New York NWTF State Chapter Celebrates 50 Years, Invests in Northeast’s Forests and Flocks Initiative

Mitchell Blake, NWTF district biologist, and Doug Little, NWTF director of conservation operations in the East highlighted conservation and research projects focusing on the wild turkey on a regional scale. Blake shared drone footage from current projects, including an update of the NWTF’s Forests and Flocks Initiative’s first project on the Finger Lakes National Forest.   

NWTF volunteers, excited to get involved in habitat management projects, asked what more they could do for the initiative.  

New York NWTF State Chapter President Eric Davis, on behalf of the state chapter, proudly contributed $60,000 to the Forests and Flocks Initiative, supporting future projects in New York and across the initiative's 13-state region. 

"To embrace the number 50, we [the state board of directors] voted to give $50,000 to the creation of an endowed professorship in the Northeast, one of the new Forests and Flocks Initiative goals, as well as another $50,000 to the Forests and Flocks Initiative through a $10,000 per year 5-year commitment,” Davis said. 

 Little accepted the $60,000 donation on behalf of the Forests and Flocks Initiative.   

“We are honored and humbled to receive such a generous donation,” Little said. “The contribution will allow us to match these funds with significant contributions towards our wild turkey conservation and research goals, along with our hunting heritage priorities within the initiative.”  

Sean Langevin, NWTF director of annual giving, announced that the New York NWTF State Chapter will also be fundraising for a state-specific dedication event, following in the footsteps of Wisconsin and Minnesota. The plaques will be showcased at Cabela’s in Buffalo, celebrating the NWTF’s mission and the history of wild turkey conservation in the state.   

“This dedication will honor those who got the NWTF through the first 50 years, while also raising money for the next 50 years,” Langevin said. “This is an opportunity for people to cement their name in history.”  

When Langevin announced the dedication, $116,000 had already been silently fundraised. By the end of the event, that number increased to $138,000.   

Austin Sweck, NWTF regional director, commended the state on continued success, sharing that in 2024, the state’s total net income was $519,452, and the total number of annual members was 9,420, ranking New York 6th in the nation for NWTF memberships.   

Sweck emphasized that in order to keep membership numbers increasing, there needs to be more of an effort towards recruiting younger hunters to the NWTF.   

Jesse Warner NWTF Northeast R3 coordinator, is also dedicated to creating a space for a new generation of hunters.   

“If you want to engage with younger hunters, listen to younger hunters,” he said.   

Toward the end of the event, the live auction brought excitement to members as an item from Dick Kirby's personal collection was auctioned off. The item was a limited edition 2005 shorty boat paddle box call, number 00 of 25, with an Indian Head penny signed by Dick Kirby — the call sold for $3,200.  

Kirby hand crafted 25 limited edition original box calls out of rare chestnut lumber and donated them to the New York NWTF State Chapter in 2005. The result of the collaboration was the “NWTF New York State Chapter Curved 2005 Shorty Boat Paddle Turkey Call.” The lid, made of cherry, was laser engraved with a gobbling turkey, hand painted by Kirby, and each call carries an inlay 1905 Indian Head penny.    

The prototype 26th call, crafted and kept by Kirby for his personal collection, “#PT00/25,” was held by the Kirby family for the past 20 years. In celebration of New York NWTF State Chapter’s 50th anniversary, Kirby’s son, Chris Kirby, donated the call.  

“What better place to donate this one-of-a-kind masterpiece crafted by my dad, than to our friends right here in our home state of New York,” he said.   

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