Province of Ontario donated 19,120 turkeys to families in need during the holiday seasons of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. From 2001 to 2008 NWTF members have donated 90,856 turkeys to their communities and fed more than a half million people.
FAMILIES AFIELD: The NWTF has led the charge in promoting youth hunting opportunities to remove youth hunting barriers across the nation. While we've made progress the job is far from done. For this reason, we've developed tools to help others understand the importance of Families Afield.
EDUCATION: The NWTF believes education is the key to cultivating future stewards and support for the conservation of the wild turkey, our natural resources and the outdoor heritage we treasure. NWTF education resources, scholarships and museum programs are designed to educate and empower students of all ages while also equipping educators with the tools to teach conservation principles through the greatest wildlife conservation success story of all time - the return of the wild turkey!
