NWTF North Carolina Pledges $102,448 to Healthy Habitats. Healthy Harvests. in 2024

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The North Carolina State Chapter of the NWTF recently met in New Bern to review Hunting Heritage Super Fund project proposals submitted by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for 2024 funding awards. After the review, proposals were presented to and approved by the North Carolina Board of Directors. The state board budgeted $102,448.46 for conservation projects and equipment.

“The funding requests presented by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission were well received by the board,” said Cully McCurdy, NWTF district biologist for North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. “These funds generated by the tireless efforts of the NWTF volunteers in North Carolina will play a vital role for the agency to meet their management objectives for the wild turkey and other wildlife in the state.” 

NWTF conservation and equipment funding will be matched with $610,329.41 by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission for the approved spending, representing a 6:1 match rate for NWTF project funding in North Carolina for 2024. 

Projects and equipment will conserve vital habitat in North Carolina and include: 

$55,571.98 for personnel to support prescribed burning on 15 state game lands, impacting 30,000 acres.  $13,021.25 for a no-till drill and trailer for the NCWRC for public and private lands habitat enhancements.  $5,094.98 to create early successional habitat on Lantern Acres Game Land.  $7,000 for native longleaf pine restoration on the Hersaw North and Sandhills Game Lands.  $3,240 for native longleaf pine restoration on the Rocky Run Game Lands.  $6,875 to purchase prescribed fire equipment to increase acres impacted by prescribed fire on seven northeast Piedmont Game Lands.  $2,050 for trapping equipment to reduce feral pig populations competing with native wildlife and causing significant habitat destruction.  $2,924.25 for acoustic recorders to monitor wild turkey populations on Sandy Mush Game Land.  $1,750 to purchase a PTO-driven blower to create fire breaks for prescribed fire on 12 southern coast game lands. $1,000 to purchase a pressure pump for prescribed fire activities on 12 game lands.  $1,875 to establish new wildlife openings on the Johns River Game Lands, impacting 15 acres. 

Additionally, $2,046 was approved to support statewide hunter recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) efforts. Funds will be used to purchase equipment for Get Started Outdoors hunting workshops. 

About the National Wild Turkey Federation

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has conserved or enhanced over 23 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The organization continues to drive wildlife conservation, forest resiliency and robust recreational opportunities throughout the U.S. by working across boundaries on a landscape scale.

2023 is the NWTF’s 50th anniversary and an opportunity to propel the organization’s mission into the future while honoring its rich history. For its 50th anniversary, the NWTF has set six ambitious goals: positively impact 1 million acres of wildlife habitat; raise $500,000 for wild turkey research; increase membership to 250,000 members; dedicate $1 million to education and outreach programs; raise $5 million to invest in technology and NWTF’s people; and raise $5 million to build toward a $50 million endowment for the future. Learn how you can help us reach these lofty goals.

Original author: HLNews