Small State, Big Impact: How NWTF Maryland Is Delivering Conservation on the Ground
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — Over the last few years, the Maryland NWTF State Chapter has increased its mission delivery efforts through its Super Fund, a program through which volunteers 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. Through its Super Fund, the Maryland NWTF State Chapter has expanded its conservation and research efforts throughout the state, supporting NWTF’s Forests and Flocks Initiative.
“Maryland’s dedication to habitat management and wild turkey research in partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is a testament to the conservation-minded volunteers NWTF has in the state of Maryland,” said Mitchell Blake, NWTF district biologist. “It’s been a privilege to watch the Super Fund grow in Maryland because of all the hard work these volunteers put into fundraising. As a result, the Maryland NWTF State Chapter is able to fund projects that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. State chapters with a drive like Maryland’s are what make the Forests and Flocks Initiative successful.”
Over the last three years, the Maryland NWTF State Chapter has been funding new habitat projects in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. From 2023 to 2025, the chapter has invested more than $33,000 toward public land habitat management and more than $25,000 toward habitat management equipment, including buying UTVs, prescribed fire equipment, chainsaws, bush saws and more.
“A key focus of our public land management is providing high-quality nesting and brood-rearing habitat for turkeys, which also benefits our declining bobwhite quail populations,” said Ryan Haley, MDDNR habitat manager. “Equipment such as the sprayer recently donated by NWTF allows us to control invasives and other undesirable vegetation, helping wildlife thrive on our wildlife management areas.”
MDDNR has also been able to purchase herbicide, seed mixes and other materials needed to complete habitat openings on different wildlife management areas. Over the last three years, the Maryland NWTF State Chapter has impacted nearly 6,000 acres through NWTF seed programs. In 2025 alone, for instance, the state chapter facilitated the planting of wildlife-friendly seed on nearly 2,200 acres.
“We have been grateful to partner with NWTF on a wide range of habitat projects through the years,” said Greg Schenck, MDDNR Eastern Region manager. “Their support for seed, herbicide, fertilizer and prescribed burning equipment has helped us enhance many acres of wild turkey habitat on public hunting lands.”
Other habitat projects have amounted to over 3,000 acres of habitat work impacted through equipment purchases on wildlife management areas all across the state. On the Eastern Shore of the state, 380 acres were positively impacted; 95 acres in central Maryland were positively impacted, and 40 acres on the Western Shore were positively impacted over the last two years.
Maryland has also budgeted more than $32,000 for wild turkey research projects being conducted over the last three years.
“The Maryland State Chapter of the NWTF has been a long-time supporter of wild turkey research and management in Maryland,” said Bob Long, MDDNR wild turkey and upland game bird project manager. “Their contributions towards radio transmitters, turkey boxes and leg-band reward payments have enabled the department of natural resources to collect vital data across 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 25 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.