NWTF’s Historical Exhibit Brings America’s Greatest Conservation Story to Thousands

The exhibit, located just inside the registration area on the show floor, features snapshots of the organization’s 50-year history and brings the incredible partnerships, determination, volunteerism and research expertise front and center to the over 50,000 sport show attendees (final, record-breaking number forthcoming).

“We wanted to bring the NWTF’s rich history to life for all of our members, volunteers and partners to see,” said Susan Delk, NWTF associate editor. “Instead of just handing out a flyer detailing some of our history, we wanted to provide an experience. It has been incredible to hear volunteers’ stories as they explore the exhibit.”

The exhibit includes the events that led to the founding of the NWTF:

Prior to the founding of the National Wild Turkey Federation, the U.S. had experienced extreme growth from coast to coast. The growth affected habitats and wildlife across the country with unregulated hunting and massive land clearings. Federal legislation, beginning with The Lacey Act of 1900, the oldest wildlife protection statute in the United States, helped to turn the tide by outlawing market hunting. The Lacey Act continues to combat trafficking in illegally taken wildlife, fish and plants.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 prohibited the take (including killing, capturing, selling, trading, and transport) of protected migratory bird species to ensure the sustainability of populations of all protected migratory birds. This act essentially shut down the millinary industry from unregulated harvest of birds for ladies' hats. While not a protected species under the act, it reduced the use of wild turkey feathers.

The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, enacted in 927 and also known as the Pittman-Robertson Act, provides funding for states and territories to support wildlife restoration, conservation, and hunter education and safety programs. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers Pittman-Robertson, the funding of which comes from excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment, which hunters encouraged.

As state wildlife agencies were established, they began wild turkey restoration efforts with backing of these federal laws and acts. After years of attempts at increasing the wild turkey populations, agencies came to understand the best way to increase those populations was to trap and transfer live birds to new habitats. However, it was a slow and tedious process. The adaptation of the cannon net technology revolutionized the process, allowing agencies to trap a dozen or more birds at one time.

Hunters like Tom Rodgers began to take note. By 1972, the idea of an organization dedicated to helping restore the wild turkey had cemented itself in his mind. At the time, it is estimated there were only about 1.3 million wild turkeys across the country.

Tom Rodgers, an insurance salesman and outdoor writer by trade, was not willing to stand by while habitat was being destroyed further decimating wild turkey populations. He envisioned a national organization dedicated to helping reverse the trend. As Rodgers discussed his idea across the country, he gained support. In 1972, Rodgers stopped in rural Edgefield, South Carolina, where the South Carolina State Wild Turkey Calling Championships were being hosted. Rodgers found additional support from those in Edgefield.

Five subspecies of wild turkey spread out across a variety of North American landscapes, each with their own threats, meant an uphill battle for the founders of the NWTF.

Rodgers met with Frank Piper, president of Penn's Woods Products, at Piper's office in Delmont, Pennsylvania. Piper agreed to work with Rodgers. Piper introduced Rodgers to Gerald "Jerry" Wunz of Pennsylvania and John Lewis of Missouri, both respected wild turkey research biologists for their state wildlife agencies. Soon after, Rodgers visited North Carolina wild turkey biologist Wayne Bailey. Bailey, along with Vernon Bevill, a biologist then in charge of South Carolina's wild turkey program, had independently given serious thought to such an organization.

Rodgers chartered the National Wild Turkey Federation in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on March 28,1973, as a research and conservation education organization. He soon relocated his family and the newly founded organization to Edgefield, South Carolina. Here he would establish the first national headquarters in downtown Edgefield. He noted that the moving of the organization consisted of a cigar box “stuffed with memberships cards.”

With the help of Edgefield business leaders and $10,000 of his personal savings, Rodgers began business in one-half of a duplex office building at 201 Buncombe Street Edgefield.

In the near future, the NWTF will turn the entire 50-year history exhibit into a presentation that can be downloaded by chapters and volunteers.