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Making Tracks
| Making Tracks is a Forest Service partnership program with
the National Wild Turkey Federation, state wildlife agencies,
conservation groups and individuals. It's goal is to emphasize
wild turkey management on your National Forests.
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NEWS
SRS Wheelin' Sportsmen Hunt
The staff at the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS) was instrumental in organizing and hosting this hunt. It's a continuing demonstration of a very head's up staff and the great outreach to the community. The hunt this year was April 17 and 18. "The hunt, held as part of the NWTF's Wheelin' Sportsmen outreach program, has helped hunters with disabilities enjoy wild turkey hunting at SRS since 2004. This year, 24 hunters teamed up with SRS employees and harvested a total of 27 gobblers on Friday and Saturday."
News Release with event video
2009 Awards
Making Tracks Awards - Nationa Wild Turkey Federation
February 20 – 22, 2009
Downloadable Detailed Document 322 KB PDF
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The Making Tracks awards are presented annually at the National Wild Turkey Federation's annual Convention and Sport Show to people and projects that significantly improve habitat for the wild turkey and other species and accomplish the mission of the National Wild Turkey Federation. There are four award categories.
The Habitat Management Projects category is a single-year award for projects that benefit the wild turkey. The District Ranger, Beth LeMaster, of the Enoree Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest in Whitmire, S.C., received the Group Habitat Project award on behalf of her District, for various land management practices that created and improved habitat for Bobwhite Quail, several species of sparrows and other birds.
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The Habitat Management Program category recognizes program accomplishments that benefit wild turkeys over several years.
Caption: Peggy Vallery, Jere Peak, and Don DeLorenzo pose with award.
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Individual Habitat Program award - Danny Waldon of Mayhill, N. M., received the 2009 Individual Habitat Project award for his habitat stamp program and other projects benefiting the Lincoln National Forest during the last 19 years. Waldon's efforts helped create more than 118 watering tanks for wildlife and eight natural spring developments, and restore thousands of acres in New Mexico's Lincoln National Forest. Don DeLorenzo, R3 WFRP Director, accepted the award.
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| Group Habitat Program award - Dave Zalunardo, Anne Roberts, Monty Gregg and the stewardship group of the Deschutes and Ochoco national forests in Oregon earned a Habitat Management Programs award. The scope of their projects is to restore watersheds that contain threatened, endangered and sensitive wildlife and plant species with the help of community and tribal leaders. Monty Gregg accepted the award.
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Caption: Peggy Vallery, Jere Peak, and Dave Newhouse |
Group Habitat Program award - Wildlife biologists Dave Newhouse, Heather Keogh, Chris M. Schumacher, Phillip Huber and Christopher L. Williams with Michigan's Huron-Manistee National Forests earned a Habitat Management Programs award for programs that provide a wide variety of habitat improvements, from brood rearing and early successional habitat development and maintenance to shrub plantings and water development. Dave Newhouse accepted the award.
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The Partnership Achievement category recognizes accomplishments in strengthening and expanding the partnership between the Forest Service and the NWTF.
Caption: Peggy Vallery, Jere Peak, and Erick Walker
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2009 Individual Project Achievement award - Rob Hoelscher with Vermont's Green Mountain and New York's Finger Lakes national forests received the 2009 Individual Project Achievement award. About 400 acres of the forests are affected every year from this partnership between the Forest Service and the NWTF. All projects are a cooperative effort among recreation, timber and engineering specialists, including NWTF chapters and volunteers. Erick Walker accepted the award. |
Caption: Peggy Vallery, Jere Peak, Scott Ray,
Tal Mims and Keith Lawrence
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2009 Group Partnership Achievement award - Organizers of the Wheelin' Sportsmen Savannah River Site Mobility Impaired Hunt earned the 2009 Group Partnership Achievement award. The 2008 event saw 27 hunters take advantage of the only turkey hunt allowed at the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site. Seventeen turkeys were taken during the two-day hunt. Scott Ray, Tal Mims and Keith Lawrence accepted the award. |
| The Conservation Education category recognizes conservation and education projects for wild turkey restoration, management and conservation. The 2009 Conservation Education Award went to the Becky Ewing and Kari Kirschbaum of the Ironton Ranger District and Supervisor’s Office of Ohio's Wayne National Forest, which has partnered with the local chapter of the NWTF to provide several events and new venues for sportsmen with disabilities in the national forest during the past five years. Kari Kirschbaum received the award.
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Caption: The award was accepted by Corbin Newman and Don DeLorenzo, with support from Logan Lee, Gene DeGayner, Dave Schmid, Anne Zimmermann, Tim Dabney, Liz Agpaoa and Tom Peterson. |
The Heritage Leadership Award is presented to a Regional Forester in recognition of leadership and accomplishments that strengthen and expand the partnership between the Forest Service and the National Wild Turkey Federation. The 2009 Heritage and Leadership award was presented to Corbin Newman, the Southwestern Regional Forester. |
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The Wild Turkey in South Dakota
Tells the restoration story of the wild turkey.
Authors: Lester D. Flake, Chad P. Lehman, Anthony P. Leif, Mark A. Rumble and Daniel J. Thompson
"The Wild Turkey in South Dakota" authors received a Making Tracks Partnership Achievement Award during the NWTF's National Convention and Sport Show as a testament to their book about wild turkeys in South Dakota.
Purchase "The Wild Turkey in South Dakota" at the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Web site.
NWTF has a new CEO! Welcome George Thornton to the Federation.
More information...
The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) is a membership
organization dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey
and the preservation of the turkey hunting tradition. With
more than 180,000 members, it serves as the principal voice
for wild turkey management in North America.
How Does "Making Tracks" Work For You?
Emphasizing wild turkey habitat management on National Forest
System lands can increase the turkey population by over one-quarter
million birds. The populations on these public lands are available
for all to use and enjoy. Over 28 million acres of wild turkey
habitat occur on national forests and national grasslands.
This habitat can be improved.
Since the first cooperative project in 1986, more than 700
habitat improvement projects have been completed on your National
Forests. Two and a half million dollars from the Forest Service
has been matched with another $1.6 million from the NWTF and
another $1.9 million from state agencies and other cooperators.
Thus MORE THAN $6 MILLION have been put to work managing habitats
for wild turkeys and associated wildlife species through partnership
projects. In addition, a major part of the Making Tracks program
is coordination with other activities on the National Forests,
including timber sales, grazing, and ecosystem management.
The optimum habitat is a variety of mature mixed-hardwood
forests, with groups of conifers, relatively open understories,
scattered grassy clearings, and well-distributed water sources.
Such productive habitats support abundant turkeys and a rich
diversity of plants and other animals.
Why Do We Need "Making Tracks?"
THEN AND NOW
When European settlers first arrived, they found wild turkeys
abundant and easy fare for the table. But by the turn of this
century, unregulated harvest, agricultural clearing, uncontrolled
woods burning, and human encroachment had decimated wild turkey
populations. Only 30,000 birds remained in isolated flocks.
Following World War II, sportsmen pushed for research, restoration,
and management programs by state wildlife agencies and universities.
Today, the wild turkey population is close to 4.5 million
birds in 49 states - a major conservation success story. This
achievement is a tribute to the support and dedication of
state and federal wildlife agencies, and countless individuals
and organizations, including the National Wild Turkey Federation.
The job is not done, however.
There are now over 2.2 million turkey hunters in the nation;
each is in the field about four times a year in pursuit of
the wild turkey. The popularity and challenge of turkeys among
sportsmen continues to grow, especially as newly restored
populations are opened for hunting and viewing.
We must continue the legacy of wild turkey stewardship to
insure that generations to come can enjoy the wonderful wild
turkey resource.
Wild Turkey Restoration and Management Program
"Making Tracks" sets a general course of action
to assure a rich and abundant resource of wild turkeys throughout
the bird's range on national forests and grasslands. It establishes
population goals, identifies habitat conservation needs in
specific areas, and lays the groundwork for interested partners
to work together.
Leaders of the Forest Service and National Wild Turkey Federation
signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 1986 outlining their
intent and commitment to promote wise management of wild turkeys
on national forests throughout the United States. The Forest
Service and state wildlife agencies also have agreements to
jointly manage wildlife resources on national forest lands.
Together, these three partners - Forest Service, states, and
chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation - develop
restoration and enhancement strategies specific to the localized
needs of wild turkeys in each region of the country.
How Can You Help?
With more than 28 million acres of turkey habitat in 35 states, the National Forest System has a tremendous opportunity to provide premier habitat for the wild turkey. These forest and grassland wild turkey habitats can be enhanced through partnerships with state wildlife agencies and the National Wild Turkey Federation. The successful strategy that brought the wild turkey from the brink of extinction to its present status as North America's most widely distributed big game bird can be strengthened through "Making Tracks," the joint program of increased habitat management, restoration, protection, and research.
The future for wild turkeys and those who treasure this great
American resource on the national forests and grasslands is
rich with opportunity and excitement. It is time to extend
the legacy of success in wild turkey management on your national
forests and grasslands, so let's "Make Tracks!"
Your support through participation and involvement will help
insure the future existence and expansion of the majestic
wild turkey on public lands throughout the nation. Contact
any USDA Forest Service office or the National Wild Turkey
Federation for more details.
Contact your local USDA Forest Service office
or the National Wild Turkey
Federation (1-800-the NWTF).
You can find locations for viewing wildlife, plants and fish through our NatureWatch "Viewing Sites" website at 'inature'.
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Ted Schenck,
National Making Tracks Coordinator
Liaison National Wild Turkey Federation
P.O. Box 530
Edgefield, SC 29824-0530
Phone: 803-637-3106
Publications
Managing for Wild Turkeys on Your National Forests (color
flyer with photos)
(Contact Ted Schenck for a print copy)
Making Tracks Handbook (downloadable pdf version will be available
soon)
(Contact Ted Schenck for a print copy copy)
National Wild Turkey Federation
GetWild!
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