NWTF Establishes Groundbreaking Wild Turkey Research Position
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — Continuing as the foremost wild turkey research organization and to expand its research efforts, the NWTF has created a groundbreaking leadership role within the organization: national director of wild turkey research.
Since 2022, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested more resources in wild turkey research than any point in history — providing more than $2.3 million toward dozens of wild turkey research projects across the country, which, with partner match, equates to over $22 million in total wild turkey research spending. The organization has regularly gathered leading agency biologists via the NWTF National Wild Turkey Technical Committee and established the first-ever endowed professorship focused solely on the wild turkey, with more university-based positions on the horizon. The national director of wild turkey research will oversee the organization’s entire research program and will further build upon the momentum that has been created for the conservation of the wild turkey.
“Not long after the inception of the NWTF, founder Tom Rodgers hired James Earl Kennamer as the NWTF’s director of research,” NWTF co-CEO Kurt Dyroff said. “Kennamer helped forge a legacy for the wild turkey at a critical point in wild turkey conservation. As we embark on a new era of wild turkey management in a rapidly changing world, we are in a similarly vital juncture. This new role will likewise shape the future of wild turkey conservation and bolster meaningful outcomes across the wild turkey’s range through vital wild turkey science. We’ve built a powerful springboard for wild turkey research in recent years; this new role will launch us even further toward new frontiers in conservation.”
The position will catalyze relevant, multi-year research projects; identify and prioritize emerging threats and research gaps affecting wild turkey populations across their range; and develop science-based conservation strategies and best practices for habitat management and policy initiatives.
Furthermore, the position will be the primary contact for the NWTF’s national wild turkey Request for Proposals program and overall research project portfolio, engaging with researchers from universities across the country and guiding NWTF’s research priorities across varying multiyear research efforts.
In addition, the national director of wild turkey research will oversee and administer NWTF university-based programs, such as the NWTF-UGA endowed professorship. The position will also drive high-impact research efforts, foster strategic partnerships and guide evidence-based solutions to address the complex factors contributing to declining wild turkey numbers.
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.