Education, Outreach and R3 Snapshot: Summer 2022

Diversified Energy recently invested $100,000 into the NWTF, funds that will be used for national conservation delivery and outreach programs. The NWTF will use half of Diversified Energy’s gift toward conservation projects and partnerships across the East, including the White Oak Initiative, stewardship agreements on multiple national forests, habitat enhancement projects and more.

The remaining funds will impact NWTF JAKES events in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee and Ohio, where Diversified Energy has operations. This year alone, these events will collectively provide more than 1,000 youth with outdoor opportunities and experiences. In addition to their generous donation, Diversified Energy staff will partner members of its team with NWTF volunteers at outreach events to become involved with the mission to conserve the wild turkey and preserve our hunting heritage.

We welcome our newest member of the flock, Morgan Register, who will serve as the Michigan R3 Coordinator. This position is a cooperative effort between the NWTF and the MI Department of Natural Resources.

Morgan has a Bachelor’s of Science in both Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology and Agricultural Sciences from NC State and will graduate from the University of Nebraska with a Masters in June. While at NC State she was active in the NC State Collegiate chapter. Morgan is a lifelong hunter and brings many skills and talents to her position. Morgan officially began her duties remotely on May 31 and will relocate to MI after graduation. We are excited to have Moran join our R3 efforts, she will be an excellent addition to both the MIDNR and NWTF teams! Please give her a warm welcome at mregister@nwtf.net.

The inaugural Suffolk County youth turkey hunt, held in New York, was a huge success. The event was held at the Wertheim Wildlife Refuge, where Environmental Conservation Officer Taylor Della Rocco and volunteers discussed hunting ethics, firearm safety, and patterning. They also presented a turkey calling seminar which taught kids how to use mouth calls, pot calls, and box calls. Calls were graciously donated to each participant by Phelps Calls.  Due to the generosity of the New York State Conservation Officers Association (NYCOA) and the National Wild Turkey Federation, the youth hunters also received a turkey vest, hat, facemask, and calls.

Warrior Trial Gobblers in Pennsylvania brought in nearly 500 attendees including 150 Jakes. The event kicked off with a mentored turkey hunt with 75-100 youth participating with 17 harvesting birds. Next, the youth participated in rotating stations including 22 shooting, clay birds, archery, trapping, fishing, and turkey calling seminars. Each child along with their parent or guardian had the opportunity to participate in every station. Twenty-eight sponsors donated turkey calls, turkey mounts, shells, decoys, guns and outdoor merchandise.

May was a busy time for the NWTF. Outreach and R3 staff, along with representatives from state wildlife agencies, conservation organizations and industry came together for the National R3 Symposium and the International Hunter Education Association’s (IHEA) Annual Conference. Now more than ever, R3 (recruitment, retention, and reactivation) is the prime focus the majority use to bolster and evaluate hunting, shooting and angling programs.

The Georgia State NWTF chapter hosted the Savannah National Wildlife Refuges 8th annual Youth Hunt & Learn Weekend. This structured, educational hunting event focused on the development of turkey hunting skills and conservation knowledge. The 10 participating youth and guardian had the opportunity to be involved in a variety of skill-based and conservation-focused programs throughout the weekend. The refuge is located near Savannah, GA and has property on the GA and SC sides of the Savannah River.

The NWTF awarded Helen Bailey of Mechanicsville, Maryland, with the $10,000 Dr. James Earl Kennamer Academic Scholarship, sponsored by Mossy Oak.

Helen distinguished herself as a dedicated conservationist, hunter, intellectual and a steward of her community. Throughout her high school career, she has excelled academically, taking nearly all AP courses and finishing with a 4. GPA, second best in her class of 379 graduates.