EDGEFIELD, S.C. -

The National Wild Turkey Federation distributed nearly $250,000 in October 2009 as it continues to advance its mission of benefiting wildlife conservation and protecting hunting traditions. The dollars are distributed to states and programs through the NWTF Hunting Heritage Super Fund.

To date, the NWTF and its partners have spent more than $286 million upholding hunting traditions and conserving nearly 14 million acres of wildlife habitat. Some of the Federation's Hunting Heritage Super Fund projects include improving wildlife habitat, supporting hunter education and providing opportunities for women, youth and people with disabilities to experience outdoor fun through outreach programs.

October's Hunting Heritage Super Fund spending totaled $249,523.66 and included:

* Youth Education: Spent $78,281 to fund scholarships and educational projects, introduce youth to shooting sports, provide education boxes and conduct 4-H workshops.
* Habitat Enhancement: Spent $53,367.56 to improve wildlife habitat by creating more wild turkey nesting areas, planting trees and completing water development projects.
* Land Purchases: Spent $28,750 to purchase land or conservation easements to conserve wildlife habitat and provide additional hunting areas.
* JAKES: Spent $17,234.50 to introduce youth to outdoor activities, conservation and hunting through the JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) program.
* Wheelin' Sportsmen NWTF: Spent $9,805 to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in outdoor activities and learn about wildlife conservation through Wheelin' Sportsmen and Women in the Outdoors outreach events across North America.
* Hunting Heritage: Spent $9,250 to protect and promote our hunting heritage including contributions to the U.S. Sportsman's Alliance and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
* Volunteer and Professional Education: Spent $8,169.38 to provide educational opportunities, purchase staff equipment and more.
* Hunter Safety: Spent $6,868.98 to support hunter safety classes and initiatives. Purchased hunter safety materials and equipment, including interactive shooting systems.
* Management: Spent $3,500 on wild turkey management.
* Women's Programs: Spent $2,450 on programs, materials and equipment to introduce women to the outdoors, hunting and conservation.

NWTF chapters invested an additional $31,847.24 in special NWTF projects, equipment purchases and promoting the hunting tradition. In addition to helping fund projects like these, NWTF Hunting Heritage Super Fund banquets combine fun, fellowship and dedication to the wild turkey. They're a great place to meet friends who are passionate about the outdoors, win valuable prizes and buy items unique to the NWTF. Place the highest bid and you could go home with sporting art, hunting guns, knives, calls, outdoor equipment and more.

The Hunting Heritage Super Fund supports the NWTF's multitude of conservation and education programs with money raised from NWTF Hunting Heritage Banquets, donated by corporate sponsors and given to support wildlife conservation.

Founded in 1973, the NWTF is a national nonprofit conservation organization that works to further its twofold mission of conserving wild turkeys and preserving our hunting heritage.

To find a NWTF Hunting Heritage Super Fund Banquet in your area, click here.


About the NWTF: The National Wild Turkey Federation is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization that is dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage.

Through dynamic partnerships with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its more than 350,000 members have helped restore wild turkey populations across the country, raised and spent more than $286 million, and conserved nearly 14 million acres of habitat for all types of wildlife.

The Federation also works to increase interest in the outdoors by bringing new hunters and conservationists into the fold through special outdoor education events and its outreach programs - Women in the Outdoors, Wheelin' Sportsmen, JAKES and Xtreme JAKES.

The NWTF was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Edgefield, S.C. According to many state and federal agencies, the comeback of the wild turkey is arguably the greatest conservation success story in North America's wildlife history. Visit www.nwtf.org or call (800) THE-NWTF for details.

Read original story