Conservation, Fair Chase and the Future of Turkey Hunting

Our ongoing ability to hunt depends on an ongoing commitment to the conservation challenges of our time, and to upholding exemplary behavior in the field. Whether we like it or not, who we are as hunters – or who the rest of the world thinks we are – has an outsized influence on our ability to continue our pursuit and lead in our nation’s broader approach to the conservation of all natural resources. We must continue to be defined by how much we give, rather than by what we take, as well as our good, ethical behavior in the field.

For more than a century – and long before that – hunting and conservation have been intimately tied. Hunters have always been deeply connected to the natural world, observing the ebb and flow of wildlife populations, the quality of habitats, and the health of landscapes. Folks who hunt typically know, and care, more about wildlife and their habitat than those who do not, for all manner of reasons. We are extraordinarily aware of what is going on around us when we’re afield, and we are perceptive of changes day by day, month by month, and year by year.

That awareness carries with it a duty. Hunters have historically been the first to recognize population declines or habitat degradation and the first to advocate for solutions. We knew more and cared more than others, which positioned those who came before us to do more than the rest of our society. As new challenges emerge, that leadership role is more critical than ever.

The wild turkey is one of North America’s greatest conservation success stories. By the early 20th century, their numbers had dwindled across much of their range due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss. It was hunters, often through organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation, who spearheaded recovery efforts, funded relocation programs, supported science-based management and restored critical habitats.

Today, turkey populations thrive in many regions, but new threats continue to emerge from all sides. Habitat fragmentation, water quality and quantity issues, and a lack of active management are placing renewed pressure on these birds. Riparian areas – the lush corridors along rivers and streams – are essential for turkey survival, especially across the West. These areas provide important water, nesting cover, and foraging opportunities. However, these areas face increasing risks from development, drought and poor land management.

The NWTF’s efforts to restore riparian habitats and improve water infrastructure are vital for turkeys and countless other species that rely on healthy watersheds. While our first objective is the conservation of a certain species, the benefits of our conservation efforts extend far beyond just turkeys. Habitat improvements make life better for a whole suite of species, enhance air and water quality, and benefit rural economies. Further, our work demonstrates how much we care about the natural world. As is often said, people don’t care how much we know until they know how much we care.

The ethical hunter’s greatest reward isn’t measured in beard length or spur size, but in the health of the landscapes left behind.

President Theodore Roosevelt described conservation as a moral responsibility — a sentiment that remains as relevant today as ever. Water, soil, forests and wildlife form the bedrock of life itself, yet many people feel disconnected from these fundamental resources in the course of their daily lives. Hunters, by contrast, engage directly with the land and its resources. Every trip afield is a reminder that clean water, healthy forests and thriving wildlife populations are the result of deliberate care and management.

This collective understanding demands that we act.

Supporting habitat restoration projects, advocating for water conservation policies and volunteering for conservation organizations are all ways that we as hunters continue to demonstrate our care for the natural world. The resurgence of the wild turkey didn’t happen by accident — nor will its continued survival. We cannot and should not hide from our intentions. We invest in the conservation of species like wild turkeys so that future generations may have the opportunity to harvest wild food, and experience the thrill of pursuit, that we have so enjoyed. However, we must also ensure that we are demonstrating ethics afield that go above and beyond what the law requires of us.

The principles of fair chase hunting have always been about more than self-restraint. It’s a public demonstration that hunters value the pursuit as much as the outcome. Turkey hunting offers a unique test of this ethic. The use of calls and camouflage are part of the tradition, but as technology evolves, hunters must carefully weigh new methods against the values of fair chase. The choices we make in the field, especially when no one is watching, reflect on the entire hunting community.

Public trust in hunting rests on the belief that we pursue game with respect, humility and care for the animals we hunt. Without that trust, our ability to advocate for conservation and to continue hunting is at risk.

Hunters have long been among the most committed stewards of the land. Today, that leadership is more important than ever as we confront complex conservation challenges. What we do now and the image we project will either positively or negatively affect the future of our hunting traditions, and our systems of wildlife conservation and management.

Organizations like the NWTF provide a platform for hunters to engage in conservation on a larger scale: funding habitat projects, partnering with landowners, and advocating for science-based policies. But the responsibility doesn’t stop with organizations. Every hunter has a role to play in how we hunt, how we talk about hunting, and how we support conservation causes.

Water conservation projects, habitat funding, and public land protections all require public support and political will. Hunters must be visible, vocal advocates, not just for our right to hunt, but for the landscapes and waters that sustain wildlife.

The return of the wild turkey shows what hunters can achieve when we lead on conservation. The future of turkey hunting — and hunting more broadly — will depend on how well we carry that legacy forward.

The ethical hunter’s greatest reward isn’t measured in beard length or spur size, but in the health of the landscapes left behind. Our conservation ethic, commitment to fair chase, and willingness to lead will determine whether future generations inherit a world rich in wildlife and wild places.

We all share a responsibility — to ourselves, to one another, and to those who come after us — to uphold this legacy for the future of wildlife, wild places, and all who pursue them.

Charlie Booher is a consultant at Watershed Results who specializes in natural resource conflict resolution. He has the great privilege of representing some of this country’s oldest, largest and most generous conservation organizations in Helena, Montana, and in Washington, DC. Charlie is an associate wildlife biologist and a professional member of the Boone and Crockett Club. Outside of the office, you can find him hiking in the mountains of western Montana and re-learning how to hunt and fish in the northern Rockies