NWTF North Carolina Helps Save Tuckertown Game Lands
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The North Carolina State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation has joined the Three Rivers Land Trust to save the Tuckertown Game Lands, a nearly 4,000-acre tract of vital wildlife habitat situated along the Yadkin River and the Tuckertown Reservoir in Davidson, Montgomery, Rowan and Stanly counties. The state chapter is providing $50,000 from its Super Fund to aid in the purchase and conservation of the land.
The property is currently owned by a corporate landowner, which leased the land to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to manage for wildlife and public access. However, the land has now been put up for sale, ending decades of public access. Moreover, the property is now susceptible to residential development along a quiet, largely undeveloped portion of the Yadkin River. Not only would future development end public access, but it would also destroy thousands of contiguous acres of wildlife habitat and negatively impact water quality in the reservoir itself.
"The bottom line is we all can't live on a piece of asphalt,” said Howard Rumfelt, North Carolina NWTF State Chapter president. “What this land purchase does is conserve this land so future generations can enjoy it in perpetuity. And it's for everybody. If you want to fish, if you want to hunt, if you want to hike, it's there for all of us.”
Since 2022, the North Carolina NWTF State Chapter has committed more than $535,000 to create or expand six publicly accessible game lands in North Carolina. Funding provided by the NWTF Hunting Heritage Super Fund is a direct result of passionate, grassroots volunteers who raise money at banquets and other fundraisers and allocate a significant portion of those proceeds to impactful conservation, research and outreach projects at the state level and beyond. The Tuckertown land purchase dovetails into an already energized year for the North Carolina NWTF State Chapter.
Earlier this year, the state chapter announced $278,808 in funding for projects across North Carolina, which, with partner match, will translate to over $3.5 million and impact thousands of acres of wildlife habitat across North Carolina.
“The NWTF’s commitment to conservation and public lands is well known,” said Travis Morehead, Three Rivers Land Trust executive director. “We are grateful to have NWTF join this effort to help ‘Save Tuckertown.’ The funds provided by the NWTF will be matched dollar for dollar by our partners at onX and MeatEater, doubling the impact of NWTF’s generous donation.”
Well-known outdoor brands MeatEater and onX have stepped up to rally support for this effort, each providing $100,000 and using their large community followings to communicate the importance of conserving public lands.
Once the property is purchased by Three Rivers Land Trust, it will be transferred to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to be managed for wildlife and public access in perpetuity.
To make an impact across North Carolina, learn how to become an NWTF volunteer. For those wanting to contribute directly to the “Save Tuckertown” campaign, donate now.
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 25 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. Since 2022, the NWTF has also invested over $2.3 million in critical wild turkey research that, when leveraged with partner contributions, has resulted in more than $22 million to guide the management of the wild turkey and to ensure sustainable populations. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale to deliver healthy forests and wildlife habitats, clean and abundant water, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues to unite a nation through the life-changing power of the outdoors.
About Three Rivers Land Trust
Three Rivers Land Trust works with private landowners and public agencies to conserve the most important natural, scenic, agricultural, and historic places in a 15-county region of the Piedmont and Sandhills of North Carolina. Since 1995, the Land Trust has worked to offer reasonable and attractive options to landowners who want to conserve their lands for future generations to enjoy. Our mission is to work thoughtfully and selectively with property owners to conserve land, natural areas, rural landscapes, family farms, and historic places within North Carolina’s central Piedmont and Sandhills. For more information about Three Rivers Land Trust, please contact the Land Trust at 704-647-0302 or land@trlt.org or visit their website at www.trlt.org