NWTF makes a difference in New Jersey

With projects aimed at improving wildlife habitat and sharing the outdoors with others, National Wild Turkey Federation New Jersey State Chapter volunteers make a difference where they live.

NWTF projects are a combination of state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, corporations and NWTF volunteers partnering to accomplish the same goal--conserving our natural resources and preserving our hunting heritage. The projects are varied, and the events are fun to attend.

The NWTF New Jersey State Chapter is part of the NWTF's Five-Star Program, meaning its members are dedicated to sharing the outdoors with women, children and people with disabilities, and making a positive difference in their communities. They have spent almost $500,000 on conservation and education projects throughout their state.

With an average of 900 children for the first and second statewide youth wild turkey hunting days, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife will hold a third youth hunting day on the Saturday before the start of New Jersey's 2004 spring turkey hunting season.

During the 2003 youth wild turkey hunting day, hunters between the ages of 10 and 15 took 82 wild turkeys.

To be eligible for the hunt, hunters must have a youth hunting license and be accompanied by an adult with a hunting license.

"Children respond to the outdoors with enthusiasm," said Bob Eriksen, National Wild Turkey Federation Northeast regional biologist. "If we can get them interested in hunting and the outdoors when they are young, then there is a good chance that they be interested in the outdoors when they grow up."

Forest openings on Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area received a facelift from the National Wild Turkey Federation's New Jersey State Chapter.

Wildlife, especially wild turkeys, need openings in forests to provide food for their young. Openings condense food into smaller areas and provide grass seeds and insects for wild turkey poults. Most of the land in the Delaware Gap area, owned by the National Park Service, is heavily forested requiring wildlife to travel farther to obtain needed amounts of food.

The mowing and fertilizing of the openings benefit wildlife by providing needed food, and the National Park Service receives help maintaining areas to resemble historic land use like grazing and farming.

For more information about NWTF conservation projects and events taking place in New Jersey, contact Bob Eriksen at 908-454-1882. For more information about the NWTF, call 1-800-THE-NWTF or visit the website at www.nwtf.org.

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