NWTF Awarded Risberg Grant for Upcoming Governor’s Mentored Deer Hunt
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The Missouri NWTF State Chapter was recently awarded a $2,000 Risberg Grant from the Conservation Federation of Missouri at CFM’s annual convention. The funding will be used to bolster the emerging Missouri Governor’s Mentored Deer Hunt, hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation and facilitated by numerous partners, including the NWTF.
The David Risberg Memorial Affiliate Grants are awarded by the Conservation Federation of Missouri in honor of David A. Risberg. The purpose of these grants is to provide an opportunity for affiliates to take action on conservation by implementing projects funded in whole or in part through this endowment.
“We are proud to partner with many like-minded organizations on the Governor’s Mentored Deer Hunt event,” said John Burk, NWTF district biologist for Missouri, Iowa and Illinois. “We are thankful for the grant funding from CFM, and we look forward to hosting another successful event this year and bringing awareness to the significant role hunters play in conserving the Show Me state’s incredible natural resources.”
The event occurred last year in October during Missouri’s new antlerless rifle season and exceeded expectations, with 25 participants selected to attend a comprehensive hunting clinic and participate in the hunt, fostering an atmosphere of learning, camaraderie and conservation.
Partnerships with the Conservation Federation of Missouri, National Deer Association, Missouri Hunting Heritage Foundation, Pheasants/Quail Forever, Missouri Disabled Sportsmen, Missouri’s Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, Whitetails Unlimited, ALPS Outdoorz, Dead End Game Calls, MO Woods and Wildlife and Missouri Backcountry Hunters and Anglers played a pivotal role in bringing the event to fruition last year.
Deer hunters are crucial in helping state agencies achieve deer management goals by maintaining populations at desirable levels. Declining hunter numbers pose a significant concern for all involved in conservation efforts which sparked the collaborative efforts to recruit, reactivate and retain new hunters (R3 programs).
The Governor’s Mentored Deer Hunt is a vital part of this strategy, aiming to introduce newcomers to hunting while providing them with essential knowledge about conservation, deer biology, hunting strategies, safety and etiquette.
This event represents the marriage of providing opportunities that help accomplish agency and organizational R3 objectives while at the same time assisting landowners with large land holdings and high deer densities to accomplish harvest goals determined in their property-specific plans designed to achieve and maintain optimal herd health for their properties.
For further information about the Governor’s Mentored Deer Hunt, contact MDC Outreach and Education Coordinator Rob Garver at 573-522-4115 ext. 6507 or at Rob.Garver@mdc.mo.gov.
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 23 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $9 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.