NWTF Illinois Commits $230,435 to Healthy Habitats. Healthy Harvests. for 2026

“Annually, our partners have always done a great job of submitting a great mix of projects for the Illinois State Board to consider that helps us address both aspects of mission delivery,” said John Burk, NWTF district biologist for Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. “Illinois has been a perennial fundraising powerhouse since the banquet program was initiated, so it’s easy to be relevant and make a difference with a healthy Super Fund account that enables all of these projects to happen.”  

NWTF conservation project award funding will be matched with $327,213 in partner or grant funds for the approved projects.  

The Super Fund is a funding model where NWTF volunteers raise money at banquets and other types of fundraisers and then allocate a significant portion of those funds back into meaningful conservation and outreach projects in their respective states. For the Illinois NWTF State Chapter’s 2026 Super Fund allocations, projects include:   

• $16,250 for a tree and shrub program offering more than 25,000 native oak and shrub species to landowner members for planting on private land.  
• $15,000 toward the Roots to Roost Initiative.  
• $10,000 toward the removal of non-native and invasive species on 900 acres at Big River State Forest.  
• $10,000 toward Southern Illinois prescribed burn support.  
• $10,000 for 280 acres of non-native treatment at Wienberg-King State Park.  
• $9,450 for a slide-in water unit for the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge.  
• $8,000 to for the spring NWTF Seed Subsidy program.  
• $7,375 for 30 acres of timber stand improvement at Devils Prop State Natural Area.  
• $7,250 for a dragon egg launcher for the Shawnee National Forest.  
• $6,000 toward support for Great Rivers Prescribed Burn Association.   
• $5,000 for 340 acres of non-native and invasive species treatment at Argyle Lake State Park.  
• $5,000 for 320 acres of non-native and invasive species treatment at Siloam Springs State Park.  
• $5,000 for 2,000 acres of non-native and invasive species treatment at Jubilee College State Park.  
• $2,760 for a 9-acre pollinator field at Camp Big Sky.   

The following projects support research, education, outreach and hunter access efforts in Illinois. Funding includes:  

• $25,000 unrestricted gift to support NWTF endowed professorships from the Illinois NWTF Super Fund and another $5,000 from the state account.  
• $25,100 to support affiliate dues, scholarships, WITO, JAKES, National Archery in the Schools Program, hunter education and more.    
• $10,500 to support various Illinois mentored hunts  
• $9,750 to support 13 high school trap teams.   
• $33,000 State operations and miscellaneous expenses   
• $10,000 towards recruitment, retention and reactivation efforts 

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.