Wightman Addresses NWTF National Wild Turkey Technical Committee
As excitement for upcoming spring turkey hunts echoed across the sport show floor during the second day of the NWTF’s 50th annual Convention and Sport Show, another group was working behind the scenes to ensure that enthusiasm continues for generations to come.
Patrick Wightman, Ph.D., NWTF’s national director of wild turkey research and science, met with the NWTF’s National Wild Turkey Technical Committee to collaborate on strategies to strengthen wild turkey research and conservation nationwide.
The NWTF’s Wild Turkey Technical Committee is composed of state agency wild turkey biologists and wild turkey managers from nearly every state that the wild turkey inhabits. The group shares information and data, addresses current conservation challenges and discusses wild turkey conservation at a landscape scale.
Wightman, three weeks into his new role at the NWTF, highlighted ways he would like to further collaborate with the Wild Turkey Technical Committee, refining state- and regional-level priorities and methodologies for wild turkey research, noting that the NWTF's annual investment in wild turkey research through its National RFP program has untapped potential.
Wightman also discussed the importance of building social license with NWTF members by illustrating how the organization’s investments in research is making on-the-ground impacts for the wild turkey.
The National Wild Turkey Technical Committee meeting concluded with a leadership change, with Kent Fricke, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission wildlife research supervisor, stepping down as the Wild Turkey Technical Committee chair and passing the role to Hannah Plumpton, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission upland game bird biologist.
“I want to thank Kent for his leadership, professionalism and passion in chairing the Wild Turkey Technical Committee,” Wightman said. “Kent has built momentum across the committee, and I look forward to working with Hannah and the entire committee going forward to drive meaningful research and conservation for the wild turkey across the country.”