08/20/2004
State Chapter Honored by Wyoming Wildlife Federation
The Wyoming Wildlife Federation (WWF), headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyo., has given the NWTF's Wyoming State Chapter its Conservation Organization of the Year award. The award honors an organization for its dedication to wildlife, habitat, and the conservation of wildlife habitat.
"Working with the NWTF is special because their members are full of enthusiasm and they continue to push and make things happen on the ground," said Cathy Purves, executive director for the Wyoming Wildlife Federation. "The chapter is well deserving of this award. They are a motivated bunch that we are happy to have as a partner."
The WWF — Wyoming's largest conservation group of hunters, anglers and wildlife enthusiasts, with over 5,000 members — chose the NWTF chapter for this award because of its goal to increase wild turkey populations across Wyoming, its involvement in the annual Wyoming Hunting and Fishing Heritage Expo and the chapter's outreach events for women, children and people with disabilities. Most recently, the Wyoming State Chapter help pass a Wyoming senate bill to purchase the Homestake Land tract, a 30,000-acre private section of land in Northeastern Wyoming that may eventually be available to the public for hunting.
The Wyoming State Chapter is also an affiliate member of the WWF, which allows both groups to work together for sportsmen, conservation and the hunting tradition — all central to the each group's mission statement.
"We take an active role in the issues that confront Wyoming sportsmen, wildlife resources and wildlife habitat," said Len Fortunato, NWTF's Wyoming State Chapter president. "Because of our involvement in WWF, I have been contacted by sportsmen and land owners wanting to know more about the NWTF and our habitat and outreach programs as well as information about our local chapters."
The Wyoming Chapter has been in existence for 11 years, and now boasts 12 chapters spread throughout the state. These chapters have raised more than $70,000 for the wild turkey in 2003 alone.
Since 1985, Wyoming NWTF chapters have spent:
More than $363,510 on projects within the state. More than $57,387 has been spent in 2003 alone.
$115,290 to reimburse other states for expenses related to the trap and transfer of 762 donated turkeys into Wyoming.
$47,849 on educational programs and literature including scholarships, education boxes, 4-H and teacher workshops.
$92,229 on habitat improvement projects.
