New Jersey Rallies for NWTF’s 50th

What started as an idea coalesced into a record-breaking fundraising event that saw thousands of dollars raised for conservation, underscoring what can happen when volunteers rally together for a cause.

“We wanted to celebrate our 50^th Anniversary in a way that got people excited but also would raise significant funds for our conservation work,” said Louis Gambale, NWTF Tri-County Longbeards Chapter board member and former New Jersey State Chapter president. “Custom calls are always a hit, and we were lucky that renowned call maker Mike Lapp donated 14 custom calls for our event.”  

Through the generosity of Lapp’s donation, the Tri-County Longbeards auctioned off the 14 calls online and raised nearly $10,000 for conservation delivery.

“Mike's passion for supporting the mission speaks for itself through his many years of donations to banquets, and this year’s custom call auction was no different,” Gambale said.

Since the NWTF's founding, turkey call makers — be it custom call makers or callmaking companies — have supported the organization in many unique and creative ways, understanding the importance of conservation to turkey hunting. The dedication and craftsmanship of call makers still rings true nearly 50 years later as call makers across the country work with the NWTF at both a national and grassroots level. Lapp’s recent work with the volunteers in New Jersey is a shining example of call makers’ role in conservation.

And while the volunteers in New Jersey considered its recent custom call auction an undoubtable success, the grassroots approach to conservation is representative of all the work the NWTF is accomplishing across New Jersey. Here are some examples.

The New Jersey State Chapter and all the local chapters within the state are highly active in recruiting new hunters. Throughout the state, volunteers have forged successful partnerships with New Jersey Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, among others, that facilitate NWTF JAKES, Wheelin’ Sportsmen and WITO events, as well as adult-mentored hunts.

For instance, the state chapter recently held its annual turkey hunting workshop at the Wallkill River National Refuge, which saw over 100 participants. Attendees learned everything necessary to succeed in the turkey woods, from game regulations to calling techniques. The event was followed up with both adult and youth-mentored turkey hunts that allowed attendees at the workshop to apply the skills they recently learned.

But it’s not just turkey hunting; the volunteers in New Jersey keep the outdoors momentum going all year, from striper fishing to deer hunts. For example, last deer season, the NWTF New Jersey State Chapter partnered with the New Jersey Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers to host a three-day adult-mentored hunt at the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge. Attendees enjoyed wild-game dishes (including venison wontons and black bear sloppy joes), learned about safety and best practices and then later had the opportunity to harvest their first deer. NWTF New Jersey has multiple similar events planned for this year’s fall season.

Partnerships are essential for delivering conservation too.

“We are proud of our relationship with New Jersey Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as they have been crucial for our outreach events and conservation work,” Gambale said. “These partnerships enable us to improve hundreds of acres of habitat on public lands yearly.”

Conservation work includes creating early successional habitat, planting trees and conservation seed, invasive species removal and more. What’s more, much of the work the state chapter delivers throughout the state is on lands that are open to public hunting access.

“We host a number of events on these areas where we improve the habitat,” Gambale said. “It allows us to illustrate the importance of conservation to hunting opportunities.”

The Arbor Day Foundation recently awarded the NWTF 7,000 trees to plant in New Jersey, for instance, that complement the Shortleaf Pine Initiative and the Atlantic White Cedar Initiative. Planting of the two imperiled tree species began in the early spring of 2023 on the Landis Sewerage Authority’s property and will enhance wildlife habitat on the water treatment facility’s property.

This project is similar to many instances across the country where the two components of the NWTF mission – the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage – are interwoven into one project site. In this instance, the NWTF New Jersey WITO Chapter, the Tri-County Longbeards Chapter and New Jersey Fish and Wildlife have held numerous spring turkey hunts on LSA property,

“This project is great because it vividly illustrates the NWTF’s mission,” said Mitchell Blake, NWTF district biologist for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York and Delaware. “Accomplishing work that allows us to conserve wild turkeys provides the opportunities for hunters to go afield and enjoy the resource.”

As the volunteers in New Jersey continue celebrating the NWTF’s 50^th Anniversary through numerous mission-related events, they have also set a lofty goal of 50% growth in membership.

“It is essential for us to grow to increase our impact,” Gambale said. “I recently had a banquet attendee call me and express how happy he was with our management efforts. I told him to thank himself; we are making a difference through the support of our members and banquet attendees.”