Hunting Heritage in Action: Northeast
Preserving America’s hunting heritage is a part of the NWTF’s dual mission, and dedicated NWTF volunteers carry out that mission on a local scale by hosting life-changing hunting heritage events across the country — and local and state NWTF chapters in the Northeast are no different. NWTF chapters in Northeast host events year-round to help the NWTF advance its hunting heritage efforts.
Recent studies continue to emphasize both a decrease in public support for hunting and a decrease in overall hunting participation. In response, the NWTF’s Education and Outreach team and its network of dedicated volunteers are taking strides to recruit more hunters and build support for hunting.
The NWTF has identified specific regional priorities to drive its Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation efforts and overall hunting heritage initiatives across the country. In the Northeast these priorities include:
- Building support for hunting and addressing the decline in Americans’ attitudes toward hunting.
- Emphasizing retention activities, reducing churn and providing next-step activities.
- Increasing hunting and shooting sports access across and supporting opportunities that impact availability for all people to hunt and shoot.
Here are just a few standout moments that encapsulate the NWTF’s efforts in action within the Northeast:
Hosted in partnership with the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game, this turkey hunting class was an opportunity for new turkey hunters of any age to learn about all things turkey. Seacoast Strutters Chapter volunteers shared tips for hunting safety, scouting, equipment, biology, field dressing and calling. Attendees went home with a free box, slate or mouth call and an informational packet containing content discussed during the day. NWTF volunteers also offered to mentor new hunters. This event gave new hunters refreshed confidence to get out into woods for the upcoming spring gobbler season.
At the beginning of New York’s spring gobbler season, the NWTF Northern Catskills Longbeards Chapter revived it’s Wheelin’ Sportsmen Wounded Veteran’s Hunt. Chapter president Bob Monteleone and NWTF volunteers welcomed and mentored 10 veterans from all over the region to harvest a wild turkey. Monteleone wanted to bring back this event in honor of his father, who was a World War II veteran. Before he passed, he would attend the Wounded Veteran’s Hunt every year and share stories with the other veterans attending the spring hunt, building community and camaraderie with fellow veterans.
Every year, the NWTF Jerry Zimmerman Chapter invites over 180 youth to participate in a variety of outdoor recreation activities. JAKES participants tried archery, BB guns, .410 shotgun shooting, fishing and canoeing, while also learning about turkey biology. The XTreme JAKES, geared toward youth ages 14 to 17, included courses on orienteering, tree stand climbing and safety, following blood trails, rifle and flintlock shooting, trapshooting, hunting forensics, anatomy, shot placement and more. Partnerships with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Trout Unlimited, the Pennsylvania Trapping Association and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission helped make the event possible, creating a safe and engaging way to foster new connections with the outdoors.
Banquets are some of the NWTF’s most quintessential examples of heritage events because they serve as a space for current and new members to build community. Cristina McGannon-Jones, New Jersey Women in the Outdoors Chapter president established the chapter to do exactly that back in 2021, and it continues to inspire women to get involved in the outdoors. This banquet serves as a place for members to bring friends and family to expose them to all 30 events McGannon-Jones and her WITO chapter offer throughout the year.
During the spring youth turkey season, the NWTF Southern Maryland Chapter hosted its annual youth turkey hunt for over 70 young hunters. Each participant was assigned a mentor, making the experience approachable for new hunters.
Early Saturday morning, mentors and mentees met at designated locations to begin their hunts. After the morning spent in the field, all participants gathered at a local farm at for lunch, camaraderie and raffles. Youth hunters who successfully harvested a bird had the opportunity to weigh their gobblers and measure beards and spurs. The hunter with the top-scoring bird earned a free turkey mount, and the next couple ranking birds received free tail fan mounts.