Vermont NWTF, Partners Celebrate a Legacy in Stone
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — Before Vermont’s spring turkey season, state and national conservation partners celebrated the successful reintroduction of the wild turkey in the Green Mountain State. Representatives from the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Town of Pawlet unveiled a wildlife conservation marker at the West Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department recognizing the 1969 reintroduction of wild turkeys to the state.
“The reintroduction of the wild turkey to the Northeastern states has long been considered one of the greatest conservation success stories of all time, and that certainly applies to the state of Vermont,” said Carter Heath, NWTF regional director for New England. “The partnership between Vermont Fish and Wildlife and the National Wild Turkey Federation has not only been very important for the conservation of the wild turkey but has given Vermont turkey hunters the ability to enjoy the resource as well. NWTF volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization, whether it's through fundraising or boots-on-the-ground efforts. With 50 years or partnership in Vermont under our belt, I am excited to see where the next 50 takes us!”
The National Shooting Sports Foundation initiated the effort to commemorate the restoration of the wild turkey at the site of the original reintroduction, highlighting how strong partnerships among state and federal agencies, volunteers, NGOs and landowners in the local community can lead to a statewide conservation success.
“The event was so well attended, and it really surprised all the organizers,” said Toni Mikula, VDFW wildlife biologist. “Initially we were imagining a small ceremony with maybe five dignitaries and a couple of pictures, and we had over 200 attendees. Most of the local legislators were there, and it was incredible to see how many people wanted to come and acknowledge this conservation success story and be part of it.”
During the mid-1880s, Vermont’s forested area was reduced to an estimated 25%, which removed the wild turkey from the state's landscape. As forests regenerated in the early 1950s, there were localized attempts to release pen-raised turkeys into the wild, but none were successful. Then in 1969, Vermont’s wild turkey restoration program started when the VFWD determined that forests across the state could support wild turkeys again. Just four years after those first birds were released, the VFWD opened its first turkey season in 1973. Just ahead of the 54th wild turkey season this spring, partners celebrated this effort in stone.
Vermont Governor Phil Scott and VDFW Commissioner Jason Batchelder both spoke in support of the strong partnerships between rural landowners, hunters and conservation agencies that made the restoration of wild turkeys in Vermont possible.
Brett Ladeau, Vermont NWTF State Chapter president, also attended and gave a speech about his connection to the wild turkey, the mission of the NWTF, the Forests and Flocks Initiative and the importance of habitat restoration efforts to restore and maintain wild turkey populations.
“I am a lifelong Vermonter,” Ladeau said in his speech. “I have been involved with the NWTF for over 20 years. When I was a kid, there were not many turkeys in the eastern part of the state, and I remember hearing about the restoration efforts, but didn’t see my first wild turkey until I was 17.”
Ladeau grew up hunting and still remembers what it was like calling in his first turkey. He’s been hooked ever since, and it is because of volunteers and hunters like him, and those who came before him, that the wild turkey is one of the nation’s greatest conservation success stories.
Experiences like Ladeau’s are possible thanks to the dedication of hunters and volunteers, federal Pittman-Robertson grant funds and state hunting license sales. Building on this foundation, the NWTF and VDFW have maintained a productive partnership over the years. An annual grant from VFWD funds NWTF habitat and access improvement projects for wildlife and for public recreation. NWTF’s work ensure wild turkeys continue to thrive in Vermont while also introducing new hunters to the spring season and conservation.
“We hear so much negative news about the environment, and it's so rare that we celebrate a conservation success story,” Mikula said. “I think that makes Vermont’s 50-plus years of turkey conservation a significant event to celebrate. We took this chance on reintroducing this native species, and it not only worked, but was a tremendous success.”
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.