CEO Notes – July/August 2026

While chasing spring gobbles is put on pause until 2027, the work that sustains the wild turkey across the country continues. For us at the NWTF, the wild turkey is a year-round commitment. Every decision we make, every acre we enhance and every dollar we invest is rooted in our unfaltering mission: the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage.

As of this writing, early harvest reports are encouraging. In some areas, preliminary data may reflect improved previous-year recruitment and greater availability of birds on the landscape. Kentucky saw its highest harvest total on record; Arkansas hunters reported the highest harvest total in 20 years; and Missouri youth set a record for harvests during the youth weekend.

We are eager to hear from our agency partners that comprise the Wild Turkey Technical Committee to get a full picture of harvest data across the country and, just as important, the results of summer brood surveys. Together, these long-term monitoring efforts reveal where wild turkey populations are growing, where they are sustaining and where challenges remain. When paired with ongoing NWTF funded research, this information allows us to refine management strategies with our partners and deliver conservation work where it matters most.

That commitment to science-based conservation is reflected in the continuation of the NWTF Research Grants Program, formerly known as the NWTF RFP Program. Now entering its fifth year, the program represents a strong commitment for the future of wild turkey conservation across the country. Each project funded through this effort is designed to expand our understanding of wild turkey ecology and provide practical insights that directly inform actionable management.

This year’s research priorities reflect the complexity of modern wild turkey conservation. Specifically, we are working to improve methods and standardized protocols for estimating wild turkey abundance, evaluating the effectiveness of management strategies — including habitat management, predator management and harvest frameworks — and a better understanding of how these factors influence survival and reproduction. Additional focus areas include examining the effects of spring harvest timing and assessing the role of baiting and supplemental feeding on wild turkey ecology and predator interactions.

In the coming weeks, we will announce a new slate of research projects that build on the momentum we have created for wild turkey research. Since 2022, we have funded dozens of research projects across the country with a $2.3 million investment. When leveraged with our partners’ contributions, the result is about $22 million going to wild turkey research. We encourage you to follow along at NWTF.org as we continue to invest in the science that drives conservation forward.

Across the country, NWTF is delivering on-the-ground conservation through regionally focused initiatives designed to address the unique challenges facing wild turkeys in different landscapes. We recognize that wild turkey conservation is not one-size-fits-all. Through these initiatives, we are restoring critical nesting and brood-rearing habitat, improving forest structure, enhancing forage and ensuring that wild turkeys have what they need not just in spring, but throughout the year, while bettering the overall ecosystem for all wildlife. In every issue of Turkey Call, we highlight specific projects under the umbrellas of our regional initiatives. You can learn more about these efforts beginning on pg. 26.

As the gobbles of the spring fade and the summer settles in, the mission of the NWTF remains unchanged. The conservation of the wild turkey requires focus on the wild turkey during the spring and continuous commitment to conservation, science and stewardship all year.