10/26/2009
NWTF Oklahoma to Invest $127,200 in State Projects in 2010
OKLAHOMA — The National Wild Turkey Federation's (NWTF) Oklahoma chapters have plans to spend $127,200 from the state Hunting Heritage Super Fund in outreach, education, conservation, increased public land access and more within Oklahoma in 2010.
The NWTF Super Fund is administered jointly by the NWTF, its state and provincial chapters and wildlife agencies.
Since 1985, National Wild Turkey Federation chapters in Oklahoma have raised and spent more than $932,568 on wildlife habitat enhancements, land purchases, education, outreach and more within the state. NWTF chapters and cooperating partners across North America have raised and spent more than $286 million upholding hunting traditions and conserving nearly 14 million acres of wildlife habitat since 1985.
"The Oklahoma State Chapter is dedicated to improving land access and wildlife habitat, and is backing up their commitment with the funds to make needed changes," said James Earl Kennamer, Ph.D., the NWTF's chief conservation officer. "By directing dollars to land access and wildlife habitat improvements, and strengthening outreach and education programs, the Oklahoma State Chapter is helping enhance habitat for all kinds of wildlife while making a better outdoor experience, not just for hunters — but for everyone."
Hunters are a key part of the state's economy, too. The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation reports that Oklahoma hunters spend $492 million and 5.3 million days afield pursuing their sport each year.
The targeted projects approved by the Oklahoma State Chapter Super Fund Committee include $61,000 to uphold outdoor traditions through the NWTF's JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship), Women in the Outdoors and Wheelin' Sportsmen NWTF outreach programs, educational programs, scholarship programs, the 4-H Shooting Sports Program, the National Archery in the Schools Program, the Oklahoma Youth Forestry Camp.
The NWTF's Oklahoma State Board of Directors dedicated $54,000 to accomplish the following projects in 2010, which will benefit Oklahoma's resident and non-resident sportsmen:
- $7,500 to help construct a pavilion that will be available for public use at the James Collins Wildlife Management Area in northern Pittsburg and Latimer counties.
Project partners: NWTF's Southeast Strutters Chapter and local businesses
- $6,645 to create wildlife openings in closed-canopy forest areas, which will promote native grass growth and provide food and brood-rearing habitat for wild turkeys on the Cherokee Wildlife Management Area in southwestern Cherokee County.
- $6,000 to remove large eastern red cedars to allow land managers to conduct more effective prescribed fires on the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area in Johnston County.
- $6,000 to create wildlife openings to provide food and brood-rearing habitat for wild turkeys and other wildlife in closed-canopy forest areas on the Cookson Wildlife Management Area in southeastern Cherokee and southwestern Adair counties.
- $5,000 to create wildlife openings by restoring overgrown ponds and clearing ridge tops on the Spavinaw Wildlife Management Area in western Delaware and eastern Mayes counties. Completion of this project will provide water and early successional habitat for wild turkeys and other wildlife throughout this public land.
Project partners: NatureWorks, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF)
- $5,000 to construct fireguards, which are gaps in vegetation used to control prescribed burns, on the McCurtain County Wilderness Area.
Project partner: Additional funding from the U.S. Forest Service
- $5,000 to purchase aerial ignition supplies to conduct prescribed fires on the Pushmataha Wildlife Management Area in Pushmataha County. Land managers use prescribed fire to thin trees, allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor and promoting the growth of vegetation essential for wild turkeys, quail and other ground-nesting birds.
Project partner: RMEF
- $5,000 to control eastern red cedars around roost trees on public hunting land near Lake Ellsworth in Lawton, Okla. Removing eastern red cedars will help cottonwood trees, which are prime roosting sites for wild turkeys, survive, and also protect the trees during prescribed fires.
- $4,825 to help maintain fireguards and purchase a seed drill for use on the Lexington Wildlife Management Area in Cleveland County.
- $2,810 to purchase aerial ignition supplies for conducting prescribed fires at the Ouachita National Forest-Well Hollow Walk-in Turkey Hunting Area in LeFlore County. Prescribed fire will promote and maintain native grasses for wild turkeys and other wildlife.
- $1,200 to restore bottomland hardwood stands and maintain openings for wildlife at the Little River National Wildlife Refuge in McCurtain County.
Project partner: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
