NWTF Wisconsin, Partners Set to Invest More Than $6 Million in Projects
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The Wisconsin State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation recently met in Reedsburg to review Hunting Heritage Super Fund project proposals for 2026. Proposals were approved by the Wisconsin NWTF Board of Directors. The board budgeted $116,982 for conservation projects and $50,000 for education and outreach projects, including events, chapter scholarships and 4-H shooting sports support. NWTF Super Fund project award funding will be matched with over $6.2 million in partner or grant funds for the approved projects.
“The projects awarded funding in 2026 showcase the importance of the NWTF mission to its volunteers and members in Wisconsin,” said Clayton Lenk, NWTF district biologist for Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. “From major land acquisitions to work on critical turkey habitat on public and private lands, the Wisconsin NWTF State Chapter is proud to work alongside our partners to further the mission of the NWTF.”
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.
These projects will conserve vital habitat in Wisconsin by supporting efforts such as timber stand improvement with the Aldo Leopold Foundation, providing additional funding for an ongoing wild turkey research project in Wisconsin, oak savanna and barren restoration projects with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and enabling land acquisition with Ducks Unlimited that adds to the Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area, among others. Together, these efforts help maintain healthy ecosystems, restore critical habitat and conserve wildlife populations across the state.
In addition, several projects play an important role in education, outreach and improving hunter access in Wisconsin. These efforts include sponsoring the Wisconsin Society of American Foresters annual conference, supporting the Prescribed Fire for Forest Management Webinar Series at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and contributing to the Midwest Outdoor Heritage Education Expo (MOHEE), among others. These efforts strengthen professional development, expand public understanding of conservation practices and engage both new and experienced outdoor enthusiasts.
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 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats and Healthy Harvests for future generations.