A Tradition of Acquisition

Iowa is the most biologically altered state in the United States of America, meaning that the plants and animals that existed before European settlement have changed more than any other state to date. This is mainly due to 93% of the state being converted from forests and prairie grasslands into vast agricultural operations, not to mention rapid urbanization. Moreover, Iowa is also in the top five most privately-owned states.

Recognizing the critical need for wildlife habitat and public hunting access in Iowa, the Iowa NWTF State Chapter takes a proactive stance: Each year, the chapter collaborates with a diverse range of partners to bolster the availability of suitable habitat for wild turkeys and other game and non-game species. This concerted effort also aims to provide hunters with ample opportunities to engage in their passion.

“The threat of development, either for agricultural purposes or homes and shopping malls, combined with the extremely small percent of the Iowan landscape that is in public ownership and managed, makes every square foot in a healthy natural condition important,” said John Burk, NWTF district biologist for Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. “We are lucky that we have so many energized volunteers that are eager to both raise funds and then help conserve and manage habitat with those funds.”

To date, the Iowa NWTF State Chapter has enabled the acquisition of 149 properties in 61 counties, conserving and opening over 21,000 acres to public access since the chapter’s first land acquisition in 1987. In addition, the Iowa NWTF State Chapter has provided funding to enhance 28,543 acres of essential wildlife habitat through science-based management, including tree planting, ecosystem restoration, invasive species removal and more.

Equally remarkable as the nearly 50,000 acres impacted for the better are the grassroots NWTF volunteers across Iowa. Their selfless dedication, energy and time in raising funds for land acquisitions and habitat enhancements are what equate to more conserved areas on the landscape.

These volunteers provide critical financial support for conservation projects through the NWTF’s Hunting Heritage Super Fund, a funding model where volunteers raise money at banquets and other fundraisers and then allocate a significant portion of those funds back into meaningful conservation and outreach projects.

For instance, The Iowa NWTF State Chapter met in Ames last fall to review project proposals for 2024 funding awards. The state board budgeted $71,000 for conservation projects and $21,695 for hunting heritage-related projects, including outreach-education events, a state scholarship and other R3-related program support, which will be matched with $3,492,559 in partner funds for the approved projects in 2024 alone.

Turkey hunters have already reaped the rewards this year, as two land acquisitions for 2024 were opened for the spring turkey season this year.

“Iowa ranks as one of the lowest states for public land,” said Matt Smith, NWTF Iowa State Chapter Super Fund Committee Chairman. “Almost every inch of the state has been converted into some kind of agriculture production. The vast majority is row crops, such as corn and soy beans. Over the past decade it's gotten even worse for wildlife; where there used to be waterways and fence rows, now there is nothing but planted crops and alfalfa in the runoff areas. This makes public land even more important with the loss of so much habitat. 

“We review each application to ensure that the land in question is suitable for turkeys, or at least adjacent to good turkey habit. We also take into consideration other public areas that may be adjacent to or near these properties. We spend time talking with the agencies who are attempting to purchase the land to see how many other organizations are going to contribute as well.  We work very hard to squeeze as much out of every dollar that we have to ensure that it is being spent wisely and in line with our mission.”

Whether it is funding ongoing wild turkey research or ensuring that vital habitat is conserved into perpetuity and managed properly, the volunteers of the Iowa NWTF State Chapter are covering all bases for the betterment of the state.