The Alabama Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) recently presented a check for more than $40,000 to the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division for wildlife habitat management. According to WFF Division Director Chuck Sykes, most of the money will be used on Alabama’s Wildlife Management Areas throughout the state.

“The great thing about this donation is that we are able to match it with federal money,” Sykes said. “A three-to-one match means we can obtain approximately $123,000 additional dollars to make the donation go even further. This federal match is an important part of how our department is funded. The money generated by license sales to hunters is matched through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Since we don’t receive an appropriation from the state’s General Fund, contributions such as this one are extremely important. I thank NWTF for all of their support and for this generous donation,” Sykes said.

According to Sykes, some much-needed equipment will be purchased with the grant money. Wildlife habitat management requires work such as mowing, spraying and disking, so some of the money will be used to fulfill those needs. In addition to the monetary donation, the Alabama NWTF chapter also provided financial support for a prescribed burning project to help restore longleaf pine habitat and the Archery in the Schools state championship, an annual event for school students across the state.

Release produced by the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources.