Millican Earns National Conservation Award
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Arizona’s John Millican received national recognition from the National Wild Turkey Federation as one of the recipients of the Roger M. Latham Sportsman Wild Turkey Service Awards for his extraordinary dedication to the organization’s mission. Millican received the award during the NWTF’s 49th annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show, sponsored by Mossy Oak.
“I am honored to have been nominated and selected for the NWTF’s prestigious Roger M. Latham Award,” Millican said. “Being in the fraternity of past award winners highlights the importance of volunteers in the enhancement of conservation and the NWTF mission. I have been fortunate to be on the front lines of translocating Gould’s turkeys to southeast Arizona as a volunteer working with dedicated agencies, broad-based volunteers, mentors and partner organizations. These connections have provided an opportunity to develop mission-centric programs involving habitat enhancement, youth and family activities and community outreach. Enhancing volunteerism and outdoor involvement requires partner development and the support of family, national, state and local NWTF chapters. I have been blessed to be surrounded by dedicated and hard-working men and women. Answering the call as a volunteer has been rewarded through the outcomes, connections and smiles.”
Millican was one of the founding members of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter in 1997 and continues as the chapter’s president after 22 years. He has also been the banquet chairman and an Arizona State Chapter board member since 2002. As president, he has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars through his banquet, which always sells out. His chapter has raised more than $1,000 for its local Dr. James Earl Kennamer Scholarship fund.
As a wildlife manager, Millican started a Gould’s turkey survey camp that now has 50 volunteers participating annually. The volunteers walk the route, survey wild turkeys, and the count data is forwarded to the Arizona Game and Fish Department to aid them in determining the population’s health. Millican retired from the Arizona Game and Fish Department in 2009 but continues to lead these surveys. He recently started a “Turkey Hunting 101” class for new hunters.
In retirement, Millican also continues to review southeastern Arizona projects like the Piloncillo Fire Plan on the Douglas Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest, which looked at the possible impacts and benefits of prescribed burning and mitigation measures on Gould’s wild turkey populations.
Millican is a representative for the Habitat Partnership Committee where he helps to plan resource projects to enhance wild turkey habitat across the state, but his specialty is in dealing with habitat that impacts the Gould’s subspecies in southern Arizona. He will even drive many hours to site recommendations to see how these projects will affect the wild turkey populations in any way.
Over the years his chapter has developed 15 habitat projects consisting of water developments, fence enclosures around springs, riparian areas and escape ramp installations on waterers.
Millican is also an advocate for conservation in the media and has been a guest on the Wildlife for Tomorrow podcast with Michael Cravens, where he talked extensively about the Gould’s turkey, their habitat and their history.
“Just like the NWTF, the Gould’s wild turkey is lucky to have John as an advocate,” NWTF co-CEO Jason Burckhalter said. “John’s years of tangible benefits for helping conserve the least populated subspecies of wild turkey coupled with his overall passion for the NWTF mission makes him a prime recipient of the Roger Latham Award.”
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.