NWTF Returns to Nashville for 50th Convention and Sport Show
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As over 500 hunting and outdoors exhibitors are excitedly racing to put the finishing touches on their booths that span across the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Resort’s vast exhibit space, tens of thousands of outdoorsmen and women from across the country are descending upon Nashville for the National Wild Turkey Federation’s 50th annual Convention and Sport Show. The event is poised to be another historic celebration of the rebirth of spring; the countdown to the ceremonial kickoff to the spring turkey season begins now.
“The energy already pouring through the halls of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Resort is electrifying,” NWTF co-CEO Jason Burckhalter said. “One cannot help but be inspired by the passion permeating through the halls, and our event hasn’t even begun. As we gear up for this landmark gathering, let us be reminded of why we are here: the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage.”
In recent years, the NWTF’s Convention and Sport Show has become the premier destination for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. In just the past three years, attendance records were broken consecutively, with last year’s attendance being 82,193.
Attendees can find the latest and greatest turkey hunting and outdoor products from over 500 exhibitors, partake in or witness the various competitions, interact with celebrities from the hunting world at seminars, win once-in-a-lifetime hunts and experiences or join in the seemingly endless fun of events, among so much more.
In addition, the event serves as a springboard for the NWTF’s mission delivery efforts for the year. For example, NWTF conservation leadership continues to meet with the National Wild Turkey Technical Committee and agency partners at the event to lay the groundwork for the NWTF’s annual investment in wild turkey research, which, since 2022, has resulted in the NWTF investing over $2.3 million in critical wild turkey research. When leveraged with partner contributions, this investment in the last few years has resulted in more than $22 million to guide the management of the wild turkey and to ensure sustainable populations.
For attendees looking for a free hat and a little bit of fun, there are 17 plush turkeys (see photo below) hidden at exhibitors’ booths across the show floor, and there are three hidden around the Gaylord lobbies. When an attendee finds a hat, they can bring it to the NWTF’s Turkey Shoppe before the end of the Sports Show to receive a free hat.
The sport show floor officially opens with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 9:00 a.m.
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 is committed to creating a nation united by the life-changing power of the outdoors.