Volunteer Spotlight: Habitat for the Hatch

From building local partnerships and securing funds to helping advance conservation projects on the ground, their dedication is helping create the nesting and brood-rearing habitat wild turkeys need to thrive across the Southeast. In short, they are ensuring that future generations experience the gobble of the wild turkey.

Launched in 2023, the 10-year Habitat for the Hatch Initiative aims to positively impact 1 million acres of critical habitat on public and private lands across the Southeast. For the NWTF’s 2026 Conservation Week, we are putting a spotlight on a few outstanding individuals who go above and beyond to move the effort forward.  

For nearly two decades, Chuck Peeler has combined his passion for hunting, conservation and community service to help grow the NWTF's impact in north Florida. 

Peeler’s introduction to the NWTF came roughly 18 years ago when a local volunteer approached him about sponsoring a banquet through his construction business. Around the same time, he was discovering turkey hunting for himself after years of encouragement from friends and family. One successful hunt was all it took to change the trajectory of his life to include the wild turkey and conservation. 

"I lucked up and killed a bird the first outing, and I don't know what else to say; history writes itself from there," he said. 

Soon after, Peeler became involved with his local chapter, the NWTF Lake City Longbeards, helping infuse energy into the committee and transforming it into one of the most successful chapters in the state. Today, the chapter’s banquet consistently sells out each year and has become a hub for conservation, community engagement and outdoor outreach. 

While fundraising remains an important part of the mission, Peeler is most energized by efforts that connect young people to the outdoors. Under his leadership, the chapter has launched youth-focused programs, including the Youth Turkey Challenge that gives young hunters an opportunity to celebrate their success while learning more about conservation and wildlife management.  

"We've got to get these youngins’ out and get them in nature," he said. "If we're not doing something for these kids to help them, we're going to lose our hunting heritage." 

Peeler's commitment to youth engagement isn't limited to his chapter. As a father, he has watched his own children develop a passion for turkey hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation. Seeing that enthusiasm firsthand reinforces his belief that conservation is ultimately about leaving something better for the next generation. 

Whether organizing banquets, supporting habitat work, mentoring young hunters or partnering with other local organizations, Peeler believes conservation succeeds when communities work together. Through his volunteer service, he hopes to ensure Florida's hunting heritage and wild turkey populations remain strong for decades to come. 

"I like to think about what I'm doing is going to help out people 20, 30 years from now,” he said. 

For Chris Brooks, volunteering with the NWTF is about more than fundraising or banquet success; it's about ensuring that future generations have healthy wild turkey populations, quality habitat and the same outdoor experiences that have shaped his life. 

Brooks first became involved with the NWTF around 2010 after attending local banquets and seeing firsthand the impact the organization was making for wildlife and conservation. Drawn to the mission and the people behind it, he joined his local chapter as a committee member before eventually stepping into the role of chapter president for the Limestone Longbeards Chapter in north Alabama. 

"I started just going to the banquets, and then I wanted to get more involved,” he said. “I appreciate what the NWTF does and stands for.”  

A lifelong turkey hunter with more than 30 years of experience in the woods, Brooks is passionate about conservation. He credits the NWTF with helping restore and sustain turkey populations across the region and takes pride in raising funds that directly support habitat work, research and public land improvements throughout Alabama. 

Under Brooks's leadership, the Limestone Longbeards Chapter has become one of the nation's top-performing chapters, consistently generating significant conservation funding through successful banquets and fundraising events. Drawing on relationships built during more than two decades as a business owner, Brooks has helped grow chapter support throughout his community while cultivating a strong volunteer team that now includes his son and several younger committee members. 

While fundraising remains a major focus, Brooks is especially excited about expanding youth programming and creating more opportunities for the next generation to become involved. He hopes to build additional JAKES events and outreach opportunities that connect young people with hunting, conservation and the outdoors. 

For Brooks, every dollar raised is an investment in the future. Whether improving habitat, supporting conservation projects or introducing new hunters to the outdoors, he believes the work volunteers do today will benefit wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts for decades to come. 

"Maybe somebody will look back and say, 'Chris Brooks, he had a lot to do with NWTF, and he helped us have what we get to hunt now.'" 

And as for advice for those wanting to make a difference, Brooks recommends to, "Get out and hunt and volunteer and help out for the future of wildlife.” 

For the past 15 years, Melissa Orton has dedicated her time and energy to advancing the NWTF mission in Tennessee, driven by a passion for the outdoors, conservation and creating opportunities for future generations. 

Orton did not grow up hunting or fishing, and it wasn't until after she married that she was introduced to the outdoors by her husband. Together, she learned to hunt and fish, eventually passing those traditions to their son, Taylor. One of Ortons's most cherished memories came on a Mother's Day weekend when she successfully called in Taylor's first turkey. 

"It was on a Mother's Day weekend, and that was one of the greatest gifts I could have possibly ever gotten,” she said. “The enjoyment from him and being able to help him and teach him and watching him learn — yeah, that pretty much did it.” 

That experience helped inspire her commitment to conservation and volunteerism. Orton became involved with the NWTF Lawrenceburg Chapter under the mentorship of NWTF Regional Director Charlie Tollett, whom she credits with teaching her how to lead, serve others and embrace the NWTF mission.

As one of the earliest volunteers trained on the chapter Event Management System in Tennessee, Orton quickly became a go-to resource, helping chapters in Tennessee and beyond implement the system and improve banquet operations. 

"I enjoy volunteering, and it's a great group of people — the people are like family,” she said. “I think that the mission is worth it.” 

Today, Orton serves on the Tennessee NWTF State Chapter Board of Directors, assists with banquets across multiple states and volunteers annually at the NWTF Convention and Sport Show. While she enjoys helping fellow volunteers learn new skills and solve challenges, she says the true motivation behind her work is ensuring future generations can enjoy the same outdoor experiences that have enriched her life. 

"I want my grandsons to have these experiences in nature, whether they're in this state or another state,” she said.  

Melissa takes tremendous pride in Tennessee's conservation impact, including the state's support of wildlife management areas and habitat projects. Looking ahead, she hopes those efforts will create lasting opportunities for her grandson, Beau, and countless other young people to experience the outdoors. 

One of her proudest moments as a volunteer came in 2023 when she received the Tennessee State Chapter's Mike Halter Award, recognizing her dedication and hard work toward the NWTF mission. Though unexpected, the honor reflected years of selfless service and leadership that continue to strengthen conservation efforts across Tennessee.