Turkey group honored nationally

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Special to The Patriot-News

One of the most on-the-ground, money-where-your-mouth-is outdoors organizations has been named among the national Heroes of Conservation by Field & Stream magazine.

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation is featured in the November issue, along with the Rawlins, Wyo., chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Cornhusker Chapter (Lincoln, Neb.) of Pheasants Forever.

Since 1985, Pennsylvania chapters of the NWTF have raised more than $4.6 million for projects across the state, including more than $2.3 million to improve wildlife habitat and more than $306,000 to help purchase 25,094 acres of land and conservation easements to preserve wildlife habitat and provide additional hunting areas.

In addition to dozens of state game lands, Pennsylvania chapters have been involved in projects on Allegheny National Forest, Archbald Pothole State Park, Bald Eagle State Forest, Black Moshannon State Park, Buchanan State Forest, Bunker Hill Public Area, Codorus State Park, Delaware State Forest, Erie State Forest, Forbes State Forest, Gallitzin State Forest, Gouldsboro State Park, Hemlock Hollow Public Recreation Area, Hickory Run State Park, Hillman State Park, Hills Creek State Park, Jacobsburg State Park, Kettle Creek State Park and Lackawanna State Forest.

Also, Leonard Harrison State Park, Linn Run State Park, Locust Lake State Park, Lyman Run State Park, Michaux State Forest, M.K. Goddard State Park, Moraine State Park, Moshannon State Forest, Mount Pisgah State Park, Nescopeck State Park, Poe Valley State Park, Prince Gallitzin State Park, Raystown Lake Management Area, Rocky Ridge State Park, Ryerson Station State Park, Salt Spring State Park, Shenango River Lake, Spring Valley Park, Sproul State Forest, Susquehanna State Forest, Tiadaghton State Forest, Tioga State Forest, Yellow Creek State Park and Weiser State Forest.

When the state chapter was formed 33 years ago, wild turkey restoration efforts in Pennsylvania consisted primarily of releasing farm-raised birds into the wild.

"However, these birds lacked the survival instincts of wild birds and very few survived," said Jon Pries, president of the state chapter.

"Then we got smart and started working with the trap-and-transfer method [using wild birds] to restore the birds. The state's population has come a long way since the chapter was formed in 1975."

The new NWTF chapter promoted the trap-and-transfer method of turkey restoration -- capturing wild turkeys with nets and moving them to other locations -- that was successfully repopulating other states across the nation.

In 1976, the chapter's efforts paid off when the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the NWTF partnered to relocate wild turkeys into areas with few or no turkeys. The partnership was a success, and Pennsylvania's wild turkey population stands at more than 400,000 today.

The state chapter, as well as the NWTF, also was deeply involved in 2004 in the successful effort to create a mentored hunting program that allows young and novice hunters under 12 to hunt some species with an adult mentor.

Most recently, the state chapter and the Game Commission have developed the Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Strategic Plan, which lays out the state chapter's goals for habitat enhancement, strategies for improving hunter safety education and awareness, plans for improving hunter access and supporting NWTF's outreach programs.

Bob Eriksen, NWTF's regional biologist in Pennsylvania, said, "Our members believe it is critically important to look toward the future of North America's greatest game bird and work to ensure that future is bright.

"Our chapter is dedicated to doing just that through the NWTF's Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Strategic Plan."

The Pennsylvania plan is part of the larger North American Wild Turkey Management Plan, a compilation of objectives covering the U.S., all Canadian provinces home to wild turkeys and selected areas of Mexico.