National Wild Turkey Federation chapters fund conservation, research, hunting and much moreBy Carol Kugler 331-4359 |
ckugler@heraldt.comLet’s talk a little turkey.
Enhancement of more than 14,000 acres of turkey habitat — with a total expenditure about $436,000 — in Indiana.
Purchase of more than 5,000 acres of land.
Almost $20,000 to fund hunter safety education.
Such work and those expenses represent just a portion of the $1.5 million the Indiana state chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation has spent — and raised — in the Hoosier state since 1985.
The turkey federation is a hunters’ group — but much more than that, too, points out Neal Kirby, the federation’s regional director for the southern part of the state.
“Most folks who I talk with don’t have a clue what the NWTF does,” said Kirby. “We are certainly more than just a hunting club. We try to make a difference in the world.”
The National Wild Turkey Federation’s logo shows wild turkeys alongside the words, “Conserve. Hunt. Share.”
The Indiana federation’s 75 local chapters, including the Monroe County chapter, have been able to do as much as they have largely as a result of their annual fundraising banquets. The banquets are the source for many of the dollars that the federation has spent on outdoor causes, from land purchases to habitat restoration to outdoors and conservation programs directed at youth and women.
The Monroe County chapter is holding its banquet Feb. 27. Aaron Stolberg, chairman for the event, said between 150 and 200 people usually attend the local banquet, which this year will include an “unbelievable” dinner, live and silent auctions, raffles and games. Tickets are $50, and include a one-year membership in the national federation. The chapter will give away more than 20 guns and will also give away a guided, videotaped youth hunt on 370 acres of private land. The hunt will take place during the wild turkey youth hunting season. Participants have to be 15 or younger to participate.
The Monroe chapter hopes to develop events for hunters with disabilities in the future, Stolberg said. The state group already has such a program, called Wheelin’ Sportsmen, that provides outdoor activities for people with disabilities.
While some of the money raised locally will stay in Monroe County, Kirby said, much of it will go into what the federation calls the “Indiana Super Fund.” Local chapters, including the Monroe chapter, then can request additional cash from the fund to help pay for other projects. Some of the Super Fund money, in an amount determined by the state Super Fund committee, is set aside to help the Indiana Department of Natural Resources with land acquisitions.
Two programs the Monroe County Limbhangers chapter promote are Women in the Outdoors and Jakes, a youth program. “We put back into communities in scholarships and various seed educational programs,” said Kirby. “We believe in kids.”
There also is a scholarship program for high school seniors. Students must have a 3.0 or higher grade point average on a 4.0 scale, must have a valid hunting license and must complete an essay on what the outdoors means to them. The minimum scholarship available through chapters is $300, but many chapters raise funds to increase that amount, Kirby said.
Students who win the local chapter scholarship then are eligible for the state scholarship, worth an additional $1,000. Winners at the state level go on to compete for the national $10,000 first-place scholarship.
Another youth-oriented program the national group supports is the National Archery in the Schools Program. On Jan. 9, during the federation’s state awards banquet, Kirby presented a check for $15,000 to Tim Beck, hunter education coordinator for the South Region of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Beck, who heads Indiana’s archery school program, told the group that federation chapters in Indiana have contributed $70,000 to the archery program in the past five years. The program is now in 100 Hoosier schools and has several thousand students who participate.
Another more seasonal but certainly thematically correct undertaking for many local chapters is distribution of frozen turkeys to the needy at the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, Kirby said. “It makes a huge difference for people who are in a bad spot.”
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More about the federation
The National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973. At that time, there were only 1.3 million wilid turkeys in North America. Today, there are more than 7 million birds and hunting seasons have been established in 49 states, Canada and Mexico.
Besides the birds, there are now more than 350,000 members in North America.
Indiana facts
In Indiana, there are three paid employees with the National Wild Turkey Federation. Most of the work and projects are done by volunteers in the 75 chapters. The oldest Hoosier chapter is in the New Albany area. In south-central Indiana, the Old Mill Longbeards in Mitchell is one of the oldest chapters.
Indiana’s turkey population was completely eliminated around 1900. In 1956, five wild turkeys from Arkansas were placed at what is now the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center in Martin County.
Some of the area chapters include:
Monroe County Limbhangers, Bloomington. Banquet will be Feb. 27 at the Amvets, 5227 W. Airport Road. Doors open at 4 p.m.; dinner starts at 6 p.m. Tickets: $50 for single (with membership); $70 for couple (one membership); $265 for sponsor (includes membership and $100 raffle tickets); $5 Jakes ticket. Contact Aaron Stolberg, 812-360-4400.
Glaciers Edge Strutters, Martinsville. Banquet will be Feb. 23 at American Legion Post 230, 701 E. Morgan St., Martinsville. Contact Nathan Lowder, 765-349-1499.
Muscatatuck River Longbeards, Brownstown. Banquet will be March 20 at Pewter Hall, 850 W. Sweet St., Brownstown. Contact Michael Spalding, 765-479-2646.
Old Mill Longbeards, Mitchell. Banquet will be Aug. 21 at Spring Mill State Park Inn, Ind. 60 East, Mitchell. Contact Richard Houchin, 812-849-2787.
Orange County Lost River Chapter, Paoli. Banquet will be Aug. 15 at Orange County Community Center, Orange County Fairgrounds. Contact Ronald Campbell at 812-723-2366.
Copyright: HeraldTimesOnline.com 2010
