EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The NWTF is accepting applications for its Wild Turkey Research Request for Proposals, a program that facilitates and makes investments in support of priority wild turkey research projects across the country.
In June of 2022, the NWTF allocated $360,000 for seven critical wild turkey research projects through the RFP program. Now, the organization is accepting new project proposals to continue addressing population declines and further investigating how to best manage the resource into the future.
“We are at a junction where there are many new questions being raised about wild turkey ecology,” said Mark Hatfield, NWTF director of conservation services. “Disease, population dynamics, habitat use, nest success, hunter influence — there are many areas that need greater understanding to deliver optimal conservation and management; this is where research comes in.”
The NWTF invites proposals that investigate the dynamics and drivers of the “post-restoration era” as well as those that address one, or more, of the following research priorities:
Development of regional and national population and abundance estimates.
Evaluation and development of habitat management practices and habitat conditions that would increase wild turkey nest success and poult survival.
Investigation of underlying wild turkey diseases and their impacts on wild turkey populations.
Understanding the effects of harvest management strategies and season structure on wild turkey populations.
Wild turkey (adult and poult) survival and correlated causes of mortality.
All projects must have a minimum 3-to-1 leverage rate and may span up to three years in length. Applicants are highly encouraged to obtain endorsement from the representative NWTF state chapter(s) and the representative state wildlife agency(ies) while investigating one or more of the above topics.
Applicants must submit proposals no later than May 1, 2023, for consideration. Project funding awards will be announced during the NWTF National Leadership Conference, June 2023.
Proposals will be scored and ranked by the NWTF Technical Committee and NWTF conservation staff on the applicability of the projects, scientific rigor, partner engagement and secured matching funds.
The NWTF Technical Committee, a group of state agency representatives from every state, has been essential in guiding historic research priorities, facilitating current research and, more recently, determining what research is necessary to aid current and future management decisions to ensure wild turkeys thrive into perpetuity.
Project summaries from the 2022 research investment can be found below, and project overviews for new 2023 projects will be published on NWTF.org in the near future.
For more information on NWTF’s 2023 Wild Turkey RFP program, eligibility and submission information, contact Hatfield at mhatfield@nwtf.net.
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 22 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.
National Wild Turkey Federation
PO Box 530
Edgefield South Carolina 29824
United States
