NWTF Wisconsin to Host Flock the Lawn Event
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin NWTF State Chapter is gearing up to host its unique Flock the Lawn event, celebrating 50 years since the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the NWTF reintroduced wild turkeys to restore the state’s population. Turkey hunters and conservationists are invited to participate at the University of Wisconsin – Madison’s Bascom Hill, May 17 at 11 a.m.
The idea to host an event with turkey decoys stems from a UW-Madison tradition that started in 1979, when a group of students filled the dean of students’ lawn with pink flamingos. The university has continued the tradition, filling the lawn with flamingos for various fundraisers. Wanting to add their own twist, NWTF volunteers came up with the idea to host an event with turkey decoys.
AvianX donated 50 decoys for the event. Local banquets have already begun auctioning off sponsorship rights of the decoys at their banquets. Those who wish to participate are encouraged to bring their own decoys to add to the lawn.
The Wisconsin NWTF State Chapter plans to donate the AvianX decoys to learn to hunt programs in the state after the event, ensuring new hunters can help continue the wild turkey’s conservation legacy for the next 50 years.
Following the lawn display, attendees will be invited to attend the indoor reception, which will include food, lectures from NWTF and agency biologists, and raffles. Vortex will be donating raffle merchandise, and Wisconsin native decorative call makers, Dave Constance and Heather Van Dorn, are donating miniature calls to be auctioned off. Another call maker will be creating 15 calls with the coordinates from the very first Wisconsin wild turkey release engraved on them.
The wild turkey was extirpated from the state of Wisconsin. In 1976, 29 wild turkeys arrived in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, from Missouri. In return, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources trapped ruffed grouse and sent them to Missouri. One of the biologists who was a part of the original wild turkey releases, now 93 years old, will be attending the Flock the Lawn event, along with another volunteer who was present when WIDNR was trapping grouse on his farm to send to Missouri for the trade.
For information about the NWTF or the Wisconsin NWTF State Chapter, contact Scott Chandler at 715-572-0613 and/or schandler@nwtf.net.
Fundraising events like this are what allow the Wisconsin NWTF State Chapter to make a difference on the landscape through the state Super Fund program. This year, the Wisconsin NWTF State Chapter is setting out to allocate $116,982 for conservation projects and $50,000 for education and outreach projects.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 25 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. Since 2022, the NWTF has also invested over $2.3 million in critical wild turkey research that, when leveraged with partner contributions, has resulted in more than $22 million to guide the management of the wild turkey and to ensure sustainable populations. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale to deliver healthy forests and wildlife habitats, clean and abundant water, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF is committed to creating a nation united by the life-changing power of the outdoors.