New England States Unite to Honor Volunteers, Celebrate Hunting Heritage

“This event is an amazing opportunity for the chapters to be recognized for their hard work throughout the year,” said Carter Heath, NWTF regional director for New England. “It's also an opportunity to honor, recognize and memorialize ‘giants’ of conservation.”  

All six New England states inducted a member into the Hall of Fame this year. Dick Kirby, from Buffalo, New York, was also inducted into the New England Hall of Fame posthumously, making him one of the first non-New England residents to be inducted. The award was presented by NWTF volunteer Joe Judd, and was accepted by Kirby’s son, Chris Kirby.  

“To be recognized here tonight is truly humbling,” Kirby said. “I accept this honor on behalf of my dad and the entire Quaker Boy family with the full understanding that my dad’s name is on it, but the enormous team supporting us are the true recipients.”  

NWTF Maine volunteer and local legend, Dave Lucas, passed away 25 years ago but was proudly inducted into the Hall of Fame for being a grassroots volunteer who was instrumental in early NWTF mission delivery in the state of Maine and helped start Maine’s NWTF state chapter. Lucas’ family flew in from Arizona to accept the award on his behalf.  

“I just sit there in awe of the work that’s been done by these pioneers decades ago,” said Keith Fritze, NWTF volunteer and the event’s co-founder. “As we’re approaching 50 members in our Hall of Fame, I think we’re only scratching the surface of the people we’re going to honor over the years.” 

Fritze came up with the idea for this event back in 2016, with the intention of honoring those responsible for paving the way for the golden years for turkey hunting that we’re currently enjoying 

Fritze also said that this event is such an amazing opportunity to recognize the collaboration among the states.  

“I love the community New England has,” said Jesse Warner, NWTF Northeast R3 coordinator. “They really embrace being a region, instead of focusing on their own individual state. They’re here as New England as a whole.”  

This multi-state collaboration was seen as Maine donated a JAKES hunt to the state of Massachusetts. But this isn’t unique. Vermont chapters donate hunts to Massachusetts, guides from Massachusetts offer to take youth from Maine out, and so on.  

“It’s that cross-border collaboration, I just love,” Fritze said. 

Similarly, NWTF's Forests and Flocks Initiative, prioritizes conservation on a regional scale rather than at the state level. New England’s investment in time, effort, and funds will go a long way to ensure that the needs of the wild turkey in the northeast will be met for a long time to come. 

Warner is also excited for Massachusetts’ Turkey Calling Workshop and Competition set to take place in early March. In collaboration with Mass Wildlife, the event plans to have three 1-hour sessions, each specializing in a different type of turkey call [box, slate, mouth]. Directly following the workshop, participants will be able to attend the calling competition to learn from experienced hunters.  

Chris Kirby donated a limited-edition prototype 2005 shorty boat paddle box call, number 00 of 25, with an Indian Head penny, which was signed by Dick Kirby, to be auctioned off at the event.  Kirby hand crafted 25 limited edition original box calls and donated to the Massachusetts NWTF State Chapter fund raising campaign in 2005.  

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 24 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