02/26/2008
Ohio Landowner Earns NWTF's Wild Turkey Woodlands Award
 Dr. Paul Mechling Click image for print quality version |
ATLANTA— Dr. Paul Mechling of Pierpont, Ohio, was honored by the National Wild Turkey Federation as the Wild Turkey Woodland Award recipient for 2008.
Mechling was recognized at the NWTF's annual National Convention and Sport Show in Atlanta, Ga., held Feb. 21st to Feb. 24th, for practicing good land management, being a leader in his community and his involvement in his local NWTF chapter.
Mechling, who founded the Grand River Chapter in 1984, has been an NWTF member since 1979 and a life member since 1988. He also helps educate the public about the importance of conservation through his two veterinary clinics.
Mechling and his family own more than 580 acres in both Ohio and New York. All of his properties have professional management plans to guide him and improve his property. These improvements include more than 225 acres of timber stand improvements, planting more than 10,000 hardwoods, maintaining food plots, installing erosion control devices and more.
"The NWTF has given me great opportunities," said Mechling. "I thank them for this award and look forward to our continued success together."
The Wild Turkey Woodland Program is designed to inform individual and corporate landowners who actively manage for wild turkeys and other wildlife on their property. The program also promotes hunting as part of our North American heritage and encourages landowners to have a written management plan for their property.
"Paul has done an outstanding job balancing wildlife needs and timber production," said Randy Showalter, NWTF regional biologist. "He is a prime example of how timber and wildlife management can go together."
