Conservation Organizations Partner for Kansas Wildlife

The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), Pheasants Forever (PF), Quail Forever (QF), and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) recently acquired and dedicated a 484-acre tract of land named the Blue Valley Wildlife Area.

“This is just one example of what we can accomplish when we all work together for a unified cause,” said Jared McJunkin, NWTF Great Plains District conservation field supervisor. “While this is the first successful land acquisition for the NWTF in Kansas, we believe additional projects will follow.”

The Blue Valley Wildlife Area acquisition permanently protects habitat vital to many species of wildlife, including turkey, pheasants, quail and prairie chickens. An additional 550 acres of the Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area also is more accessible as a result of the project.

In addition to providing partial funding for the land acquisition, the conservation organizations worked with KDWPT to help the project make it through the state’s legislative session.

The NWTF, PF and QF signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this year, creating a historic partnership to ensure wild bird habitat conservation and North America’s hunting heritage remains strong for generations to come.

“It’s great to see conservation organizations work together with state wildlife agencies to increase public access opportunities for outdoor recreation,” said Robin Jenson, KDWPT secretary. “In Kansas, where less than 3 percent of the land is in public ownership, projects like these and our continued relationships for conservation are extremely important.”

To learn more about the NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative, visit www.nwtf.org.

Contact

Pete Muller at (803) 637-7698

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.