This week, the Arizona Senate recognized the National Wild Turkey Federation for its 50th Anniversary, commending the organization for its achievements in conservation and successful mission delivery throughout the state.
The Arizona Senate read the proclamation, congratulating the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) on five decades of “conservation commitment.” Members of the NWTF Arizona State Chapter’s board of directors were on hand for the official introduction of the proclamation.
“The National Wild Turkey Federation and the Arizona State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation are grateful for the recognition of 50 years of partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department and everything that we have accomplished together for the wild turkey and conservation in this state,” said Roy Crain, NWTF Arizona State Chapter president.
“I want to congratulate the National Wild Turkey Federation for 50 years of keeping alive our nations traditions of hunting through restoration and conservation of wild turkeys for future generations,” said Arizona State Senator David Gowan. “This is a great organization that I hope will continue for 50 plus more years into the future.”
The resolution reads:
WHEREAS, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Inc., was incorporated on March 28, 1973; and
WHEREAS, over the course of 50 years, the National Wild Turkey Federation has worked with state, federal and nongovernmental partners to promote the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage, participating in one of the greatest conservation success stories in American history, the return of the wild turkey from the brink of extinction; and
WHEREAS, the National Wild Turkey Federation has been at the vanguard of reversing declining hunting participation through nationwide investment in hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation efforts and partnering with states to develop opportunities to engage people from all walks of life in the outdoors tradition; and
WHEREAS, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested more than half a billion dollars to conserve or enhance more than 22 million acres of critical wildlife habitat, forests, and grasslands across public and private lands since 1985; and
WHEREAS, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested more than $8.5 million in research throughout North America to ensure healthy wild turkey populations into the future; and
WHEREAS, the National Wild Turkey Federation has spent over $750,000.00 to aid in the reintroduction and continuing research of the Goulds Turkey in Arizona; and
WHEREAS, the National Wild Turkey Federation spends annually over $50,000.00 on conservation and research in Arizona; and
WHEREAS, the National Wild Turkey Federation has spent over $50,000.00 on scholarships in Arizona, and over $5,500,000.00 on scholarships nationally; and
WHEREAS, the National Wild Turkey Federation supports and partners with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to conserve wildlife habitat, increase hunter participation and invest in wild turkey research; and
WHEREAS, the National Wild Turkey Federation, at the national level has achieved all of these aforementioned accomplishments, the chapter system in Arizona, much like the Arizona Game and Fish Department that we frequently partner with, has established itself as a national leader amongst its peers; and
WHEREAS, the National Wild Turkey Federation is the largest and longest-serving nongovernmental stewardship partner of the USDA Forest Service, conserving habitat on National Forest System Lands for more than 40 years and heavily engaged in the development and implementation of the USDA’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, Senate President Petersen, House Speaker Toma and Senator Gowan invite the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Arizona to recognize and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the National Wild Turkey Federation and salute the organization, its chapters, and members from across the United States for their tremendous efforts to further scientific, state-led wildlife management and the conservation of America’s wild turkey and its habitat. We wish the National Wild Turkey Federation, its members, and chapters the best for the future as they continue to deliver their mission by working across land-ownership boundaries on a landscape scale to increase clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities across the country.
Through the investments made over the years for Arizona’s Gould’s turkeys, the NWTF has aided the Arizona Game and Fish Department in trapping and translocating Gould’s turkeys from Mexico to various mountain ranges across the state between 2002 and 2006. Since March 2006, all Gould’s turkey trapping and translocations have taken place within Arizona.
“We are looking forward to many more decades of partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the state of Arizona,” Crain said.
The NWTF policy team and its volunteer leadership are working with state legislatures across the country to pass similar measures this year that enshrine the NWTF’s legacy and mission delivery into state law.