Habitat and Heritage: NWTF Tennessee, Partners Commit $740,818 for Mission Delivery in 2025
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The Tennessee NWTF State Chapter recently met in Lebanon to review Hunting Heritage Super Fund project proposals for the 2025 fiscal year funding awards. After the reviewing and ranking process, proposals were approved by the Tennessee NWTF State Chapter Board of Directors. The board budgeted $121,940 for conservation projects and $63,382 for hunting heritage related projects, including NWTF Education and Outreach events, chapter scholarships and 4H shooting sports support. NWTF conservation project award funding will be matched with $618,878 in partner or grant funds for the approved projects.
"NWTF staff and our conservation partners are thankful for the talented and passionate volunteers who generate these funds to be available to continue our mission in Tennessee," said NWTF Derek Alkire, NWTF district biologist for Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee. "From research to vital habitat enhancement projects, the projects our board awarded with funding will greatly impact the wild turkey, our hunting heritage and the overall betterment of our natural resources in the Volunteer State.”
The Super Fund is a funding model where NWTF volunteers raise money at banquets and other fundraisers and then allocate a significant portion of those funds back into meaningful conservation and outreach projects in their respective states and beyond. For the Tennessee NWTF State Chapter’s 2025 Super Fund allocations, project funding awards include but are not limited to:
- Wild turkey research support within the North Cumberland WMA: $10,000
- Savanna restoration on the Catoosa WMA: $6,412
- Equipment support for invasive species removal in Carroll County: $1,720
- PyroShot ground ignition launcher for prescribed burning operations within TWRA’s Region 3: $1,075
- Equipment purchase for habitat management within the Cove Creek WMA: $17,700
- Invasive species removal on the Tumbleweed, Bogota, Thorny Cypress WMAs: $758
- Equipment purchase for habitat management within the North Cumberland WMA: $7,500
- Habitat enhancement and improved hunter access on the Fate Sanders State Natural Area: $10,000
- Equipment purchase for habitat management within the Cheatham WMA: $9,600
- Food plot establishment on the John Tully and Shelby Forest WMAs: $6,000
- Invasive species removal on the Prentice Cooper WMA: $7,500
- Food plot establishment on the Prentice Cooper: $2,500
- Wildlife opening maintenance on the Laurel Hill WMA: $2,550
- Enhanced hunter access on the Tumbleweed WMA: $10,000
- Educational event for the Bobwhite Heritage Festival: $1,000
- Invasive species removal on the North Cumberland WMA: $4,625
- Hunting access road improvement on the North Cumberland WMA: $17,500
- Access gates Natchez Trace State Forest: $5,500
The Tennessee NWTF State Chapter also allocated an additional $63,382 to hunting heritage related projects, facilitating numerous events designed to welcome new hunters, retain current hunters and engage lapsed hunters. Such events include NWTF JAKES events, WITO events, veterans hunts and hunting access projects, among others.
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 positively impacted over 23 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.