NWTF Ohio Increases Public Land with $100,000 Investment

The Ohio State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation recently partnered with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife to purchase 38 acres of land in Lawrence County. The Ohio NWTF State Chapter provided $100,000 from its Super Fund to help purchase the tract.

“The Ohio Division of Wildlife has been wanting to acquire this parcel for a number of years, but challenges tied to the agency's funding approval processes and balancing other key acquisitions created challenges for the Ohio DNR,” said Ryan Boyer, NWTF director of conservation operations. “When the Ohio DNR came to us requesting the financial support for this purchase to improve management and increase public hunting access in perpetuity, the Ohio NWTF State Board of Directors quickly approved $100,000 to cover the purchase price.”

The NWTF’s Super Fund is a funding model through which NWTF volunteers raise money at banquets and other fundraisers, allocating a significant portion of those funds back into meaningful conservation and outreach projects in their respective states and beyond.

The significance of this parcel purchase is twofold. Because the 38-acre plot is surrounded by the 11,119-acre Crown City Wildlife Area, the acquisition will not only improve access for hunters and recreators in the area but also allow land managers to better conserve and manage habitat on the tract.

Like many forests in the region, fragmentation of contiguous wildlife habitat is a concern, making the establishment of new conserved lands and effective management of existing tracts vital.

Now that the 38-acre plot has been transferred to the Ohio DNR, agency biologists are taking inventory of the property so that they can begin creating management plans for the area. The Crown City Wildlife Area is managed for wild turkeys, white-tailed deer and many other species, and through the addition of this new parcel, land managers can create more resources for wildlife.

“Since the state of Ohio is 96% private land, the state board is always jumping at opportunities to help create more public access in any way that we can,” said Dave Guthridge, Ohio NWTF State Chapter president. “A local NWTF chapter, the Gallia County Longbeards, near the Crown City Wildlife Area also donated $1,500 towards the purchase as well, and they hope to plan a Wheelin’ Sportsmen hunt on the property.”

This project aligns with the NWTF's Forests and Flocks Initiative, improving hunting and recreational access across Northeastern states and further preserving our nation’s hunting heritage.

The increased public land will provide hunters with more opportunities to chase a rutting buck this fall, pursue a fired-up gobbler in the spring or enjoy a variety of other opportunities throughout the year.