Forests and Flocks

Join us in support of this groundbreaking initiative as we work to conserve our forests and flocks for this generation and the next.

The Northeast region boasts a rich history of wild turkey conservation. Besides remnant populations in parts of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, wild turkeys were completely extirpated from the rest of the states within the region in the early 1900s. The NWTF’s 10-year Forest and Flocks Initiative will prevent future declines by building upon historic restoration efforts and ensure the health and vigor of the Northeast’s wild turkey population for the future.

Goals and Objectives

At the heart of the initiative is the NWTF’s dual mission to conserve the wild turkey and preserve our hunting heritage. Forests and Flocks will establish critical nesting habitat in the spring, brood-rearing habitat in the summer, and practices that benefit hard and soft mast-bearing trees and shrubs that help wild turkeys make it through the winter in good condition. The initiative also focuses on the NWTF’s mission to preserve our hunting heritage. This will boost the regional support for hunting and increase our voice against recurring proposed legislation that is antithetical to the NWTF’s mission.

Conservation Objectives

Forests and Flocks will improve 100,000 acres over 10 years in northeastern states through habitat management and support of research to increase the effectiveness of our conservation work. This will be accomplished through the following objectives:

• Establish young forest, early successional, and grassland habitats that increase nesting and brood cover.
• Prioritize forest health through work favoring mast-producing tree species to ensure adequate fall forage.
• Establish an NWTF-endowed wild turkey professorship position in the Northeast.
• Establish partnerships designed to improve winter foraging habitat for wild turkeys within both agricultural (standing crops, old field shrubs, etc.) and forested landscapes (spring seeps, etc.).
• Allocate research funding to identify limiting factors and provide a better understanding of habitat use.
• Use NWTF seed programs to encourage members to plant and manage quality nesting and brood habitat throughout the initiative area.
• Support active habitat management through engagement in policy work impacting long-term public land management plans, and private lands habitat management (farm bill, etc.).

Hunting Heritage Objectives

Forests and Flocks will increase our Education and Outreach impact in the recruitment, retention and reactivation of hunters. This will further elevate NWTF as a champion for hunters through our on-the-ground local and state chapter events and through our policy efforts that will advocate for hunters. This will be accomplished through the following objectives:

• Identify partnerships that will address key issues limiting hunter recruitment, retention and reactivation.
• Support private-land access laws (open access on unposted lands) and programs (Voluntary Public Access-Habitat Incentive Program) while enhancing public land access and acquisition efforts.
• Increase support for hunting, emphasizing retention events.
• Increase hunting and shooting sports access across the region through strategic use of the Hunt for Good campaign.
• Engage in policy efforts that stand up for hunter’s rights and help facilitate outdoor experiences for all hunters.

Financial Need

NWTF estimates a need of $30 million – with partner collaboration – by the year 2034 to improve over 100,000 acres of habitat on public and private lands. To accomplish this work, along with research and hunting heritage needs, the NWTF has a fundraising goal of $10 million in addition to the projected $4 million of Super Fund raised for conservation work during the initiative. We have matched funds at a rate of 5:1 in the region

For more information about the Forests and Flocks Initiative, contact the appropriate NWTF district biologist:

For Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, contact Mitchell Blake at mblake@nwtf.net.

For Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, contact Matt DiBona at mdibona@nwtf.net.

For West Virginia and Virginia, contact Cully McCurdy at cmccurdy@nwtf.net.