NWTF Accepting Research Proposals, Continuing Aggressive Investment in Wild Turkey Research
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — After investing over $1.2 million in wild turkey research in the last two years, the NWTF is now opening its National Wild Turkey Research Request for Proposals program for the third consecutive year. Another historic investment in vital wild turkey research is slated for 2024.
“Our partners, volunteers and staff have rallied like never before to ensure the sustainability of this bird we all love,” said Mark Hatfield, NWTF national director of science and planning. “We seek to not only fund research that is helping to address wild turkey declines and population fluctuations in numerous regions, but we seek to fund research that supports practical and effective wildlife management that proactively sustains wild turkey populations into perpetuity.”
For 2024, the NWTF invites proposals that investigate the dynamics and drivers of the wild turkey population as well as those that address one, or more, of the following research priorities:
- Development of regional and national population and abundance estimates.
- Evaluation and development of habitat management practices and habitat conditions that would increase wild turkey nest success and poult survival.
- Investigation of underlying wild turkey diseases and their impacts on wild turkey populations.
- Understanding the effects of harvest management strategies and season structure on wild turkey populations.
- Wild turkey (adult and poult) survival and correlated causes of mortality.
All projects must have a minimum 3-to-1 leverage rate and may span up to three years in length. Applicants are highly encouraged to obtain endorsement from the representative NWTF state chapter(s) and must obtain endorsement from the respective state wildlife agency(ies) while investigating one or more of the above topics.
Applicants must submit proposals no later than May 15, 2024, for consideration. Project funding awards will be announced on July 1, 2024.
The NWTF Technical Committee and NWTF conservation staff will score and rank proposals on the applicability of the projects, scientific rigor, partner engagement and secured matching funds.
The NWTF Technical Committee, a group of state agency representatives from every state, has been essential in guiding historic research priorities, facilitating current research and, more recently, determining what research is necessary to aid current and future management decisions to ensure wild turkeys thrive into perpetuity.
The announcement of the NWTF opening its research RFP program for the third year in a row comes after the NWTF’s $360,000 investment in 2022 and its $582,374 investment in 2023, which were made possible thanks to Bass Pro Shops Bass and Cabela's Outdoor Fund and Mossy Oak. Moreover, significant contributions to research efforts were provided by numerous NWTF state chapters across the country, which brought the NWTF’s investment to over $1.2 million in less than two years.
For more information on NWTF’s 2024 Wild Turkey Research RFP program, eligibility and submission information, contact Hatfield at mhatfield@nwtf.net.
*Disclaimer:
To ensure NWTF funding has the greatest impact on the resource, we limit our support to only direct costs of the project and do not allow the use of NWTF funding to pay for indirect expenses.
NWTF defines “direct costs” as expenses that are required for said project and can be tracked directly to the research project. Direct costs are eligible to be recovered through the NWTF, but all unrecovered direct costs should be and are encouraged to be listed as match/leverage within the budget table.
“Indirect costs” are defined as expenses that cannot be tracked directly to the NWTF grant project. We realize many entities have federal approved rates and highly encourage all unrecovered indirect expenses be listed as match/leverage toward the project. If you list indirect expenses as match/leverage, please provide a fully executed NIRCA letter at the time of the project submission.
Please email mhatfield@nwtf.net if you request a disclaimer letter outlining our funding restrictions.
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 $9 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.