EDGEFIELD, S.C.—Through its largest single annual funding in wild turkey analysis, the NWTF lately distributed $655,447 to 9 wild turkey analysis tasks for the group’s 2024 allocation. Between NWTF funding and associate assist, about $6 million will assist the 9 wild turkey analysis tasks.
“Because of our volunteers, companions and employees, our Nationwide RFP program has turn into a powerhouse for energizing wild turkey analysis and infusing wanted funding into tasks with sensible administration functions,” NWTF co-CEO Kurt Dyroff stated. “This third funding in simply over two years represents the NWTF’s dedication to making sure wild turkey managers and policymakers are utilizing one of the best obtainable science to handle and information the sustainability of our beloved hen, whereas additionally rising our understanding of untamed turkey ecology in an ever-changing world.”
The boosted funding has introduced the NWTF’s funding in wild turkey ecology analysis — in simply over two years — to $1,597,821 by its Nationwide Wild Turkey Request for Proposals program.
Funding for this yr’s RFP funding was made potential due to important contributions from the Bass Professional Retailers and Cabela’s Outside Fund, Mossy Oak and NWTF state chapters.
“Since we started our aggressive analysis technique in 2022, we’ve been in a position to develop our RFP funding annually due to our extraordinary companions, donors and volunteers who perceive the significance science performs in guiding the conservation of the wild turkey,” NWTF co-CEO Jason Burckhalter stated. “We’ll proceed our sturdy annual RFP program to fund sensible analysis, serving to reverse declining numbers and making certain steady populations stay anchored.”
Undertaking proposals have been compiled, ranked and scored by the NWTF Wild Turkey Technical Committee and NWTF conservation management. The cross-branch partnership amongst wild turkey biologists, researchers and company management permits for an expert-level, non-biased method to scoring and rating the tasks on their scientific rigor, associate engagement, secured matching funds and the applicability of every undertaking towards NWTF’s key areas of emphasis.
Key areas of emphasis for the NWTF embrace wildlife illness research, growing regional and nationwide inhabitants estimates, and evaluating and growing habitat administration practices that will enhance turkey nest success and poult survival, amongst others. Study extra about particular areas of significance for the NWTF’s 2024 RFP.
Like earlier years, funding for this yr’s tasks will happen over a multiyear period. The NWTF’s 2024 funding is offering important funding for the 9 tasks annually the required work takes place.
Tasks for 2024 funding embrace:
Arizona: Figuring out Nest Choice and Initiation Dates, Habitat Use, Dispersal and Survivability of Translocation Via the Use of GPS Transmitters
Florida: Turkey Very important Charges Response to Habitat High quality and Supplemental Feeding
Florida: Integrating Knowledge Sources to Quantify Wild Turkey Abundance
Georgia and South Carolina: Gobbling Exercise of Particular person Male Wild Turkeys
Iowa: Identification of Mammalian Predators of Wild Turkey Nests and Females Utilizing Genetic Methods
Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Texas: Spatiotemporal Variation in Wild Turkey Publicity to Neonicotinoid Pesticides in america
Kansas: Results of Land Cowl and Precipitation Gradient on the Relative Danger of Predation of Wild Turkeys in Kansas
Texas: Habitat Suitability Mannequin for Wild Turkeys in East Texas
Texas: Investigating Weight loss plan, Illness and Inhabitants Dynamics Via Metabarcoding, Citizen Science and State Demographic Fashions
“Whereas these particular person analysis tasks happen in a single, or in some circumstances a number of, states, the findings usually are not sure to these states; reasonably, they assist additional our total understanding of untamed turkey ecology and administration as an entire, having functions past state strains,” stated Mark Hatfield, NWTF nationwide director of science and planning. “Wild turkey administration right now will not be the identical because it was within the Nineteen Seventies, and it gained’t be the identical 50 years from now. Analysis with sensible administration functions is how we guarantee we’re doing what’s finest for the hen on the proper place, on the proper time and on the proper scale.”
Study in regards to the tasks from the NWTF’s 2023 $582,374 funding
Study extra in regards to the tasks from the NWTF’s 2022 $360,000 funding
“Request for Proposals” was a time period used internally by NWTF conservation employees. However in 2022, NWTF conservation management envisioned a public-facing program that might be carried out yr after yr. This program would enable the group’s members and your complete outdoor neighborhood to see the numerous investments being made into addressing essentially the most urgent considerations round wild turkey administration and the general sustainability of the hen.
Study extra about how the NWTF’s RFP program works.
In regards to the Nationwide Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the Nationwide Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion {dollars} into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 23 million acres of essential wildlife habitat. The NWTF has additionally invested over $9 million into wild turkey analysis to information the administration of the wild turkey inhabitants and to make sure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The group continues to ship its mission by working throughout boundaries on a panorama scale by its 4 Shared Values: clear and plentiful water, wholesome forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and sturdy leisure alternatives. With the assistance of its devoted members, companions and employees, the NWTF continues its work to supply Wholesome Habitats. and Wholesome Harvests. for future generations.
