The Alabama Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) recently allocated $142,464 in Hunting Heritage Super Funds and Tag Funds for wild turkey projects in Alabama. Of that total, $68,265 was donated to the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) to fund projects including wildlife habitat management and the publication of the annual wild turkey report, Full Fans & Sharp Spurs.

Approximately $74,000 was approved for other projects statewide including funding to improve wild turkey habitats on public lands as well as to help launch outdoor education programs in schools. Also, $35,000 of NWTF Super Fund revenue has been reserved for land acquisition to help support the purchase of Wildlife Management Area (WMA) tracts. This funding supports the enhancement of turkey habitat, increases access opportunities, funds educational programs and is an excellent fit for the NWTF “Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt” initiative.

According to WFF Division Director Chuck Sykes, most of the WFF dollars will be used on Alabama’s WMAs throughout the state to support habitat management and other wild turkey programs.

“About $43,000 of this generous donation offers us access to federal matching dollars, which makes the donation go even further,” Sykes said. “This federal match is an important part of how our department is funded. The money generated by hunting license sales is matched through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We don’t receive an appropriation from the state’s General Fund, so contributions such as this are extremely important. I thank NWTF and the Alabama Chapter Board of Directors for helping to support our efforts in Alabama.”

Some of the grant money will also be used to purchase much-needed wildlife habitat management equipment. In addition to the monetary donation, the Alabama NWTF chapter provides financial support for prescribed burning projects that help restore longleaf pine habitat, the Archery in the Schools state championship (an annual event for school students across the state), and the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program, which introduces women to a wide variety of outdoor activities.

Article by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources