NWTF Partners with Tennessee Agencies to Help Mobility Impaired Hunters

Tennessee has become an ideal hunting destination for individuals with mobility impairments thanks to the combined efforts of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission (TFWC) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation (TWRF) to provide wheelchair-accessible custom blinds on public lands.

Tennessee is already home to more than a dozen deer, turkey and waterfowl blinds that include ramps and other features to make hunting from a wheelchair more convenient. A number of wheelchair-accessible fishing piers and observation towers offer additional outdoor opportunities.

“A big part of preserving this country’s hunting heritage involves bringing new people to the sport,” said Shane Hall, NWTF Tennessee Save the Hunt coordinator and TWRA Moment of Freedom coordinator. “The combined efforts to build these blinds has increased opportunity and provided access to thousands of acres allowing mobility impaired individuals to experience quality hunts.”

The state’s Moment of Freedom initiative, a cooperative effort by the TWRA, TWRF, TWRC and other partners, is aimed at increasing these opportunities. While the goals of the Moment of Freedom include the creation of 21 new sites over the next three years, Hall has set his sights higher.

“This project relies solely on financial contributions but I see us being able to add 40 or more sites as this project picks up steam,” he said. To learn about the Moment of Freedom, visit www.MomentOfFreedom.org

National Wild Turkey Federation

The National Wild Turkey Federation is the leader in upland wildlife habitat conservation in North America. The NWTF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving the wild turkey and preserving our hunting heritage.

Through dynamic partnerships with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members have helped restore wild turkey populations throughout North America, spending more than $331 million to conserve nearly 16 million acres of habitat. Wild turkeys and hundreds of other species of upland wildlife, including quail, deer, grouse, pheasant and songbirds, benefit from this improved habitat.

The NWTF also brings new conservationists and hunters into the fold through outdoor education events and its Women in the Outdoors, Wheelin' Sportsmen, JAKES and Xtreme JAKES youth outreach programs. Our dedicated NWTF volunteers introduce about 100,000 people to the outdoors through these programs every year.

Founded in 1973, the NWTF is headquartered in Edgefield, S.C., and has local chapters in every state and Canada. According to many state and federal agencies, the restoration of the wild turkey is arguably the greatest conservation success story in North America's wildlife history.