NWTF Georgia Invests $273,423 to Conservation in 2026
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The Georgia State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation recently met in Macon to review Hunting Heritage Super Fund project proposals for 2026 funding awards. Following the ranking process, proposals were approved by the Georgia Board of Directors.
The board budgeted $217,323 for conservation projects, $7,200 for research, $10,000 for the NWTF’s Habitat for the Hatch Initiative and $38,900 for hunting heritage projects, including education and outreach events, chapter scholarships and more. NWTF conservation project award funding will be matched by $424,871 in partner or grant funds for the approved projects
“NWTF staff and our conservation partners are thankful for the talented volunteers who generate these funds year after year to continue our mission in Georgia,” said Ricky Lackey, NWTF district biologist. “The projects funded for fiscal year 2026 will greatly impact wild turkeys on both public and private lands throughout the state.”
The projected impact of these investments is 117,000 acres statewide, with approximately 46,000 acres contributing directly to the NWTF’s Habitat for the Hatch Initiative.
The NWTF’s Super Fund is a funding model through which volunteers raise money at banquets and other fundraisers and allocate a significant portion of those proceeds into impactful conservation, research and outreach projects at the state level and beyond.
Across Georgia, approved conservation efforts will focus on large-scale habitat restoration and enhancement across both public and private lands, supported through approximately 17 active projects utilizing prescribed fire, herbicide applications, mechanical treatments, invasive and exotic species control, and longleaf pine ecosystem restoration. Additional funding will support wild turkey research efforts and conservation law enforcement programs designed to strengthen stewardship and long-term wildlife conservation throughout the state.
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.